Is there a connection between a herniated and bulging disk (both lumbar)and problems with urination and unexplained weight loss? I have an appt. with my doc concerning these issues, but was curious to know what you think.
View 1 RepliesI am in complete pain ! Am on hydrocodone. Effexor. And morphine but in seeing if natural ways would help trying to keep from surgery any advice
View 6 RepliesI'm a 19 year old female and i've noticed that I've lost at least 5-6kg (~60kg - 54kg) of weight since the middle of march. Initially in march i intended to lose weight by eating less and exercising more, however this didn't last for long and although I was eating a little less it doesn't warrant how much weight I've lost since then. Since coming home from university at the end of june I weighed myself and was shocked by my weight loss! Since seeing the weight loss in June I've eaten a lot more but am finding it difficult to actually put on weight (but haven't lost anymore weight).
I also found a moveable lump under my jaw, it is painless and there is only one of them. It is roughly 1cm in size (if not a few mm bigger).
I feel as if i find it hard to breathe in but I've been looking up a lot of symptoms on the internet and am not sure if this is just my mind telling me that I'm having breathing difficulties!
I'm a long time sufferer of low back pain (20 years, I'm 42). I believe I've given my diagnosis & previous treatment rundown on a previous post, but I'll post it here again, hopefully short and sweet:
Last MRI (Feb. 2012)
Bulging L4-L5, Herniated L5-S1 (Central Annular Tear, 6mm protrusion)
Previous MRI in 2008 showed basically the same as above.
I have tried most therapies & treatments, including but not exclusively:
Acupuncture, TENS, PT, ESI in 2008 & 2012, Prolotherapy, Mackenzie Stretching, Chiro, Massage.
Some of my main activities that I've had to scale back to, and serve as productive exercise:
Walking everyday, inversion table, swimming, Mackenzie stretching.
I used to do martial arts and grappling and have not done so in a couple years now.
I have a hard time now with doing things that I HAVE to do, like working around the house or sitting in my car to drive to work as a couple examples. I cannot do any type of sports that have ANY kind of flexion movement. (I'm able to swim because my back is in extension position)
I've been reading some posts regarding folks who've had the microdiscectomy procedure done, and I've met with many neuro and ortho surgeons during my long journey. I've also begun to research BMSC treatment as well, as this is proving to be very promising, but is still in the very early stages of acceptance and use in the States. I've always opted to not have an invasive procedure because of fear of it not helping and possibly making things worse.
However, I'm just tired of the conservative approach not working and I'm tired of not being able to fully live my life.
Believe me, I understand there are many that are worse off than me and I wish I could help you because I know how bad chronic pain is and what is does to you physically AND mentally.
All the doctors I've ever seen look at me (at 5'9, 150 lbs, lean and "looking" healthy), and I pass all the "strength" tests they give me. They tell me to go conservative, which I fully respect. However, just because I look healthy and can pass them pushing on my legs and feet while I resist, and I'm not losing bladder or bowel control doesn't mean that the slightest move or overdoing it won't put me down again.
Case in point, (After 2 years since my last episode and the walking and my conservative exercising not giving me the progress I'm expecting after 2 years), I decided to, (at the recommendation of a sports med doctor), to go see a well respected and very highly recommended, (by friends), PT Strength and Conditioning coach. He put me through an initial PT type evaluation and I had my first session last night. Well, about half-way through, something wasn't feeling right. We scaled down the workout, (which was pretty conservative already), to just stretching at that point. Long story short, I'm now back to stabbing pain, radiating leg pain and tingling, and standing crooked and not being able to sit down.
I'm really beginning to seriously consider surgery, or possibly explore BMSC treatment for the disc(s). I'm sure since it's been 2 years from my last one, I'll need another MRI before doing anything.
My question is, what would you do if you were in my shoes?
Had a disectomy 2 years ago on l3 l4 and worked wonders on my sciatica however lower back pain is always there. 2 years on I have a herniated disc at l4/l5. I have been off work for 8 weeks now and walk with a stick. I am going back to work on Monday for 2 hours to see how I go. I'm on tramadol naproxen paracetamol but still not finding any relief. I have had PT and didn't help. I am now being referred to the hospital pain management clinic in June. I can walk 15 mins with a stick before excruciating pain in my leg and back. I feel I have no life and this will never end.
View 1 RepliesFirst time on these boards and hoping to find some answers. I had really bad backache start suddenly 7 months ago. Visited an osteopath who diagnosed herniated disc (result of a very bad car accident 35 years ago - I was shocked to say the least). Osteo told me to go to GP incase surgery is needed in future, GP said even consultant would not have diagnosed HD without a scan so referred me to physio. Physio said it's degenerative something or other, possibly result of car crash and/or being 55. I was terrified it was cancer or similar so was relieved. Anyway, exercises don't help but walking and stretching does. Once I get comfortable in bed or sitting down the pain goes. My back does crack a lot now as I stand up after bending down (feeding the cat, picking up clothes etc). I am on Naproxen 500 (can I only take it twice a day?) and co-codamol which helps but I am in constant pain. I have had a lot of time off work due to a bereavement and back appointments and don't want to go back to GP without a better idea of what's wrong - does anyone share my symptoms? Thanks for reading this.
Poppi x
Can he tell if I herniated a disc from an x ray? I don't want any more MRI's.
View 6 RepliesI am seeing a chiropractor for a herniated disc in my lower back that has healed now and just strengthening my core muscles..... i saw him today and told him im getting sharp pains in both feet and calves, and back.... sometimes like a weakness tingling pain... its nothing to do with my back and he said it could be low vit D.... i did have a test a month ago and it was on a low level but doctor says its normal this time of year.... yet 2 years ago i had hardly any vit D and had to have a very high dose.
View 3 RepliesI had bulging disc over two years ago and i was sent for mri scan a while later i got cortisone injection into L5 disc worked ok and lasted for a few years,two months ago it returned and is very painful the doctors gave painkillers and said to exercise couldn't stand up never mind exercise,,i'm confused on why they are asking me to see a spine specialist which is taking months and why don't they just do the injection like they did a few years ago ,anyone any answers?
View 3 RepliesI've been to 5 doctors total and not one of them can give me a solution to my bulging disk; they just keep passing me off to the next doctor. I've been struggling with this for years. I'm only 30 years old and was extremely active before this. Now I can barely walk at a slow pace for 10 min before my lower back feels like I have a burning painful ball at the base of my spine.
View 4 RepliesMy brother is on disability. He has a bulging disk in his neck that is making him dizzy. He has fallen several times because of this and frequently has to sit down. His insurance company won't cover the surgery. Is there anything I can do or something he can do to ease the pain? It makes me so sad that he is in such pain and can't afford to get help.
View 2 RepliesI am a 27 year old female who has has back problems since the age of 21 when I got pregnant with my little girl. I have gradually got worse over the past 6 years and am now permanently on crutches to help me walk. I cannot do daily tasks and am in pain 24/7 and have been for some time.
I have asked for 5 years for a MRI on my back as I knew something wasn't right but I have just been told it would be a waste of my time and the medical professionals time.
Anyway after a breakdown at the rheumatologist and my last resort after years of medication, pain management courses, physio and wasted doctors appointments I had to beg for an MRI and he reluctantly agreed.
The MRI has shown a significant bulging disc in my 4th vertebrae which has narrowed my spinal canal and is causing nerve compression leading to problems with loss of feeling in my legs and lady parts as well as pain.
I suppose the biggest question I have is after such a long time before being discovered, what are the chances of my nerves being permanently damaged even if I have the operation to release the bulge?
Is the operation actually going to make a difference?
This is my 1st time posting here.. and sorry in advance because I know this post is lengthy...
I had an MRI my results in a nutshell are
L1-L2 disc bulging with mild facet arthropathy from
L2-L3 disc bulging with facet arthropathy with canal stenosis
L3-L4 disc bulging with mild facet arthropathy
L4-L5 disk bulging severe facet arthropathy moderate canal stenosis, mild bilateral neural foraminal narrowing
L5-S1 disk osteophyte complex, granulation tissue noted in the right neuroforamen, mild neural foraminal stenosis
Impression: degenerative changes of lumber spine with post surgical changes at L5-S1 on the right. Synovitis noted on the right at L4-L5
Findings.. Lumbar spine is normal alignment. Disc desiccation is noted from L3-L4 through L5-S1 with loss of disk height at L5-S1 along with posterior annular fissure. Post surgical changes from the laminectomy on the right at L5-S1.
I'm waiting for the spine doctor to get my records from my previous surgery I had done about 8yrs ago before they will make me an appointment for my new problems..
I am just looking for others who may have the same problems as I do... I have been experiencing severe back pain at first when it started I thought it was my hip because thats where the pain started then radiated down my leg I did PT for awhile and it did help some but now the pain is much much worse and in my foot it feels like I am curling my toes but only 2 will do so and the others just dont move just straight out but it feels like they are its really freaky.. other pain symptoms I have is spasms that radiate from the bottom of my spine to my neck and it gets back to wear I jerk..
I also get numbness with tingling it just feels like I have heavy sharp rocks buried deep inside my back and the newest symptom I have it when I roll my neck back n forth I hear weird popping noises like pop rock sounds n feeling and when I bend over n touch the floor with my hands it feels like my back is popping with a rolling motion really strange...
Im just curious if anyone here has experienced any of these symptoms and if anything was done to alleviate them especially if u have had surgery and what kind..Im just wondering if the symptoms I have is due to the results of my MRI and which ones. I am not that savvy when it comes to where all these L's and s's r located...
I have been sitting on a medicine ball to sit on and exercising on it and it has helped tremendously..
I just dont know what to make of all of this all I know is im in a lot of pain
I have been getting pain for a couple month in my lower back, but it's only been very mild pain. I started getting the pain after very heavy deadlifts at the gym, then the pain has been sporadic for that time.
I went for sprints on Sunday morning and then afterwards my lower back was really in pain. I felt sick and dizzy in the evening for about 2 mins, then it quickly passed. However, since Sunday I have been experiencing mild abdominal pains in the mid abdomen area (near the belly button) and my bowel movement has changed as i haven't been going as regularly the last few days.
I am just curious as I haven't been to the doctors yet. I wanted to go and see the best doctor at my surgery, but unfortunately he isn't available until next tuesday. If it gets worse then I will definitely make an appointment with another doctor, but at the moment it isn't giving me too much problems, just the mild pain is all.
Has anyone experienced this before and could it be a slipped disc that is causing the stomach pain and lack of bowel movement? I had no problems before Sunday when I think I further injured my back.
I am a 25 year old female and I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease probably around 2012 or so. I take 75MCG every morning and I do blood tests about once or twice a year to make sure my levels are stable. What I need help with are symptoms. My boyfriend has been very supportive, he was the reason I went to get the initial blood test because he said my symptoms reminded him of Graves Disease and it worried him. Well, I went to the doctor and got the tests done and he told me I had Hashimotos. Since then, my boyfriend has told me that he hasn't seen any improvement in my symptoms, in fact he thinks they've gotten worse. I have looked at a lot of different lists of symptoms that people with Hashimoto's Disease can experience and I experience a lot of them. I'll list the ones I experience the most and a little bit of a description to each so maybe someone can help me with what I need to do to feel better because honestly it makes me miserable.
-Hair Loss - Every time I brush or wash my hair there is always tons of hair in the brush or tub. It's everywhere all the time, I shed like the cats.
- Depression - I don't know if it is actually depression, but a lot of the time I feel like I'm just not good enough to be around anyone. I'll find myself crying at ridiculous moments with absolutely no reason for it. I also find myself thinking that people I know (and can acknowledge even when I'm feeling this way) love and care for me, and yet I still think they don't care about me and will abandon me at the drop of the hat, which breaks me down mentally.
- Stress - This is probably one of my worst symptoms. I am always stressed out about something, even ridiculous things that shouldn't be stressing me out. One of the biggest things I stress about is what I mentioned with the depression. I feel like my friends and loved ones are going to abandon me at any minute, which scares me and results in me lashing out at them in ways that if I can't control it soon enough may result in them actually leaving, which terrifies me and just puts me into a never ending loop of stress and depression.
- Anger - I can't seem to rationalize other people's behaviors. Completely normal behaviors that don't normally bother me result in me lashing out and screaming at people and saying things that I don't mean to say.
- Memory Loss - This is a really bad symptom. I forget things very quickly. If I don't actively keep it in my mind, I won't remember it. A perfect example, when I was still in college I was walking through town with some people and when we were going back to the dorms I made a comment about a truck I saw. I used to see it all the time and hadn't seen it in a while so I made the comment. The people I was with looked at me really confused and just flatly stated "You said the exact same thing when we walked by it on the way out" and I honestly don't remember seeing it at any point that day. In fact I didn't remember seeing it for around 5 months, and yet they claimed that I made the exact same comment I just had, earlier that day. It really messes with my head when people tell me that I did or said something and I can't remember doing it to save my life.
- Weight - Before I started taking synthroid I weighed 110 lbs, after I started taking it I gained like 30 lbs and I can't lose it. I'm stuck between 135 and 140 (I'm about 5'6" tall)
- Headaches - I get headaches on a daily basis. Sometimes they're really bad but generally they're just a slight discomfort in my frontal lobe area.
- Sleep - It takes me forever to fall asleep and even when I do I can't stay asleep and then I feel exhausted all day when I wake up, as if I never slept at all.
Another thing I've noticed and that is that sometimes I feel like I can't swallow properly, I always feel like I have to yawn to get a lung full of oxygen, and my nails curl downward along the curve of the tip of my fingers on like 3/5 fingers.
Besides 2 hours of working out each day, does anyone know of some natural methods to help with stubborn weight? I have an underactive thyroid And unless I work out like crazy its hard for me to lose weight.
View 1 RepliesI have been experiencing the lower back pain which is local from last 5 years. My MRI reports says that there is a central disc bulge at l5/s1. Where outer annular tear is intact.
I have seen a chiropractor who has recommended spinal disc decompression sessions on Hill DT.
As per the doctor, it will relocate the disc back to its normal position and make the disc healthier as before.
Just would like to know if someone has gone for the similar treatment for the similar problem. If yes kindly share your experience.
I am 9 weeks 3 days pregnant with my 3rd. Before I got pregnant I weighed 133 lbs (I am 5 ft 1 in). At 6 weeks I weighed 129 lbs and now I am at 130 lbs. Should I be worried? I never lost this much with my other 2. I do have pretty bad morning sickness and I take reglan for it. I go to my midwife at the end of the month. Should I mention this to her?
View 5 RepliesI'm 17weeks went to the Dr today and I've lost a total of 12lbs I was overweight to begin with is this normal? My Dr seemed ki and luckily no sign of gestational diabetes my Dr seemed kind of concerned but said we'll see as I get farther along anyone else experience this?
View 4 RepliesHey everyone I am just looking for suggestions on how to lose weight after having a hysterectomy?
View 1 Replieshow to lose weight nutritionally? I already posted about my weight gain. I am reading a lot of the posts about nutrition. I like to eat greek yogurt with lime..peach and other flavors. Now I hear that greek yogurt unless plain is not good for you because of the added sugar,What do you all think about the chobani greek yogurts?
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