herniated discs?

Has anyone suffered and recovered from herniated discs? Someone close to me was in a car accident that left her with TWELVE and I am trying to find out if it's possible that people go about their normal routines after physical therapy??

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My father had herniated discs in his neck when he tried to move my piano with his back. He wound up needing surgery where they removed bones from his hip and fused it with the bones in his neck.
It was pretty severe...

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she's not in pain.... but her MRI shows 12.... and her livelihood is something that requires her to be on her feet and using her arms/back all day...

do you ever really 'heal' from them? or as long as you're not in pain, youre OK to continue living life as normal?

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some herniations are a lot more severe than others and some people have herniations that cause no pain at all. however, 12 is a lot. she should go over the MRIs and any other tests in detail with a doctor. i am not sure how accurately they can predict which ones may act up later. even without much pain, they may want to send her for some physical therapy to show her how to keep her back strong.

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That is an awful lot of herniations....PT may help but if she is on her feet alot, I am guessing she may need some intervention. I have four and they fused two of them so far. I am worlds better. for your friend, hope she is okay.

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I have/had a herniated disc in my lower back - between the L5 and S1 discs. I was 24 at the time and in severe pain, I couldn't even sit or stand. I saw many doctors and since I was so young, we decided against surgery. But I took steroids and was on bed rest for 2 weeks to see if the herniation would "heal" it self. It did, for the most part, I never had surgery and I feel good for the most part. It hurt a lot when I was pregnant, but I am fine now.

Message edited 5/7/2007 7:12:50 PM.

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I have one from when I had a compression fracture of the spine...I used to be in pain all the time...but now its less often...I can def feel it when its cold and rainy and I most likely have arthritis in my spine when i'm older...,mine is not something that will heal on its own..I'm just glad my spine did, otherwise I would be paralyzed from the waist down

Message edited 5/7/2007 7:58:23 PM.

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thanks for all your help, guys.... so do you think that from your experience if she feels OK she should continue her line of work?

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def not...I can no longer lift heavy objects...and I can't stand on my feet all day...despite the fact that I work in a school I am able to sit at times and wear sneakers
I was also advised to not do anything that might even risk me hurting my back again...as Per my PT and my orthopedic

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so in the experience of those who have had herniated discs before she's out of work for good?

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Every case is different...she does def need to consult her dr and pt.

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I'm recovering from spinal fusion for just one of 3 herniated discs I have. I have suffered for 2 years doing injections and therapy before I constented to surgery. I feel so much better 3 months later. I have a whole lot of PT to go but in my case surgery made a huge difference!

Message edited 5/8/2007 10:44:22 AM.

Re: herniated discs?

Re: herniated discs?

It all depends. Back pain is really difficult to predict. Some people can have multiple herniations and not know it, and some people can have one and live in constant pain. A lot goes into backpain, how you treat it, how you take care of it, daily wear and tear, STRESS, how fit you are, etc.

I have 4 herniations and it has caused me periods of time when I could not live a normal life. I had to quit school and jobs and had very limited mobility. Then I realized all of the treatments were making me WORSE and since then I've been pretty good. Can I go hiking? No. Can I go to work? yes. Do I have to modify things at work and make majhor adjustments to my routine? yes.

I think it's really impossible to predict, but hopefully she will be able to find a balance where she can control her problem and not the other way around. It's a hard road and I can't really sugar coat it. I was a dancer before I got herniated discs. Now I gained 70 lbs and I'm not dancing anymore (I did try...I couldn't.. ). It's not easy, but there is a chance she can go on to live a mostly normal life.

Also, I have not had surgery. For me, the riskjs outweigh the potential benefits, but she mnay be a good candidate for surgery.

My main advice is listen to your body, not the doctors. I was all wtwisted and could barely walk for months and they just kpet giving me more and more treatments, more and more physical therapy. I was tired, but they told me it was good. Finally I got the flu and didn't go for treatments for 2 weeks and I was much better. Also, I don't understand accupuncture at all, but it works. So you really have to keep an open mind and find a doctor that can also keep an open mind.

I hope your friend has a speedy recovery.

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I've never heard of that many herniations. My old boyfriend has 3 herniated discs. He had laser surgery to repair them, which helped tremendously.

My cousin broke almost all of her vertebrae except the top 2 (which is the only reason she can walk). She does work but she's expected to be on pain killers for the rest of her life.

Good luck to your friend! The only advice I can give is not to give up when it comes to finding different opinions.

Message edited 5/7/2007 9:34:15 PM.

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DH has 3 in his back from moving his back the wrong way while surfing. He functions normally and never needed any therapy. He was in pain at first but it went away.

I work for an insurance company and pay pain and suffering claims to people in accidents. Many people with herniations. So I am familiar with this stuff. Most people have herniations and don't even know it. Surgery is not done as much anymore because sometimes it causes more bad than good to the person. Most people have to watch what they lift and take it easy, but are able to lead normal lives.

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I have 1--it only hurts if I move or pick up somthing the wrong way

My mom has all of hers herniated..she had polio when she was little and had most of them fused. She works on her feet all day and is ok. It hurts her from time to time though...

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wow.... 12 is a lot.
I've never met anyone that can be on their feet all day with herniated discs - and the most I know of someone having is 7.

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yikies....thats alot of hernitaed disks, 12 She must be in so much pain.

I have two in my neck and it is really frustrating becuase it is painful. I have done chiropractic and heat therapy, but I have stopped and I am kinda managing it on my own.

Good Luck to your friend.

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wow 12 herniated discs ouch....

I have 1 in my neck and 3 in my back and one that is deteriorating.

I also have TMJ and Sciatica. All from a car accident in 1999.

The only thing that helps me is going to the chiropractor and physical therapy.

Keep the weight off

excersize
stretch

Apply ice when needed.....

and if they work a lot of hours in a seated position, walk around every half hour or so.