Degenerated disc questions

[Chicken Woman]

I have had surgery on L4 and L5.(low back) First surgery was to repair the disk second one was to remove tons of scar tissue that had entrapped a nerve and I could no longer feel my rt little toe.
If I had it to do over again I would never agree to have surgery on my back.
I had several cortizone injections and they worked for about 2 months. All the cortizone does is quiet down the inflamation around the nerve. Your pain will always come back.

I now have arthritis in my neck and they did an injection 2 weeks ago and I am in more pain now than ever before.
I will stick with doing exercises that I was taught in physical therapy as I believe they help the most and are a good alternative to injections that don't last,narcotic pain meds that make me way messed up,or surgery that is usually not a cure all.

 

[sussexgal]

Good Morning....

two degenerated discs lower spine - don't remember the numbers... Have had them for years. What works for me is a routine to strengthen my 'core' that was given to me by physical therapy. And regular walking. By stretching the muscles and ligaments around the spine, blood flows better to the area helping to prevent further degeneration. The walking helps keep the body strong. Quite frankly the pain never goes away completely. But.... by strenghtening my core, I have had much fewer incidences of popping things out of whack and being incapacitated just by something silly like reaching down to straighten a rug.

 

[gypsy2621]

I have had the corizone shots in both kness , was not impressed with the results.
A month after the shots they wanted to do another round , no thank you. they are a lot of initial pain and then more pain when it wears off.

I have degenerative disk disease in my neck and lower back , they wanted to shoot them areas up also , NO WAY, not in the neck.
I fractured C5,C6,C7, in a car accident in 95,
nearly severed the tail bone from the spine in the same accident.
I believe Drs are way to quick to prescribe cortizoids.

 

[Reinbeau]

Quote:
Where are the degenerated discs? What part of the back is affected? I will say I don't think cortisone is something you can depend on, it causes tissue degradation if used continually.

I am a Pilates instructor, and I have degenerative disc disease in my thoracic spine (think between the shoulders). Improving my posture and core stability/strength through continual practice (and having a fantastic teacher trainer to keep her eyes on me) has basically ended the continual pain I used to be in. I also spent 13 years with severe lower back pain that had no obvious reason, no disc involvement, just constant strain and pain. My chiropractor sent me to find a Pilates mat class, and my healing began. He who rests rusts, and movement heals

Ah, I just noticed your second post. Your issue is in your lumbar spine. I know that if you were to improve your abdominal strength you will help your back, that is why so many people have 'bad backs', they actually have weak abdominals. When your abs are weak your back muscles have to work overtime to keep you upright, to turn side to side, bend over, etc. Strengthen your abs and your back pain will lessen (it may naver go away completely). If at all possible find a good personal trainer, or preferably a good Pilates instructor, and regain your core abdominal strength. You'll be amazed at the improvement!

 

[MHF]

L4-L5 disc problem, epidural steroid injection works for me. The weird part is feeling the pressure of the fluid being injected. Last injection was 3 years ago.

Get Cortisone shots in my knees and shoulders once or twice a year.