Herniated Disc

Question: What can help a herniated disc in a dachshund? My 3 year old dachshund was diagnosed with a herniated disc in his neck last Monday. He was put on Prednisone for the pain and I was told no running, jumping, or climbing stairs for 3 weeks. He is currently being weaned off of the Prednisone. Today, he is experiencing pain while walking. Is there anything that I can do for him? Is it normal for him to be experiencing pain before he gets better? What else can I expect during the next few weeks?

Answer: he is probably experiencing pain because you are lowering the dose on the pred. if this is the case then it means that the steroid treatment wasnt effective and you need to talk to your vet about other options. really the next option is surgery which is very expensive and probably will need to be done by a specialist. your vet can recommend you to one in your area. there are other stronger steroids that you could try but really i would let your vet guide you in this as it is a very touchy subject. it is also very common in doxies. good luck and hope he feels better soon

Question: How to control the pain of a herniated disc? I have a herniated disc in the L4-5 area, the doctors have already used injections twice. The pain at times is almost unbarable and walking is almost impossible.

Answer: I feel your pain,having 3 myself. Depending on when your injury occured, strengthening the abs lessens the pain a lot. You cuold also get one of those big exercise balls and lay on it, WOW, it really helps. Also, try not to sit for long periods of time, and go see a massage therapist!!!!

Question: What is the best option for a herniated disc discectomy or fusion? I'm 31 and have suffered from lower back pain for 5 years. I always thought it was a muscle, but 6 weeks ago muscle relaxers and pain killers did not help. I had an MRI done and showed a herniated disc in L4-L5. My pain is mainly in my lower back some numbness down my left leg. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Answer: your physician should've recieved the results, and he probably asked if you wanted to do the back surgery. It's typical for you to get the surgery in this case.

Question: Does most people have Herniated Disc tend to recovered well without surgery? I have Herniated Disc, only weird Feeling like abit aches in my lower spine. No pain. Do i need discectomy Surgery? Which is the most less expensive herniated surgery and not complicated surgery?

Answer: my grandma had something similar to you, and all she got was an injection of something (i cant remember the name of it) in summer 06 i think, and she's been good ever since. good luck.

Question: Is it okay to do yoga with a herniated disc? I've spent most of the past two months in bed with a herniated disc and am getting desperate. The doctor assigned some exercises but I'm used to doing more exciting and active things like kickboxing, which I guess I will never do again. So what can I do, besides walking? I have never done yoga before but it sounds like an option. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Answer: Sit in virasana, or hero posture. If you have knee problems or have tight quadriceps, sit on a block or in between thick blankets. Interlace your fingers and raise your arms to shoulder level first, stretching them forward with your palms facing outward. Keeping the spine steady, inhale and elongate through the spine as you raise your arms from the armpits until the palms face the ceiling. Keep your neck erect, your chest expanded and your elbows straight. Make sure your head does not lean back and your body doesn't tilt forward. Breath evenly through the nose and hold up to 1 minute. Virasana helps ease stiffness in the shoulders and neck, and may help with herniated disks. Avoid doing seated forward bends, which may compress the disks. You may do uttanasana or standing forward bend. Make sure that your pelvis is tilted far enough to allow elongation of the spine, widening the disk spaces. Make sure you do not round your back. it is highly recommended to do these with a qualified yoga instructor, preferably one-on-one private sessions. Look for a teacher who has had experience working with students who have the same condition.

Question: At what age can a Corgi suffer a herniated disc? They think my dog has a herniated disc. I took her in to be spayed and a couple days later she was acting strange...long story short the dr says that she probably has a herniated disc. but she is only 2 years old!

Answer: I have two Corgi's and so far nothing. I keep the weight off my dogs and am careful not to let them jump off of things. But any age really. By chance could the vet or someone dropped her while getting fixed? Or could she of been coming out of being put to sleep from surgery and banged herself on the crate door/wall? These are questions I would be asking my vet. Has he done X-rays yet? I mean this is something that needs to be looked into very soon. Also Corgi's can have back issues due to their long body. But, I first and foremost would be questioning the staff of the clinic I went to. NOT blaming anyone here..just thinking you need to ask..and think back to what your dog has done the last few day's to get this way. I wish you the best of luck with your Corgi. They are great dogs. Also get another opinion please. But ask questions and alot of them..

Question: What's the best mattress for a herniated disc? I recently found out that I have an L5 herniated disc. I've been following my doctor's orders and taking the meds. But the pain has gotten increasingly worse and it's clear it's the mattress that's not helping. So, I want to buy a new one. But there are so many, I wanted to at least have an idea. Any suggestions?

Answer: Years ago, they used to recommend getting a hard mattress. Now they've discovered that getting a hard mattress creates pressure points and closes off blood flow. I would recommend getting something in the middle. Not very hard, not very soft. Although there are lots off great quality innerspring mattresses available, I would consider looking at Latex or Memory foam.

Question: What doc should I go see for herniated disc? I've visited internal medicine MD, but not that helpful? I have herniated disc from l5-s1, the pain subsided for couple of months and now it's back. I want to see a better doc that treats this area. Who should I go see?

Answer: I too have herniated discs(cervical & lumbar) & have had back surgery at L5-S1. A spine specialist would be my first choice, followed by either an neurosurgeon or orthopedic surgeon that does back surgery(not all orthos do spine surgery). Usually, the spine specialist is a neuro or ortho that does nothing but spine surgeries. As a former surgical technician, I can tell you the only difference between the 2 physicians I mentioned, are their technique during surgery. I would never, never, never, ever see a Chiropractor when you know for a FACT that you have a herniated disc. Manipulation is the LAST thing you want done. Manipulation with a herniated disc could cause the herniation to become larger or even worse, break off and cause permenant nerve damage. I hope this info helps, good luck.

Question: What is the treatment for bone fragments in lower back with herniated disc and spondelonestheysis? I have 1mm bone fragments in my back and a herniated disc with spondelonestheysis (dont know how to spell) Physical Therapy does not seem to work I meet with my orthopedic surgeon in one week does anyone know what the next step will be? Im scared it might be surgery (I have had these back problems for 10 years)

Answer: It all depends on how much pain and symptoms you are having. If the bone chips are pressing on the nerves and causing pain they will have to be removed. If the herniated disc is pressing on the nerve and you are getting weakness they will fix this while they are in removing the bone chips. the bone chips are a common finding when you have Degenerative Disc Disease which happens when you have spondylolithesis which happens when you are in your growing years which is why you have had back pain for several years. the spondylolithesis will always be there.

Question: Does drinking milk help a herniated disc heal quicker? I have a herniated disc and my friend said it was because I wasnt drinking milk enough,plus we used to play basketball often in the park with my friends.He said that milk makes your bones stronger. Can drinking a lot of milk help a herniated disc heal quicker?

Answer: You are 23 and have a herniated disc? I assume you had a MRI and saw a Consultant, who told you what you can do at the young age of 23. That then poises the question why are you asking questions about sex and milk? You need to follow the advise given by your Doc and the Disc should be fully healed by now! Good Luck

Question: Herniated disc? I herniated my disc a while ago and am still experiencing back pain. As I'm only young i was wondering if you had any different solutions? (I've tried massage, physio, chiropractor)

Answer: i am a chiropractor and specialize in spine related injuries. the disc acts as both a cushion and a spacer between each vertebrae. if a disc is bulging/herniated, that bulge can put pressure on the nerves exiting between each vertebra which causes a "pinched nerve." also if the disc is wearing out (getting thinner) you lose the space between the vertebra, which leaves less room for those nerves to exit--and again can pinch a nerve. the nerves in your cervical spine (neck) go all the way down your arm while the nerves in your lumbar spine (low back) form the sciatic nerve which runs all the way down your leg. if any of these are "pinched" they can cause pain, numbess, tingling, weakness wherever these nerves go (down arms/legs). as a chiropractor i see this type of scenario on a daily basis. for those who have degenerative disc disease, disc herniation, disc bulging, etc.--normal chiropractic care can usually help with those problems. but there are also many people out there that have had this problem for many years and can't find relief with anything they try--including chiropractic. but now there is a treatment that is perfect for your situation and the best part is: it's non-surgical and non-invasive. if you haven't heard of it yet it is called spinal decompression. this type of treatment focuses on disc injuries and the problems they cause. i use the DRX9000 spinal decompression system in my office and it works wonders for people with these types of injuries (approx. 90% successful). the DRX9000 is fda approved and is the best decompression system available (there are cheap knock-offs that don't give the same results). my recommendation would be to see a chiro, especially if you've never tried it before-just to see what they have to say. also do some research on this treatment and then contact someone (usually a chiro) who uses it in their office. i would just google "DRX9000" to find info on it and doctors in your area who may have it. this treament is able to encourage the disc to go back to it's normal orientation and also rebuild its height--which then takes the pressure off whatever nerve it is compressing. pain meds, cortisone shots, epidurals won't do anything to solve the problem--all they do is cover it up and they become less and less effective over time. surgery AT BEST is 50% successful and usually doesn't solve the problem since most people need another surgery 5-10 years down the road for the same issue. it's typically a viscious cycle. remember: surgery is always an option, so try something prior to surgery to see if you can avoid it--cause once you do the surgery there is no going back. this treatment is extremely effective for degenerative disc disease, disc bulging, herniation, etc. and also sciatica type of cases, especially if you haven't had surgery yet. i've had many patients who were scheduled for surgery, tried this treatment as a last resort, and then ended up cancelling their surgery altogether after treatment was completed. it really does work and that's what my recommendation would be for you. good luck and hopefully this gives insight to others experiencing similar problems--there is a solution!!!

Question: Can you have sex with a herniated disc in your back? I had a herniated disc in my lower back for about 4 months now.I wanted to know can would it still be ok if me and my girlfriend had sex?Will we have to have to cut down on sex?Will sex make the pain and the herniated disc more worse?

Answer: If she gets on top then you will be fine! Just make sure that u r comfortable maybe lay on topof a few soft pillows.... but make her do the work... or u will be kickin urself in the azz... good luck....

Question: Can you get a massage with a herniated disc? I have a herniated disc and i was curious to know if a massage would make it sooth it or be bad for it?

Answer: In my opinion, you should go to a chiropractor or an orthopedic physician first. There are some massage modalities like "hilot" that does not prevent someone with a herniated disc to undergo this modality BUT generally, it is contraindicated in massage. Hope this helps a little. Eunice yunesa@yahoo.com

Question: Will a therapeutic massage cause harm to a herniated disc? I have herniated disc at C 5 and C 6 both with stenosis. Will having a massage including the neck area be harm full?

Answer: If you tell your therapist about the discs and the problems with them, you should be fine with massage. If you get uncomfortable with the massage at any time, tell your therapist and have him/her adjust pressure to make it more pleasurable for you

Question: I've had a herniated disc for a few years now the pain hasnt subsided, need help deciding on treatments? I went in for an MRI this morning for a possible Herniated Disc. I've also researched possible treatments whether be surgical or non surgical. If anyone has some suggestions, advise or even a couple words maybe youve had it before maybe your a doctor please tell me how i can go about making a treatment decision

Answer: well depending on where the disc is herniated at, i can give you a few options. i personally have had L3,L4,L5, and S1 and i am 29 years old. my doctor didn't want to do surgery on me because he didn't want to do another surgery on me for 10 years down the road. i can personally tell you i have had numerous cortisone shots, nerve blocks, and have been so high on pain management drugs i couldn't focus straight. before i had my surgery i could barley move and walking up steps was horrible and had me in tears. i had L4 -S1 discs removed and some space freed up, it was the best thing i could have ever done. i wake up pain free every morning, and love every minute of it. i no longer take narcotics for pain or even inflammatory's. good luck with your treatments and i hope i have helped you out.

Question: what doctor should i go to for my herniated disc? i have gone to many doctors, orthopedics,neurolgists, hospital, podiatrist everywhere but no one can help me with my herniated disc..it hurts alot what should i do. The mri showed that i have a herniated disc but nobody will tell me what to do.

Answer: go to a different orthopedic surgeon because they are the ones that should be able to fix that!!!