to anyone out there who knows and have dealt with a degenerative spinal disc and also a herniated one, please fill me in with info if you've undergone surgery coz I'd love some input about that.
Here is my story. I am 59 years old now. My spine issues began at the age of 35.
When my back first started I was getting radiating pain to my left side; I was nauseus as well. I didn't know what was going on. Initially they thought that I had kidney stones. But that was ruled out. My symptoms were like of kidney stones. After a process of illimination they determined that the cause of the pain was bulging discs of the lower spine. I dont recall the exact levels. At one point I had difficulty maintaining a normal posture and bent forward. Thus it required traction in the hospital for 2 weeks. Followed by physical therapy. I was then relatively fine with few minor problems. Until the bulges became herniated. Thus began my surgical journey. Here is the summary. I did have other surgeries beyond the spine but wont include them in this post.
--- 1994 lumbar surgery for herniated discs;
--- 1995 cervical surgery for stenosis;
--- 1997 lumbar surgery for "flatback syndrom" with Harrington Rods inserted. Flatback because of the discs caused me to bend forward unable to maintain a normal posture;
--- 2000 Cervical surgery for "Kyphosis" with Harringtons Rods implanted from C3 to T4. Kyphosis like flatback I could not keep my neck in the proper alignment. Thus the rods.
--- 2006 Implanted Spinal Cord Stimulator for pain control;
--- 2011 Spinal Cord Stimulator remvoed for not helping pain control
--- 2012 "Trial" intrathecal pain pump used for pain
--- 2013 Scheduled for 1/11/13 Permanent Intrathecal Pain pump to be implanted for pain control
Other issues with spine:
--- Radiating pain into both shoulders; weakness of arms; tingling into hands; bone spurs in the neck; focal cord atrophy; loss of disc height; protrusions/bulges in the thoracic region.
--- Severe nerve damage in lumbar & cervical spine; severe arthritis; peripheral neuropathy of the legs from spine & diabetes; balance issues
--- due to continual neck issues surgery may be out of the question due to so many other surgeries; other health risks too considrered in whether to do surgery or not.
All of issues were degenartive in nature. I did not have an auto accident; I did not fall and have any form of trauma. It just occurred and progressed from there.
I do wear orthopedic shoes, not all the time, due to spine issues and peripheral neuropathy. they do help when I wear them. You would need to see a podiatrist to see if you need special shoes or not.
Good luck
to anyone out there who knows and have dealt with a degenerative spinal disc and also a herniated one, please fill me in with info if you've undergone surgery coz I'd love some input about that.
Plus what shoes are best for this condition??
Hi nessi, I had bilateral herniated discs at L4-5,L5-S1 when I was 26. I had a lumbar laminectomy & diskectomy from both sides on both levels. Now I have ddd, some stenosis, discs but due to arachnoiditis cannot have more surgery. My son had 1 disc out, had one epidural steroid injection & the disc went back in. What did the dr say & was he/she a spine only
neurosurgeon or orthopedic surgeon? What are your symptoms? Im really sorry that you are having this @ such a young age & hope that it resolves somehow and you get better.
Hi nessi, I had bilateral herniated discs at L4-5,L5-S1 when I was 26. I had a lumbar laminectomy & diskectomy from both sides on both levels. Now I have ddd, some stenosis, discs but due to arachnoiditis cannot have more surgery. My son had 1 disc out, had one epidural steroid injection & the disc went back in. What did the dr say & was he/she a spine only
neurosurgeon or orthopedic surgeon? What are your symptoms? Im really sorry that you are having this @ such a young age & hope that it resolves somehow and you get better.
If I only had a herniated disc, I could probably have just an epidural steroid injection, though that's not the case. My doctor is an orthopedic surgeon and he recommended to do therapy for now, he says I am too young for spinal surgery. And it has been almost 1 year that I have the pains. Though my severe pains have occurred since 6 months ago which is when I was diagnosed with HNP and a degenarative disc. My orthopedist, physio therapist, and also my MRI examiner, were all perplexed by my condition, as it is rare for such a young person to have a degenerative disc.
So how is your condition and your son? Have you completely recovered without any disturbances?
Also do you wear special shoes for lumbar support or even balance support?
never mind my age, my condition also occurred after an accumulation of time. Though it is probably from an accumulation of accidents I had, which me and my doctor are still quite vague about. But it is most likely that that is the only reason.
Do you still experience nerve pain and/or other pains after the surgery?
Here is my story. I am 59 years old now. My spine issues began at the age of 35.
When my back first started I was getting radiating pain to my left side; I was nauseus as well. I didn't know what was going on. Initially they thought that I had kidney stones. But that was ruled out. My symptoms were like of kidney stones. After a process of illimination they determined that the cause of the pain was bulging discs of the lower spine. I dont recall the exact levels. At one point I had difficulty maintaining a normal posture and bent forward. Thus it required traction in the hospital for 2 weeks. Followed by physical therapy. I was then relatively fine with few minor problems. Until the bulges became herniated. Thus began my surgical journey. Here is the summary. I did have other surgeries beyond the spine but wont include them in this post.
--- 1994 lumbar surgery for herniated discs;
--- 1995 cervical surgery for stenosis;
--- 1997 lumbar surgery for "flatback syndrom" with Harrington Rods inserted. Flatback because of the discs caused me to bend forward unable to maintain a normal posture;
--- 2000 Cervical surgery for "Kyphosis" with Harringtons Rods implanted from C3 to T4. Kyphosis like flatback I could not keep my neck in the proper alignment. Thus the rods.
--- 2006 Implanted Spinal Cord Stimulator for pain control;
--- 2011 Spinal Cord Stimulator remvoed for not helping pain control
--- 2012 "Trial" intrathecal pain pump used for pain
--- 2013 Scheduled for 1/11/13 Permanent Intrathecal Pain pump to be implanted for pain control
Other issues with spine:
--- Radiating pain into both shoulders; weakness of arms; tingling into hands; bone spurs in the neck; focal cord atrophy; loss of disc height; protrusions/bulges in the thoracic region.
--- Severe nerve damage in lumbar & cervical spine; severe arthritis; peripheral neuropathy of the legs from spine & diabetes; balance issues
--- due to continual neck issues surgery may be out of the question due to so many other surgeries; other health risks too considrered in whether to do surgery or not.
All of issues were degenartive in nature. I did not have an auto accident; I did not fall and have any form of trauma. It just occurred and progressed from there.
I do wear orthopedic shoes, not all the time, due to spine issues and peripheral neuropathy. they do help when I wear them. You would need to see a podiatrist to see if you need special shoes or not.
Good luck
never mind my age, my condition also occurred after an accumulation of time. Though it is probably from an accumulation of accidents I had, which me and my doctor are still quite vague about. But it is most likely that that is the only reason.
Do you still experience nerve pain and/or other pains after the surgery?
And also how did you develop the kyphosis? because I have a brother who hunches all the time, and he is 14 now, I am afraid he will develop such condition.
Thx
I am not sure what caused any of my conditions. It was all degenerative over time. That is why I told you my age and when it began for me to tell you that this was a process that started young and continued on in my life over many years.
I was not involved in any type of accident (auto; fall or any type of trauma). I just developed spine issues as time went on. Possibly it is related to genetics as my pain doctor thinks.
As to nerve pain I am sure some is related to prior surgeries. I did have an EMG done and it showed severe nerve damage in the cervical and lumbar spine; severe arthritis and peripheral neuropathy. Again the cause I don't know. But it is occurring for whatever reason.
The Following User Says Thank You to pebblebeach3 For This Useful Post: nessiblue (01-12-2013)
18 and diagnosed with HNP 
Re: 18 and diagnosed with HNP 
Re: 18 and diagnosed with HNP 
