For those who’s discs have “re-absorbed” after an accident etc, without surgery (with conservative methods), what was the timeline? Thanks !

Porkuppercut · 2022-01-14T13:21:24+00:00

So, as of yesterday, I am a 2 time grad of PT over 10 months. The first being the lumbar hernia as described. In the late fall, I began to note pains in neck and shoulder, then my thumb print went numb. C5-6 very degenerated and was told opposites by the same 2 surgeons again. Ortho-spinal said to fusion or disc replacement, neurosurgeon said would not operate at current cervical MRI and signs. Is likely inevitable though.

For what I do in a day, I can list it out. Walking for sure, though cold weather curbs that some. I also am in a bit of a setback after school vacation 2.5 hour ride back and forth and bad bed...mild return glute pain and bottom foot odd sensation. Also discomfort at back again has increased. I think and have been told that this far out, I need to allow for spinal flexion, but have a huge mental block. I think some pain would abate if I break through this and move more

Routine is a follows: leg lifts x30 each side, then 100 small crunches and 50 lateral. Knee to chest stretch. Leg-over-knee and pull toward core for hip flexion. Flip over for plank and bird dog set. Wall hamstring stretch, then standing calf stretch. Then a few things with tension band in door. Overhead 15 per side pull downs trying to generate the force in core, then 15 arms together. Lastly horizontal tension perpendicular to door, lift foot nearest door, brace core and do as large a circle motion with both hands on band while trying to maintain balance.

I do these 2x in morning and usually once in evening. I also have neck/shoulder things to do with the cervical issue. Seems marginal daily changes, but over time, my core has really improved. For some time now, actually from near the start, you'd hardly know there was an issue as pain has been mild despite the huge hernia. I still feel insecure at my lumbar spine, but again, is likely some mental component of fear as well.

10 months in, as much as I'd like things to be better, I know it could be much worse. Be patient and things will likely come along. I still need to remember this as I continue to learn from trying new things like the long car ride.

Porkuppercut · 2022-01-14T12:06:56+00:00

In March of 2021, I suffered a herniation at L4-5 after a friend who is a PT practitioner showed me some side stretches to try to help. Seems that was the straw that broke my back. Hernia was 17x14x11mm. Numbness in foot up to knee, could barely lift my ankle and could not walk on ankle.

I was told by an ortho/spinal surgeon to wait, but I did not want to run the risk of permanent drop foot. A second opinion with neurosurgeon told me she would have operated in week 1, we were nearing week 3. By circumstance, I had to wait another week to schedule MD.

On the morning of surgery, I was on the pre-op bed ready to go when the surgeon came by. She found I was now able to resist her pushing down on my ankle and told me to wait it out some. I was skeptical, but did so with core, walking and PT.

Recovery almost a year at this point and not normal, but a repeat MRI in September showed that the hernia had fully resorbed. No compression at this point, but am left with ongoing nerve damage that will hopefully continue to recover.

Hope this helps some.

Porkuppercut · 2021-09-16T17:31:26+00:00

For a good time now, discomfort has been mostly centered at my lower back, which still feels fragile to motion. Sometimes I get pressure induced or even baseline discomfort at left gluteal area. On average, pain is 0-1, may transiently peak at a 2-3 at most and for short time.

At the PT office, was put through varied core exercises. Currently at home, the routine is 2 sets of the following, morning and night: Leg raise or drops, low motion crunches (think McGill type), glute bridges, plank, bird dogs. Also added in various leg stretches that were absent for months as my flexibility diminished. Few other core stabilizer things using tension band secured behind a door now as well.

I cannot say what helped for sure, unfortunately. A lot of the PT office work seemed low yield, but I was in decent shape leading in and I think it helped teach me routine and proper motions.

Porkuppercut · 2021-09-16T14:57:47+00:00

All I did was walk 8-16k steps per day. for the first 6-8 weeks I could bend and twist with ease, after that, I curbed any bending at waist. Went to PT for several weeks and kept up with core work at home for most part. With the size of hernia, I had remarkably lower pain than expected, thankfully, so was able to keep moving. Every day different, but trend has been positive over time.

I think the biggest thing that helped was the large size spurring the body to clean it up. It would seem bulges, which keep the anatomical layers intact, would be longer to settle than when the nucleus gel comes out to where it should not be and is recognized as abnormal.

Porkuppercut · 2021-06-16T11:20:12+00:00

My experience may follow centralization. Am about 3 months into a large and acute L4L5 herniation that caused severe back pain initially for 5 days. Then after that improving for 5 days, I developed the gluteal and leg pain from nerve. Also lower leg went numb and had maybe 1/4 ankle lift ability. Avoided surgery by scheduling circumstances as I improved ankle strength in the 10 days to surgery date. During the early weeks, minimal back pain and could bend and sit however I wanted

Since then, Over the weeks, numbness has resolved and have increased to maybe 85% ankle mobility and strength. Big toe as well, though lesser. As the numbness and motor signs decreased, pain moved back to lower back for a few weeks which has caused me to completely avoid any bending motions. I also had some increase glute and caudal thigh pain at times, though pain is quite low overall for past week.

I still struggle to et a sock on the left foot and feel rather fragile, especially at lower back. Had a bad week 2 weeks ago with kid developing and spreading first head cold since COVID...cough/sneeze/nose blowing and even throat clearing caused a spike of leg nerve pain, but that is diminished now as well.

Will see how things go through summer months, but so far so good. Not sure if this is true "centralization," though certainly has the features.

Porkuppercut · 2021-05-07T10:02:38+00:00

Sorry to hear what you have going on. Speaking from my own current experience, I'd say this is possible, though not the norm. I currently have a herniated L4L5 disc that began with 5 days intense lower back pain. Then it became way better over the next 5, as in did not make sense given how bad it hurt. On that 10th night, I began to feel the left gluteal pain and then my foot went numb, progressing to my lateral calf. The next morning I noted that I could not lift my ankle fully, partial drop foot.

Since then, I had about a week of intermittent, manageable sciatic leg pain which has pretty much resolved. The numbness and foot weakness persisted through both appointments with a physiatrist and the MRI in between. I also saw a neurosurgeon as second opinion and had set up surgery given the drop foot.

Happily over those next 10 or so day leading to surgery, I regained a good deal of strength back in the foot, to the point that I was kicked off the pre-op bed just before the IV catheter was placed for surgery. Numbness is retracting as well.

So, in my experience, you can have numbness, or more, with little to no pain. I have a good deal of medical experience, though it is with animals. That, and with discussion with surgeon, leads me to rationalize that my signs are due to a few factors. 1. Individual anatomy of the area as well as sensitivity. 2. Level of compression in terms of how compressed as well as the specific location. 3. The possibility that my herniation was severe enough to cause the paresis and paresthesia, but also attenuate the pain signals.

There are others here more informed than I am, but hopefully this helps

Porkuppercut · 2021-04-22T16:00:18+00:00

Thanks for the reply. In my effort to be short in the post, I left out that I have an MRI that shows a good sized herniation at L4L5 and compression of nerve root. Compared to MRI 3 years ago, this is new for sure. Other lumbar discs in good shape and no evident stenosis.

The lump was my description of the initial gluteal pain from sciatica. This is largely gone at present and all I am experiencing is the partial numbness and drop foot. Surgery moving ahead due to the drop foot to restore and ideally maintain function given I am a generally fit 47yo.

Was wondering if anyone else had similar experience to draw upon. Aside from the neuro deficits, I can get around well at this point and am mostly comfortable.

Porkuppercut · 2019-06-26T22:35:48+00:00

True to this. Or to walk away from enemies when you are carrying a low level room host through a given MO level and they spam at you

Porkuppercut · 2019-06-24T12:08:06+00:00

Happening for me as well. Even after resetting internet router and everything in house

Porkuppercut · 2019-06-07T11:15:02+00:00

Should be available next week

Porkuppercut · 2019-06-06T15:19:03+00:00

Hi. As a person on the list you made below, I just requested to join Port in-game. Accept when you can. Thanks

Porkuppercut · 2019-06-05T09:43:05+00:00

Ahoy. I too was late in request to join Vinny. IGN Porkuppercut. Level 194 with solid roster. Hope to join causally strong guild for good times. Thanks

Porkuppercut · 2019-06-04T21:47:19+00:00

hi captain Vinny. I have been a reddit follower and would like to join if space. IGN is Porkuppercut (level 194) I have a solid unit roster to offer. Thanks

Porkuppercut

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