Question
QUESTION: I had an MRI done in 2/2006 and found that I had a disc herniation in L5-S1 region. A repeat MRI in 5/2007 showed a 9mm herniation. At a neurosurgical consult in 2006 he said that it doesn't matter how big your herniation is. My current physician is a DO and doesn't recommend me having surgery.I've been through physical therapy, acupuncture and 3 steroid injections in the past year. My status has improved drastically, however, this past week my leg wouldn't stop twitching and by the end of that day my left calf muscle was extremely tight, and my upper back hamstring along with a part of my buttock was numb. The following day my right calf muscle was tight, so I started taking flexeril and relafin. The muscle tightness is completely gone in the right leg and partly in the left leg, however, numbness is still there and I can't stand on the tip of my left toes. If you could please further assist or advise. I am currently working out at the gym with a personal trainer because my physician said that loosing weight will definitely help.

Thanks
ani

ANSWER: Hi Ani,

Loosing weight is good but working out is absolutely wrong!

Do NOT lift weights and avoid stressing the low back in any way, this includes coughing, sneezing or even difficult bowel movements.

I totally agree with your DO, forget surgery, it rarely if ever helps long term.

The Gold standard for herniated disc treatment is flexion/distraction therapy.

http://www.coxtechnic.com/FlashOpen2.swf


In this day and age, there is absolutely no excuse to leave a disc herniated.
For more than three decades, proven effective treatments have existed that non-surgically decompress them in a few weeks.
Just because some doctors don't own the equipment doesn't excuse them from referring you to one that does.

Find a DC (Doctor of Chiropractic) that has the tables, 40 % do, and expect a 50% reduction in pain in two weeks and complete resolution of the herniation in 6.
By working out, you are pushing the herniation further against the nerve roots; this should be avoided until things are normal.

If you need additional assistance finding a F/D table, I will help you.

Good Luck!

Dr. Timothy Durnin


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank You for the quick response.

I don't lift weights at the gym...the heaviest is a 12lb dumbbell. What do I do with the situation know? Is it because of muscles are weak that I can't stand up on the tip of my toes of my left leg alone? What about the numbing? How can I get rid of that? About the F/D table, is vertebral axal decompression the same? I will actually return to my chiropractor. Although my last MRI was in May, do you think what happened now might have changed things around?

You have mentioned to avoid stressing the lower back in any way, including couhging, sneezing...does this mean that I shouldn't cough or sneeze? And if surgery doesn't ever help long term, how can an individual overcome the situation that they're in?

Please advise

Thanks
Ani

Answer
Hi Ani,

The weakness and pain is from the disc pressing on the nerve, until this is corrected, the symptoms will continue. As stated earlier, F/D fixes the problem, no surgery needed. Vax-d is an unproven substitute, expensive and not covered by insurance.
It is effective but F/D is superior, researched and proven to work. Please read my original post, I already told you what to do. Don't return to the same DC if he tried treating this without F/D. Find one that has the tables, period! There shouldn't be any changes in the MRI if in fact you didn't lift weights, avoiding coughing and sneezing as well as all other stresses is vital. If this is ignored, expect continued worsening of the condition.

All the MRI's in the world won't make a difference how you're treated. Even if it is 10mm or more, F/D is done the same. The sooner you start treatment the faster and less involved the treatment period will be.

"And if surgery doesn't ever help long term, how can an individual overcome the situation that they're in?"

I am not sure what you mean; F/D is the cure, which is how you overcome the problem. Avoiding future disc problems varies on activity and overall health. I recommend you thoroughly read that info in the link previously provided and Google it for more info. The more you know the better.


Good Luck!

Dr. Timothy Durnin