Expert: Dr. Paul Newhart - 1/14/2008

Question
I herniated the L4 and L5 discs in my back about 4 years ago.  In March of 2004 I saw a specialist that diagnosed the condition and sent me to physical therapy for about 2 months.  It helped a little, and for awhile I was feeling a tad better.  I was uncomfortable but just dealt with it from summer '04 - summer '07.  But over the past 6 months or so, the pain has come back.  I have a hard time sleeping at night, and am in a constant state of tightness/stiffness/pain.  It's especially bad in the mornings.  I do stretching exercises when I wake up, and that helps a little.  But it has gotten to the point where I simply can't take it anymore.  I am 27 yrs old and am 5'9 175 lbs, as far as "how bad" is the herniation I have no idea.  All I know is that the specialist said "it was a keeper", and I remember my MRI from 2004 looking exactly like this diagram I found online today...with that bubble/gel stuff seeping out in two different places.....one was worse than the other

http://www.spineuniverse.com/displayarticle.php/article4100.html

The pain is from my lower back (that is where it is the stiffest, tightest, most uncomfortable) all the way down my buttocks and through my leg to my foot.  It is more tolerable than the constant pain in the lower back, but it does flare up and becomes numb/tingling when I am on my feet alot.  I'm debating between getting a cortisone shot, seeing a chiropractor and worst-case scenario getting the surgery.  What should I do?  I want results quick so I can feel normal again..thanks so much!!

Hope this helps and that you can steer me in the right direction..

Thanks so much!!

michael


Answer
Your first and best bet is to find a specialist in the McKenzie Method (http://www.mckenziemdt.org/index_us.cfm).  They deal specifically with the treatment of herniations.  If you can find a chiropractor that is also certified, all the better.  Cortisone injection would be your next best be; surgery last resort.