3 disc prolapse (left S1 nerve root compression of a L5/S1 disc prolapse just wondering if anyone with this kind of problem could help?

Please ask the doctor for side effects or issues post injection. I've heard that those injections if it contains something like steroids can cause obesity and other side effects..

Hi thanks for that i will ask about the side affects i was just wondering if this disc prolapse is something that is permanent or eventually gets better or sort of dies down that's all im worried about because i eventually want to get back to the gym eventually after every thing dies down.

I have disc collapse at s1/L5 and l5/L4 with a tear in one and a bulge in the other pressing on my sciatic nerve and spinal column. They offered my steroid cortisone injections which apparently are great for inflammation problems. I researched this a lot using various sites and decided against them, one reason because I have stomach bleeds through oral anti inflammatory medicines and 2 I'd rather take oral pInkillers and use a healthy lifestyle to deal with the pain, which I managed to 6 years till it got to the point I could not cope with it anymore. Couldn't walk or stand up for more than 6 minutes.

I had a moving x ray where you curl into a ball and then arch backwards (I couldn't do this much) and this showed my vertebrae deforming and cutting off my sciatic nerve. I opted for a laminectomy, disc removal and fusion all in one go and for the first time I am not in constant pain. Best decision I ever made. I'm 39 and I know this may not last and the disc above the fusion at s1/L5 is also 'knackered' as my surgeon put it so it may not cope with the stress of the fusion so I may need to have the next vertebrae done, but for now I am happy I did it. It's a long recovery and no more lifting heavy weights for me but best decision I have ever made.

So my advice is research research research, make an informed decision, if you try the jabs and they don't work, don't catty them on as long term usage my create you problems, it might not.

But people on,y tend to tell you the bad stories, the surgery for me so far 3 weeks post op is a blessing. I have other issues to deal with like weaning myself off 4 different pea of pain meds a I am physically addicted, but hey ho shit happens.

Good luck and remember do your research

X

hi Brad, I have a prolapsed disc too, and was left like this for a long time without any treatment other than physiotherapy. My experience was that the disc tried to heal itself, apparently the body resorbs the prolapsed disc and that takes the pressure off the nerve, along with doing the physio to try to get back normal function this is probably option 1 your consultant is referring to when he says do nothing. As you say the pain is very bad and difficult to live with so it doesn't seem like a good option. From what I've read and my own experience the medical profession realise that in a lot of cases patients will get better when they have prolapsed discs, and I think that is why no intervention starts straight away. Option two the injections (I had last December) they do use a cortisone steroid as Brownevo says, but as that is injected into the injury site there are no weight gain complications as Vivek is wondering. The steroid is used to help calm down the inflamation hence give relief as the never is not compressed any more. They also inject pain killers at the same time. This is done in day surgery and you are asleep. They can also inject the facet joints at the same time (the spinal bones). This procedure either helps or doesn't, I was told that you get your best results 6 weeks after the injections and the consultant will call you back then to see if it has helped. In my case it didn't help and instead I had another prolapse and am now waiting for surgery to remove the disc. My surgeon has indicated that in most cases his patients don't look back after the surgery and can pretty much live as they did before, although I would imagine you would always need to take care when working out that you are not over stretching yourself and causing further prolapses, after all you have discs between all the joints in your back. Ask your surgeon to explain the procedures to you fully and give you best and worst case scenarios for them, and to give you their professional opinion. Whilst there is an element of choice offered to patients whether to have surgery or not, the consultant will have an opinion of what they feel is the best course of treatment for you (they deal with it every day) and they will tell you this if you ask. I've found it helpful to read lots about it, including the NHS website advice about disc prolapse and the treatments, i.e. injections, and micro-discectomy (the operation to remove the damaged disc). The more you know the better you will feel and be better placed to make the decision about your treatment. On the plus side you are in the system, they are tacking action to help you now. Best of luck with your treatment whatever you decide to do.

Thanks very much people you've bein a big help means a lot ya advice was just what ai needed.

Hi , my back problems started in November2013 , I woke up one morning got out of bed and collapsed on the floor, I tried to stand up but couldn't put any weight on my right leg, after a few days and still not being able to put my right leg on the ground , I went to my local hospital were they took an xray of my hip and a blood test and told me to see my doctor in a week's time , a week pasted I went to my doctor were he told me I had grumbling appendix , and prescribed me tramadol , in June 2014 I was rushed back to hospital were I had an emergency mri scan were they found I had slipped a disc , the disc had trapped the carnal nerves and cutting them , when they operated they cut through the arterial nerves in my back , now I'm in constant pain and not being able to go the loo properly , 10 months after the operation I'm still swollen around the area they operated and the nerves are damaged , I'm on 41 tablets a day to ease the pain , now I'm registered disabled