New Member - L5-S1 herniation

[cuadro273]

Hello - Just introducing myself. I am a new member looking to gleen from your wisdom and experience related to spine problems. I have re-herniated L5-S1 (posterior) and am currently trying to heal naturally (nutrition, staying active, etc). Left leg pain is consistent with some moderate central back pain.

I am giving myself 3 more months to heal naturally and will then start looking at other options. (endoscopy, north american spine, etc).

I have two quick questions, if anyone has any input:
1. Have you found any stretches that could help me in the healing process?
2. Has anyone ever heard of or had experience with North American Spine and their accurascope procedure?

Thanks for any info!

[Hooch]

Go to Amazon buy 'Spinal Stabilistion' by Jemmet. A good stretching book is 'overcome neck and back pain' by Kit Laughlin. But be aware that streching in lumbar flexion is poor practice and will aggravate your symptoms. Also try 'treat your own back' by Robin McKenzie, or don't buy it, like prone, use your arms to put yourself into extension and reduce the bulge temporarily by shifting the nucleus pulpous.

If it's a one off injury I'd give at least a year before considering surgery, my 2c, the herniation or bulge can recede somewhat and alleviate the leg pain, and the back pain can settle with time. If it's an ongoing thing that is stuffing up your life that's another thing. Any procedure to remove the bulge or herniation ultimately weakens the integrity of the disc itself, which may lead to reherniation or increased back pain, hence why waiting to see if sciatia relieves on its own is better.

I think you are right to consult with specialists while you wait in order to have surgical options later on.

Good luck.

[odriscoll]

Hi New Member,
I read your post with interest: I recently had disc replacement surgery at s1-L5. I spent about 20 years with numbing and tingling down my left lower leg, sometimes pain, usually not. But the leg got progressively weaker and my hip would ache a great deal: I was being treated for piriformis syndrome, but when the pain started going down the right leg also, it was time for the disc replacement.

Recently, I stumbled across a web site that stated as long as the disc hadn't ruptured, the bulge would repair itself and you could strengthen the disc walls so that with care it would not bulge again. The exercises included gently bouncing up and down on a swiss exercise ball, as this improved circulation to your lower back. There must have been more too it, and I'll leave it to you to find the web site: start searching "repair bulging disc" and you'll likely get to it fairly quickly.

For me, no matter what physio I did I always ended up with leg pain, eventually. Everyday was a day that in one way or another I protected my left hip and my lower back. I remained really active, but eventually it caught up to me. Good luck: keep active as possible but if the disc is rupturing with activity, I'd take care of it sooner rather than later.

[KBear]

Welcome to the forum! I'm sorry I'm not any help on conservative therapy that worked for me, because none of it did. There is a lot to try though and most people (90%) will benefit and heal with conservative treatment. Most of us on here are the 10% that, for whatever reasons, do not heal with conservative treatments and require (d) surgery to get better.

Just curious, have you tried any steroid injections? This did wonders for my husband when he herniated a disc. The first one lasted 6-9 months (can't remember exactly). He then had another one and that was late 2006 and he hasn't had any problems since then. He still has the occasional backache, but it is from overdoing it, not from just normal stuff.

I hope you are able to get better with exercise and don't need another surgery. Good Luck!
Kathy

[Gilbert P]

Hi Cuadro?

To our family,

You need to as much research on your condition and educate your self on all the options for your spine,

KBear has given you some great advise.

Have you had a recent MRI or other test?

As for North American Spine it is about $ 20,000 for their procedure? I do not know of their reputation.
I started a thread on this topic some time ago check it out. Accura Scope

All The Best

Gil

[bigdogchief76]

Welcome!

I would say to be very careful in giving yourself "too much" time. Long term nerve issues can lead to permanent damage.

Concur with getting yourself as educated as you can; as a spinal patient, I think I have learned it's the best thing you can do.

There is a plethora of knowledge here. Don't be afraid to ask...

Later,
MB