Slipped Disc

You need to see a doctor and get a full diagnosis. Slipped disc is a generic term generally referring to damage to an intervertabral disc. You need to find:

What the damage is? (the extent)
The location of the damage?
If there are any repurcussions? (nerve impingment etc.)

Did the physician offer to refer you for a scan? If not go and speak with your G.P.

I take it you're not in extreme pain or I'm guessing you would have been already.

With your spine I say take no risks

Dan

I herniated a disc a few years ago and was told the very same I now do 8 full sports massage treatments a day and lift weights 3 times a week and am in better shape than I was before the big sneeze. I just train a lot smarter and did not listen to so called experts that say dont do this do that. Find people that can help you and not hold you back (no pun intended) get a scan if need be but get help asap.

Have a good un, cheers John (Spud) Murphy :wink:

Is that "Chinese physician" a medical doctor? I"m not a medical doctor - no kind of doctor at all, but I do have a JD - but medical doctor's do not diagnose "slipped disc" especially without diagnostic studies. As d.robbins pointed out, that can refer to any number of disc problems, such as a herniated disc, protruding disc, or merely disc dessication causing spondylosis. You didn't mention that you had any radiation of the pain into your legs. If not, usually that kind of pain, without nerve impingement, resolves itself without surgery. But if the pain persists, diagnostic studies can disclose the exact nature and extent of the problem, and such a problem is operable. To say "stay away from sports forever" is ridiculous.

Hi there
I just joined yesterday and am shocked by some of the questionable information people recieve. With regard to your back, without knowing exactly where it is or what it is I can only say that with disc injuries most long term problems arise due to GIVING UP excersise. With muscle atrophy, and reduced flexability due to the recovery process, you are puting yourself at risk.

As with all injuries, correct and timely treatment is essential followed by a balanced rehab process under proffesional guidance.

Good luck sm

The questionable info given in this post is given by you. Disks do not heal by themselves, although in many cases, the pain will subside. You cannot begin treatment unless you know exactly what the problem is. Only a medical doctor can determine that, and only by ordering the proper studies; i.e., MRI or CAT, if necessary. Ordinary x-rays may suffice. Surgery is a last resort, but is sometimes necessary.

You seem to have missed my point.
The questionable information to which i refered was that he must give up sports, not the info' here. Also although an injured disk will almost always be slightly compressed it dose heal, it takes time due to the poor circulation, but it dose heal. Most problems come later due the muscles and tissue that were injured at the same time as the disk not being properly treated or rehabititated. Surgery is the last resort, but many doctors advise it without exploring all treatments.

Of course he needs a propper diagnosis first after a scan, but if he can sit at his computer writing, then I doubt that he has a herniated disk.

But dont you think that should see a sports therapist or physio first and they will de able to advise him after an examination as to what to?

I apologize for misinterpreting your post. However, I think he should see a MD first, get the proper study to determine the nature of his impairment, and the MD will then most likely refer him to physical therapy. In fact, in some states (SC included), a therapist cannot see a patient without a doctor's referral.

I am unaware of the procedure in the US but here in Sweden, unless the injury is severe, people see a physical therapist first. MRI and CAT scans are expensive, for us at least, and only in the most severe cases will a patient be considered for a scan, and only then after an x-ray.

We live in one of the worlds best welfare states and one of the downsides to this is the amount of people who live on the sick, many due to back problems, we could not scan everyone.

Regards sm

Scans are expensive here, too, but insurance usually covers most of the cost. In many cases, ordinary x-rays can disclose the nature of the problem.

Hi There,
Please please go to your GP who will refer you to a specialist who will most probably suggest an MRI scan. An x ray does not show the detail of your spine, etc that is needed for a correct diagnoses.
I damaged my cervical spine in a road traffic collision( that was not my fault), it was not believed to be serious at the time even though I was showing symptoms of radiating bilateral burning pains in my arms and numbness and pins and needles in my hands. I was told by a Dr at the local hospital to have physio. I did so, even though RED FLAGS were identified ( eg the radiculopathy) and endured spinal manipulation and other treatments that only made me feel worse. Many months down the line, I was told by a neurosurgeon after an MRI, that I had nerve compression and I had to have an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Unfortunately, I am not much better and it looks like i'm having to retire from work. I have been left with a severe chronic disability.
The point i'm trying to make is that the physio should have never happened and a consultant in pain management cringed when I said i'd had various physio techniques to my neck. He said the injury could have been made worse.
Any suspicions of disc injuries need to be investigated thoroughly.
Best of luck.
It took me ages to type this !!!!![/list]