Should I go for nucleoplasty?

02-24-2011, 10:47 AM

Good day everyone. I'm a 20-year-old female and I've had a slipped disc causing sciatica since September 2010. I do not recall falling down or hurting myself before the pain started. From the MRI scans, the doctor said it looked like it happened over a period of years.

At the beginning, I had sciatica on my right leg. It was a sharp, shooting pain which made it unbearable to sit or walk for more than 10 minutes. I took pain killers and undergone several chiropractic treatments. The pain went away after a month and a half.

But as the pain started fading from my right leg, I discovered a new pain running down my left. It was a different sort of pain; more of feeling sore and cramps. I could walk longer but the pain was pretty bad that it would cause me to bend over and also I couldn't lie on my back.

This went on for a month until I started the disc decompression therapy (DTS), using a table traction system. I did this for about two and a half months coupled together with physiotherapy. During these two months plus, I had improved a lot. I can walk now, sit, lie on my back. Most of the pain has gone away except for a little around my lower back area and left leg if I move around too much.

I had just finished the DTS program and took another MRI scan two days back to see the results. Unfortunately, despite the improvements in my symptoms...there has been little change to my protruding disc. So, I consulted the spine surgeon and he recommended nucleoplasty.

But I am not too sure if I should go for it. For one thing, I am afraid my disc may be a ruptured/torn disc instead of a bulging one and from what I read, is not ideal for nucleoplasty. And I don't know, I'm afraid of the contraindications of the procedure. Plus, I am already getting better now...so will nucleoplasty still be necessary?

Thanks for all your time

.

02-25-2011, 09:40 AM

Hi, and welcome to the board. I think you would benefit from getting a couple more opinions from a spine specialist. It would set your mind at ease as to whether you need surgery and what kind of surgery would be best.

I would assume you have had an MRI or other diagnostic testing. If not, then I absolutely would not go into surgery without seeing a couple of other doctors such as an Orthopedic spine specialist or a neurosurgeon who specializes in spinal problems/

If you have had such testing, could you tell us more about what your diagnosis is? That would really help us to be able to give better advice.

Best wishes!

Carol

02-25-2011, 09:43 AM

I meant to say that you really should avoid chiropractors at this point. No matter how well-meaning they are, further damage can be done with manipulation. There is really nothing a chiro can do about your kind of spinal issue other than possibly giving temporary relief....if that.

Carol

02-26-2011, 07:46 AM

Hi Carol,

Thanks for your reply. I haven't been to the chiropractor's since the last time I went in October. So, there hasn't been any form of manipulation or whatsoever done on me

.

As for my MRI scans, I was reported to have a disc protrusion at L4/L5. According to the spine specialist, it is a contained disc but barely. The disc is compressing my nerve hence the sciatica. During the past two and a half months, with the DTS treatment the disc has gone in a little bit. My sciatic symptoms have disappeared a whole lot, I would say I am 80-90% pain free.

02-26-2011, 08:27 AM

That is very good news and I hope you continue to feel better all the time. Just be very careful of your movements and with a little luck, perhaps this will abate further. I'm so glad you replied with such positive news.

Keep up the good work, because whatever you are doing, it's working!

Carol

02-26-2011, 07:39 PM

Thank you again Carol for the encouragement

.

But I'm still unsure whether I should go for the nucleoplasty? Even if I'm experiencing little pain, is there a need to go for it? Can I not go for it? What are my chances of a better recovery without surgery?

02-26-2011, 08:19 PM

Glad to hear you are having such improvement. Surgery should always be a last resort. When MRI's were first developed they discovered that a lot of people have bulging and herniated discs without even being aware of it. I wouldn't be pursuing any other treatment other than what you are doing now. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

02-27-2011, 08:56 AM

As others have already stated, surgery, even minor, should be considered as a last resort. It sounds like you are healing and that your symptoms are manageable. Discs can and do heal without intervention. It sounds like yours is heading in this direction.

If I were you, I would continue doing what you're doing that seems to be working...and put off any type of surgery with hopes that you'll never need it.

Even though nucleoplasty sounds like a quick, easy solution, things don't always turn out as expected. Being 90% pain-free would be considered a wonderful outcome if you had surgery....If you feel that good now, why take the risk?

Should I go for nucleoplasty?

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