Slipped disk

[malente]

Hey guys,

I recently had a prolapsed disc, and an apparently quite serious case too (lost big part of movement and feeling in my right leg and foot), which had to be operated. Now I am out of the hospital, starting physio therapy and waiting to start medical rehabilitation.

I wonder how it'll affect my bushcraft. No more rough camping and carrying heavy loads (firewood, canoe) I fear...

Anyone else out here also had one? PM or reply welcome!

I need cheering up!

ATB

Mike

 

[Toddy]

I fell and broke my tailbone. Saving it I slipped two discs and trapped the sciatic nerve. I couldn't feel my right leg from just above my knee down apart from the most appalling painful tingle, for months. As though that leg had been frozen solid and the blood was just coming back into it.

You have my utmost sympathy.
You can't move out of that pain, you can't sit, stand, lie, walk, curl up, sleep, without the pain. Actually end up watching the clock for safe time to take the next knock out painkiller

However, if it's of any comfort, it does heal It takes time and it takes care, but it does heal, it does become strong and reliable again.

A little motivation and you'll be very fit and able again, the damage isn't a constant limitation.

It does teach you to be damned careful how you lift things though How you bend and how you sit.

I hope thing heal well and quickly for you.

Physiotherapy can be a bit hit or miss. Worth the money to go and see a sports therapist when you're on the mend a bit. Explain what sort of activities you want to participate in and ask for advice re carrying packs and the like.

atb,
Toddy

 

[rik_uk3]

I've Herniated disks, numb left thigh, bad left knee and totally shot right knee so you have my sympathy.

Do your best to find a way to get solid sleep as broken sleep leaves you drained. Listen to the fizzio terrorists as they can help a lot and take the pain killers.

I still get out camping, just can't go up and down hills these days You will start to think about posture more and what to carry and how to carry it safely.

Depending on age and other factors there may well be no reason you can't go back to what you were doing.

Keep the faith and good luck.

 

[Adze]

I'm 5 months post op... NO! WAIT! That sounds all wrong

I had a prolapsed L4/L5 disc which trapped part of the cauda equina (horses tail - bottom of your spinal cord) a lot less than fun that. Did they do a microdiscectomy or lumbar fusion?

Provided you listen to the physio, do your exercises religiously and for at least the first three months don't over do anything you stand a good chance of making a pretty good recovery.

At new year my brother in law and I went for a decent hike in the snow and the weekend before last I cut down a 20 foot leylandii in my front garden, snedded it, chopped it up, stacked it and dumped the waste in my trailer. Looking forward to going sledging with my 3y/o later

No matter how good you feel - stick to the medical advice and stop the second anything hurts.

 

[Whittler Kev]

After a broken vertebrae ruptured a second disk I had mt back fused(two vertebrae and the hip). Just had some one tell me they can now change the damaged disc's for rubber ones which work just the same as the real ones.

 

[hedgerow pete]

prolasped 4 disks and ruptured two, three months lie down being treated by the local quack, she eventualy gave me liver and kidney failure due to the amount of chemicals i was given, another three months in hospital waiting for nuro surgeon to collect me, of to the slab 5 hours of hacking and cutting and out within two days, still upright but I have no choice in the matter the next accident makes sure i have wheels for the rest of my life, as for every thing else I am six foot two and still built like a brick out house, I dont do the heavy heavy lifting anymore but thats because i dont want to rather than i cant, 25 kilos is enough any time, biggest lesson learnt has to be how to STREATCH AND WARM UP AND HOW TO IMPROVE/ STRENGHEN BODY CORE MUSCELS and no i dont mean spending days in the gym, sencible exercise and fittness


second biggest lesson, is never tell a nurse the truth , they will only laugh at you!!
I personal was working at a building site at hereford when the digger driver found a massive block of ice this was dug out and put to one side, being a hot summers day it melted and defrosted the sabre tooth tiger with in, Luckily for the world i was there and using my stanley knief "Jonny Wisemuller" style( ask your dad ) I managed to leap apon the said tiger and after a massive battle of several hours i managed to turn the ltiger into a nice fur carpet, But in doing so and saving the world i was injured in the lower back

there is the truth, the almost truth, and then there s my version!!

 

[malente]

Thanks all,

First of all, sorry for the belated reply. If all that wasn't enough, my pregnant wife and my one year old had the Norovirus and had to be in the hospital for a week due to the dangers of dehydration. Both are fine again, but the week was hairy.

@Toddy: Yes I didn't want to go into detail with the pain but you are right. It is reeeealy bad, but getting better each day.

@rik: YEah the docs said full recovery is likely, but it'll take a long while.

@Adze: I had exactly the same. L5 right side. But to add to that, I also have a iliosacral joint nerve blockade on the right leg, which adds spice to the matter I guess My spine is all curly (good), but sideways (bad!). My posture is a mess. It all started with my left foot developing a highly arched foot and the ball of the foot rounded due to a wart of all things. That lead to a functional shortening of my right leg, which in turn triggered the iliosacral joint nerve blockade. This weakness led to the slipped disk. A f*cking wart.

But good to hear that your really fit again, that gives me hope

@Kev: I think the two vertebrae will harden and fuse, that's what the doc said. Never heard about artificial disks. I'd have a DD

@pete: Damn, you got it worse than me, but your sabretooth story made me laugh I was 'rescuing' my son out of a pool when it happened (ok I just lifted the lazy kid)

The pain is going, and the physio seems to work.

I decided to start yoga!

 

[ih1973]

I'm recovering from similar myself.
Last year I started to get agonzing pain in my right hip. Went through various x-rays, examinations, referals to orthopaedic specialists etc until an MRI scan on my back showed a badly prolapsed disc. In the mean time it got so bad I could barely walk, the pain spread down my leg & my right foot became numb. I was referred to a spinal surgeon.
I'd done a lot of research by the time I saw the specialist in late December, & I expected to be referred to physiotherapy, or something, as a first line of attack. The consultant laughed and said I either operate now or you risk further problems if it worsens (impotence & incontinence being on the list!).
Like yours it was a serious prolapse.
On the 10th January I had surgery - an L5 / S1 discectomy and a DIAM implant put in. I believe that just a few years ago, they would have simply fused the vertabrae. They now try to use Wallace, DIAM & other implants to try & keep some flexibility.
6 weeks off work. I could have worked earlier but because I do a lot of travelling & driving they advised I stayed home & rested. I'm still taking it easy, not lifting anything heavy, bending etc. But I feel so much better than before
I'm planning to be backpacking, rock climbing, kayaking, sleeping rough & carrying heavy loads by summer!
Positive attitude! I'll be ok & you will be too!!!

 

[Harvestman]

You could do worse, once you've recovered, than speak to a chiropractor. They will certainly be able to advise on things like posture, and would be able to correct any pelvic misalignments that lead to leg-shortening effects.

Try here for more info. I used to work for them, and strongly recommend them.

Do consult carefully with the healthcare professionals though. They generally know what they are talking about.