Could 1 degenerated disc cause all these other problems?
I have had a bad back for over a year now. I had a microdisectomy 4 months ago and am still in pain. The MRI shoes (still) a small bulge at L5-S1 with a slight oval shape to the disc, degenerated as well. Since the surgery, 5 orthos and neuros have said I need either fusion or ADR. I do not want to go down the surgery path again. Am working with a PM specialist to make sure we find the pain generator/s. I have lower back with SI/facet/hip/leg pain. My question to all of you with so much knowledge is:
could the disc itself be causing all of the other pains? Any ideas and or suggestions? I appreciate them all!
Sambo99
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bulged disk L5 S1 microdisectomy May 2004
Re: Could 1 degenerated disc cause all these other problems?
my thought would be that it is the bulge. I don't think (correct me if I am wrong) that DDD actually causes nerve pain unless it is bulging or worse. I have two bulges and DDD at both sites. Most people, a very large percent of the human race have some form of DDD, but never know it. Most people, could go the rest of their lives and never know. I think the only way we do know is if the MRI has been done for other reasons, like bulging discs and other major spine problems.
So, as far as I know, no, DDD does not cause the nerve pain.
Re: Could 1 degenerated disc cause all these other problems?
Sounds like you are trying to find an end to your pain by jumping around. I did that for awhile. Sometimes surgery is the only answer although there are those out there who believe that it can be healed otherwise. I am one of the non-believers in surgery unless you break your back.
DDD just means that your back is degenerating and is a very broad statement. From the age of about thirty, on, everyone starts to degenerate and your genes play a huge part in that role.
Bulges are not good, but that doesn't mean that is what is causing you the pain. I would track down an EMG to make sure what it is. I would want to see it in front of me if I were you. Why a fusion? Why a ADR? You are only four months post op, right? Could be that all you need is time and you are freaking yourself out.
You need to try to divert your focus for awhile. There is never going to be a time when you are completely pain free. I have found this out the hard way. But, you can find moments when you are, and that is the time that you need to focus on while you heal.
Re: Could 1 degenerated disc cause all these other problems?
I cheat, I have a laptop so I can lie down and type
Betty, what is an emg? Can I expect that a neurosurgeon may want to do one on me, since I feel like I have A LOT of nerve pain??????
Re: Could 1 degenerated disc cause all these other problems?
My MRI still shows a bulge, that was supposed to be fixed with the microdisectomy...Funny how that worked....I guess only time will tell. I just have an amazing life and beautiful young family that I am anxious to get back to...I'm sure all the young Moms on this board can relate to the fact that the kids grow so fast and you want to be a part of all the precious moments...
Thanks for your input.
Sambo
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bulged disk L5 S1 microdisectomy May 2004
Re: Could 1 degenerated disc cause all these other problems?
Absolutely, my bulging disc caused back, hip, thigh & knee pain. My knee would even swell up & be hot. I went the route of physical therapy & am now 5 years without having to have surgery & still working on my exercises daily from PT and no pain. My pain was 12 on a scale from 1 to 10. Nothing relieved it til PT. No meds, no shots, nothing. I went to McKenzie Physical therapy. You can do a search about it.
Re: Could 1 degenerated disc cause all these other problems?
Mel, you're funny. I tried wireless, but I had to hard wire it because I couldnt get the signal strength. (I did it, as hubby cant use his hands above his shoulder.) Anyway, about all I know about DDD is that it just means you disk is losing moisture and thinning and it's mostly a part of life. Right? I have a small bulge at L4-L5 and what the MRI didn't show was the big tear in it.
I hate to say this, but have you had a discogram on the bulging disc? And is it a different disc from the one you had surgery on? or is it the same? I'd be pointing at the bulge. But that's just me. NOT your doctor/s. I just wonder, if like me, the disk bulged out further, then healed some, so you wouldn't know it, but it left nerve damage. You can, (I guess, according to my PM,) see the dent in the nerve where it got wacked by the disk at one point.
Anyway, good luck in your hunt for the cause. I hope you find it and are able to get relief.
Re: Could 1 degenerated disc cause all these other problems?
It sounds like the exact same thing I have been going through the past 2 yrs which I ended up getting a fusion at L5/s1. My disk was bulging and was moderate DDD, now a lot of people and I stress a lot have this exact problem with there back but most people don't have any pain. My disk became symptomatic (became painful in itself) from an injury, the pain was all right side, right side of the back, buttucks, groin, aching knee and also had some neck tightness. a discogram confirmed the disk was the source of pain, but the thing with a discogram is that it cannot check for painful Facet Joints which sometimes are also the cause of the pain along with the disk. I tried therapy for 1.5 yrs no work it all and no relief and actually PT made it worse. I finally made the decision to get the fusion which was done in April 2004 My fusion is fusing great but I am still experiencing pain and going through work conditioning. The only bad thing about disk replacement is that if a lot of your pain is coming from the Facet Joint the disk replacement will not fix that, they do not remove the facet joints during the replacement. Even though I am still in pain (more soreness that pain) I would recommend the fusion if nothing else is working I know 3 people that had the same operation and they are doing great. The main thing is to follow your doctors directions to a T, I didn't follow them all the time and that is probably why I am still in some pain. It sounds like you have the same problem as I so if you would like to talk further let me know. good luck
Location: born in wash ington moved to california in 2000,
Posts: 81
Re: Could 1 degenerated disc cause all these other problems?
im gonna say yes it can keep re-herniating,i had ddd all thru my tailbone but my l5-s1 disc was my generator along with spondy,and yes that 1 disc can generate A LOT OF PAIN,if i had to chose between adr and fusion id do adr,hope this help ya))
Re: Could 1 degenerated disc cause all these other problems?
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all...I really have received some great answers! You guys are the best- better than a lot of the docs I have seen! Will write tomorrow when I am less groggy and feeling less pain....end of the day (9pm) is the worst for me!
Sweet Dreams to all-
Sambo
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bulged disk L5 S1 microdisectomy May 2004
Re: Could 1 degenerated disc cause all these other problems?
Stormy-
yes I did the "aint much of a disco" discogram (provacative one w/ different pressures, etc.) ....It was living hell and I was screaming and balling and don't wish to ever have to "recreate the pain" again. There was pain at all levels but the one at L5 reproduced all my daily back and shooting leg pain. They did the micro-d on L5 and there is still a small bulge of couse to which the surgeon denies. Wish there was a way of telling if the nerve pain is permanent damge, temporary or just caused by current state of disc! So many unknowns in this biz, huh?
John91-
Thanks for your story.... Glad you are healing well. I have been doing extensive PT and exercsing, too. Some of the manual work the PT does causes more pain and I'm super limited in terms of exercises- can't lay on back or sit to do them. Have tried everything and refuse to do the ones that cause more setbacks than good. Some of the neuros and orthos say that the disc is causing the facet pain and sacro ililiac pain and once the bad disc is replaced it will not be there....Some of the orthos and PTs are saying what you said about fusion and removing the facets is needed at the same time to get "full" relief".....
I am w/ you Siberian and voting for ADR at this point...I have the sign up papers in front of me as we speak....Just chicken to sign at the dotted line!
Thanks again -you all are great!
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bulged disk L5 S1 microdisectomy May 2004
Could 1 degenerated disc cause all these other problems? 
