AmyDavid

Hi everyone

My OH has been suffering with a Herniated Disc for 5 weeks now. Nothing seems to be helping. Have any of you suffered with this and if so - what treatments/pain relief would you recommend?

Thanks :0)

linz3112

Sorry, other than Cold/ Heat Packs and perhaps Volteral Gel (if you even have that in Canada?) i don't know. Just wanted to wish him well and hope he gets better soon.

Lx

Oink

Cold packs and oxycodone & acetaminophen.

gryphea

my OH had this 5 years ago and was off work for 6 weeks

I would recommend time off work. No sitting and mcKenzie exercises (http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/...4665-item.html). get good phsyiotherapy.

My BIL has just had an operation for his herniated disc as it never got bette but he never rested up

I have had a bulging disc twice this year and he has my sympathies.

AmyDavid

I think that is part of the problem - my OH cannot take time of work. Financially, we just cannot do it. I will go look at the mckenzie exercises. Thank you :0)

AmyDavid

Thank you

AmyDavid

Thank you :0)

gryphea

I know my BILs same problem as he is self employed. But beleive me it can get very serious. Spinal operations carry risk and increase chances of future herniations. plus spinal ops require time off. He should think about a week in which he stays home but stays mobile as bed rest isn't good, goes for flat walks and doesn't sit.

I reckon he needs to do mackenzie push ups every two hours. Oh's phsio told him this, so did mine here and so did BILs when he finally sought advice

AmyDavid

He has had two weeks off but it hasn't really done anything. He is also attending physio sessions now. Hopefully it will come good - thank you for your help :0)

Oink

Surgery is the very very absolutely without a doubt last option. Most back pain dissipates over time, but you might also consider cortisone shots, they helped me when I had a neck problem after a motorbike accident.

gryphea

Oh - well that's good news it sounded like he wasn't doing anything to help.

The thing with backs (our experinece) is that any improvement is totally incremental and slow and so its frustrating.

Maybe get him to keep a journal so he can actually see the improvement as its difficult to see on a daily (or even weekly) basis

Good luck

SAW 04

Yep, had this condition for many years resulting in surgery to remove the disc and some of the spine bone. My surgeon always advised against hot treatments as it can inflame the already swollen tissues around the disc. Id avoid ibruprofen if at all possible as this can spike blood pressure. Ive used tylenol 3's whenever i have pain, seems to work well.

Greenhill

I had prednisone a couple of times recently (5 days of pills each time). The first time it worked well for the pain. The second time it was a smaller dose but the side-effects (including insomnia and, er, something I'd rather not mention on a public forum) just made me glad to get off the stuff.

I don't know if cortisone shots work similarly to prednisone but, if so, it's a really strong medicine (I think the pharmacist said it causes kidney problems "quite quickly")... so to OP, ask the doctor,if he recommends it, about the side-effects.

AlexInBC

Totally agree with Gryphea's recommendation - that book (well, the exercises described within it) worked absolute miracles for me in the same situation.

Check your local library as even ours carries it and it is probably one of the tiniest libraries on Earth

redneckboy

Happy to chime in here with my experience.

I've got one of these in the lowest disc in my back. In my case the key was getting the right diagnosis and someone who takes an interest.

I had off and on back pains for years, then it felt like my leg was on fire to my toes, everything was agony. Went to GP several times, "have this pill, no have this pill" over and over.

Went to physio who told me I had a problem with a pulled muscle in my bum causing leg pain and did exercises. Went a bunch of times and got no where. She was seriously hot though.
Went to another physio who talked some other drivel about bad posture and did more exercises, got nowhere. Went ostopath, told had misplaced something. equally unhelpful and a seemed a bit nutty.


Went back to GP, sent me to hospital to see back people. saw another physio who I think was about 13. Told bad posture again, said ya but leg on fire. Now its been 5 months of leg on fire.

Mate said see my chiropracter. Went to see him, big bastard. Told me had torn disc and did you know your left leg is wasting away? Sent me for MRI in London(£200 and best money spent). Told him all the nonsense I was told, he shrugged shoulders and said something about I see lots of that. Said we'll try loosen you up but really need to go see surgeon as its properly knackered, gave me letter and CD of scan.

Saw GP who spat venom about chiro. Me WTF, you never got off your bum?.

Back to hospital, saw another physio, this one maybe 21 but minger. Told seen chiro, spat verbal venom, gave her letter and cd of MRI from chiro and reminded allready seen bunch of your mob and no better and told nothing but nonsense.

Chiro made it a bit easier, saw surgeon, said lets inject it or hack it open, spoke well of chiro. Opted for injection, which resembled large sewing needle, as surgeon kept squinting to read letter. No expert here but bad eyesight and surgery cannot be a good mix.

Leg much better couple weeks after needle. Went back chiro, gave me back excercises, told me I'm a fat bastard and need to lose weight. Said thanks for that. Lost weight and much better.

3-yrs on, see chiro every now and then when back stiff, crack crack, miracle. Left leg still skinny but no real pain in it.

my experience was chiro good for back pain, surgeon the dogs for leg pain. Physio talked nonsense and was helpful for, um, er, um. Not in my case but had good success from one recently for knee.

Good luck and would never wish that pain on anyone.

of course everyones experience is different but that was mine. My advise would be if its not getting better get a scan and don't get fobbed off by the hospital or GP.