endoscopic discectomy?
442341
I have heard of it and considered it. But I'm not doing it because I'm too young to get the procedure.
441039
Your doctor will want to aggressively manage your GERD. You will likely be prescribed a PPI (Proton-pump inhibitor ) medicine.\n\nYour doctor will also want to check that the erosions have healed with a follow-up endoscopy in a few months.\n\nA very small percentage of people with erosive esophagitis can develop scarring of the esophagus and esophageal narrowing leading to difficulty with swallowing. This is probably unlikely for you, as it would have been picked up during your endoscopy exam.
753836
I wouldn't recommend taking Prednisone for a long time.\nYou gain weight and your skin becomes more fragile.\nHerniated disc is a general term for back pain with a specific cause.\nHNP herniated nucleus pulposus is the condition when the jelly-like center of your disc is squeezed out like toothpaste into the spinal canal putting pressure on your nerves. A slipped disc is the entire disc sliding out from between vertebrae putting pressure on your nerves. Both are managed with physical therapy at the onset. If it worsens, surgery is indicated. It never heals, you only get used to the pain, less and less, everyday.\nPhysical therapy is designed to make your back stronger so the weight on your spine doesn't make matters worse.
151118
Since no one else has answered you, and I have had a similar injury, I thought I'd offer you my experience. I am not a medical expert, just a survivor. My injury was L3 L4, and the disc blew up! In other worded it was not your standard slipped disk. They could not do the laser surgery on me, partly because it was not yet approved but mostly because of the number of disk fragment sthat they had to remove. Prior to the surgery I spent 8 weeks flat on my back while they figured out what was wrong with me, i.e. orthopedics, medical and finally surgical. I had lost all use of my right leg, including the feeling from the hip down, and was starting to loose bowel function. They did the full laminectomy, and sent me home from the hospital the next day. I asked for PT or some kind of rehab but they refused. For the next five years I had to fight on my own to regain use and control of that right leg. For ten years I had a noticable limp. To this day there are certain movements I just cannot do. And the hip is still bad with rampant arthritis. Three years ago I had a relapse, and after the same surgeon did the x-rays and MRI's he said he could not do anything to help me, and that I no have spinal stenosis from L2 down. You should see how little bone mass there is in that picture. It's scary! Anyway, I went to my local gym who has a healthy back program, using Medx equipment. I rehabbed with that program, and am as functional now as I was 5 years after the surgery. If you have a program like that I would seriously check it out before agreeing to surgery. The program at my gym has prevented a lot of surgeries, and has an 85% success rate. They train surrounding muscle to support the bones, and carry the weight. We once trained a dog the same way who was born with hip dysplasia bad enough they wanted to put him to sleep in his first year. He lived to 17, and passed away as a result of an auto injury, not his hips.\nSorry this was so long but your husband needs to know there are options to surgery, and not just PT. Good luck and feel better. I do understand your pain and confusion.
745199
If you gotta ask............... I would advise not doing it! You might end up blowind a disc or something.
839782
From what I have found (which wasn't much) it seems to be a surgical procedure.  I will add the sites I have looked at but the are very technical and aimed at surgeons.\nI hope they will be of some help to you.
668504
I also have DDD, and the pain is ongoing. You have to be really careful with this disease because the vertebrae are very brittle. On an MRI or CAT scan, the bones will look black where the degeneration is. Sometimes you can have surgery but not always and sometimes surgery will cause the disc above it to crumble so you never know. Pain meds, anti-inflammatory meds, and if you are having a hard time , antidepressants kind of help
720435
Sit ups are not good after disc surgery. Try pelvic tips or tummy crunches. When you do sit ups it puts a lot of strain on your back and that is not where you need to exercize. \nwhen in doubt call a local chiropractor and ask if they have any suggestions.
706290
i am a chiropractor and i use spinal decompression in my office. the disc acts as both a cushion and a spacer between each vertebrae. if a disc is bulging/herniated, that bulge can put pressure on the nerves exiting between each vertebra which causes a "pinched nerve." also if the disc is wearing out (getting thinner) you lose the space between the vertebra, which leaves less room for those nerves to exit--and again can pinch a nerve. the nerves in your cervical spine (neck) go all the way down your arm while the nerves in your lumbar spine (low back) form the sciatic nerve which runs all the way down your leg. if any of these are "pinched" they can cause pain, numbess, tingling, weakness wherever these nerves go (down arms/legs).\n\nas a chiropractor i see this type of scenario on a daily basis. for those who have degenerative disc disease, disc herniation, disc bulging, etc.--normal chiropractic care can usually help with those problems. but there are also many people out there that have had this problem for many years and can't find relief with anything they try--including chiropractic. \n\nthere is a treatment called spinal decompression that is perfect for these situations and the best part is: it's non-surgical and non-invasive.  this type of treatment focuses on disc injuries and the problems they cause. i use the DRX9000 spinal decompression system in my office and it works wonders for people with these types of injuries (approx. 90% successful). the DRX9000 is fda approved and is the best decompression system available (there are cheap knock-offs that don't give the same results). \n\nmy recommendation would be to see a chiro, especially if you've never tried it before-just to see what they have to say. also do some research on this treatment and then contact someone (usually a chiro) who uses it in their office. i would just google "DRX9000" to find info on it and doctors in your area who may have it. this treament is able to encourage the disc to go back to it's normal orientation and also rebuild its height--which then takes the pressure off whatever nerve it is compressing. pain meds, cortisone shots, epidurals won't do anything to solve the problem--all they do is cover it up and they become less and less effective over time. surgery AT BEST is 50% successful and usually doesn't solve the problem since most people need another surgery 5-10 years down the road for the same issue. it's typically a viscious cycle. remember: surgery is always an option, so try something prior to surgery to see if you can avoid it--cause once you do the surgery there is no going back.\n\nthis treatment is extremely effective for degenerative disc disease, disc bulging, herniation, etc. and also sciatica type of cases, especially if you haven't had surgery yet. i've had many patients who were scheduled for surgery, tried this treatment as a last resort, and then ended up cancelling their surgery altogether after treatment was completed. it really does work and that's what my recommendation would be for you. good luck and hopefully this gives insight to others experiencing similar problems--there is a solution!!!\n\nmore info at http://www.axiomworldwide.com
978575
well..I tried a Lot of remedies..lot's  of pain and finally had the surgery...endrometrosis get's worse and can cause lots of adhesions as in my case\npregnacy allieviatesn it  and for the most part you are pain free while pregnant.if you are planning a pregnancy.now might be a good time before it causes more problems..cancer very strong in my family I do believe the surgey may have just prolonged my life...have those babies if that is your desire and good luck
716274
In terms of your disc herniation, it is doubtful that it will disqualify you. A large number of the human population has asymptomatic disc herniations confirmed by MRI studies on asymptomatic patients. Further MRI studies on cadavers, in which during life- had no complaints of back pain. It is estimated that some 30-40 % of the population have disc herniations. Furthermore there is absolutely no clinical correlation between size (mild/moderate/marked) of the herniation and severity of the patient's pain. \nRegarding your steroid. If at some point of time the pain becomes too great, whereupon all conservative treatment methods have failed. Sure, go with the steroid. A steroids main purpose is to inhibit inflammation- because inflammation results in pain. Inflammation is somewhat good in that its real purpose is to move "cells" to the area to help repair. If you INHIBIT this process, you in effect INHIBIT healing. (ice slows the process down some whilst decreasing pain). Steroids have also shown to result in periarticular osteoporosis ( slight bone loss at the point of injection). Spinal decompression makes sense as your first line of treatment. Think of your disc like a jelly doughnut. Some your jelly has leaked out. The jelly is irritating surrounding nervous tissue--> pain. Decompression causes a negative vaccuum in that disc to help it suck the jelly back in. If your chiro is good... he will then start you off with some stabilization exercises to help with the pain and future occurances of pain.
1174
The initial treatment for a herniated disc is usually conservative and nonsurgical. Your doctor may prescribe bed rest, or advise you to maintain a low, painless activity level for a few days to several weeks. This helps the spinal nerve inflammation to decrease.  herniated disc is frequently treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication if the pain is only mild to moderate. An epidural steroid injection may be performed utilizing a spinal needle under x-ray guidance to direct the medication to the exact level of the disc herniation. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy. Therapy may include pelvic traction, gentle massage, ice and heat therapy, ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation, and stretching exercises. Pain medication and muscle relaxants may also be beneficial in conjunction with the physical therapy. If these conservative measures do not help, then usually surgery is indicated.
1090086
I just replied in your other thread...\n\nHere the link for a lasting solution against the slipped disc, the one-time treatment is called Atlasprofilax.
984202
Laser endometriosis surgery is a minimal invasive surgery technique, used for the treatment of endometriosis.\n\nThe laser fibre is passed through a hysteroscope into the uterine cavity, and is aimed at areas of endometriosis and fired. The areas where the laser is focussed onto die, and will slough away and be lost with your period. The lining of the uterus is not destroyed completely, as is the case with baloon thermal ablation.\n\nLaser ablation of endometriosis may also be carried out for endometriotic deposits within the pelvis and abdomen. The laser fibre would be introduced via a laparoscope, and then aimed at the deposits of endometriosis and fired in the same way as inside the uterus. The burnt areas of endometriosis are washed away, usually with a saline solution, and the wash solution is suctioned out of the body.\n\nLaser ablations such as these are not without their risks. There have been cases of hysterectomy having to be performed due to uterine perforation. In the case of laparoscopic laser ablation, there is a risk to the abdominal organs if the laser is not used accurately. Cases have resulted in perforated intestines, and some cases have lead to sepsis and peritonitis caused by undetected bowel lacerations caused by the laser.\n\nPain wise, the procedure is not too bad. It's about as uncomfortable as a D & C or hysteroscopy or laparoscopy. Severe pain following the procedure is uncommon, and is usually an indication of a complication.\n\nThe best thing to do is to talk with your Gynaecologist, and ask him or her to go through with you step by step the procedure they intend to carry out, and explain all the possible risks.\n\nHope this helps.
113398
I had a herniated disk in my neck at the C4/C5 level. I lived with it for 7 years. In those seven years, I went to acupuncturists, chiropractors, went through physical therapy, had medical massages, and many, many pain pills.\n\nWhen the pain gets to the point where you can't sleep through the night and you are having a hard time walking, then it is time for surgery.\n\nAs with any surgery, do your research. With this surgery, the surgeon is dealing with your spinal cord. Find the top 5 neurosurgeons in your county or state (depending on how big your state is) and go to one of them. I was fortunate. My surgical team consisted of two of the top 5 in NY state. The whole team and hospital were wonderful.\n\nBecause I waited 7 years...I have permanent nerve damage that I wouldn't have if I had gone sooner. Do you have pinched nerves because of the herniation? You don't mention how long you have dealth with the pain, so just keep this in mind.\n\nAlso, I'm not sure if surgery on the lower back is the same as on the upper back/neck area, but I had to pretty much learn how to walk again after having my neck worked on. It was very slow at first, but when I went home from the hospital, I had to go up three flights of stairs to get to my apartment, not an easy hurdle. \n\nThey cut through the front of my neck to get to the back, pretty freaky thought, huh? Honestly though, the surgeon said that from a surgeon's point of view, it was easier and safer to do the surgery that way.\n\nI wish you the best of luck and hope you at the very least consider having an MRI to see how close the herniation is to your spinal cord. You do not want to be paralyzed just because you were trying to prevent surgery.
1024272
The large majority of prolapsed intervertebral discs do not need an operation, and spinal surgery is the most unsuccessful of all surgery, as scar tissue ends up involving the delicate nerves around the area, causing long-term pains, treated only by painkillers. Surgery is consequently generally reserved for people whose bladder and bowel function is threatened by the disc damaging their nerves. If possible, avoid surgery and work hard on physio.\nSurgery involves a vertical incision over the relevant disc (the majority are over the spine-pelvis junction, so-called L5-S1), of about 6" long. The muscles are stripped away to gain access deep in, and the disc is operated upon - there are various options.\nSome prolapsed discs can also be amenable to a more minor procedure where a needle is introduced through the skin and into the disc and a drug is injected to dissolve part of the disc.
38492
I had a L5, S1 herniated disc.  I tried 6 months of physical therapy which helped to a point, but I was still in severe pain at times.  I went ahead and had the surgery and I'm so glad I did.  It took a while after the surgery for the pain to completely go away.  I'm told it took so long (about 9 months) for the pain to away because my sciatic nerve was so emflammed for so long.  Once the disk was removed from the nerve, the pain was eventually gone.  I feel so much better now (2 years later).  I only get minor aches from time to time (mainly in the morning or if it rains outside -- strange I know).  These pains are much more managable than the constant shooting pain I had with the herniated disc.  I definitely recommend the surgery for the long-term.