Herniated/Ruptured Disc

I hurt my back in June of last year, first doc said pulled muscle. Physical therapist said disc 'issue'. 3 months and an MRI later, neurosurgeon shows me pictures of my L-5 vertebrae in 2 pieces. I had L-5/S-1 fused in December. Get the MRI and see what's wrong. If your insurance resets in March I'd schedule it for March 1st. Good luck to you.

 

Discs don't heal themselves. There is also a difference between a bulging disc and a herniated/ruptured disc. If it's just bulging then physical therapy, steroids, and/or a cortizone shot can help it to get back to normal. Once it ruptures there is no going back.

I herniated a disc almost 6 years ago. I went to the doctor, had an MRI, and did physical therapy for about 2 months before I got rid of the pain. After that it still took a fair amount of time before I was able to get the strength back into my lower leg. I live a pretty normal life now. I'm very active, in the gym 6 or 7 days a week, and have little problems with it most of the time.

Once a disc herniates the vertebrae will begin to collapse against each other because that disc is no longer holding them apart. I'd say it's worth getting the MRI so that you can know if it's bulging or herniated. Also, knowing how and in what direction the bulge/herniation is will allow you to focus physical therapy more accurately now and in the future. Even if the pain subsides on it's own for most people with this injury I can't believe that doctors are actually saying that they heal themselves. That's not accurate at all from everything I've ever researched.

 

i too have lumbar problems, i did the mri and found (a curvature in my spine) shit
i did not expect. take it serious man, this gets worse with age. muscle problems usually fix themselves in time. good luck

 

Considering I just herniated two disc, go get the MRI and find out what is really going on. This will really tell you what is going on and how to best recover from this.
Mine happened almost five months to the day and I wish I had originally got an MRI in the first place. If your young you will heal!

 

Glad someone finally got it... there is a big difference between bulging - herniated - ruptured.. And besides you do need to know which one(s) are the issue.. Keep in mind some deterioration is considered normal with age... A rutpured dics will likely mean going under the knife..

But if the disc(s) are not ruptured, then even though it will NEVER heal, it (they) can be strengthened with some speciffic exercizes, and thus become "livable".. Surgery is the last resort in that case.

Be aware that sometimes the surgery works, and sometimes it doesn't... When it doesn't, then could be a 2nd surgery... 3rd... geeesh...

Good Luck...

Ron - living with 3 bad discs...

 

Thank you all for the very helpful replies. The past 2 days have been remarkable actually. I feel almost back to normal, but I have yet to do any actual exercise. Things are still tight, so I plan to use this week as a stretching and core week and maybe move onto a short run, maybe test a mile or so, in my ghey five finger shoes (less impact) the next. Running still may be a few weeks out though, definitely not going to push anything. If at any time my symptoms begin to regress in the slightest, I will schedule the MRI.

 

I spent 3 years in pain, finally got the mri which confirmed bulged disks and now I get traction. 1st time in 3 years of no back pain. I highly recommend traction. for your therapy, have them determine if pain generates from flexion, extension or alignment. This will determine course of excersize and treament. (oh and those costco inversion tables didnt do shit.. u really need to be hooked to a machine and stretched apart.

 

Get the MRI in March, regardless of what happens. I got injured in a bicycle vs. auto accident in December, back injuries are for LIFE. The grand is money well spent. No matter what you do, you can only make your back better, not return it to its previous condition. Spend the money. You can still have high quality of life, but only if you do the right things and play it smart.