Thread: Degenerative disc disease

Since 1979 I have degenerative discs diseases in L4/5 and L5/S1
From 1986 to 1992 I lived with 8 panadine forte and 4 Valiums a day.
The sack in the disks is bulged and parts obliterated and encorched in the nerves root.
I causes:
Drop the foots
Loose control for the muscles in the legs
Pain and unable to stand for to long

So couple of Osteopathologist and want to operate.
After ask for advice to two very reputable GP both said forget bone specialist ask for opinion to neurosurgeons.
Both very reputable neurosurgeons come with the same conclusion: "come and see me when you are ready for a wheelchair and one to operate to stop the pain. The effects of the operation can be finish with a chronic pain, damage of the nerves and loose control of the legs and or the need to kill the nerves to stop the unbearable pain.
I followed their advice, done some swimming to reinforce the support of the spine and changed my occupation.
Now, I am not in so much pain and only have codeine occasional.

If you need to talk a bit more send me a PM

Take care mate and do not jump on the first or second advice.

Search Dr Joel Wallach on YouTube search by condition you will find some interesting answers

I ruptured 3 discs in the lower back when I fractured C5 vertebrae back in 1977. Was in hospital for months on and off over the next 12 years with traction as the only treatment & strong pain meds - although I found beer worked best

It was only in 1989 that I had my first MRI in Singapore & they found L4/5 grossly degenerated, L5/S1 showed a midline disc prolapse, & L3/4 degenerated. Treatment was to be a fusion, but I only had 8 weeks sick leave so didn't do it. Went on physio & exercise program. - and lots of Tiger beer.

Had another 6 years of agony, physio, acupuncture, but carried on windsurfing, kayaking & walking - non of which helped the pain. Eventually ended up in Perth hospital & after declining a titanium prosthesis for 3 levels - looked like something out of Aliens, eventually referred to a pain clinic in St John of God hospital. Dr Hamzah was the gentleman that fixed my back with a procedure called Rhyzolisis (I think) facet joint nerves deadened with radio waves whilst on a low energy live X-Ray machine. Not many problems since. No pain killers since - apart from beer & red wine, have walked the Cape to Cape with 25kg pack, walk 10 kms every day, crawl under Series 1 Land Rovers, and drive same all over WA.

Still can't touch my toes & socks are a pain. Go see the pain clinic at SJOG in Subiaco, they also fixed similar problems with 3 discs in my neck - probably Rugby did that!

Cheers Nigel

I have damage to the L4 L5. Couple of years ago I got the steroid and pain injection to the spine. Was bliss for 6 months. That has allowed me to heal and manage my back issues. I have learn't to know the warning signs and stop before they happen.
My father-in-law has similar issues and has had a couple of vertebra fused. His advice was hold as long as possible before surgery as there a no guarantees but he did say once done the difference is pure heaven. The other side of the coin is you heal better when young so that is a plus for surgery.

Other risk is follow on issues, I now have Peripheral Neuropathy in the legs. It was sudden onset over the new year. Now I'm waiting on specialist visits, taking heavy medication and learning to manage the symptoms. I was out of action for all of Jan and am still adjusting to being back at work. I have got most of my mobility back but have had to be careful with what I do. I have also learn't the hard way to check my feet every night for injuries.

I have 3 prolapsed discs for about 13 years now. I have had 3 epidurals (quarterzone) over the years which gave temp relief. In the past few years I have been using meloxicam/mobic (same thing) on a daily basis & find that it helps a lot. Obviously, as I am sure you are aware, simply changing the way you do things (lifting,etc) helps. Sometimes I have episodes where I am left flat on my back & when this occurs I use diazepam. This helps the muscles in the surrounding area relax. I have looked into surgery but have heard mixed reports. My theory is that medical advancement is always on the improve so the longer I can postpone ANY surgery the better. Hope this helps & good luck with it all. Only someone with cronic back pain can appreciate what you are going through. Before my back was rooted I used to think that most people who complained were full of **** (& maybe just too lazy to work).....guess I was wrong

Originally Posted by gofish

I have 3 prolapsed discs for about 13 years now. I have had 3 epidurals (quarterzone) over the years which gave temp relief. In the past few years I have been using meloxicam/mobic (same thing) on a daily basis & find that it helps a lot. Obviously, as I am sure you are aware, simply changing the way you do things (lifting,etc) helps. Sometimes I have episodes where I am left flat on my back & when this occurs I use diazepam. This helps the muscles in the surrounding area relax. I have looked into surgery but have heard mixed reports. My theory is that medical advancement is always on the improve so the longer I can postpone ANY surgery the better. Hope this helps & good luck with it all. Only someone with cronic back pain can appreciate what you are going through. Before my back was rooted I used to think that most people who complained were full of **** (& maybe just too lazy to work).....guess I was wrong

That statement is so true, I was treated the same way by people when I was in my 20's after a motorcycle MVA left me with wedge fractured thoracic vertabrae and chronic pain for years after. Took a long time to get back to work etc, and is now reverting to more and more pain as the years go on, this last winter being one of the worst since the 1986 accident. I am starting to get degenerative issues due to osteoarthritis etc now too.

Andy just take it easy and think long and hard before ANY spinal surgery. I refused a fusion etc and even though I have days when I just wish it was all a bad dream and I might wake up with no pain and all my mobility back, I don't regret that decision as surgery can possibly make it a whole lot worse.

Take care mate and I'm thinking of you/ hoping you feel better soon


JC

gofish, do not have diazepam and codeine together, it can affect the brain and you stop breeding. It is a terrible experience, believe me and I discovered it in the hard way.
Try Mersydol Forte, do the same as the tow above drugs and is less dangerous.
I am doing deep meditation to control the pain and works with me.

Originally Posted by Chucaro

gofish, do not have diazepam and codeine together, it can affect the brain and you stop breeding. It is a terrible experience, believe me and I discovered it in the hard way.
Try Mersydol Forte, do the same as the tow above drugs and is less dangerous.
I am doing deep meditation to control the pain and works with me.

I think you must mean breathing Arthur .

Hope you are OK? regards to SWMBO, must catch up soon. JC