Disc compression on left S1 nerve root

[chak]

Hi everyone, my name is Sean

I am currently in week 20 of royal marines commando training and am 20 years old.

Sadly i have suffered a lower back injury which means i am going to be medically discharged. I was hoping to get some advice or help on a choice i have to make to do with my treatment;since it will greatly affect my chances of joining the armed forces again in the future and the possibility of physical training in the future.

The pain started in early october 2007 and persists to date. Originally, when I got the pain it ran down my left leg (can usually feel it towards the back). As well as this, i tended to get the pain when moving from lying to sitting and sitting to standing, however, the pain would dissipate after walking around for a minute or two. The only flexing problems i have are when i flex fowards to touch my toes when standing - or others which are of the same nature as that ie. sitting upright with legs out in front.

A physio on camp gave me stretches to do and cv training ie. staionary bike. However, nothing alleviated the pain, just agrivated it a bit sometimes.

After seeing an oesteopath my pain was greatly reduced so i no longer feel the pain getting out of bed, or when standing up (or when i do, it doesn't make my leg wants to give way)

My MRI results said the following:

L4/5 and L5/S1 discs have dehydrated disc bulges which are described below. The remainder of the discs appear normal. The vertebral bodies appear normarl with no focal lesions. The alignment is preserved.

Conus and causa equina appear normal

L2/3 no disc bulge, nerve root or thecal sac compression

L3/4 Mild broad based disc bulge. No nerve root or thecal sac compression.

L4/5 There is a posterior annular tear and a large focal disc bulge tending to the left which is mildly compressing the thecal sac and is also compressing the right L5 nerve root in the lateral recess

L5/S1 Focal disc bulge tending to the left compressing the left S1 nerve root in the lateral recess.

In order to stop the pain and give me a future where i can be physically active (ie.e runnning/sports etc.) i am being referred to a consultant about surgery. I am willing to go for the surgery so i can get back on track to join the navy/do sports. I was wondering what anyones thoughts might be to my results and surgery - whether my injury could get worse after op etc.

Thankyou very much for reading (if you got this far ) if you know of anything or anyone i can get in contact with inorder to get more information on the subject i'd be delighted to hear from you.

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[chak]

hello!

sorry its been 2 years since i replied to this thread - but better late than never =)

after my medical discharge I was still suffering the same symptoms of really bad sciatica from my lower back, down my left leg to about my knee (down the back of the leg).

I wasn't in favour of getting surgery and remedial work wasn't really helping too much either. However, I came across IDD therapy when browsing the net for lower back problems. I spent my compensation money on getting this done as it was non invasive - and i thought it was better to try to spend my compensation on something that would help in the long run, rather than waste it on trivial things.

after 3 months my treatment was complete and my sciatica had gone - i was only left with a tiny niggle that i noticed on rare occasions. At the moment im as active as i used to be and am hoping to rejoin the forces - although this time it'll be the navy, none of that bergan-yomping to be done there! =)

However, i would just like to say a big thanks to the guys who took an interest and offered help, i really did/do appreciate it (even if i disappeared for a wee while!).

If you wanted to read more about the treatment I got there is a link to the site I went through to get it:

IDD TherapyÂ. No surgery. No injections. And for the majority of patients, no more back pain!

(edit: monkey previously noted that disc compression can resolve itself after 14 months. I dont want to say that the idd therapy is the sole reason im good now, but it seem to do it for me )

[housefull]

Good luck with whatever it is that you end up doing.
Always people on here that can give you advice in the future should you need it.

[chak]

Yeah no worries

ironically, the day after posting that, I inflamed some soft tissue in one of my lower back factets (if i remember hearing the osteo correctly). Spent the whole weekend stuck in bed! - thought i'd prolapsed another disc it was that painful haha. Very relieved it wasnt!

[namratasnv]

hi chack

how did your injury happen?

remember
asking neuro surgerons they advice you to get an op cos they are trained to do it.

asking hands on therapists - advise - keep it as long as u can.

leading healthy physically and mentally life you should manage without operation obviously under good therapist guidence,some aches rather will appear,

operation? as well can be solution, seen patiens in pain after 10 years post ops, or with higher or lower levels affected.

all the best

There are some kinds of injures which need a surgery and though it becomes very necessary too, so taking advise of best therapist is very important.

Thanks

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[tonym23]

i also think surgery is the last last last last resort

i teach yoga but be careful with yoga.
a lot of yoga involves extreme spinal compression.
and flexion!

however. there are teachers who work in the style of scaravelli yoga
they are usually trustworthy...also gentle yoga.
there is also feldenkrais

i am wary of pilates....but work on machines is usually good. be careful with mat classes.

that can all help. also the body can heal and fix itself, over time, if you help it.
learning more about your body, how to use it and how to live and work with it.
that can make all the difference.

tony.