Multiples

Herniated Disc From Pregnancy

Has anyone had a herniated disc from your pregnancy? I had twins 3 months ago and have had severe back pain and numbness in my leg since. I had an MRI and found out I have a large disc herniation. /i am going to see a neurosurgeon this week. I am so worried that I will have to have surgery since I've been going to physical therapy for almost 2 months and it's been getting worse. I don't know how I'll handle two infants and back surgery. Just wondering if anyone else had a similar issue and what the outcome was.

Thanks!

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Re: Herniated Disc From Pregnancy

  • My situation isn't exactly the same, but I started having severe mid-back pain 8 months after my girls were born.  My general practioner had me on every muscle relaxer possible, physical therapy, etc.  She made me do all this before getting an MRI.  And when she finally agreed to give me one, she did it of the lumbar spine, even though I thought the pain was in my thoracic.  My lumbar MRI showed I had a herniated disc.  However, I finally went to an orthopedic who told me there was no way the pain was caused by the herniated disc since it was in the L5/S1 position and my pain was higher.  I had a thoracic MRI and found out I had a spinal tumor.  At that point, it was compressing my spine so much that my orthopedic sent me right to a neurosurgeon, who told me to go home and pack my bags because I was being admitted for emergency surgery.  He was afraid to wait even a few weeks because he said I'd be at risk for being paralyzed from the waist down.  I had a laminectomy to remove the tumor the following morning.

    So although my reason for surgery was different, I thought I'd share my experience in case you have to go through back surgery.  I had to lay flat in the hospital for 5 days.  During this time, my parents came to our house and stayed with the girls so my H could be with me in the hospital.  After that, my mom lived with us for 5 weeks until I was able to lift the girls again.  It's been almost 4 months since the surgery.  It's been a slow healing process, but I'm starting to feel back to myself (even started running again a few weeks ago).

    I'm so sorry you're going through severe back pain.  It is such a horrible thing to go through at any point, let alone while having to care for two infants.  I hope the neurosurgeon can help you and that there may be some alternative to give you relief, other than surgery.  GL at your appointment!

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  • I had a bad herniated disc earlier this year and tried everything, but eventually had to have surgery. Nothing else worked. I didn't try PT though, maybe that's an option for you? But hell, the surgery was awesome.
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  • PS the surgery wasn't that bad. You would need help to recover, but I was only hospitalized overnight and within two weeks was back at work. At least your kids are still light. I couldn't pick up the boys for six weeks.
    image
    How to tell my boys apart

    The different types of twins and triplets
     
    Jack, Sydney and Carynne, Annaleigh, JW, Eden...forever in our hearts.
    My blog * We made the national news!
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  • Peakay, I'm so happy to hear you say that! I've been told I'll eventually need surgery, and all I can compare it to is how my 85 year old grandma recovered from hers, which has been scary to think about doing with 3 kids.

     I've had lower back issues after each of my two pregnancies. The issue is that your core muscles are really weak after pregnancy so your back is doing all the work. And you're lifting babies and bending over and sitting and doing a lot of other things that are hard on your back. My first herniated disc was actually in high school, and I've had many episodes in the 15 years since.

    When your back muscles are spasming, you really need to completely rest them - no lifting babies, sitting with poor posture, driving, whatever flares it up for you. I don't say that lightly - I know what it's like to literally never sit in a chair for 2 to 4 weeks and how emotional it is to leave most of the care of your babies to someone else for awhile.

    I also think my regular trips to the chiropractor help make physical therapy a lot more effective.

    Good luck! I've always done everything I could to avoid surgery for as long as possible and stick with less invasive options. If your specialists start talking surgery, remember to get second opinions on the surgeons and the type of surgery they recommend.

     

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  • It really was not so bad. Everyone said "don't do it", but they weren't living with the agonizing pain that I was. For the OP: I had a microdiscectomy/laminectomy. No fusion, which is what people assumed and apparently isn't a great idea.
    image
    How to tell my boys apart

    The different types of twins and triplets
     
    Jack, Sydney and Carynne, Annaleigh, JW, Eden...forever in our hearts.
    My blog * We made the national news!
    image
  • I had such bad back, hip and leg pain starting when the girls were about 7-8 months.  Finally when they were about 10 months I went to a chiropractor.  I'd never been to one before, but I figured it was my best shot at immediate relief, since I could barely walk.  And I wouldn't be pumped full of meds, which I don't tend to handle well, and I wouldn't be able to take and care of the girls as a SAHM on them.  I figured if it didn't work, then I would go to a GP or Ortho. 

    The chiropractor sent me for some x-rays and based on those, she said that I may have a slight herniation and definitely had sciatica.  She said that the treatment she'd recommend for me would be the same if there were a herniation or not, so I opted not to have the MRI done. 

    I've had a couple of months of chiropractic adjustments, and acupuncture and I feel better than I ever have!  She has also done some treatments on my c-section scar to break up scar tissue that can attach itself to the muscle fashia and connective tissues which can cause things to be pulled out of alignment.  My spine was so jacked from the pregnancy that she told me to think of this like an orthodontist would treat poorly aligned teeth - it's not a quick fix, one time treatment, but a schedule of treatments that show improvement over time.  I noticed an improvement after the first visit, and a steady improvement ever since, so I'm glad I stuck with it.  It may be something worth trying if you really want to avoid surgery.

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  • Thank you everyone. I really would like to avoid surgery if possible. I am breastfeeding (I also supplement) and think that I would probably have to stop if I need surgery. I just can't imagine not being able to pick up my babies for weeks. I feel like at 3 months we are finally starting to get a rythm and routine and I feel like that will throw everything off. And, it will use up the rest of my maternity leave, although I guess it would be good that I wouldn't have to take any additional unpaid time. As much as I want to avoid it, I know that I may have to have it, and I am glad to know that the surgery is not as bad as some people make it out to be. The pain is really becoming unbearable, so I am hoping for some sort of immediate relief and something that will help long term.  I was really hoping PT would work, but the pain started immediately following delivery and gets progressively worse every couple of days even with all of the exercises and the numbness is spreading to my entire left side, which is starting to make me more concerned. I will see what the neurologist has to say and maybe I will look into seeing a chiropractor as well.
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  • What about the epidural steroid injections? I tried one, and it made my pain worse, but that was very atypical. That might be a great solution for you!

    image
    How to tell my boys apart

    The different types of twins and triplets
     
    Jack, Sydney and Carynne, Annaleigh, JW, Eden...forever in our hearts.
    My blog * We made the national news!
    image
  • I am hoping that they will give me one! And I hope I don't have the same reaction to it that you did pea-kay!

    imageimage
  • This is such an old post but hopefully you will see this! I was wondering what you decided to do? My daughter is almost 4 months and I just found out the pain I am having is from a moderate (borderline severe) herniated disc :/ I can't decide what would be best, to go with surgery or injections...or just stick with physical therapy. I also bf and an afraid of not being able to :/ I'm just in pain and miserable and need peoples advice who have been there!!!
  • 4legsRbest4legsRbest member
    edited September 2014
    Burp
    Me: 37 DH: 40 TTC since 9/09
    #1 BFP 1/10/11; missed m/c discovered 7w5d
    IF Dx: Endo, hetero MTHFR mutation, poor morphology
    #1 IUI: 1/18/12 = BFN
    #1 IVF/ICSI 4/2/12 = 2 x 7-cell and 1 x 5-cell transferred (3dt) = BFP!!
    H was born at 41w2d on 12/29/12 - be still my heart!
    #2 IVF/ICSI 1/19/14 = 2 x 8 cells transferred (3dt) = BFP!! EDD 10/09/14
    M&W born at 37 weeks on 9/18/14 - I am the momma of 3 boys!!!

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