"The sharpest pain I've ever had! I'll be dead by morning" | Herniated Disc
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- Опубликовано: 27 янв 2022
- Patrick Ranney at the Clinic with Dr. Dan Lieberman
Episode 2: Herniated Disc
Patric Ranney came to Dr. Dan Lieberman complaining of low back pain running like electricity down his left leg. Pat is well known to the Clinc, having undergone L5/S1 anterior lumbar interbody fusion surgery six years earlier. He reports that he was pain free until three weeks earlier.
Pat returned to walking for exercise after a couple of months break due to a knee issue. After the second day, he reported pain and numbness in his right leg. These are typical herniated disc symptoms. On physical examination, Pat had weakness lifting his left leg straight up. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a giant herniated disc in the lumbar spine.
Can a herniated disc heal itself?
Herniated discs normally heal by themselves, but the process is slow and sometimes it is either too painful or dangerous to wait. One of the peculiar things about the discs in your lower back is that they do not have their own blood supply. It is through the blood supply that your body recognizes what is part of ‘you’ and what is not. When a disc “herniates” the soft, inner part goes through a rip in the tough outer part.
Pat’s body did not “know” that the soft inner part is part of him. So, his body generated an inflammatory response.
The weird part is that it is the healing that causes herniated disc symptoms. On the show Patrick talked about feeling a “sharp pain” that “went right down my leg.” As his body tried to heal the disc herniation the inflammation spilled over and irritated the neighboring nerve root. That irritation of the nerve root causes the sense of pain going down the leg that people often call sciatica. It also caused a sense of numbness in his leg.
When a herniated disc is the problem the most common solution is to let the body heal itself. But there is a catch. Two of them, actually.
First, the inflammation that reabsorbs the herniated disc is damaging the nerve root. If the healing takes too long, that damage can cause permanent nerve damage.
Second, sometimes pain fibers grow into the scar that heals the annulus, and causes permanent low back pain to form the torn disc. This is called discogenic pain.
Learn more about Herniated Disc - Phoenix Spine & Joint (phoenixspineandjoint.com)
Is a herniated disc serious?
Herniated discs are extremely common, and most get better on their own; however, some can be serious in two ways.
A herniated disc is serious when it causes problems with the neighboring nerve roots due to inflammation or direct pressure. Giant herniated discs, like Pat had, can actually cause damage to nerve roots making you paralyzed and unable to control your own urine:
If you experience herniated disc symptoms like severe weakness, numbness, or incontinence with back pain you may have a giant herniated disc that requires surgery on an emergency basis. If you have severe numbness, weakness, uncontrollable pain, or cannot pee with back pain then go to the nearest hospital that has a neurosurgeon on call. If a hospital is a trauma center, then there is a neurosurgeon on call there.
Second, a herniated disc can happen in conjunction with another serious problem. Infection, tumors, and fractures can all be associated with disc herniation.
Pat had been to the clinic before, so he contacted us. If you have a lot of pain the initial herniated disc treatment is moist heat, rest, and anti-inflammatory medications. If your initial herniated disc treatment fails and you are not getting better, then see your doctor right away.
No matter what, if these herniated disc treatments fail and you are not improved after 12 weeks (about 3 months), then your doctor will refer you to an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in spine surgery or a neurosurgeon as appropriate.
What does it feel like to have a herniated disc? What are herniated disc symptoms?
Pat’s history of back pain, leg pain, numbness, and weakness are typical herniated disc symptoms. The details depend on which disc is the herniated disc. If the herniated disc causes compression of a nerve root, then you may feel symptoms such as pain, weakness, or numbness in the part of your body served by that nerve root.
Pat described a “sharp” pain going down his left leg. This is usually due to the inflammation your body generates to try and heal the herniated disc. He also noted numbness in the left leg. Pat's disc was so large that it affected more than one nerve root; he had numbness in the groin, thigh, and calf.
What is the best herniated disc treatment?
Most people with a herniated disc will get better on their own without the need for further specific herniated disc treatment over days to weeks. Pat had a history with the clinic, so he came to see us. But for most people the best herniated disc treatment for pain from a herniated disc depends on how long you have had it. 
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I love your videos - thanks for making it clear that it’s the patient’s decision how they want to proceed in combination with their doctors advice. I wish I’d done my L4, L5 open discectomy sooner --the nerve root pain was seven months of hell. I wish I had done it sooner. Hoping I can recover fully and I will Go back for a fusion if necessary. I won’t hesitate or wait again.
I like your bedside manner doctor. You explained everything very nicely. Why do they need to drill away some bone in a micro disc procedure?
Hi. I have been dealing with weired sensation through left leg and thigh gluteal area especially seating and lying down. Walking feels better. MRI confirmed from L3 to S1 disc burging (no herniaion ) small annular fissure no nerve involvement . No back pain though. But my leg pain (not shooting but discomfort strong sensation etc) . That sensation and thigh dull aching pain disturbing sleep too. Sometimes my leg jumps and twitches. I though i had restless leg or movement disorder . So that is why MRI was done. I still don't know if my symptom is related to my degenerative spine illness or something else. It has been 3month and has been taking pregabalin 50mg at bed time but not much help and happens day time now. I really like your video as it is really clear explaining and the patint focus and reassuring!!!
We need to evolve tiny nerves like fishing line. This heavy gauge nerve stuff is no good.
Great informative video ! I'm now 7+ weeks dealing with my herniated disk. I have already had one epidural with no relief. I have been using the DRX9000 at my chiropractor which was supposed to help (86% success rate), but still having occassional pain in my foot. Two weeks ago I could barely walk without pain. Getting another epidural next week, but I'm running out of options. I did have a knee scope about 4 weeks ago, and have been going to PT for the knee so that along with not walking straight for two years does not help. Hoping for this to go away so I can concentrate on the knee. Any insight would be great ! Thanks !
Thanks! DRX 9000 is a great treatment for facet joint pain but is not effective for a herniated disc causing sciatica. Having failed epidural I would not be excited about a second one. People often call the pain management doctor's office ahead of time and ask if another epidural makes sense, or whether it's time to talk to a surgeon. bestpracticehealth.tv/herniated-disc-with-sciatica-microdiscectomy-surgery/
I hope my question is answered and guide me through the labyrinth of information.... I have been diagnosed with Left Upper Thorasic Herniated Disc causing severe Radiculopathy... the pain is excruciating.... can this problem be surgically addressed at the spot where it it? or what kind of Injections can tackle the problem,
Epidural injections or Cortisone injections?
Please advice, thanking you from my heart....
Im where he is now. Getting older sucks.
Agreed. But it does beat the alternative ;)
@@BestPracticeHealth i agree :(
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Doctor i have disc bulg.. i have get the MRI.. MRI Shown Us" Dehydration disc bulg of L3 - L4 And L4-L5 Intervertebral Disc Causing Moderate indentation of thecal sac " And Also Its Noted As A diameter Lumbur spine level as L3-L4 with 9.8MM And The L4-L5 with 7.6MM.. please provide some advice doctor
It sounds like you have severe lumbar stenosis. If you are symptomatic with claudication or are having neurological findings, then laminectomy surgery is your next step. Have you seen a surgeon?
I can walk 5 miles even run a little but i can't bend or lift weights the pain is still there am 3 weeks now
Give your body time to heal! Sounds like things are going really well. Hang in there.
My back hurts since late June this year I couldn't even walk or stand up I was bed ridden because of it and I can't get to the doctor to get it looked at I've always had back problems since I was younger so I thought it was acting up again but I've never had it that bad to make me bed ridden I bought a walker and I guess it is trying to heal up on it's own I can finally get to the bathroom and now I can sit down to get a shower 🚿 I have to use a back brace just to help support my back I'm trying to get around more hoping that I can get in the car to get to the doctor appointment what do you think I still take medicine for the pain and it's way better it's going on 4 months now??
I'm so sorry to hear your back pain has been this debilitating! Now-a-days doctors' offices are offering telehealth appointments. Have you considered looking for a doctor that offers telehealth?
@@BestPracticeHealth Yes mine offers that too but it's only for covid patients right now so I'm just suffering through the pain and everything hoping that I get a little bit better to make it to the car so I can make it to the doctor's appointment can't get nothing done until I get there not even pain meds because they're keeping the telephone thing for covid patience only right now so I can't even get medicine I just been taking ibuprofen two times a day
I wish they offered telehealth for all their patients! If you're able to get a MRI at some point, I would be happy to review it with you and answer any questions you may have. Please keep us updated on your journey!
@@BestPracticeHealth okay I will thanks for the info
What do you consider large?
Hi Joe! We were able to answer your question on last week's Q&A episode of Best Practice LIVE. You can view it HERE:ruclips.net/video/7WHPRbIoVCM/видео.html
This guy wasnt walking 5.5 miles a day
Hmm. Interesting. Why do you say that?
Have you ever tried to walk 5.5 miles a day? That a lot of walking even if your going down a hill I say maybe he thought 1.5 was really 5.5 and he might have done it once
@@johnmitchell2741I don't believe it either
Its sciatica
Yup.
1.Disk: 2.Annulus v. 3.Nucleus -🗯️4❓
ruclips.net/video/sSKU7GGNufA/видео.html
I have a degree in Math but I can't solve this series! Sorry. What are you thinking?