I'm worried about my mom......?

Question

My mom is 40 and had extreme upper leg/hip pain after she walked for 2 hours about a week ago. She went to the doctor, where they thought she strained a muscle, but yesterday she went to the doctor again, after she wasnt doing much better, and now she has to get an MRI on Monday. I'm really worried about her, and they think she may have a bulging disk in her spine!! Does anyone know what else it could be? How serious is a bulging disk?
THANK YOU!!

Answer 1

Try checking out spine-health.com. I've had sciatica which is when the sciatic nerve is pinched or impinged upon sometimes by normal wear and tear and sometimes by a strain/slight injury (even without realizing it). It can also be caused by a disc problem. The pain is real and it usually effects the upper thigh and sometimes the hip and can radiate downwards. I use ice and Motrin. Of course your mom should check with her doc to make sure she can take an anti-inflammatory if indeed that is what it ends up being. That spine-health.com has a list of issues dealing with bulging discs, herniated discs etc. The bulging disc can range from mild to severe but there are treatments available that are successful. Also there is a ligament (can't remember the name of it at the moment) that runs outside and just below the hip through the outside of the buttock to the thigh that even if just strained can cause much pain. It's good she's getting an MRI to determine whether it's actually disc involvement or muscular in nature. I'm not a doctor, just played a lot of sports so have a bit of experience with some of these. Good Luck.

Answer 2

Your mom has done the right thing going to the doctor. However, let me give you some further information.

MRIs only show about 63% of what is going on inside - even though it is the most accurate, it can still miss things.

Bulging discs are quite controversial in some fields of medicine. Statistically, around 60% of the population can be walking around with a bulging disc without it causing any other symptoms. Personally, I find with my patients even a small bulge could cause the symptoms that your mom is experiencing - depends upon which disc is bulging, as different ones refer to different areas.

Surgery should be a last resort. There are more conservative methods which can help. Look at the following website: www.mckenziemdt.org This method is the most researched for treating disc problems. I have been using these techniques for a few years now to great success. The majority of patients respond very well. Just go to the website, enter your zip code and find out where the nearest therapist is. Ask your doctor for a referal to this therapist and go asap.

A McKenzie evaluation has been shown to have a 99% correlation to an MRI (look at the website for the research that has been performed). It will also give some advice that your mom can try now, at home, without equipment.

I would want to go through this method and see how she responds without jumping to any other conclusions. Wait and see if the MRI shows anything else.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Don't worry too much about your Mom .She is a smart lady and went to the Dr. early .I had a similar problem , only the pain was in my lower leg . It turned out to be Adamantinoma .,A rare slow growing bone cancer . Like your Mom I went to the doctor early enough before it had time to spread . I pray your Mother doesn't have any thing as serious ,but an early diagnosis to any health problem is the key to quick recovery ,be it a sprain ,or bone replacement as I had .
As far as a bulging disk , I have had them from time to time .Usually mussel relaxers and rest takes care of them . Some Doctors are quick to operate , If this is the case ,get a second or even a third opinion before proceeding .

Answer 4

Hah, I'm the entire reverse. I fear approximately the whole lot; I get careworn so without difficulty. On the opposite hand, my mother is sort of a loose spirit. She hardly ever concerns approximately whatever, and she or he has extra matters to do than I do. So there I am, sitting within the vehicle beside her, annoying I'm going to be past due for some thing (Of path, I'm continuously past due). And my mother's simply there, reassuring me that I would possibly not be past due. She has no concerns on the planet.

Answer 5

Spine Surgery for the bulging disk is very cheap in India.There is one company that is very famous in India that arranges spine surgery for foreigners in India.They are called the Forerunners Healthcare.I read a lot about them in the Newspapers and about their patient stories.I have also read that they arrange financing for american and canadian patients as spine surgery is not covered by insurance.They also have photos pasted of their International patients.You can checkout their website.The cost savings are incredible.As a doctor i personally believe that your spine surgery can be easily handled in India as the quality of healthcare available here is simply best in the world.The surgeons are USA/UK trained and facilities are 5 star..hope this helps
http://www.forerunnershealthcare.com

Answer 6

Look up Dr. Donald Epstein and network spinal analysis.
Find someone in your area, or call the closest one and ask for one in your area. And have her make an appointment. It is resolvable without surgery. But you will not likely here that from a doctor. The "network chiro" will have answers.
I see this a lot in my line of work. And I see people who suffer with surgery and those who do not.