Herniated Disk problems?

Question

I am only 21 and have two herniated disks between lumbar L4-L5 and L5-S-1. I have gotten an MRI and they are compressing my nerve, I believe the lower one was protruding 5mm, and 4mm for the other disk with disk height roughly cut in half and bottom two disks have lost a good portion of their water content. I have had pain everyday for 7 months now, and though it is to a manageable point, I am not able to do any real activities like running, training, and basketball. I have went to see chiros, did PT, elec. therapy, decompression, traction, ice/heat, vitamins, exercises, and had cortisone shots with nothing seeming to help. I am looking at possibly going for a more invasive treatment now. Has any one been through this with a similar situation and been able to really come back? It might sound dumb, but it is important to me to be active again, at least for a few years, I'd rather die at 30 being able to move then like this for the rest of my life, its not living for me.

Answer 1

i hear ya. i've been in extreme pain for 4 years now. my lil sis has the exact same thing you do, and she had the disk fusion surgery...it has really helped her. she's doing mostly everything she was able to do before her injuries. very best of luck to you.

Answer 2

My boss has suffered with back problems for the 9 years that I have known him. He would bend over or move wrong and his back would go out and he would be home in bed for 4 or 5 days on steroids. This fall, he herniated a disk and had minimum invasive surgery done to remove it. He is doing wonderfully and exercises every day. He is in better shape than he has ever been he said. He is 47 years old, so you should recover just fine.

Answer 3

I would advise against a Chiro doing manipulations for this. I recommend that you see a surgeon and see what he says. My brother went through the samething after an accident. He never was able to lift anything real heavy, but he could do a lot more after they fused the bones together.

Answer 4

My dad had an herniated disk and he got surgery but his back still hurts. Well he can walk, run, and play sports but it still hurts from time to time.