moderate disc herniation in mid-line L5-S1, Pt for 3weeks,?

Question

Dr, started to give me set of 3shots in the back last one is this week. still having numbness and thingling in foot, not sure if this will take some time to got away, if this happen to you or some one you know let me know, what they ended up having to do thanks

Answer 1

My brother had the same problem!! He had PT for like 6wks. then he went through the 3 shot deal, with no relief!! He recently had back surgery...they removed the discs and replaced them with titanium cages, the cages are filled with some "stuff" that makes bone form around the cages, they will b a permanant part of his body now. He said he doesn' t regret the surgery but the recovery time was like 4 months (he went back to work with 25#lifting restriction) total recovery time was like 1yr. He did have some quite painful muscle spasms afterwards which he takes muscle relaxers for. The numbness ur feeling is probably a pinched nerve, his nerve was pinched between the discs. MAKE SURE you research ur dr's successful surgeries for this procedure because u know anytime u mess with the back area u risk paralysis. The therapy , 3 shots deals are all standard procedure they have to do and show they didn't work b-4 they do surgery. good luck hope i helped answer ur Q.

Answer 2

First time I herniated a disc, had to have surgery - numbness and tingling took a year to go away. Your doctor will probably re-evaluate you after three weeks of Physical Therapy. I assume you have had a MRI or some other imaging test to get the diagnosis of disc herniation? There are still options if you do not get full relief from 3 weeks of physical therapy. Doctor may have you on anti-inflammatory medications, may continue PT if you have had some improvement. Everyone is different - some people have quick improvement, some slow. Major factor is if you follow the recommendations of your doctor and your physical therapist. Doing heavy lifting or some other activity that they have restricted, because you feel better could put you back at square one.
I've been there and done that, started over and got better. Do your exercises with religious fervor. Make your life the epitome of back protection measures.
Good luck to you.

Answer 3

Many people do get better with small disc herniations. The shots help at the local level but the foot tingling would be a result of the disc pressing on the nerve root in the spine. Try some physical therapy to try to relieve that pressure.