Anyone had or heard of surgery for Bulging Disk? - Back Problems Message Board

ktnap · 07-01-2007, 06:36 AM

Just wondering if surgery is a viable option for the pain I've had for 10+ years (increasingly getting worse) from a bulging disk.

If so, what kind of surgery? I was just reading a book from the library and it is the first place I've seen mentioned that surgery is possible to remove a portion of the bulging disk causing the nerve pain.

The last time I visited my P.M. doctor, he threw out the suggestion of referring me to a surgeon within this Orthopedic center he is a part of, but he wasn't even sure if the surgeon would proceed with surgery... (he also mentioned discogram, which I assume is to find the offending disk...?) but said he hesitates to do that since it is basically a "torture" test.

Anyone had or know anyone who has had a surgery for a bulging disk?

Thanks,
Kat

mknudson · 07-01-2007, 07:43 AM

See a neuro for this, not an ortho surgeon.

Baybreeze · 07-01-2007, 08:17 AM

Hi, yes there are surgeries for discs, and I'm sure some others on this board will reply with more information for you. I've never had a discogram but I do read others stories that do say it is very painful. I recently had a nerve block done and THAT was painful!! OMG!! Luckily it was for just a few seconds. So I can imagine what the discogram feels like.

I see you've had this pain for 10 years, but how recent were your MRI's? If you've not had one recently, you probably should because alot could happen in 10 years and maybe there's more going on in there than just one disc bulge...

Moldova · 07-01-2007, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katnipped

Just wondering if surgery is a viable option for the pain I've had for 10+ years (increasingly getting worse) from a bulging disk.

If so, what kind of surgery? I was just reading a book from the library and it is the first place I've seen mentioned that surgery is possible to remove a portion of the bulging disk causing the nerve pain.

The last time I visited my P.M. doctor, he threw out the suggestion of referring me to a surgeon within this Orthopedic center he is a part of, but he wasn't even sure if the surgeon would proceed with surgery... (he also mentioned discogram, which I assume is to find the offending disk...?) but said he hesitates to do that since it is basically a "torture" test.

Anyone had or know anyone who has had a surgery for a bulging disk?

Thanks,
Kat

Kat, my husband has a big bulging disc for at least 18 years, plus ddd like everybody else after 30, he is in pain 24/7 especially since his job does not help him in relieving pain. We went for a couple opinions and saw Doctor at Hospital for special surgeries in NYC and not one Doctor suggested surgery. They strongly suggested to read books written by Doctor Sarno. The first one is "Mind over back pain". You will open the new world of back pain and you will understand a lot how to deal with back pain without any surgery even if your nerves involved. I was stunned to learn about all that stuff. It help my husband a great deal!!!
Good luck to you and i hope you will feel better.

Paul from CA · 07-01-2007, 10:11 AM

Some surgical options:

open discectomy
incision cuts thru muscle and ligamentum flavum, surgeon can see the herniation under direct vision, cuts off the bulged annulus, scar tissue seals the disc, longer recovery.
closed discectomy
no cutting of muscle-instead they push it aside and go thru it, need an endoscope and a TV to see the bulge, increased chance of not snipping off all of the bulge due to decreased vision, scar tissue seals the disc, short recovery.
laminectomy
cutting an opening or window into the lamina part of the vertebrate, increases chance of de-stabilizing the vertebrate in the future.
nucleotomy
removal of the nucleus part of the disc only.

none of these are gauranteed to work or last forever and have their risks.

There are other options such as devices that can be implanted to try to stabilize the offending segment:

dynesis
x-stop
ADR's (artificial disc replacements) pro-disc, maverick, etc