Herniated disc: What does it mean for amateur machinist?

[taydin]

Last week was a nightmare week because of intense lumbar pain. Had this type of pain on and off in the past years, but always dismissed it as some kind of a stiff back. But this time it was quite severe and didn't respond to applying heat with a hair dryer or taking a hot shower. So went to the doctor, got an MRI. The result, 3 herniated discs, one of them ruptured and applying pressure to the spinal nerves... The doc wants me to undergo surgery as soon as possible. I will get the opinion of a few more doctors and will do everything possible to avoid surgery.

So, what is this going to mean for an amateur machinist?

[macona]

My dad has/had three disks herniated. Three back surgeries to go with it.

He is currently on methadone as a pain killer.

What does it mean? Not too much, you will be pain for rest of your life.

The surgery will help things from getting worse and help with the pain. There is pretty much no avoiding it, my dad tried all sorts of things but surgery is about the only thing you can do. Things are damaged and need to be fixed before it gets worse.

[SteveF]

I've been dealing with 2 herniated discs in my lower back for a couple of decades. Handling it with pain killers, muscle relaxants, Ibuprofen (which did a nice job messing up my digestive tract), etc. Finally the sciatic pain in both legs got so bad I was not functional and had microdiskectomies this past spring. Truly a crappy experience. Didn't get out of bed for the first 5 days except for the 45 minutes of "walking" (6" steps) my doctor demanded (if you lay in bed long enough you can get blood clots that can kill you, just a little fun fact).

My wife took two weeks of vacation to help me which was a necessity and just getting in and out of bed was brutal.

Lifting limits were 10 lbs for Feb, 20 lbs for March, 30 lbs for April, etc. About a year for full recovery. Pretty sad to have to use my fork lift to move a 60 lb motor around. Back is far better than it was, no more sciatic pain, although pretty stiff in the morning and I am constantly watching what I lift and still take some muscle relaxants or drink some alcohol.

If you don't have any sciatic pain, I'd try to manage it as best as possible with exercise and medication.

Back problems suck.

Steve

[rubes]

For me it was C6 and C7 in my neck. pretty much my right arm was useless (right handed too) and horrible pain. could not even hold a cup of coffee. It was not constant though and would subside some days, but never go away. Since I hate doctors, I "dealt with it" for 7 or 8 months before going in and getting an MRI that identified the C6 and C7 issue. Luckily, the doctor did not believe in surgery as a first course of action. I did forgo the cortisone shots too. I was put into physical therapy two or three days a week. This included, ultrasound massage, hot packs, and traction. Worked out really well, and been pain free for 7 years (still very minor tingling in my fingertips sometimes).
Definitely get a few other opinions. Good luck. as others have said, back/neck problems sux.

[rkepler]

15 years ago I lost 4 lumbar discs in 2 surgeries a few years apart. The first was a simple discectomy, the second a full laminectomy. The second was done in a hurry as I was losing the core of my spinal cord, in the end I lost 50% of the function in my left leg and 25% in my right (but at least I can pee).

Long term for me it means shorter times in the shop and fewer visits. Running my loco can be difficult as I know what it's going to feel like later. I can't lift much and have trouble going up ladders. I fall when trying to balance on my left leg and fall in the shower with my eyes closed if I can't lean on a wall.

If a couple of surgeons think you need a discectomy I'd suggest that you take their advice. Keep track of things so that if symptoms return you take care of it before you get damage. I toughed it out, don't make the same mistake.

[lazlo]

If you don't have any sciatic pain, I'd try to manage it as best as possible with exercise and medication.

About 5 months ago, I was waking up with burning in my lower back, and an MRI showed that L4/L5 was herniated. The litmus test is sciatic pain -- I didn't have it, so the orthopedist recommended diet, exercise, and a lot of stretching.

I'm a chip designer -- we spend hours in front of a monitor, and depending on how you sit, there are a lot of L4/L5, or C6/C7 herniations or spurs. Your body adapts to the position, and you get hyper lordosis -- your ligaments shorten, and the stabilizer muscles in that direction weaken.

5 months later and I've lost a lot of weight, I'm running ~ 12 miles/week, stretching, and I feel a whole lot better. I'd love to see what the discs look like now, but I don't think insurance would cover a second MRI.

[flylo]

I used to be an Ox. 6'4",Could lift anything. Leg press 650# all day. Did 2000+ sit ups in a row,rode a bicycle 4000+ miles one year. Never had a doctor as I never needed one. Moving a log I blew out 4 lower disc & pinched flat both spinal bundles where they split into both legs. I walk with a 4 legged cane, can't walk or stand lond. Wore a bone growth stimulator 8 hrs a day for 6 months after having 4 disc removed & 2 cages installed. Was on a walker for a year. Lost my 30+ year job. In pain all the time. I had to wait 4 months to get into a surgeon. Don't accept that get it fixed NOW. If you want a second opinion get it NOW. Please dont wait as the damage is growing. I wish you well & pray they can get you back to 100%. Sometimes they can. GET IT DONE NOW!

[taydin]

Thank you for all the great, insightful responses. The amount of collective knowledge and experience in this forum is amazing...

Luckily, I currently don't have any numbness in the legs and the pain is localized only in the lumbar region. The physical therapist gave me a special lumber cushion, which I use now when I drive or when I sit in front of the computer. It really made a difference! I am an electronics engineer doing software/firmware development and just like lazlo, I sit endless hours in front of the computer.

My biggest concern not being able to lift anything in the shop or do gardening work, which I enjoy and do a lot. I didn't have any problem lifting my 90 pound milling machine vise or my rotary table before, but now... Guess I won't even attempt it...

[ogre]

+1 for macona & +1 for rkepler. I was factory worker,and automotive mechanic whuch i had to stop both except the iccasional car. So i got into machining hoping itd be easier to do instead of going under a car and crawling back up to my feet. Ive looked at my glock alotta times cause tough for many reasons. I cant provide for my wife and daughter anymore,ive lost alotta control in my hands and legs,and i cant go into my garage everyday like i want to. I am 6'1" 270lbs and i worked out 3-5 times a week before thus happened. I have 2 discs in neck fused and 2 in low back. I am serious to say ,try EVERYTHING you can try before surgery,cause once its done,thats it,no reversing it. Surgery may work for some but not me and medical magazines and doctors are coming out to say that the surgeries are failing in high order. Theyll push you into it cause its big money but dont go so easy. I am only 35yrs old and mine was the cause of a girl i was riding w pulled out in front of a semi and killed 3 of us and 2 if us lived. Stay happy and stay focused on life and uts many treasures. Hope u can get a good doctor to guide u through.Forgive my typing and words,part of muscle control,and i get tired of fixing mis typed words lol
Edit: Ask a doctor and it may have to be one that isnt gonna recieve money from you. Ask him/her if neck or back surgery will fix neck or back pain. The answer is NO it does not. Surgery will only help w nerve pain in legs,feet,butt, and neck will only help w nerve pain in arm,shoulder. If they tell you surgery will fix neck or back pain then theyre already lieing to u. I did not find this out till after surgery at I.U University in indianapolis.

[ogre]

And flylo is a pretty big guy. Alittle taller than me lol