in aug i had hysterectomy which herniated lumbar discs..was given mega pack(prednisone)on 10-10--took 3 days and foot and left leg became swollen and more numb and painfull..was told to stop meds...had L-5 S-1 disectomy on 10-23 (mri said someting about L-4 also) now more than month later(ruled out blood clot) my NS said that only time will tell..meanwhile i am in a lot of pain and cannot do most every day chores and cannot work..am also experiencing muscle weaklness and have trouble walking normally..and have trouble with stairs...what can be done..i was relatively active before surgeries and am upset i cannot return to normal activities and enjoy nature. help.....
Do not be dismayed. I had the exact operation 5 years ago and was left with almost the exact symptoms, except that my symptoms were in my right leg. I was devastated...I thought my life was surely over; had it not been for my husband's constant reassurance that I WOULD get better, that I had been through a horrible ordeal, the likes of which would take considerable time to recover, I think I would have just given in to pain killers and epidurals. As it turned out, it took a good 2 years for me to completely recover. Today I still have a "tiny" bit of numbness in a couple of my toes but certainly nothing to write home about;I'm so accustomed to it that, most times, I don't even notice. My advice is to hang in there, do your excercises, (VERY carefully) take no pain relievers, (the rebound effect of pain killers can be horrendous, and last, but not least, STAY AWAY FROM PHYSICAL THERAPISTS....and doctors, if you can. :-)
Font color: Bonbar: I am sorry that you are going through such ordeal. I am 32 years old and injured myself about 10 years ago pulling out a drawer at work, slowly by surely my L5 and S1 bulged and inevitably herniated as well. I haven't considered surgery and I don't think I will unless I must.
In the contrary I have opted to do my own research and DO NOT USE PAIN KILLERS (I do use Anti Inflammatory with very mild pain medicine on my worse day).
In any case I wanted to suggest these two books that have helped me tremendously, and for months I haven't experienced pain on a daily basis.
Book #1: 8 STEPS TO A PAIN FREE BACK by Esther Gokhale (Remember when it didn't hurt).
Book # 2: HEALING BACK PAIN NATURALLY by Art Brownstein
I have nothing agains Chiropractors but a few of my PT's have told me that while a Chiro's sections gives you "some comfort" it doesn't cure the herniation of the discs, and the wear and tear of tissue can be damaging. I no longer go to PT's or any of that. I have learned that The Key to a Healthy back is : (POSTURE & MUSCLE STRENGTH IN THE CORE AND BACK MUSCLES) That's it! The 8 steps books shows you Pictures and step by step exercises to stretch the spin.
Please read her Caution statement at the beginning and follow it since like me you have herniated discs.
Let me know if you get the books or buy them. If you can't find them always go online at one of the huge bookstores.
Best of luck and stay healthy :)
In the contrary I have opted to do my own research and DO NOT USE PAIN KILLERS (I do use Anti Inflammatory with very mild pain medicine on my worse day).
In any case I wanted to suggest these two books that have helped me tremendously, and for months I haven't experienced pain on a daily basis.
Book #1: 8 STEPS TO A PAIN FREE BACK by Esther Gokhale (Remember when it didn't hurt).
Book # 2: HEALING BACK PAIN NATURALLY by Art Brownstein
I have nothing agains Chiropractors but a few of my PT's have told me that while a Chiro's sections gives you "some comfort" it doesn't cure the herniation of the discs, and the wear and tear of tissue can be damaging. I no longer go to PT's or any of that. I have learned that The Key to a Healthy back is : (POSTURE & MUSCLE STRENGTH IN THE CORE AND BACK MUSCLES) That's it! The 8 steps books shows you Pictures and step by step exercises to stretch the spin.
Please read her Caution statement at the beginning and follow it since like me you have herniated discs.
Let me know if you get the books or buy them. If you can't find them always go online at one of the huge bookstores.
Best of luck and stay healthy :)