1. Community
  2. Brain and nerves
  3. Spinal Problems

Dehydrated disc?

Posted , 4 users are following.

Stu3599
Stu3599

Hi, I slipped a disc in sept 13. I was told it was so bad I needed a plif to correct it. On the day of surgery the quack came to me and said he had changed his mind due to my young age (26) he thought it best to do a discectomy and laminectomy instead. At first I was ok not 100% but bearing the pain. I went back to work in August 14. (I am a British gas engineer) after about 5 weeks at work I slipped it again (so I thought) been for another Mri and the so called doc says it's not a slipped disc its that my disc is dehydrated and that I need the plif he said I should of had a year ago.   My question is, what is a dehydrated disc? And would it come on suddenly since my op in April or has it always been dehydrated. Daft q but do I just need to drink more water???? When I google it it takes me to degenerative disc disease so I'm confused. This pain has consumed my life for over a year I am about to be dismissed on capability grounds but all I want is to be pain free. Sorry for long message I know being pain free is all we want and I know 14months is a drop in the ocean to most people's pain but I just wanted to ask them two questions. Thanks stuart

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • n8ster
    n8ster Stu3599

    Posted

    It could be dehydrated because it is leaking . It may have be herniated and now it is ruptured . I just had a fusion , it sucks but probably better than a rupture . I had a stenosis also which is why they do a laminectomy . The bad thing with your back is it doesn't usually get better on it's own, it gets worse .
    • Stu3599
      Stu3599 n8ster

      Posted

      Thanks for responding. You say u had stenosis as well that's why there do a laminectomy. Well no one has every mentioned stenosis and I just assumed discectomy and laminectomy just went hand in hand? 
    • Stu3599
      Stu3599 n8ster

      Posted

      Yes just googled it yes I had stenosis but no doc has ever used that word, I was told I had associated leg pain. 
    • n8ster
      n8ster Stu3599

      Posted

      I think discestomy and fusion go hand in hand since they are removing part or all of your disc . The pain in your let is from the nerve roots being squeezed or pinched from the stenosis . Once they remove part of the bone that is pinching the nerve it can heal and the feeling come back and the pain can go away . My doc said it takes twice as long to gain back your feeling as it took to lose them and so the longer it takes to fix the more possible damage . A lot of my feelings have come back since my nov. 5th. surgery . My toes are still numb a little but am hoping for the best like us all . If you use a search engine and look up stenosis video it can show you what is happening in your back and what they do to repair it  . Feel free to ask what you like, I have done a lot of research . And their are a lot of colledge websites in the us that have really good video's of back situations and thier repair .
  • scott17436
    scott17436 Stu3599

    Posted

    Hi Stuart, 

    I had a microdiscetomy and Laminectomy in Aug 2012 for bulging/prolasped disc that was sitting on my nerves. This op cured the Cauda Quina (can't pee) but back and leg pain remained. I have 4 out bottom 5 discs without any disc. Like you mines are all dehydrated bar one between L2-L3. I should have had fusion at my last op but due to being 39 they didn't want to. I'm now paying for it. I now have multi-level Spondylosis (dehydrated discs) and Lumbar Lordosis (movement of the vertebrae). I would seek another opinion as to what options you have and ask the question forcefully to why they didn't do it last time. Age shouldn't be a factor but sadly is. Also try and get an appointment with your local pain management clinic and hopefully you have a great GP as I do! 

    Good luck. Pain sucks and as has been said things tend to get worse and not better without intervention. 

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.