Herniated Dsic suffers (lumbar or sacrum area)
- Thread starter ElaineP
- Start date
I have one in my cervical spine. I also used to work for a Neurosurgeon where I learned quite a bit about them. It depends on how severely herniated it is. Is it impinging on the spinal cord, etc. If that is the case and these very severe ones (that required immediate surgery) were not very common in his practice. If it is herniated so badly that it is severely impinging your cord, you can have a variety of symptoms, from foot drop (inability to lift your foot - flex it), severe shooting pain down your leg in a distribution relevant to where the disc is herniated, loss of bowel/bladder control (severe cases only). Milder cases cause some radiation of pain into the legs, but people who are physically active with an exercise program will not necessarily have this as badly as a sedentary person, as exercise helps most mild sufferers. With milder cases, you may also experience spasms in certain areas, as well as pain that sometimes radiates and other times does not, as well as possible numbness or tingling.
I hope this helped somewhat. I have one in my neck and have severe spasms and pain and my pain only radiates partially down my arm at times when it flares up worse than others. I also get severe headaches from it. I have a very small amount of numbness (only detectable on exam and sometimes I notice it when I'm flaring badly) in the distribution of my disc that is herniated. With cervical disc herniations, most patients experience pain in the intrascapular area and traps. This is where most of my pain is. I have had mine confirmed via MRI and it is slightly pressing on the spinal cord, but not impinging it (which is actually more of a total squishing of the cord). I have gone thru PT several times and now just manage on mimimal doses of medications and exercise. I also do stretches everyday and a few other things for it. My doctor suggests epidurals, but I don't want them. I was told I may need surgery in the future if it worsens.
I hope this helped somewhat. I have one in my neck and have severe spasms and pain and my pain only radiates partially down my arm at times when it flares up worse than others. I also get severe headaches from it. I have a very small amount of numbness (only detectable on exam and sometimes I notice it when I'm flaring badly) in the distribution of my disc that is herniated. With cervical disc herniations, most patients experience pain in the intrascapular area and traps. This is where most of my pain is. I have had mine confirmed via MRI and it is slightly pressing on the spinal cord, but not impinging it (which is actually more of a total squishing of the cord). I have gone thru PT several times and now just manage on mimimal doses of medications and exercise. I also do stretches everyday and a few other things for it. My doctor suggests epidurals, but I don't want them. I was told I may need surgery in the future if it worsens.
garance
Cathlete
My husband has this problem, and finally had an epidural 5 months ago, which brought blessed relief. He doesn't want surgery, and according to his doctor, he can have 3-4 epidurals per year. Aside from the chronic pain, especially when just standing, he had numbness in his foot and leg. He tried p.t. and steroids, but neither brought lasting relief. He is physically very active--a farmer--but still could not keep the pain or numbness under control.
Miss Lee
Cathlete
Hi Elaine,
Like another poster, I suffered a herniated disc in the cervical spine area and, because I had a cord compression, it required surgery. I am very fortunate to have had about a 98% recovery.
I believe herniations in the lumbar and sacral area are a bit more tricky. The lumbar area is your center of gravity and bears the load of just about everything you do. Symptoms can vary greatly depending on the location and degree of herniation. You may experience anything from some minor numbness and tingling to loss of muscle tissue, or even bowel and bladder problems. You may notice that you trip when you walk--something that happens with muscle loss and foot drop. You may or may not have pain. Sometimes with a cord compression you have more muscle loss and less pain. There are so many varibles!
There are a variety of treatments, including PT, that may work for you depending on the location and severity of the herniation. I wouldn't try to fix it on my own if I were you. If you haven't seen a doctor I would do so soon.
Michele
Like another poster, I suffered a herniated disc in the cervical spine area and, because I had a cord compression, it required surgery. I am very fortunate to have had about a 98% recovery.
I believe herniations in the lumbar and sacral area are a bit more tricky. The lumbar area is your center of gravity and bears the load of just about everything you do. Symptoms can vary greatly depending on the location and degree of herniation. You may experience anything from some minor numbness and tingling to loss of muscle tissue, or even bowel and bladder problems. You may notice that you trip when you walk--something that happens with muscle loss and foot drop. You may or may not have pain. Sometimes with a cord compression you have more muscle loss and less pain. There are so many varibles!
There are a variety of treatments, including PT, that may work for you depending on the location and severity of the herniation. I wouldn't try to fix it on my own if I were you. If you haven't seen a doctor I would do so soon.
Michele
ElaineP
Cathlete
Thanks for your replies.
I'm not sure if it is an herniated disc or some bruising or slight fracture of my coccyx bone or sacrum. I am having an xray done this week. I'm a little nervous as to what they might find. I've let it go for way to long. Wish me luck that it is something minor that physical therapy will be what I need.
Elaine
I'm not sure if it is an herniated disc or some bruising or slight fracture of my coccyx bone or sacrum. I am having an xray done this week. I'm a little nervous as to what they might find. I've let it go for way to long. Wish me luck that it is something minor that physical therapy will be what I need.
Elaine