 Poster: A snowHead
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Zero-G, thank you for the recommendation - it sounds like you really went through the mill, so it's great to hear you had such a fab season in Chamonix.
Jonathan Bell, thank you very much too - it's very kind of you to say I can PM you for details and, once I have a bit more info so I can be brief and specific, I will take you up on that offer.
aprilhart, sorry I can't offer any advice, but I'm sure someone on here can... good luck.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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aprilhart, were you doing physio while the cortisone was doing it's thing? I thought that the whole point of the cortisone injection was to reduce the inflammation and pain enough so that you can do the requisite physio to get the discs back in place, strengthen your core and correct your posture.
I'd be wary about taking advice from non-medical professionals (i.e. most of us on this forum) on whether or not to have surgery. Speak to your surgeon about the stats for the surgery (it's not completely effective in many people). As for recovery from the surgery, both mishmash and I have posted some info above about the recovery times and rehab. Good luck, hope you get sorted.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| miranda wrote: |
Zero-G, thank you for the recommendation - it sounds like you really went through the mill, so it's great to hear you had such a fab season in Chamonix.
Jonathan Bell, thank you very much too - it's very kind of you to say I can PM you for details and, once I have a bit more info so I can be brief and specific, I will take you up on that offer.
aprilhart, sorry I can't offer any advice, but I'm sure someone on here can... good luck. |
I thought I had replied as well but I obviously only went as far as "preview" - I d only really add that whoever and wherever you pick, a life changing amount of rehab Physio and or hydro needs to be considered as well, like twice a week for maybe 12 weeks, maybe more , maybe less - and this may or not be close to where you have surgery. I was done under Mr Dan Plev in the London Clinic on health insurance, and I continue to have hydrotherapy there - a bit of a schlep from West London compared to Wimbeldon which, if i had thought about it, would be much more convenient. Not to do down the role of the neurosurgeon, but rehab Physio has a really important part to play as well.
Good Luck!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| aprilhart wrote: |
Wondering if anyone can give me any advice, just to add to my list of injuries Ive got 2 prolapsed disc at the bottom of my back. Been giving me lots of trouble. Lost feeling in half of left leg and on some days the pain is unbearable.
I've had two lots of cortisone injections. The first did nothing at all. I was later told they weren't put in the right place so 6 weeks later I had a second lot they made a huge difference at the start and six weeks later feel like I'm back to square one with pain and numbness.
Would anyone on here recommend not having surgery and going down another route? I would love a quick fix just to get rid of the pain but I know that's not going to happen. Also what's the recovery like for the operation?
Any advice is very much appreciated. Feeling a bit lost and don't really know what a
My options are/if I have any.
Thanks. |
The only thing I can tell you is my own experience : unbearable sciatic pain April 2012, MRI, cortisone injection May 2012, Physio & more Physio , assessed as ok/fit in October, Skiing accident in Jan 2013 ( high speed impact with whiplash flexion), pain but also increased leg numbness and weakness, another set of cortisone jabs, didn't work , surgeon assessed leg weakness as requiring nerve decompression, so went for microdiscectomy. Zero sciatic pain since.
I' d add that between the cortisone and the accident I had nominal pain.
On return from ski accident this year, all the sensible medical people wanted me to have a "quality" MRI done, and that showed a lot of the disc damage. The MRI done in France was v poor - the UK report showed fragments of disc and compressed nerve as well.
After the first set of injections - echoing zero-g's points - I did a huge amount of Physio, then gym core work etc. interestingly the Physio (who had also had a micro discetomy!) told me I d probably need one at some point. Too many years getting fat and sat on a phone in an office when I should have been skiing!
Good Luck with it all .
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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aprilhart,
A lot of lower C spine ( neck ) discs are due to bad posture and/ or stiff upper back.
This should be a physio problem. Rather get a second physio opinion, when it comes to spines it is definitely a case of physio physio etc.
Sure discs do require surgery from time to time but best avoid if possible.
Have you tried a different physio?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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When I had the first lot of injections, the guy that did it had quite a bit of trouble putting it in the right place. It took him quite a long time and I was quite a bit of discomfort. Not knowing what to expect I thought that was normal. Back back was extremely painful after the injections for about 10 days. Had trouble doing any general day to day tasks. Then when it finally settled down my back was still how it was before the injections. Then they suggested a second lot I got incredibly nervous. However..... It went a lot smoother second time around. In and out within 10mins max, and hardly any discomfort. Have it a couple of days to settle and cracked on with Physio and exercises. Also lots of swimming.
I seen two different physics both have said very similar things and been quite helpful. I was just wondering if I could get the same/similar results on my back as having/not having the op?
The 2 discs are at the bottom of my back.
I'm just not sure at my age (early 20's) and I'm very active what is the best route to go down. I would love a quick fix but realise it doesn't work like that.
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Ouch. All these discy things sounds horribly painful. Sympathies to all concerned. 
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aprilhart,
On the whole surgery is for the leg pain, not the back pain.
Have you seen a pain specialist? Is that who did your injections?
Also hat is the time scale for this?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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aprilhart, surgery is the last resort and is not always effective in permanently eradicating the referred pain in whatever limbs are affected. As Jonathan Bell said, how much time has elapsed since the first and then the second cortisone injections?
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Jonathan bell,
Yes the guy that did the injections was a pain specialist. He said to me at the time that the injections don't always work.
I had the first injections in the first week of December. The second were the first week in feb. I have an appointment with the back consultant on tues and he said last time I saw him if the injections don't work he wants to operate. I'm just not 100% but feel I have to go along with what he say.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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aprilhart,
See what he says. If you are uncomfortable with the advice get a second opinion before going for surgery.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Just had my 6 month ( actually its 8 months since "the knife"...) review with my surgeon. All very happy, but I learnt that I ll continue to improve as the nerve heals, possibly over years. Next review in a year! Physio, who is now the "lead" on determining allowed day to day activities is happy for me to ski but not for me to ski tour on the basis that would be too much risk exposure at this point. Roll on December!
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