Back injury, MRI shows L5, L3 and L4 with bulging disks?!
Question: Back injury, MRI shows L5, L3 and L4 with bulging disks.?
They said they want him to try 4 wks or 2-3 times a wk of physical therpay, and injection for pain and a type of steroid in his back, and a back brace.. Any thoughts on a chiropractor.? Any info on this type of injury.? Any help would be great.. Don't want him to end up in surgery..
Thanks to all for any info you can pass my way..Health Question & Answer
Thanks to all for any info you can pass my way..Health Question & Answer
Answers:
I am not sure that four weeks may be enough but the doctor was correct in recommending physical therapy.. There are techniques available to move the bulge away from the nerve.. It must be remembered that a bulge is a pushing outward of disc material.. To do this it has created a channel that will be there forever.. Posture becomes extremely important.. In therapy they will show him how to handle his own back problems including sleeping, lifting, and even walking.. The trick to all of this is to stabilize the bulges and once that has been done to maintain a neutral posture of the pelvis.. Any muscular imbalances that are present will have to be addressed and corrected.. Body weight is another factor, for every one pound over the idea body weight for size adds another ten pounds worth of stress to the lower back.. also once stabilized and out of pain he is going to have to learn to control the pelvis using his transverse abdominal muscles.. That particular muscle group runs across the lower aspect of the abdomen from hip bone to hip bone and acts as a girdle.. Without training this muscle group it is going to be difficut to control the pelvis even if he has a rock hard set of external abdominals.. He will be given a home program that is going to have to be done multiple times a day.. So yes he should go through with the program.. I am not a big fan of cortisone injections but if it is only one and he will rest for three days afterwards then okay.. Epidurals are not all that they are cracked up to be so sit and talk to your doctor about them and the risks that are present from them..Health Question & Answer
I am just now coming back from a herniated disc in L4,L5.. the secret here is just rest and doing physical therapy like there is no tomorrow.. I had the sciatica down my right leg, trouble sleeping, the whole schebang, but I did about 2 hours of PT a day to get back in shape.. it takes time and it sucks.. you have my sympathy, but it can get better..
I had a cortizone shot prior to starting a real agressive PT program and i think that helped to cool it down at first..
i never went with a back brace.. for me (and i would assume you too) my muscles that are supposed to brace my back got weak.. so i strengthened them and with that my pain went away.. i also never did the chiropractor thing, ive just never been a chiropractor guy..
another thing that helped is streching my hamstrings and hip flexors.. i had really tight muscles so they put extra stress on my low back.. I think streching made a world of difference!!! but do it the right way, dont try to go about it by touching your toes, thats not a good one.. if it hurts, dont do it..
all in all, do PT like it is your job and stay positive.. and listen to your doctor.. this is just what I have done...... best of luck!!Health Question & Answer
I had a cortizone shot prior to starting a real agressive PT program and i think that helped to cool it down at first..
i never went with a back brace.. for me (and i would assume you too) my muscles that are supposed to brace my back got weak.. so i strengthened them and with that my pain went away.. i also never did the chiropractor thing, ive just never been a chiropractor guy..
another thing that helped is streching my hamstrings and hip flexors.. i had really tight muscles so they put extra stress on my low back.. I think streching made a world of difference!!! but do it the right way, dont try to go about it by touching your toes, thats not a good one.. if it hurts, dont do it..
all in all, do PT like it is your job and stay positive.. and listen to your doctor.. this is just what I have done...... best of luck!!Health Question & Answer
Well, it sound like he is getting good treatment.. All of what you said is what they should do.. Physical therapy would be the best treatment to try and what I would have recommended.. I would avoid bringing a chiropractor in on this.. The injury is with the disk and manipulation of the spine at this time is not recommended..Health Question & Answer