Herniated or bulging disc

[matthewb0051]

Looking for some feedback on whether anyone has had one.

I've had degenerative disc now for over 10 years. It sucks and is painful.

Within the last couple of weeks the pain has changed and now I have what feels like bruise when touched and is raised around L4 / L3. I have no reason to have a bruise, haven't banged up on anything. The pain radiates from that location to my hip but not really any further.

Does that sound like a herniated or bulging disc? I am a sole practitioner and don't have time for this nonsense otherwise I won't be eating...

[stevej37]

If you can feel with your hand that your vertebrae is raised in a section...it could also be a compressed fracture. Mine felt like the spine was raised at least a half inch further out than the rest. Also had the same pains you describe.

I had x-rays and MRI done and it clearly showed the fracture. Went in for surgery this last Feb and it straightened that out. Surgery was at 9am and I walked out to my car at 11am.

Have you had x-rays or MRI done yet?

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Have you had x-rays or MRI done yet?

Last MRI was 2015ish.

[stevej37]

If it's now changed for the worse since then, I would have it done again.
It prob won't improve without something done.

They did the balloon kyphoplasty on mine. A disc repair is a diff procedure...but they can do it easier today than 10 years back.

[nota]

EX BOSS'S gf had a bad one

had a scientific american mag with a big article on that

basic study said dead heat result cut med or leave alone

LUCK OF THE DRAW RESULTS

[Jeff Higgins]

I have two completely degenerated discs, one at the same L3/L4 as yours and one a bit higher up. Both are so dried out they can't swell or bulge anymore. I used to get cortisone shots in them, until there wasn't enough soft tissue left to absorb it anymore.

It's been 20 years at least, but I do remember having surgery to relieve one (or both, I just can't remember) of them. This was back when they were still soft enough to herniate or bulge. The thing I do remember about all of that was that it was day surgery, virtually at the "drive through window". I was back on my feet and back at work with minimal time lost. I want to say no more than a day or two, including the day of the surgery.

Can they do this orthoscopically today? Mine was old fashioned scalpel and stitches. I would hope that with modern methods, you can experience even less downtime than I did.

Good luck. I "feel your pain" - it certainly isn't pleasant. Mine went all the way down my right leg at times. No fun at all.

[Googam]

I've had back issues for 25 years. Go get an MRI or at least a cat scan. See what's going on down there. I've had a double fusion L2,L3 & L4 in my neck & a double fusion lower back L3,L4 & L5. Don't mess around.

Brad

[Gogar]

try to get a prescription for a week of prednisone and see what happens

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by stevej37

They did the balloon kyphoplasty on mine. .

https://www.medtronic.com/us-en/healthcare-professionals/products/spinal-orthopaedic/vertebral-augmentation/kyphon-balloon.html

[pavulon]

Spondylolisthesis?

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/spondylolisthesis/#:~:text=Spondylolisthesis%20is%20where%20one%20of ,common%20in%20the%20lower%20back.

[Arizona_928]

You'll probably get a MRI. CT and/or Xray depending on the medical group. MRI will show a lot if it's narrowing of the spinal canal, bulging disk or blow out. The caution I'll give is to find a competent MD to do the work. A lot of med groups have gone to nurse practitioners for this role and it's absolutely insane.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by Googam

I've had back issues for 25 years. Go get an MRI or at least a cat scan. See what's going on down there. I've had a double fusion L2,L3 & L4 in my neck & a double fusion lower back L3,L4 & L5. Don't mess around.

Brad

Double fusion as in post & anterior fixation?

[gchappel]

You can not feel a bulging/herniated disk from the skin, there is no lump. If you are actually feeling something- it is not the disk- it is something else.
This sounds like a significant change- so I would see your doc.
If imaging is warranted MRI gives a better look at the disks. If it is a compression fracture either will visualize it, although our interventionalists prefer MRI for kyphoplasty planning.
I would not try treatments before you actually know what it is.
I would not delay seeking treatment, you will not start to get better until treatment begins.
gary

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by gchappel

You can not feel a bulging/herniated disk from the skin, there is no lump. If you are actually feeling something- it is not the disk- it is something else.
This sounds like a significant change- so I would see your doc.
If imaging is warranted MRI gives a better look at the disks. If it is a compression fracture either will visualize it, although our interventionalists prefer MRI for kyphoplasty planning.
I would not try treatments before you actually know what it is.
I would not delay seeking treatment, you will not start to get better until treatment begins.
gary

yes yes. Lamina is in the way...

[cstreit]

My L4/L5 is sketchy. No advice for you, just a wish of good fortune.

[Googam]

Both fusions were posterior. 4 rods & 8 screws each, titanium spacers surrounded by bone graphs. Aftermath of neck.

[cstreit]

Daaaamn. THey put a zipper in there?