Slip disc is widespread health condition around the globe. Especially females are more affected with slip disc after delivery or when they meet with some accident or injury.
The spine is very important part of human body and it is made
up of several small bones, known as vertebrae. Disc is placed between each
vertebra which is the shape of a flattened cylinder. These discs are responsible
for flexibility of spine in bending forward or backward because of strong malleable
material and have tough fibrous outer part and a softer jelly-like part in the
centre named as the nucleus pulposus. It is observed that back pain is common symptom
among people and slip (prolapsed) disc is major cause of this pain between 30
to 50 years.
Slip disc occurs when one of the disks ruptures
(herniates) or stretches between the bones and presses on nearby nerves. When
person suffers from slipped or prolapsed disc he/she complains pain, numbness,
and weakness in back, legs, or arms. These symptoms may lessen with rest,
medication, and physio therapy. Sometimes accident or prolong prolapsed disc
may cause severe damage to disc. Such prolapsed disc is not cured by any
therapy or medication and surgery is the only solution to give relief to
patient. Mostly these spine surgery are successful and it improves condition of
patients rapidly. But we cannot ignore after effects in some cases.
Prolapsed disc surgery is recommended by neurosurgeon
when patient’s other health parameters are good. Also when patient is unable to
perform daily activities and constantly feel numbness or weakness from the disk
pressing on nerves then doctors immediately advice for surgery. In severe disc
prolapsed, patients can lose control on their bladder or bowels and find
trouble in standing or walking.
There are different types of surgeries done for herniated
disc that include:
Diskectomyin which surgeon removes injured disk to
relieve pressure on nearby nerves. Such surgery is performed in an open
diskectomy with a cut in back.
Another surgical procedure is Microdiscectomy in which
surgeon make small cut and inserts a thin tube with a camera on one end to check
and remove the affected disk that presses the nerves.
In Lumbar laminotomy, surgery is performed by removing a
small piece of bone called the lamina from the vertebra which covers to protect
spinal cord. With the removal of part or all helps the surgeon to get herniated
disk. It also can relieve pressure on nearby nerves and relives leg pain and
sciatica.
After herniated disk surgery, pressure of the nerves is
released and patients get rid of pain and numbness in legs or toes. Surgery is
highly effectual treatment for prolapsed disc. It has prompt positive results
and improvement in relieving pain or numbness and weakness within two to three
weeks after surgery.
Slip disc operation is very complicated operation and to
prepare a patient is also a daunting task.
In
real life scenario, I went through slip disc surgery over 20 years back. There
were multiple reasons for this disastrous condition as I travelled with old
vehicle and experienced bumps which injured my disc to great extent and became
prolapsed. The operation was done because all other physio therapy, medication
or rest didn’t relieve from pain. I had to suffer severe pain, numbness in
right toes and upper side of leg. I constantly felt radiating pain in right
legs which was not relived from any type of pain killer. Another disastrous
symptoms was misaligned body posture. My body posture was bent towards right side
and I had difficulty in walking due to nerve compression. During that time, it
was horrendous feeling and I felt that I will never come up with this medical
condition. At the same time, I thought that I should make efforts to revive
from such horrible state and support doctors to diagnose properly and take good
decision about the treatment. These positive approach worked. My Neurosurgeon in
AIIMS Delhi decided to go for herniated disc surgery because majority of nearby
nerves were compressed by prolapsed disc (L5S1) which had lost elasticity.
I
had gone through surgery that was successful and when I was in ICU, all
paramedical staff took great care of me. It was really a challenging surgery
for surgeon. Surgeon recommended two months bed rest and did not allow moving out
of the city. I followed and results were great. My pain and weakness was
improved but numbness was still there in toe. Physiotherapist recommended some
exercise which I am doing on regular basis to retain my health. Doctors
explained some precautions such as avoid Lifting heavy objects, long sitting, bend
or stretch too much, do not use stairs regularly, always choose front seat in vehicle,
eat low fat and rich vitamin diet and drink milk regularly. Though sometime I ignored
precautions so numbness increased but resuming exercises and diet, I made my
health condition better.
Presently,
I do regular household work, give home office sitting, going to social
celebration in safe way, and sometimes use public transport also. The life
after prolapsed disc is not bad but I adhere to medical advice of Doctor.
Closing
thoughts:
From personal experience, I can appraise that slipped
disc is a key health concern. It should be attended immediately so that
exercise and medication help to reduce the sudden, severe lower back pain
caused by a 'slipped' (prolapsed) disc. Slipped disc often presses nerve root which
give rise severe pain and numbness in legs and toes. In slipped disc, majority
of cases, symptoms gradually decreases with exercise or medication. Disks act as
a shock absorbers, and person can bend and move without bones rubbing together.
If condition is worse due to slipped disc, doctors suggest surgery.
