Degenerative disc disease

Posted by dunbun13 @dunbun13, Oct 17 4:33pm

I was wondering what you do besides PT to help with this.

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Profile picture for loriesco @loriesco

@dunbun13 I had surgery and it was AMAZING. Don't wait too long as your lumbar nerves could get crushed in the process and it will be hard for them to grow back. That's what happened to me. Get yourself a couple GOOD ortho surgeon opinions. I had 4! The fourth one was my prince charming and he gave me my life back. It took 20 years of trying everything. These days you don't want to wait too long because it takes so long to get in the cue for surgery. You should be having MRIs and having a pain management dr. and an orthopedist advise you. There are MANY things which can be done on the way to eventually having a surgery. I had everything. When it was time, it was time. My only regret was that I didn't find my prince earlier. He has done several surgeries on me since. I am no longer afraid. I am always so much better afterwards! I hate suffering with pain!

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@loriesco Hi. Regarding your lumbar nerves, did you have numbness? And if so, where? Also, did your nerves eventually grow back? And if so, how long did it take?

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What I found out is that there are two kinds of PT available. The traditional PT does nothing to help degenerative disc disease. However, neurological PT is far different and has helped me to avoid back surgery.

Although I have been advised by a spine specialist and neurosurgeon to have disc surgery for spondylosis, I have other problems that would be a major problem during surgery. Neurological PT exercises must be done at home to help degenerative disc disease. However, the PT sessions and work at home do improve the pain.

If you are trying to avoid back surgery, this is the alternative!

Good luck!

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Profile picture for cori @ccchang

@loriesco Hi. Regarding your lumbar nerves, did you have numbness? And if so, where? Also, did your nerves eventually grow back? And if so, how long did it take?

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@ccchang yes I had numbness, yes, I had a lot of itching. What I learned from having my spine compressed by discs falling out and vertebrae‘s compressing onto the nerves is that you can have burning numbness, tingling itching, and the very from location to location. The neurosurgeon I was with for 18 years, would’ve never done my first lumbar surgery therefore, my lumbar nerves were crushed to their death. they could only grow back dysfunctional. I went right into surgery when I was referred to my orthopedic surgeon who I selected to do my surgery. It had been way too long and my nerves crushed way too completely to expect complete return. However, the surgery was wildly successful. It takes up to 10 years to figure out if your nerves are going to regenerate I am on year six or seven and periodically. I have some new success so it really can take a long time. I wouldn’t take any of it back because I can get out of bed and I can work and I can live an independent life. What’s a little nerve pain?! However, I will say I’m onto something new after six or seven years, and that is extra iron and B12 in my diet after already having extra nutrients. I am realizing the iron is actually rebuilding the nerve sheets, myelin. So after seven years, I’m having some good healing with my nerves! Never give up and always keep reaching out, looking for opportunities, trying new things and talking to people. Since I suffer with degenerative disc condition, it goes from my neck through my mid back through my lumbar down my spine so the possibility of neuropathy and radiculopathy can be a variety of places. Mostly for me it was down my left leg bilaterally in my sacral joint areas and between my shoulder blades and shoulders.

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Profile picture for loriesco @loriesco

@ccchang yes I had numbness, yes, I had a lot of itching. What I learned from having my spine compressed by discs falling out and vertebrae‘s compressing onto the nerves is that you can have burning numbness, tingling itching, and the very from location to location. The neurosurgeon I was with for 18 years, would’ve never done my first lumbar surgery therefore, my lumbar nerves were crushed to their death. they could only grow back dysfunctional. I went right into surgery when I was referred to my orthopedic surgeon who I selected to do my surgery. It had been way too long and my nerves crushed way too completely to expect complete return. However, the surgery was wildly successful. It takes up to 10 years to figure out if your nerves are going to regenerate I am on year six or seven and periodically. I have some new success so it really can take a long time. I wouldn’t take any of it back because I can get out of bed and I can work and I can live an independent life. What’s a little nerve pain?! However, I will say I’m onto something new after six or seven years, and that is extra iron and B12 in my diet after already having extra nutrients. I am realizing the iron is actually rebuilding the nerve sheets, myelin. So after seven years, I’m having some good healing with my nerves! Never give up and always keep reaching out, looking for opportunities, trying new things and talking to people. Since I suffer with degenerative disc condition, it goes from my neck through my mid back through my lumbar down my spine so the possibility of neuropathy and radiculopathy can be a variety of places. Mostly for me it was down my left leg bilaterally in my sacral joint areas and between my shoulder blades and shoulders.

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@loriesco Oh no, 10 years? I just had an XLIF (disc replacement / fusion) surgery on last month. I've heard nerves can take months to years to repair but hadn't heard up to 10 years. Thank you for letting me know about iron and B12. I just went to a health store and picked up "Healthy Feet and Nerves" from Terry Naturally (the ingredients include B12 but shucks, not iron). How much iron do you take? I also picked up magnesium flakes to soak my feet (I was told it's similar to but sronger than epsom). It's amazing that you're still finding new success at year 6, that's great and I'm happy for you. I haven't noticed success yet; I'm on week 5, but am hopeful. Thank you so much for your response and help.

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Profile picture for curlylocks7 @curlylocks7

What I found out is that there are two kinds of PT available. The traditional PT does nothing to help degenerative disc disease. However, neurological PT is far different and has helped me to avoid back surgery.

Although I have been advised by a spine specialist and neurosurgeon to have disc surgery for spondylosis, I have other problems that would be a major problem during surgery. Neurological PT exercises must be done at home to help degenerative disc disease. However, the PT sessions and work at home do improve the pain.

If you are trying to avoid back surgery, this is the alternative!

Good luck!

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@curlylocks7 Don’t have any fusions. They make you worse. I will talk to my pain specialist about the neurological physical therapy. I have degenerative disc disease too🙏

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Thanks for letting me know. After seeing one of my best friends go through the surgery with great difficulty, I postponed my date. It reminds me of knee replacement surgery that I was supposed to have several years ago and also postponed and then didn't go through with it. Some people do well and others don't. Especially, if a person is dealing with other medical challenges. Again, thanks for your advice!

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Profile picture for cori @ccchang

@loriesco Oh no, 10 years? I just had an XLIF (disc replacement / fusion) surgery on last month. I've heard nerves can take months to years to repair but hadn't heard up to 10 years. Thank you for letting me know about iron and B12. I just went to a health store and picked up "Healthy Feet and Nerves" from Terry Naturally (the ingredients include B12 but shucks, not iron). How much iron do you take? I also picked up magnesium flakes to soak my feet (I was told it's similar to but sronger than epsom). It's amazing that you're still finding new success at year 6, that's great and I'm happy for you. I haven't noticed success yet; I'm on week 5, but am hopeful. Thank you so much for your response and help.

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@ccchang five weeks is nothing give it about six months! Bronson brand 25 mg

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Profile picture for linda6101 @linda6101

@curlylocks7 Don’t have any fusions. They make you worse. I will talk to my pain specialist about the neurological physical therapy. I have degenerative disc disease too🙏

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@linda6101 my fusion gave me my life back. I’m not sure what you’re referring to but everybody that I know that had fusion surgery has been very happy.

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Profile picture for cori @ccchang

@loriesco Oh no, 10 years? I just had an XLIF (disc replacement / fusion) surgery on last month. I've heard nerves can take months to years to repair but hadn't heard up to 10 years. Thank you for letting me know about iron and B12. I just went to a health store and picked up "Healthy Feet and Nerves" from Terry Naturally (the ingredients include B12 but shucks, not iron). How much iron do you take? I also picked up magnesium flakes to soak my feet (I was told it's similar to but sronger than epsom). It's amazing that you're still finding new success at year 6, that's great and I'm happy for you. I haven't noticed success yet; I'm on week 5, but am hopeful. Thank you so much for your response and help.

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@ccchang also it doesn’t take 10 years for your nerves to regenerate. It’ll take maybe one to four years you’ll keep on feeling better by the year. It’s just you shouldn’t give up Hope because they’re constantly remodeling and they can remodel for up to 10 years.

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Profile picture for loriesco @loriesco

@linda6101 my fusion gave me my life back. I’m not sure what you’re referring to but everybody that I know that had fusion surgery has been very happy.

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@loriesco everyone on this group session have said that they’re pain is worse like mine. You are the first person on this chat group that said anything positive. You’re a lucky person.

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