Great videos, it can take a disc 4 to 6months to heal and reabsorb completely. Nerve damage can take a year to repair naturally. Avoid surgery at all costs!!
Very well explained, he is clear and to the point. I have watched others with similar cases and mostly what they do is ask you to follow them. He sounds very knowledgeable of his field.
Thank you doc. I understand now because i was suffering from lumbar disc herniation disc bulges and tier and i had degenerative disc desease. I was under under go PT but it was getting worse and not able to walk due to the pain of my lower back left leg and into my feet with tingling pain ang numbness in my feet. That's way i decided to go to surgery and now I'm still recovering my surgery was last oct. 31, 2024.
I had lumbar micro-discectomy surgery. Saved me. I could barely walk, and sneezing made me pass out. Conservative treatment probably does work for most, but surgery is needed for some cases. I was good as new after the surgery.
Thanks doc! Your videos Are very informative. I am a physical therapy student from India ✌️ Kindly make a video on spine musculature and their role on disc health.
Hello doc I am 58 years old whith chronic disc bulg now a days I am suffering from pain and taking my physio but I am having episodes after 3 months I am over weight to I am feeling better with physio last 6 month I have travelling history to shuld I go for surgery I consult so many doctors thay all recommended physio therapy n excercise salam from Pakistan and lots of prays for you
the nerve takes about 1 year to heal as much as it can heal. For some people they may only get 85% relief in their symptoms. Other patients are closer to 100%. We do know how you feel at 1 year is how you will feel long term.
Hi Dr. Armaghani, Thank you for you excellent video! If your pain symptoms go away for a month and then come back again. Does this qualify as “getting better with conservative care”? I had an MRI which confirmed diagnosis and that surgery was recommended due to significant bilateral stenosis but choose to take conservative route. Since then pain improves but only for a short period approx 1-2 months then comes back and lasts for 1 wk- 1 month approx. When I get flare ups I get intense unilateral sciatica with central back pain making it very painful to standup with moderate discomfort while sitting. Gets most pain relief with lying down. Considering the aforementioned information should I re-consider surgery now due to frequent reoccurring episodes of pain? Please note: since dx it has been 3 years I am in my 30, F, athletic body build, non-smoker, healthy diet, sees PT 1/wk, has done a ton of core exercises, had 3x epidural injections. Thanks!
We usually see this in patients. The symptoms can wax and wane. When they have exhausted conservative measures it typically becomes a question back to the patient. Are they comfortable living like they are with the good months and bad months or is that unacceptable to them and they want a more definitive solution. That answer varies from patient to patient. Some can tolerate it with their activities and others don't. You have done everything else to make it better so the decision becomes living with it or trying to fix it. good luck
I'm 44, it's been 14 years since my L4-L5 herniated disc has been diagnosed, done physical therapy, injection, we even tried the ozone one... the best result that I had is like 2 weeks with no pain... but roughly, it's been 14 years with pain in my lower back. Some days are worst than other, sometimes I'm at 3-4 for the pain, sometimes it's 8, and I once called 911 in the night cause I was unable to move, was at 10. I loved to play hockey but I can't plya since... running is to hard on my back... I recently meet with a Dr. who told me that I'm not a "good patient" for an operation... to risky for the benefits... Seems like I'm in the 10-25% for whom nothing works. Also, in my case, the pain never went in my legs, so it's not a "sciatica"... my two MRI showed inflammation, which is what's causing pain.
these are difficult situations i agree. without significant radiating pain down the legs, surgical solutions for back pain aren't reliable. this may change in the future so we are holding out hope because you are not alone.
Thanks for a great explanation doc. Like one use commened, I too have disc herniation at l5-s1 levels. My pain worsens while standing or walking and gets better when I sit. My problem is chronic. Physio helps my condition and increases my walking time to 1hour+ However, when I play tennis, my back (glutes) start to hurt and stenosis like symptoms appear. It's only on the left side and it's more than a year. Currently, I'm easily able to manage pain through physio, but I'm unable to play any sport Shall I go for surgery?
it's a very personal question for each patient. what i advise them is if they can't do the things they enjoy doing because of the discomfort, it is time to at least consider a permanent solution
Hi this is my MRI results I just saw my doctor he said to get the The Surgical Procedure is : THORACO-LUMBAR laminectomy discectomy for L5-S1. Question is if I have two herniated disks why he only doing one? He said my herniated got bigger compared to my first mri from Last year. L4-5. there is a small left foraminal disc protrusion superimposed upon a diffuse disc annular bulge with mild facet arthropathy and endplate spurring. Mild left foraminal narrowing results. The central canal nda right neural foramen appear patent. AtL5-SI, hetr isa small left paracentral/left foraminal disc protrusion and annular tear superimposed upon adiffuse disc annular bulge with mild facet arthropathy and endplate spurring. dMli inferior left foraminal narrowing results. The central canal and right neural foramen appear widely patent. Thank you.
Hi had a mri these where the Results below I’ve already had two microdiscectomies a L4-5 level, there is a prominent broad-based bulging of the disc, more towards the left side. The disc is abutting the left L5 nerve root with probable impingement. Early hypertrophy of the facet joints. No evidence of spinal stenosis. At L5-S1 level, there is a mild central of the disc. No evidence of impingement on the nerve roots. Early hypertrophy of the facet joints. No evidence of spinal stenosis. Normal appearance of the visualised spinal cord. The conus ends at L1, at normal level. Conclusion: Degenerative disc disease with probable impingement on the left L5 nerve root as described above. What treatment would you suggest
Hello Dr. Armaghani, thank you very much for all the great videos! My MRI shows 8mm bulged disc L4L5. It only causes sciatica when standing and walking. Is it safe to conclude I have stenosis due to the bulged disc? Is microdiscectomy performed only for herniated disc (extrusion of Nucleus pulposus) or for bulged disc (protrusion of annulus fibrosus) as well? Thank you!
That's a great question. My first response would be to get a full evaluation by a spine surgeon who can accurately evaluate your story and images. In general, if patients have pain that goes down their leg like sciatica it is usually attributed to some sort of nerve compression. When we perform a microdiskectomy, we remove the portion of the disk herniation (or bulge) that is causing the nerve to be compressed.
Great videos, it can take a disc 4 to 6months to heal and reabsorb completely. Nerve damage can take a year to repair naturally. Avoid surgery at all costs!!
Ohh thnks
Sir 8 mm spinal can stenosis reverse??
Very well explained, he is clear and to the point. I have watched others with similar cases and mostly what they do is ask you to follow them. He sounds very knowledgeable of his field.
Great explanation Doctor
Your video was very helpful and understandable. Now i can bearly walk but still i had a pain in my back due to previously surgery.
One of the best doctor I wish I could have you treating my problems
Thank you so much for the kind words.
Beautifully explained 🙏🏽
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you doc. I understand now because i was suffering from lumbar disc herniation disc bulges and tier and i had degenerative disc desease. I was under under go PT but it was getting worse and not able to walk due to the pain of my lower back left leg and into my feet with tingling pain ang numbness in my feet. That's way i decided to go to surgery and now I'm still recovering my surgery was last oct. 31, 2024.
thanks a lot doc❤
Most welcome!
I had lumbar micro-discectomy surgery. Saved me. I could barely walk, and sneezing made me pass out. Conservative treatment probably does work for most, but surgery is needed for some cases. I was good as new after the surgery.
thank you for sharing your experience!
Doctor, thank you so much for all this information, god bless you!
Same to you!
Thanks doc! Your videos Are very informative. I am a physical therapy student from India ✌️
Kindly make a video on spine musculature and their role on disc health.
Thank you for your words! I'll work on it
Hello doc I am 58 years old whith chronic disc bulg now a days I am suffering from pain and taking my physio but I am having episodes after 3 months I am over weight to I am feeling better with physio last 6 month I have travelling history to shuld I go for surgery I consult so many doctors thay all recommended physio therapy n excercise salam from Pakistan and lots of prays for you
Microdiscectomy surgery after heal in nerve which time
the nerve takes about 1 year to heal as much as it can heal. For some people they may only get 85% relief in their symptoms. Other patients are closer to 100%. We do know how you feel at 1 year is how you will feel long term.
Hi Dr. Armaghani, Thank you for you excellent video!
If your pain symptoms go away for a month and then come back again. Does this qualify as “getting better with conservative care”? I had an MRI which confirmed diagnosis and that surgery was recommended due to significant bilateral stenosis but choose to take conservative route. Since then pain improves but only for a short period approx 1-2 months then comes back and lasts for 1 wk- 1 month approx. When I get flare ups I get intense unilateral sciatica with central back pain making it very painful to standup with moderate discomfort while sitting. Gets most pain relief with lying down. Considering the aforementioned information should I re-consider surgery now due to frequent reoccurring episodes of pain? Please note: since dx it has been 3 years I am in my 30, F, athletic body build, non-smoker, healthy diet, sees PT 1/wk, has done a ton of core exercises, had 3x epidural injections.
Thanks!
We usually see this in patients. The symptoms can wax and wane. When they have exhausted conservative measures it typically becomes a question back to the patient. Are they comfortable living like they are with the good months and bad months or is that unacceptable to them and they want a more definitive solution. That answer varies from patient to patient. Some can tolerate it with their activities and others don't. You have done everything else to make it better so the decision becomes living with it or trying to fix it. good luck
Yes , got hit from behind when I was working ... With a grocery cart 🛒. By another employee !!
In pain for over year half . Happened at Costco.
I'm 44, it's been 14 years since my L4-L5 herniated disc has been diagnosed, done physical therapy, injection, we even tried the ozone one... the best result that I had is like 2 weeks with no pain... but roughly, it's been 14 years with pain in my lower back. Some days are worst than other, sometimes I'm at 3-4 for the pain, sometimes it's 8, and I once called 911 in the night cause I was unable to move, was at 10. I loved to play hockey but I can't plya since... running is to hard on my back... I recently meet with a Dr. who told me that I'm not a "good patient" for an operation... to risky for the benefits... Seems like I'm in the 10-25% for whom nothing works. Also, in my case, the pain never went in my legs, so it's not a "sciatica"... my two MRI showed inflammation, which is what's causing pain.
these are difficult situations i agree. without significant radiating pain down the legs, surgical solutions for back pain aren't reliable. this may change in the future so we are holding out hope because you are not alone.
Thanks for a great explanation doc.
Like one use commened, I too have disc herniation at l5-s1 levels. My pain worsens while standing or walking and gets better when I sit.
My problem is chronic. Physio helps my condition and increases my walking time to 1hour+
However, when I play tennis, my back (glutes) start to hurt and stenosis like symptoms appear. It's only on the left side and it's more than a year. Currently, I'm easily able to manage pain through physio, but I'm unable to play any sport
Shall I go for surgery?
it's a very personal question for each patient. what i advise them is if they can't do the things they enjoy doing because of the discomfort, it is time to at least consider a permanent solution
Hi this is my MRI results I just saw my doctor he said to get the The Surgical Procedure is : THORACO-LUMBAR
laminectomy discectomy for L5-S1.
Question is if I have two herniated disks why he only doing one? He said my herniated got bigger compared to my first mri from
Last year.
L4-5. there is a small left foraminal disc protrusion superimposed upon a diffuse disc annular bulge with mild facet arthropathy and endplate spurring. Mild left foraminal narrowing results. The central canal nda right neural foramen appear patent.
AtL5-SI, hetr isa small left paracentral/left foraminal disc protrusion and annular tear superimposed upon adiffuse disc annular bulge with mild facet arthropathy and endplate spurring. dMli inferior left foraminal narrowing results. The central canal and right neural foramen appear
widely patent.
Thank you.
Hi had a mri these where the Results below I’ve already had two microdiscectomies
a L4-5 level, there is a prominent broad-based bulging of the disc, more towards the left side.
The disc is abutting the left L5 nerve root with probable impingement. Early hypertrophy of the
facet joints. No evidence of spinal stenosis.
At L5-S1 level, there is a mild central of the disc. No evidence of impingement on the nerve roots.
Early hypertrophy of the facet joints. No evidence of spinal stenosis.
Normal appearance of the visualised spinal cord.
The conus ends at L1, at normal level.
Conclusion: Degenerative disc disease with probable impingement on the left L5 nerve root as
described above.
What treatment would you suggest
Hello Dr. Armaghani, thank you very much for all the great videos! My MRI shows 8mm bulged disc L4L5. It only causes sciatica when standing and walking. Is it safe to conclude I have stenosis due to the bulged disc? Is microdiscectomy performed only for herniated disc (extrusion of Nucleus pulposus) or for bulged disc (protrusion of annulus fibrosus) as well? Thank you!
That's a great question. My first response would be to get a full evaluation by a spine surgeon who can accurately evaluate your story and images. In general, if patients have pain that goes down their leg like sciatica it is usually attributed to some sort of nerve compression. When we perform a microdiskectomy, we remove the portion of the disk herniation (or bulge) that is causing the nerve to be compressed.