Anyone been treated for a slipped disc successfully? Please advice needed.

[mamafridi]

Have been in excruciating pain for the best part of 2 months. Found out the reason after having an MRI scan and it's because I've got not one but two slipped discs in my lower back. My (unhelpful) doctor says I can either have surgery or a cortisone shot. I really would only think of surgery as the last resort and I've read that cortisone shots help the pain alright, but not the underlying problem, which can in turn make it worse.
Please is anyone living with a slipped disc and coping without being in agonizing pain? And if so what did you do to treat the problem.
I'm absolutely desperate, especially as I have a one year old and just picking her up is a monumental strain. And to be honest being in so much pain doesn't make for a very happy mum and that's so unfair for my DD .

I've had a slipped disc for years, at least 7. They won't operate on me as they say they only operate if the MRI shows the disc is touching the nerve and mine isn't. Though I do get some leg pain.

I've been in a bad mood for the last 7 years to be honest as I'm in so much pain 24/7.

hi ive had two slipped discs for 4 years.. excruciating and i have three little ones two!
Try this :
Ice packs help loads i have the ones in the freezer! lie on them with knees bent on floor for 20 mins as often as you can.
When its at its worst sit only on a high backed dining room chair.. not the sofa!!! ive had to do this for weeks at a time!
Do back strengthening exercises! they are simple, easy and quick and HELP!
Buy a copper bracelet with magnets to wear on the wrist! it really does help!
Manage your pain with pain relief and lower your dose when you can cope without..
I was on all sorts of pain killers, a lethal cocktail over time and was at my wits end but being careful about what i can and cannot do and ensuring i rest when i feel it coming on and following these "rules" ive managed my pain successfully , single mum of three, with little family support , experienced pain veteran!!! pls get back in touch :) shaz

Pilates is great for this situation and chronic back pain. Would highly recommend.

Have you been to an osteopath?

Mine was totally brilliant. Apart for providing strong painkillers, the only thing the GP suggested was seeing my osteopath. Who gave the same advice as spandau1980.

I would try the cortisone and osteopath before surgery.

yes osteopaths are brilliant definatly invest in seeing one they are expensive BUT worth it.. dont go for physio through gp/nhs they gave me wrong advice and exercises my oeteopath said was making my pain WORSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rally SamVet? I couldn't even do pilates when my back was bad.

What you need to do is some how strengthen your stomach muscles. The most pain free way, I found, was swimming breaststroke on my back.

TENS machines are good as well.

Also ask for specific nerve painkillers such as amyltriptelene rather than just increasing amounts of codeine type stuff.

Hi, I have had a slipped disc at L5/S1 since 2007. Tempting fate saying this, but yes, I am living with it and coping, really quite well! Was really awful when it first happened, I recovered only for it to happen again in 2009, possibly as a result of sitting on a flight for 9 hours without moving much and not swimming daily. Since then, I swim a mile a day, do back exercises and don't lift heavy loads. I'll be honest, my back problem features more in my life than I want it too and I live in fear of surgery. That said, swimming, having a positive attitude (really hard, I know) and generally being pro-active all help. I am only now finally accepting that the residual (very low level) pain I have daily is here to stay, I have to accept and manage it, and get on with my life. I know of people in a much worse way, and am just grateful I am mobile and coping. Sorry for the waffle!

Hi again,
Sorry it's taken me so long to reply.

Thank you for all your advice.

I have made myself an osteopath appointment and hope that he will be my saviour! I can't imagine living the rest of my days out in this kind of discomfort, however much positivity I can muster, it's just too awful.

I have heard though that pilates and swimming are really good so when I have the time... (I've just seen a pig fly ) I'll try anything if it might bring some relief.

So thank you ladies and here's hoping that we will all get our backs sorted!

I had a slipped disc L4/L5 & honestly couldn't believe the pain - it was worse than anything I could imagine, worse than childbirth. I had to be taken to hospital because I couldn't stay conscious - everytime I moved I passed out.
I spent 2 weeks after it happened pretty much flat on my back & then I started physio. I found an amazing physio who specialises in spinal rehab & she was able to gently release the pressure on my spine & allow the disc to move back. Once the pain reduced & the disc stabilised I started pilates (very, very gently at first) to strengthen my core, improve my posture. I also used a kneeler chair at work & generally started looking after my back better.
I do some pilates every single day now & I have a small group of spinal release movements that the physio taught me. It does flare up everynow & then & I go back to the physio & she is able to help me. Most of the time I am pain free.

I had a slipped disc 22 years ago and had the surgery to fix it.I know this is a big step but my leg muscles were wasting away and the pain was too much to bear.
I had 1 DD at the time and went on to have 2 more.
Had a lot of physio after the op and have not had any problems since.

I have found this thread as I am sat at home for the second day after being sent home as I couldn't walk after my back went at work. I have a disc bulge at L5 S1 and I would say the osteopath is about the only thing keeping me moving, I have had it 5 years now, however I only get bad flare ups every so often now, yesterday was the worst for a while, haven't been able to walk properly or pick up DD, 18months.

It is miserable, I am finding it difficult to keep on top of it and keep moving, I need to do some pilates or something I think, I don't think it is something that will ever go away, it just has to be managed.

Apparently some people have good success with seeing neurosurgeons? to treat the nerve pain? I saw a consultant, but it's not bad enough for surgery etc.

Doesn't feel like it today, it is awful, I am on codene and ibuprofen, feeling really spaced out.

Sorry to hear it missmakesstuff. Really bad day for me today. Been miserable and moody with DD, and feel so bad. Really, really hope that this pain doesn't go on like this forever. I'd find it very hard to deal with that idea. Just keep looking for treatments. Apparently laser treatments are being researched in the US with some success, so you never know.
Keep strong.

Sorry to hear you're in pain, mama. I had a slipped disc through most of my second pregnancy, it became excrutiating after I'd had DS2, I was on co-codamol throughout the day, I couldn't have anything else as I was pregnant/breastfeeding. It was the first thing I thought of when I woke up, and I used to wake in the night every time I shifted in my sleep. It was a terrible time, I could stand up or lie flat, both uncomfortably, but in no way could I sit down, ever, no car journeys without tears, no meals at a table (I used to lie on the floor on my front), never sat in front of tv, had to breastfeed lying down. Just pain pain pain for months, crying every day from the sheer agony. I also had pins and needles permanently in both feet and numbness in my legs.

I received physiotherapy but I have to say it didn't help me in the slightest. When DS2 was 6 mo I had surgery, a discectomy and I woke up from the op and could immediately feel that the pain had gone. And 3 years on it has never returned. The post-op recovery wasn't bad either. For me, it was the best solution.

I had terrible back pain during my first (twin) pregnancy - so bad I was off work sick for months before my due date. I kept being told that it was all hormonal and pregnancy related but the pain continued after I'd given birth and the physio/hydrotherapy etc did nothing for me really. An MRI scan eventually showed that I had a slipped disc. I was offered surgery but I wanted to see if it would eventually improve without going down the surgical route (I was v worried about recovery time, having 2 little ones to look after).

What did help - A LOT - was diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory that was prescr ibed for me. I was warned that taking the pills long term could possibly cause stomach problems but to be honest, I was beyond caring about that. I gradually reduced my dose until I was only taking one pill per day or even every 2 days - then I got pregnant again (with twins again) and had to stop taking them altogether. To my amazement, I was actually fine with stopping and (touch wood) have been fine ever since. I do try to be careful about lifting etc and I do get twinges when I'm pushing the double buggy up steep hills BUT if you are keen to avoid surgery, I would definitely ask about diclofenac - for me it was like a miracle cure.

I had a surgery on a slipped disk 4 years ago when DS1 was 2. Recovery was 4-6 weeks although the improvement in pain was immediate. I didn't get the feeling back in my foot for 6 months; nerve damage.

I went on to have 2 more children and no major back issues. I do Pilates and am careful about lifting/twisting. I recommend seeing a good chiropractor initially and hope for the best.

Surgery is a last resort but is not such a bad option, I couldnt have lived in pain forever.

I lived with 3 slipped discs for 4 years and then had surgery. It saved me from a life of increasing disability and constant agony (whoever said L4/L5 going is worse than childbirth is right) and after a lot of physio I lead a pretty normal life. (Although with no ski-jumping and some nerve damage.) I tried to avoid surgery for ages, but it's not so bad.

I really sympathise. As others said, diclofenac, osteopaths, ice packs and exercise can also help.

i had surgery 16 years ago.

however, it's still a very weak area and i have to see an osteopath every three months. sometimes i lose all mobility in either one of my arms too.

pretty severe case, but i can't imagine how much worse it would be if i hadn't had the surgery.

I had a slipped disc removed ad replaced in 2001, following several years of excrutiating agony.

All was well after my op and i thought i'd never have anymore problems. Then when i was pregnant with DS3 in 2009, i happened to bend awkwardly and ended up unable to move. I had to wait until after DS3 was born - 6 months - for an MRI scan which showed that the disc i'd had replaced had popped out as well as the one underneath it.

In January just gone, i unerwent a nerve block injection as the sciatic pain i was getting was awful, and in fairness it did work. Until i got pregnant again, and then it wore off and i'm in agony again. And they won't be ale to do anything until after this baby is born too.

I think the next step is more surgery.

Prolapsed disc with sciatica for 17 years. Wasted hundreds of pounds on osteopaths. Surgery - instant cure.

I am reading this and feel lucky really - mine isn't as bad as many of you, I can have months of very little pain (or at least, it's painful but I am used to it) but just have the odd time like this when it goes - maybe every 6 months or so. Cirrently have pain down the right side t my foot and pins and needles, sometimes in my arms too, but not sure why?
I am looking at Pilates specifically for back problems for after xmas, then I am hoping it will help build up my strength. Still off work tomorrow, just don't feel able to go back yet, I'm a teacher and it's fairly physically demanding, plus the pain killers are making me feel a bit spaced.

I had a slipped disk many years ago. I saw a chiropractor who manipulated it back in place. He also gave me exercises to strengthen my back which would help keep the disks in place. He also advised me to do swimming.

I think it is vital with slipped disks, and any back pain, to strengthen the back and core muscles in general.

I had to see a chiropractor again when ds2 was born, as I had terrible spd. He again adviced swimming, but also pilates to strengthen the core muscles. This of course, will be once your disks are back where they should be!

Physiotherapists are no good for this kind of problem. Your really need to see either a chiroprcator or an osteopath, as they deal with muscular and skeletal problems.

Glad I have found this thread. Can I ask what pain medication people are taking?

My DH was diagnosed this week with a slipped disc and the medication isn't touching it.

Diazipam, amatriptyline and tramadol, some od the meds say he isn't allowed to drive so he can't take them on work days (6 days a week)

I have never seen anyone in so much pain!!

Your poor DH Bohica. I didn't have a very good variety of meds. I was pregnant/breastfeeding so was limited in what I could take. I found Tramadol just made me feel nauseus. I relied on 2 x co-codamol (paracetamol + codeine 30mg), 4 times a day. It didn't EVER make me pain-free but when it kicked in it took the edge off the shattering pain. But I always knew to within 5 mins when the dose was coming to an end and clocked watched until the next dose.

As i said above the only solution for me was surgery. But perhaps you could return to the docs and say that the meds your DH is taking aren't doing the job. He may be able to have an increased dose or try something else? Good luck!

Thanks Libby he has been taking them since Monday with no ease at all but I did think that because he is skipping some to work he won't build up a barrier iykwim.

He spent today in bed as it was his day off but we had to pay nursery an extra day as he normally looks after her on a Wednesday because I also work.

I've persuaded him to take tell work he needs another day off so I'm hoping the rest will help.

Glad to read you are recovering well, can I ask how long you were post op for?