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Posted by Dave
In Reply to: My orthopaedic microsurgeon diagnosed a prolapsed / bulging (but not herniated) disc in L4 / 5. He is reccomending endoscopic discectomy to remove the disc posted by Tim Green
I have a herniated disc at L5, I have had it for 12 years now, got it
playing basketball, I have been cycling competively since 92, In 1994 I
hurt it really bad, bulged the disc 7mm into my nerves, I though i was
going to need surgery so..I went to the best, Dr. Dillon at the Kerlan
Jobe center, pro sports doctors, same people that took care of
Gretsky's back and Larry Birds, anyway Dr. Dillon looks at the MRI and
says it's borderline, but we won't operate, instead he put me thru a
rigorous progarm of torso strenghting, lots of sit-ups and others, Dr.
Dillon says they operate on less than 5% of herniations and (those have
to be a real bad situation). for two simple reasons, your outcome is
50/50 at best and if in the future you ruin the operated on Disc...it
is fusion time..they remove the disc, and fuse the two vertabrae
together, talk about stiffening of the back. Now one thing I do to
relieve pressure on the disc 3 times a week is hang upside down with
inversion boots for about 5 - 8 minutes at a time and usually late at
night before bed...I went thru the Chiropractor thing for awhile but
the inversion boots are 99.00 and I have been doing it for about 4
years now...it works for me. When I ride the only real time it bothers
me is extended in the saddle climbing because you tend to roll under
and drive the pedals a bit (at least I do) and after a while it starts
to hurt... ( but I am a sprinter so I can do without the climbing) I
too feel some kind of pain 24/7 but mostly it is a kinda of "yeah I
feel it " thing. In answering your question...I personally would not
have the surgery, I know of a few that have and are worse off now...it
is too risky, torso strengthing, stretching, and relieving the pressure
have worked for me. Good luck
Dave
