Experience with a herniated disc

[overboard]

Anyone dealt with this? MRI shows herniated disc I think L4 or 5. It hurts so freaking bad. I’m starting gabapentin. Not sure of spelling. They also talked about a spinal block.

Looking for advice or commiseration I guess. 😭

[hawkward]

I’m sorry. It really really sucks. I’ve been dealing with one for around 20 years now. Injections help a lot. Radiofrequency ablation makes a huge difference too.

In the pain clinic, we see better results (and fewer side effects) with pregabalin vs gabapentin. That might be worth looking into.

[itsalrightma]

I had herniated disc L5-S1. My was so severe I wasn’t a candidate for injections. I did PT with no relief and ultimately had to have a laminectomy. I will say that I had immediate relief post surgery. I re-injured it about 6 months post-op (getting out of the car 🙄) but the pain is nothing compared to pre-op. I was so hesitant for surgical intervention but now I wish I had done it sooner to save myself the pain and suffering. I hope you find relief. My surgery was 13 years ago now and my only regret is that I waited so long. I’m so sorry you are experiencing this. I hope the meds give you some relief!

[ellewoods]

I had one but it must not have been bad. I was given gabapentin and told to strengthen my core.

[AmyG]

Jul 31, 2024 18:21:13 GMT -6 hawkward said:

I’m sorry. It really really sucks. I’ve been dealing with one for around 20 years now. Injections help a lot. Radiofrequency ablation makes a huge difference too.

In the pain clinic, we see better results (and fewer side effects) with pregabalin vs gabapentin. That might be worth looking into.

But don't be surprised if your insurance makes you trial gabapentin first.
Both of those make me dizzy at fairly low doses.

[raindrops]

Hi, longtime lurker and finally created an account, I am in the exact same place as you. I went to the ER last week the pain was so bad, MRI showed herniated disc at L4 L5 and I have bad nerve pain in my right leg. I’ve been taking gabapentin since then, it’s taking the edge off but I’m still in significant pain and it’s definitely severely limiting what I can do. I have a consult appt with orthopedic spine surgery in a couple weeks and have started PT. It really is the worst, I’m so sorry you’re experiencing it too but glad to know I’m not alone.

[geekygirly]

My husband dealt with this. He tried injections and PT, but ultimately needed surgery. When they went in they found his injury was so bad he had a tear in his spinal cord lining and it was leaking fluid 😳. He is much better now (probably 80% back to normal, just needs to be careful not to overdo it and still has some lifting restrictions).

[Rusty Red]

Please stay in tune with your mental health on Gaba. It can cause some issues, spoken from experience.

Mine were bulging but not fully herniated and managed to reabsorb. I'm sorry you're dealing with this!

[lucilleaustero]

Unfortunately, yes. I had one in my lower back that was acute and resolved with no interventions other than predisone. I have a chronic one in my neck that I got from doing something at the gym. Been dealing with it for about 20 years. Steroid injections have helped. Stretching has helped (though that is super location specific). It recurs periodically but never quite as bad as the initial incident.

[Eagles]

Yes, L5/S1 extrusion. It got worse last winter, so I've had two injections this year, a few rounds of oral steroids, and switched from 1800mg of gabapentin daily to 300mg of pregabalin daily. PT was okay, but didn't fully resolve it.

I'm basically trying to avoid surgery if at all possible. I'm sorry, it sucks.

[overboard]

My sympathies to everyone else dealing with this. It’s miserable.

They are not encouraging surgery at this point. I have an appointment with pain management tomorrow, but I’m trying not to get my hopes up. I just need to return to some semblance of normalcy.

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences.

[Eagles]

Aug 6, 2024 10:42:49 GMT -6 overboard said:

My sympathies to everyone else dealing with this. It’s miserable.

They are not encouraging surgery at this point. I have an appointment with pain management tomorrow, but I’m trying not to get my hopes up. I just need to return to some semblance of normalcy.

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences.

I will say that I went almost 20 years with a herniation before it got to this point. I did PT a couple of times, and also started Pilates to really work on that core strength. Stability in the core protects your spine in a big way. This can be resolved with conservative treatment, so don't give up hope! My anesthesiologist has a patient in his 80s who comes in once about every 3 years for an injection and is right back to feeling fine.

[raindrops]

As a short term help I’ve been getting some relief from going to the chiropractor. I know people have mixed views on this but I really trust mine and have seen her in the past. If you can find someone good it’s definitely helping me, I saw her once last week and again yesterday and feel a pretty immediate difference for that next couple days. I’m trying to combine Chiro and then PT later that same day, the exercises are feeling a lot better with that combo.

[Eagles]

Aug 6, 2024 12:58:04 GMT -6 raindrops said:

As a short term help I’ve been getting some relief from going to the chiropractor. I know people have mixed views on this but I really trust mine and have seen her in the past. If you can find someone good it’s definitely helping me, I saw her once last week and again yesterday and feel a pretty immediate difference for that next couple days. I’m trying to combine Chiro and then PT later that same day, the exercises are feeling a lot better with that combo.

I had an awesome chiropractor (he did the Activator method which I loved), but he closed his practice for family reasons and I haven't been able to find another one I'm happy with. A good chiro can really make a big difference.

[raindrops]

I got an epidural steroid injection yesterday and that has really helped, I’m stiff but pain free today, feels amazing! I have a consult with the ortho surgeon next week for a potential microdisectomy, anyone have any advice or pros/cons for considering surgery when the steroid injection has helped? I felt sure I was headed for surgery but now I don’t know whether to wait out the physical therapy route?

[pbjam]

We dealt with this for years with DH. First one worsened post car accident. He got injections, went to the chiropractor and ultimately had the laminectomy circa 2012. He was good for a number of years and then re-injured I'm 2018, ended up with numbness that traveled down his leg. His surgeon is a one laminectomy and then straight to fusion guy. So he had a fusion late 2019.

All this to say, if you experience numbness, do not wait. Get in asap. We are here 5 years post fusion and he still has one foot that is numb. It's ok now - but I have some fear about how it could be bad in the future.

[hawkward]

Aug 22, 2024 12:24:59 GMT -6 raindrops said:

I got an epidural steroid injection yesterday and that has really helped, I’m stiff but pain free today, feels amazing! I have a consult with the ortho surgeon next week for a potential microdisectomy, anyone have any advice or pros/cons for considering surgery when the steroid injection has helped? I felt sure I was headed for surgery but now I don’t know whether to wait out the physical therapy route?

We usually advise people to avoid the surgery route if possible. A lot of people can get good relief from PT and injections.