So long story greatly shortened… my Dr thinks I herniated a disc in very lower back and that it’s pushing on the nerve root that runs down my left leg. I’m in a lot of pain, even with the drugs.
We’re still waiting to get in for a 2nd MRI (first was of my hip/hamstring area b/c that’s where my pain was located) for confirmation but my Dr is about 99% sure it’s actually my spine. So he’s given me a couple things to think about. He suggested starting w an epidural block before going straight to micro-discectomy. Has anyone ever had either? How long does the shot last? How was your pain relief and mobility afterwards? I’ve gained alot of weight and would like to start walking again. I’m also on my feet alot taking care of our family. I do the vast majority of the cooking, cleaning, shopping etc. Did you eventually need to have the surgery?? If you had the surgery, how long was your recovery?
I had a similar problem in the cervical spine. Almost constant pain and tingling running from my neck down my arm. I was at the point of not knowing whether I could go on any more.
After MRI, physical therapy, drugs, etc they finally did an EMG and discovered the problem between c6 and c7. It took a series of 3 epidural shots (1 every 3 to 4 weeks) to completely solve the problem. I consider those shots a miracle.
That was about 9 years ago and just recently I noticed some pain again. I am trying to adjust how I do things. I am avoiding lifting anything heavier than a gallon of milk, careful of my posture at the keyboard, etc. It’s feeling better now but if it gets bad again, I will not hesitate to have the shots.
This is in my sacral. I can’t remember the exact one but it’s near the very bottom. Even sitting is impossible.
I consider myself a tough cookie. I walked to the NICU an hour or 2 after a cesarean 19 years ago to hold my eldest for the first time when they couldn’t bring him to me. DH, Drs, and nurses were less than thrilled w/ me when they found me.
So when I’m on the floor sobbing uncontrollably, it really hurts! And not being able to function is such a blow to my self esteem and emotional well being. Not to mention the weight gain!! I can definitely sympathize with having errant bad thoughts!!
Hopefully you’ll get some relief from the shot. I would definitely start there before moving on to surgery. Hopefully you can get in for your MRI very soon.
I had to sleep on the floor for weeks and had to crawl to the bathroom because I couldn’t stand. Steroids, pain meds, and pt were life savers but it was hell in the process.
I’ve had both procedures so definitely feel your pain. To this day it was the toughest time in my whole life. I’m generally pretty happy but the unrelenting pain sent my mind to some very dark places.
My rupture was at L5/S1 and I reached the point I couldn’t get off the floor for 3 weeks. I was begging for surgery, but my very wise PCP and Ortho said I should never go in for spine surgery without exhausting all the other options first. I had all 3 of the epidural steroid injections that were allowed. I had varying degrees of relief from each one and the final one only lasted a week. That’s when the surgeon agreed that surgery was my only option.
I couldn’t believe how surgery gave me such immediate relief. Every bit of nerve pain disappeared immediately so the only discomfort was from the 1" incision. No pain pills were needed post-op. Recovery was about 6 weeks and I wasn’t allowed to drive or even sit during that time. Because my rupture was at the very bottom of the spine, he didn’t want the pressure from sitting to damage the work he did before it could heal over.
Two years later I tripped on a curb and ruptured the very same disc again. That time I was able to get through it with anti-inflammatories and physical therapy. So I can definitely say that surgery isn’t needed for every ruptured disc.
I’m on oral steroids now and it’s the only thing that allows me to stand for even a few minutes. PT didn’t work at all, I did 10 weeks. I’d like to try the shots first I think.
It seems like such a small thing, but like I told my DH… our DS will be home on his 19th bday for Thanksgiving break for the first time leaving for college. I am going to feel terrible if I can’t cook for him and spend a ton of quality time with him.
Did you do PT for your hip and hamstring or for the herniated disc? I ask because the “wrong” PT can make things a lot worse. Might be worth revisiting after your next MRI?
It was mostly for the leg issues but some of it was back. By that point however, things had deteriorated to the point that I wasn’t able to do any of the exercises. I’ll ask whether more PT is recommended after whatever procedure we choose.
My Dr thinks this may have all started w my car wreck nearly a year ago. I was mostly functioning up to about 2 months ago, although I had a big uptick in pain around June-July. We moved and slept on air mattresses for over a month during that time frame. I think the injury was already there, and exacerbated by the move.
I’ve had lower back and neck issues for decades, so I can relate to your pain. I had the injections with my neck disc problems, and I found them to be a “miracle” treatment as well. Eventually, when my arm and leg went numb, I had to have neck surgery to address the disc and a huge bone spur that was putting pressure on my spinal cord.
Surgery absolutely was the last choice after exhausting all other options.
I have suffered from sciatica for 18 months and gained weight due to non activity.
I had my first epidural steroid injection just 3 weeks ago. I feel so much better that it is hard to describe. I still have pain in some areas but most of my day is pain free. I have a second injection schedule a month from now. The only issue I had was an upper back pain from the position I was put in (face down with my lower back swayed). The next time I will take a muscle relaxant prior to the procedure. They did not ask me the first time.
About a dozen years ago I ruptured L3 and L4. Never had so much pain in my life. They prescribed oxycontin and muscle relaxers for the pain which gave me absolutely zero relief. Fortunately, an epidural steroid injection was the ticket. Outpatient procedure at the hospital. It was like a miracle. Glad it worked as the doctor was skeptical about surgery helping much. If I’m on my feet for extended periods of time now, my lower back can get a little sore or too much bending over to get things. I’m fine sitting and moving. If physical activities need a lot of time, I break it down to smaller increments of time but otherwise it isn’t a big issue.
The process gave me newfound appreciation and empathy for those living with chronic pain and an understanding of how folks get addicted to prescription painkillers (even though they brought me no relief).
I’m surprised they haven’t moved forward with the injection more quickly. I had mine within days of the incident, thankfully, because I had constant pain.
The thing is I didn’t think it was my back. My back hurt for a few days, approx 3 weeks after my wreck. And the pain in my leg was slow to manifest as well. At first it was just a tight, tingly feeling going from my butt to my foot. I just figured I pulled something. It never got better but didn’t really get worse either. I was still fully functioning.
Then we moved and it got worse… alot worse. But it was still intermittent. It wasn’t until mid-august that I was just barely functioning and then after the 10 weeks of PT, not functioning at all.
But this whole time, I thought it was my leg. It wasn’t until going to Urgent Care in tears 2 weekends ago that they referred me to a Sports Dr b.c they figured I’d torn my hamstring. That guy didn’t even exam me at first. He heard me sobbing trying to walk to the exam room and said… this isn’t your leg, this is your spine! After a quick exam he sent me for an xray and yes there’s noticeable compression in my tailbone. Have 2nd MRI to confirm this friday and seeing Dr again on Weds.
Right now I’m ok on the oral steroids. I still can’t do much but at least I can shower and fix a very quick snack. Thankfully, my husband has been able to work from home this week.
So yep, MRI confirmed I have a hugely bulging disc in my lower back. It’s pushing against my spine and going down my spinal column. Dr asked if I minded my case being presented at a conference… which made me laugh.
Anyway, referred to back surgeon as Dr rec’s surgery.
