MZB wrote:
> <sip>
>
> Question: once back pain also turns into leg pain, does this mean it won't
> go away via therapy?? Am I doomed to surgery (which I probably am not a
> candidate for due to degenrative disk disease at a variety of levels) or
> injections or stronger stuff. Or are exerises still possible to relieve the
> back/leg pain. In the past, I've had lots of back pain problems but usually
> found the key to overcoming it (extra walking and/or exercise). I've never
> had the leg pain.
>
> The main problem is the leg pain. I am a college professor. I am
> going in now, teaching 2 consecutive 2-hour classes (plus 1 office hour) and
> then going home and pretty much resting. This is 4 days a week. This week,
> my last workday will be Wednesday, so I will have 4 days to rest and I am
> resting this weekend.
> What I am finding is the back pain has improved 70%
> from its most acute phase but the leg pain is worse. It is horrible.
> <snip>It definitely sounds like I have a herniated disk. The one neuro doc.
> seems
> to advocate total bed rest for many weeks with dire warnings.
>
> Yet my own research does NOT indicate that. It seems to indicate a few days
> maybe. I would think weeks of bed rest would be debilitating.
>
> The articles I've read seems to indicate that the problem usually resolves
> in a month or two regardless of the modalities (ie: there seems to be little
> agreement on what works best).
>
> You are a crackerjack at finding some of this stuff. Would it be possible to
> do me a favor and see what the thinking is?
>
> Mel
A few weeks (bed rest), Mel and better pain med relief than what you've posted.
We all know it's not total bed rest, because you'll be hobbling to the bathroom,
or getting a shower, or getting some food (so your muscles won't lose all
function), but yes, mostly bedrest.
(Instructions are on one of the web pages as how to lie (position in bed)
I believe that physiotherapy is a mistake at this time.
My back pain, from shovelling snow, lasted 8 months, but the first few weeks
were the worst.
It was not a herniated disc.
My brother was on bed rest with stronger pain medications. They took him off
them (but him back on them, for some time, after he refused the surgery).
So after the few weeks, he had to work, so he did some of things mentioned on
this web pages
hot pack, cold packs (which is the same thing I did) . His was herniated disc
and affected his leg.
When it wasn't getting better and it was clear that he could no longer work,
they sent him for a surgery consult, but he was nervous about the surgery
because of other surgeries he'd had to the spine and pelvic area, so he did what
I posted. Chin lifts, and raising things (lift/hold) above his head for months
and was able to work (but had to change the type of work and hours worked).
My uncle's just had the same thing and was referred for injection to a
specialist. I've not heard back.
Once you are able to go back to work, without excruciating pain, is probably the
best time to start looking into P/T. After an assessment and 3 or 4 sessions,
if things are improving, Ask them for instructions for "at home" exercises. What
I'm saying is you might be able to see them once a week, eventually and do some
on your own at home, under their instructions and weekly checkins/adjusting
instructions as things improve. If things don't improve, they are likely to tell
you to review what's happened with your physician and discuss surgery then.
j
Several friends have told me, in the past, that their herniated disk pain
stopped around 2 years time.
These seem to indicate the same.
<http://healthnewsdigest.com/news/Surgery_540/Patients_With_a_Herniated_Disk_and_Related_Leg_Pai _4876_printer.shtml>
which is referring to this
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?orig_db=PubMed&db=PubMed&cmd=Search&ter m=296%5Bvolume%5D+AND+2441%5Bpage%5D+AND+2006%5Bpd at%5D>
Both of these a few weeks bedrest - the leg is mentioned on both of these.
http://www.neurosurgerytoday.org/wha.../herniated.asp
You may be considered a candidate for spinal surgery if:
* Back and leg pain limits normal activity or impairs your quality of life
* You develop progressive neurological deficits, such as leg weakness and/or
numbness
* You experience loss of normal bowel and bladder functions
* You have difficulty standing or walking
* Medication and physical therapy are ineffective
* You are in reasonably good health
http://www.spine.org/articles/herniatedlumbardisc.cfm
What Treatments Are Available?
Most (80-90%) patients with a new or recent acute disc herniation will improve
without surgery. The doctor will usually try using non-surgical treatments for
the first few weeks. If the pain still keeps you from your normal lifestyle
after completing treatment, your doctor might recommend surgery. Although
surgery may not return leg strength to normal, it can stop your leg from getting
weaker, and relieve leg pain. Surgery is usually recommended for relief of leg
pain (>90% success); surgery is less effective in relieving back pain.
Non-Surgical Treatment - Your doctor may prescribe non-surgical treatments
including a short period of rest, anti-inflammatory medications to reduce the
swelling, analgesic drugs to control the pain, physical therapy, exercise or
epidural steroid injection therapy. If you are told to rest, follow your
doctor’s directions on how long to stay in bed. Too much bed rest may give you
stiff joints and weak muscles, which will make it harder to do activities that
could help reduce the pain.
OT--severe back/leg pain 
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