Can a herniated disc unherniate itself with proper care and exercise?

[Deja Q]

Or is surgery the only solution?

[LeftyFingerPop]

1. Only your ortho doc knows...

I've had a few in my lumbar region since my early thirties.

I think it depends entirely on the location and degree of severity of the herniation.

:hi:

[Deja Q]

2. Neck, and severity is unknown (the inconsistent pain is known, however)

With more exercise and proper pillows, I think it's not fillet-knife time just yet...

[LeftyFingerPop]

4. Avoid surgery if at all possible...

and try professional physical therapy and possible cortisone shots if recommended by your doc.

[Deja Q]

8. Had a shot today... Been through surgery once already

But that surgery was do-it-or-be-paralyzed, no choice sort of option.

My options are still comparatively many, and those I intend to take. Life is starting to get good again.

[LeftyFingerPop]

5. dupe.

[Robeson]

3. Are you experiencing problems?

[Deja Q]

6. I do have a diagnosis, yes... and a claim from a professional saying it's possible...

yet that prognosis of its remission may not have been as accurate as originally predicted.

[Robeson]

11. As always, I thinks it depends on the degree of pain....

...and, of course, staying physically fit. I've had back surgery, and - like a poster said above - get a cortisone shot about every 6 months in my upper back. It does wonders. I also work out, even through my pain. Hope everything works out well for you. I wouldn't wish back problems on anyone...well, maybe except for some repug congress critters.

[Deja Q]

13. Seconded, some of those repubs are truly vile.

Thanks - I will do my part to make it work out. It's all any of us can do in a similar situation, but increased exercise and staying fit will be a big portion.

[muffin1]

7. How long have you had it?

Do you have nerve pain running down the side of your leg?

[Deja Q]

9. Not down my leg, but my arm this time...

And it's only my fingers (there is one specific nerve being impacted) and shoulders. Upper/mid/lower arm is just fine.

It's not consistent so I know it can be controlled.

[muffin1]

12. I hope you're right.

Mine started the same way in my leg. It was just a little uncomfortable at the beginning. Soon, it was so bad I was given Vicodin, then Vicodin and what the doc called a "pain pill accelerant" - I forget the name of it. Then it worsened, and I was given Percocet, then they added some kind of pain patch, then cortisone shots to the back (I was on all this shit at once). Normally I'm a Percocet fan :P , but it barely touched the pain.
Finally, I relented and had the surgery. This was about six years ago, and I haven't had a problem since.

In any case, keep an eye on any changes, and don't wait too long to take further action.
Best of luck to you!:)

[soleft]

10. You might be interested in the books of John Sarno

Info to be used in conjuction with your doctor's care.

http://www.healingbackpain.com/books.html

[Avalux]

16. Don't confuse psychosomatic back pain with a herniated disk.

John Sarno is talking about pain that has no physiological cause. :hi:

[Ptah]

14. Ask the surgeon with the

biggest scalpel

[Deja Q]

18. I'll be sure to do that...

I'll tell him or her to cut extra deep, just for you. :)

:hi:

[Deja Q]

19. Of course, and maybe I'm a looking into things too much and getting a little paranoid,

if you hate me that much, why not put me on your 'ignore' list? I mean, if I made coy and clandestine references to refer to a physician with a large knife, there can only be so many inferences, I'd probably get banned...

[Avalux]

15. I have two herniated disks in my cervical spine.

I have pain that radiates up the left side of my head every day; if I didn't stretch and do physical therapy exercises it would be unbearable. I don't take any meds except for an occasional ibuprofen if I'm having a bad day.

To answer your question, herniated disks can't undo themselves. You can manage with exercise, pain medication, corticosteroid injections or surgery. Surgery, of course, would be the last resort. I hope I never get there. :hi:

[Deja Q]

17. Then the neurologist was in error. It's a human thing...

A pity they can't undo themselves... :)

I'm sorry you're going through this sort of stuff as well. (And it surprised me, at the office today, people younger than me - by years if not a good decade or more, also have similar problems. I'm 37. 30, 25, same problems - shit, that IS rough. :( )

Thank you (as with the others but I'll try to get to those tomorrow AM) for responding. Peer support is great... and I hope you never need surgery either.

:hi: