So... apparently herniated discs aren't awesome..

Peledreamsofrain

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thejucheidea

Chiropractor. My parents have both had herniated disks and my mom and I both have scoliosis and the chiropractor has been a lifesaver for us. Acupuncture is also awesome.

Peledreamsofrain

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planparty

Yes, go see an ortho guy and if the pain is that bad get an MRI. In the meantime Advil will help.

Don't lie in bed all day, move around, don't want a DVT in addition.

shanliann

i am so glad you posted this!! i just had the exact same thing happen to me!!! only im not woman enough to see a docotr yet.

I had a long weekend off from work for husbands birthday, we did nothing we dont usually do, dinner, drinks, etc.

I spent most of monday deep cleaning and organizing our kitchen.

Monday night i felt some pain in my lower back but i assumed it was nothing, sometimes i get that when i drink alot of caffeine.

Then I laid down on the couch to watch a movie, and i couldn't curl my legs up like normal my leg really hurt and i had to lay it straight. weird but i blew it off.

tuesday morning i woke up with pain from my upper leg, lower hip down past my knee.

and when i move it in the right way, like trying to get in or out of the car the pain is so bad it brings tears to  my eyes....

pokey730

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_so-apparently-herniated-discs-arent-awesome?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:631e66ee-235b-4c29-9c05-497c98c2163bPost:b941a064-efc9-45ee-8b26-fbd7672915da">Re: So... apparently herniated discs aren't awesome..</a>:
[QUOTE]Go to an orthopedist if your insurance allows you to pick your doc without a referral.  A GP can't treat this and will eventually send you to one anyway.  The time lapse will just make you suffer needlessly. Some orthopedic clinics have urgent care centers. Go to one of those. Sleep on your back with pillows under your knees, or on your side with pillows between your knees. That will help a little. Getting in and out of the car - yeah, classic symptom.  Do you have a truck or SUV? THose are a little easier to get in and out of. Don't pick up anything that weighs more than ten pounds, don't bend or stoop, have  your husband get laundry out of the machine if it's a top loader.  You need heavy drugs, and don't worry about getting addicted - the antidote to those is pain.  It's the folks who take them just to take them that end up addicts.  It took Percocet to give me relief, and I was on it for 8 months.  Now I'm on Tramadol, probably for life. Try Naproxen instead of Ibuprofen, or with it.  Don't bother with tylenol or aspirin. Get to the doc NOW.
Posted by RetreadBride[/QUOTE]


Ditto this. Get to an orthopedic surgeon ASAP. FI just had his 4th(!) surgery for this same issue Monday. Don't see a chiropractor. FI did this and they tried to say his hips were out of alignment and tried to adjust them.

Also, avoid cortisone shots. FI originally had the same issue you did, took cortisone shots, kept working(our work in the military is very physically demanding), and ended up rupturing 2 discs. To date, he's had a micro-disciotomy(sp?), a lamenectomy, a fusion with an artificial disc, and now a facetectomy. All these surgeries have left him with damage to his sciatic and perennial(again sp?) nerve. This last one was to give the sciatic more room so it could hopefully regenerate. Either way, he's going to be in some kind of pain the rest of his life, and is in the process of being medically retired from the Air Force.

I'm not trying to scare you, but this is something you want to nip in the butt as soon as possible. My FI's biggest regret is not doing something about it sooner and avoiding a life of pain, to whatever degree. Good luck!

Peledreamsofrain

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aquari0216

In Response to Re:So... apparently herniated discs aren't awesome..:[QUOTE]I went through this last year, and am now disabled as a result.Sitting on the heating pad helped with the pain, but you really need an MRI, if you haven't already had one.nbsp; Did you see an orthopedic surgeon, or your GP?nbsp;nbsp; Go to an orthopedist pronto.nbsp; A second opinion is not a waste of time, and a GP cannot treat this.When a disc herniates, the jellylike material spills out and presses against the nerve roots and possibly your spinal cord, depending upon severity.nbsp; The term "slipped disc" is not accurate.Sometimes they'll heal on their own. If they don't heal within three months, then they're not going to do that.nbsp; You will need surgery.I advise against a chiropractor because manipulating the back can make the herniation worse.nbsp; Physical therapy made my injury worse instead of better.Did they not give you pain meds????nbsp; Ice and a heating pad will not relieve the pressure on the nerves, which is what is causing the pain.nbsp; You need drugs, period.Don't feel bad about the lifting.nbsp; You probably had damage before this happened.nbsp; I thought I did it picking up a box, because I felt it give way, although I know the proper methods to lift and used them.nbsp; The surgeon reviewed the damage and says there was no way I could have done it picking up something.I had surgery, but the nerve was damaged and I have chronic pain.nbsp; I don't want to scare you, but it can happen.nbsp; I've also got scoliosis and degenerative disc disease. Posted by RetreadBride[/QUOTE]
I'm so sorry you ladies have to deal with that....continued prayers for you both

kaos16

Uggg, what a bummer.  I have a few herniated disks in my lower back too.  They are actually torn and extruded.  The doctor compares one of them to toothpaste being pushed out of a tube. . . . the jelly like disk has torn out of its proper place and is basically oozing into my spinal column.  I have been in near constant pain since 08.  I had a discectomy in 09 with minimal results, other than causing my left shin to be numb. . . .but whatever.

Clearly, I am an NOT a doctor, and am NOT dispensing medical advice, but the only thing that has helped alleviate some of my pain is an inversion table.  I literally dangle from my ankles pretty regularly.  It relieves a lot of pressure in my back on my disks.  Perhaps that is something you can discuss with a doctor.

I, for one, would not rush into surgery.  Get a second or third opinion.  Back surgeries can cause more problems than they fix sometimes.  I spoke to a doctor about a disk replacement. . . . it is easy to take a disk out, and put a synthetic or cadaver disk in, but the procedure is still relatively new in the states. . . . and if the new disk has problems you can be screwed.  A fusion was also recommended to me, but if you fuse a disk or two you create more pressure on the disks above and below which can cause them to herniate too.  I'm just saying. . . . don't rush into anything without getting all the pros and cons!

Feel better!!!

kaos16

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_so-apparently-herniated-discs-arent-awesome?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:631e66ee-235b-4c29-9c05-497c98c2163bPost:cc8a6dc8-a40f-456a-a716-7ab21fb6fbe9">Re: So... apparently herniated discs aren't awesome..</a>:
[QUOTE]kaos, a coworker had a disc replacement with donor bone.....with nightmarish results. A funeral home chain in North Carolina was selling body parts without the permission of the families OR the consent of the donors.  They even sold parts from people who had died of cancer and AIDS.  It was like something out of a horror movie. She was notified that her donor bone had come from the funeral home chain, and not a legitimate donor. Filed a lawsuit, but the attorney got most of the money.  She is left with major health problems. Getting the replacement CAN make the discs fire off above, and below, the first one.  That's what's happening to me.  L4 is bulging. My insurance no longer pays for spinal fusions at all, because the odds of success are so iffy.  I'll never know if it would have helped me or not.  They'd rather pay for a lifetime of pain meds for me. I'm sorry about your pain.  I've been this way since October 2011.  It's still a surreal experience, like is this really happening, and somehow I can get out of it someday. Are you on meds for your chronic pain or do you just use the stretching therapy rack? Thanks for the kind thoughts, aquari.
Posted by RetreadBride[/QUOTE]

As a criminal attorney, I have seen WAAAAYYYY to much firsthand about what addiction to pain pills can do to people. As such, I rarely take anything for my pain. Occasionally if I am having a really, really bad day or night I'll take something. Maybe once every few months. I have had multiple series of steroid injections, which occasionally provide relief, but I try to limit that as much as possible, because i don't want all that crap in my body if I can avoid it.

For the most part, I just suck it up and go about my days.  Adjust and move forward. . . . right?

Peledreamsofrain

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kaos16

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_so-apparently-herniated-discs-arent-awesome?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:631e66ee-235b-4c29-9c05-497c98c2163bPost:6c7f1a76-731a-4fd4-bf40-1e3551bcef63">Re:So... apparently herniated discs aren't awesome..</a>:
[QUOTE]Well, Im sitting in the ER now waiting for an MRI. I've started to get some symptoms that might suggest a rare complication. If it turns out to be true, then it's emergency surgery for me. Woohoo. I just don't do things in small scale I guess.
Posted by Peledreamsofrain[/QUOTE]

Ugghhh!!  Good luck.  I really hope you feel better soon, and that they can take care of whatever is causing the issue.

Peledreamsofrain

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kaos16

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_so-apparently-herniated-discs-arent-awesome?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:631e66ee-235b-4c29-9c05-497c98c2163bPost:4d56d4cf-9593-4848-911b-7753e37ba02a">Re:So... apparently herniated discs aren't awesome..</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re:So... apparently herniated discs aren't awesome..: Thanks, I appreciate the support. I wouldn't have gone to the ER if the consequence of ignoring these types of symptoms weren't pretty dire. I HATE hospitals, especially after the last time I went I had an IV tech that mauled my arm to the point where I almost passed out. Which somehow makes me evil and hate all nurses, according to another thread. Still trying to figure that one out.
Posted by Peledreamsofrain[/QUOTE]

Oh, I totally feel your pain with respect to that too, lol. 

Peledreamsofrain

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Peledreamsofrain

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kaos16

Hopefully someone at the spine clinic can help. My herniations are at L34, L45, and L5S1. If you have any questions, feel free to pm me. I've had a ton of treatments to try to address my issues I find that working out, within my limitations keeps me from getting depressed and pain crazy. I'm interested to know if your doctors have a thought on inversion. Most importantly, feel better!!!

Peledreamsofrain

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shanliann

I'm going to go to the Er tomorrow afternoon. I dont have health insurance so starting at the er is my only choice. Then if I can get refered to the University hospital an hour away i can deal with bills and making payments there.

Do you guys have pain near your spine? My pain is more hip/side. its sort of on the edge of my back if this makes any sense.

The car is a b***h no 2 ways around it. I've tried every funny looking position i can think of and no releif. I've devided now my best option is to just get in quickly and get the pain over with. Once im in the car im ok within about a minute.

I can get myself completely comfortable sitting in my desk chair at work, and also laying in bed. It's when I  move from those positions it gets a bit rough.

I fall asleep in a comfy position but then wake up everytime my body decides to move in my sleep because it hurts.


I'm at work now and I'm in no pain at all sitting here type but as soon as the phone rings or a guest comes to the desk(work at a hotel) it will be painful.

It makes me feel alot better having you girls to talk to.  My poor husband is really trying so hard but he was raised by a mom who shows no affection so hes trying/learning how to help and be there for mel it's cute but i feel bad for him,

Peledreamsofrain

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shanliann

I went to the er...im not sure what i think
they said it has to do with my Sciatic nerve.
They didn't do an xray, the doctor pushed in one spot on my back once.

He said he could get me a shot for pain, which i can tolerate shots when absolutely nessacary but i do have a big issue with needles so i asked if getting the shot would have any benefits over something in pill form. He said the only advantage was the shot would give me instant releif from the pain and pills i would have to take to a pharmacy to be filled. Ok well i've been in this pain for 5 days, i can wait another 20 mins while target fills my perscription! So he says hes giving me a perscription for the pain and a muscle relaxer and basicaly i just have to deal with it until i gets better.

Then the nurse comes in with 2 pills for me to take for the pain. Didn't tell me what I was taking but i saw the paper and it was hydrocodone(i know thats spelled wrong!)

so i take the 2 pills she gives me the 2 perscriptions and off we go.

So the Pharmacy fills the Muscle relaxer fine no problems.

Well the pain meds was written for 20 pills and the pharmacy only had 6 so they asked if i wanted to take the 6 and come back or what. Well in talking to the pharmicst he tells me, what the wrote the perscription for was aleeve. The perscription was written for 500mg tablets and aleeve off the shelf comes in 220mg tablets. So i could buy it off the shelf, and take 2 and id be getting 440mg instead of 500mg and save alot of money.

So I sort of feel like going to the Er was just a waste of money. All there giving me for pain is something I can buy without a perscription. I have muscle relaxers but im scared to take them while im at work so there not getting much use.

I'm confused why they would give me one dose of one pain pill and then a script for another pain pill.....

Peledreamsofrain

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shanliann

I remember getting a shot about 6 years ago and it took 5 nurses to hold me down....hints why i wasn't interested in the shot unless he could tell me it was better then the pills.

I only know what they gave me was hydrocodine because i saw it on the back of the package before the nurse opened it.

The perscriptions are typed so no error in handwriting and the pharmacy gave me back the perscription so i goggled it and it is just aleeve. So basically im going to have a huge ER bill for nothing. I got nothing from the visit. I got muscle relaxers that dont do anything and pain pills that i can buy without a script.

And, even the Hydrocodine that I took at the hospital, didn't help. So why go through the hassle of getting and paying for a new script when it didn't even help.

I'm so beyond frustrated...