Prolapsed disc – any experience?

MRI shows that I’ve got quite a bit of jelly escaping from disc L4

This would explain the sciatica I’ve got

Consultant suggests it might fix itself as the body deals with the escaped jelly

Beyond that it’s steroid injections or surgery

Anyone have any similar experiences to share?

James,

No personal experience but as a radiologist I see lots of this. If you are getting symptoms some intervention may be useful – the studies of late show that epidural injection of steroid and local (latter for short term pain relief) has exactly the same outcome as surgery. Leaving alone and resting can also work; essentially the idea is to let the acute inflammation reduce and then the disc prolapse or fragment will involute/atrophy with time. If you can cope with the symptoms then waiting is OK but if symptoms its a choice between guided injection or microdiscectomy.

HTH – caveat is that I have not seen your scans.

I had this quite severely. I had the epidural injection and it worked very well, it hurt like hell mind. As long as I don’t lift stupidly I’m fine, my foot starts going weird as a warning!

Mine prolapsed twice. Everyone is different. After first one I could hardly walk. Second time wasn’t so bad but still a lot of sciatica. After some initial rest (though either standing or lying down, no sitting) I have had quite a bit of physio and done a lot of Pilates and back seems to be stronger than ever. Certainly go back to your physio and see of you can slowly treat it. Really try avoid sitting for a while – it does help the symptoms.

Contra view…

I had 2 discs prolapse last year. I had the Cortisone, it was a waste of time. I then had a percutaneous discectomy which made it much, much worse for a while. After about 8 months, it was 90% better. I then fkcde it up again skiing but after about 2 months, it’s 100%… All in, about a year from occurance to full fix though it still feels stiff and very fragile.

You have my sympathy, it’s a horrible thing to have. If you end up on the Tramadol, be careful as it’s very unpleasant to both use (constipation) and stop using (cold turkey). If you can manage without, do.

If you want any more detail, pm me.

Thanks all

Mine doesn’t sound as painful as some of you guys have had. I take paracetamol on the worst days but that’s not so often – in fact rolling over in bed is one of the most painful movements!

I’m still playing football, squash, etc., although I do find occasionally my right leg is temporarily weak

The doc said avoid impact sports and stick to bikes

Bikes and walking a lot. I gave up on super strong drugs, I couldn’t work but have found Nuproxen to be very effective if you need some further relief. I’d seriously work on some core strength, with physio advice, if you are still that mobile as it supports the rest of the spine. Rolling over in bed is v sore. I never found an answer to that.

James, just my twopenneth but i’d strongly advise against playing football and squash. They must be the worst things you can do for aggravating your lower back.
I foolishly played squash and an hour after coming off court couldn’t get up off my chair. I’d properly burst my disc the pain was incredible
I jumped the queue for an op (discectomy) by paying to see a top Neurosurgeon (Mr leggate at Hope hospital), but the pain i was in i never want to experience again. The frustration of it used to bring me to tears
Swimming helped a lot re strengthening plus lots of hamstring stretches.
I can now bike a bit but running is a no no and my facet joints are very worn causing a secondary arthritis and auto-immune response in my tendons.
Like i say just my twopenneth but i wouldn’t want anyone else to deal with that pain!

Balls, my two favourite sports.

Swimming’s out I can’t swim.

Will have to stick to the bike!

Cheers Dan

I’ve never had a scan or any significant effect down the legs so I suspect mine was less serious than any of those above. The few times I really set it off I was into immediate back spasms that had me immobile and in pain for a good couple of days, which then creates very stiff back muscles for another couple of days but quick recovery after that. For me the trick when it happens has been early anti-inflammatories (diclofenac for me), and mobility as soon as at all possible. I was given codeine and diazepam but didn’t feel they were helping me or were particularly necessary except maybe right at the start. For the rest of the time core exercises (Pilates) and spotting an episode early. And stretching and avoiding sitting.

I got an episode like clockwork once every 6 months for a few years but generally each was a bit less severe than the last; whether this was because I could spot the early signs and took it easy, or not, I don’t know. In between times I was fine. I don’t know how valid it is but I enjoyed the layman’s explanation a priofessor of biomechanics I know gave me – he said they start off like sacks of gel which can rupture, but as you get older the gel turns to concentrated rowntrees jelly then eventually cheddar cheese. Once they’re cheese they don’t rupture, but by then you’re 40 (as I now am)…

Caveat: I am not medically trained!

But be prepared to mix it up and don’t just stick to the bike. Found a single sport bent me two far in one direction. Swimming is amazing help. If you can’t swim consider an aqua aerobics class which is normally in the shallow end?

My experience is that sleeping position is vital; you want to be symmetrical (knees together on your side). Every time mine has gone, it has been because I have slept in a stupid position. Work on your posture, don’t spend long periods sat down, and practice moving with symmetry i.e don’t stretch/reach out to one side, turn your body and do what you need to do head on. Oh, and core training. Deadbugs, leg raises and planks can take a lot of strain off the back.
I put mine out originally 15 years ago, these are the most important things I have learnt and try to do all the time.
The only thing which has taken the pain away completely is gas and air!

@luket your Prof may be a bit off. I’m quite a bit over 40 and mine still ruptured. Their last stage is they dry out completely. Upside; no more sciatica. Downside; no more flexibility…

I had a bit of everything you say James, last year was the worst. I never used to get lower back pain regularly, just the odd flair up but last year got two very painfuller episodes close together.

Ended up with a weird gait and sciatic pain.

After a few weeks and some good advice on here i went to a physio who gave me two sheets of stretching to strengthen my lower back area.

I also ensure my sitting position at work etc is good, i also make sure my posture is correct as had been said above.

Hope it gets better, nothing worse.

I had a ruptured disc 5 years ago, the moment it went, 3am having a wee, was horrific and I sympathise with you completely.

3 weeks off work and an amazing referral got me an MRI scan and surgery appointment thereafter. Thankfully I’d recovered sufficiently that the surgeon decided not to operate. A year into the recuperation I had to take everything slow and steady. 5 years later I’m still not 100%, but I only occasionally take Naproxen if I’ve overdone it, carrying something heavy, heavy gardening etc

Pilates with a trainer that knows your condition and tackles it specifically will help massively. I did this for 6 months with 2 other guys (only 3 in a class) that had ruptured discs and the improvement was fantastic.

I had one last year 2 weeks before PPdS, rates as the most extruciatingly painful thing I have done. And that’s saying something.

Anyhoo – really did not want surgery, so we went for the painkiller/steroid injection using what seemed to be a 3ft long needle. Not nice, but got better extremely quickly after that. Most non-funny thing I have heard from a medical professional mid-procedure (needle stuck a long way into my back): “Mr. Simpson, could you please confirm that you can feel your legs” 😯

Had a minor relapse about 6 months ago, do not like opiates at all, but doc gave me an injection of something – think it was tramadol and steroids, something like that. Much better that oxynorm.

7 gone here – if you’re gonna do something…..

Core, stretches, lots of drugs is a good combo most of the time.
5hrs in an NHS waiting room for something completely unconnected isn’t.

Facet’s are ruined – can’t have any more injections in them now due to scarring from the needles.

Baclofen and Gabapentin/Pregabalin are good but takes days to cycle up to a therapeutic dose and the side effects aren’t nice.

Had an injection (nerve block) for L4/L5 problems about 9 years ago. The relief was immediate, though not having use of your legs after the sedation and needing the loo was rather interesting.
There was a whole lot of core work done afterwards to prevent any recurrence, rock climbing is ace for this and a couple of sessions down the wall a week.
Before the injection there were two 6 week bouts of severe sciatica where I could not sleep properly and my right calf was in permanent spasm. I’m glad to be rid of that. (Touches wood).