I have constant back pain from herniated disk,leg pain numb & tingling I get shots of cortisone anyone else?

sufferring for over 4years now, no injury permanent nerve damage also using pain medication to get thru my day. my dr is considering surgery, not a real strong case for it though

I have herniated discs and spinal stenosis as well as osteoarthritis in my knees and I used to get cortisone shots but they never helped at all.If you research cortisone you will see that you are only supposed to have so many a year, I believe 3.I refuse to get them because they are not good for you they actually eat away at your bones.Please try natural methods.I use a balance between natural and western medicine.Accupunture helps a great deal as well as magnets.I sleep with a flat 6 by 6 inch magnet on my lumbar region and it helps as well as Naprosyn an anti inflammotory.Look into vitamins at your health food store as well as other ways of coping surgery isnt the perfect answer at all.They have ways of straightening out herniated discs even try chiropractic.I have never met 1 person who has said their knee or back surgery really helped. I also wear shoe magnets in my gym shoes I know it sounds silly but it helps and believe me I suffer daily.I had accupuncture for 5 solid years BIG FAN! It took all my carpal tunnel symptoms away.I am getting ready to start up again with alot of what I am telling you.Please research better before you go under a knife and stay away from the cortisone too.Try physical therapy too usually insurance pays for that. Good luck!

Yes had the surgery and it still hurts but my back dropped me to the floor and could not get up those pain killers are also liver killers.

Yes I also have a herniated disk in lower back and it gives me great pain sometimes. I go to the Veterans hospital and they told me that surgery would not be an option unless the disk ruptured. They offered no shots...told me to just take over the counter anti-inflammatory meds such as Advil or Tylenol. SO..what I do mostly is try to get water therapy such as swimming pool, whirlpool tub, etc. Have had to learn to just live with it, be mindful of how I bend or lift.

Hi. I also have herniated, disintegrated C5, C6 and C7. It is nothing nice. Now I receive an epidural (shot of Cortisone) in my spine at those sites, maybe every 2 months. I could not even snap my fingers! No feeling, numbness, and PAIN. It is MUCH better since having shots. I also have a pinched nerve in my elbow region. I would DEFINITELY say get an epidural. There is a good chance that would do the trick. Talk to him about it. It is kind of scary, hurts a little, but is SO worth it.
Good luck. I know it is excruciating...

Sorry, I didn't read it right! You do get shots, so you know. Are they directly into spine?

I have herniated discs and pinched nerves in my neck and lower back due to an accident....I have been suffering for years, but the doctors don't seem to help...I never had surgery, just different meds....My left leg is numb from my hip to my knee and sometimes my feet swell and burn..Never had a cortisone shot...Do they help? Surgery was mentioned by one of my many doctors, but I never had it done.....Also physical therapy helped for a while, but once I stopped going, the pain returned...I wish you the best of luck....

i am a chiropractor and specialize in spine related injuries. the disc acts as both a cushion and a spacer between each vertebrae. if a disc is bulging/herniated, that bulge can put pressure on the nerves exiting between each vertebra which causes a "pinched nerve." also if the disc is wearing out (getting thinner) you lose the space between the vertebra, which leaves less room for those nerves to exit--and again can pinch a nerve. those nerves in your low back form the sciatic nerve which runs all the way down your leg. if any are "pinched" they can cause pain, numbess, tingling, weakness from your low back to the foot.

as a chiropractor i see this type of scenario on a daily basis. for those who have degenerative disc disease, disc herniation, disc bulging, etc.--normal chiropractic care can usually help with those problems. but there are also many people out there that have had this problem for many years and can't find relief with anything they try--including chiropractic.

but now there is a treatment that is perfect for your situation and the best part is: it's non-surgical and non-invasive. if you haven't heard of it yet there is a newer treatment out there called spinal decompression. this type of treatment focuses on disc injuries and the problems they cause. i use the DRX9000 spinal decompression system in my office and it works wonders for people with these types of injuries (approx. 90% successful). the DRX9000 is fda approved and is the best decompression system available (there are cheap knock-offs that don't give the same results).

my recommendation would be to see a chiro, especially if you've never tried it before-just to see what they have to say. also do some research on this treatment and then contact someone (usually a chiro) who uses it in their office. i would just google "DRX9000" to find info on it and doctors in your area who may have it. this treament is able to encourage the disc to go back to it's normal orientation and also rebuild its height--which then takes the pressure off whatever nerve it is compressing. pain meds, cortisone shots, epidurals won't do anything to solve the problem--all they do is cover it up and they become less and less effective over time. surgery AT BEST is 50% successful and usually doesn't solve the problem either.

this treatment is extremely effective for degenerative disc disease, disc bulging, herniation, etc. and also sciatica type of cases, especially if you haven't had surgery yet. i've had many patients who were scheduled for surgery, tried this treatment as a last resort, and then ended up cancelling their surgery altogether after treatment was completed. it really does work and that's what my recommendation would be for you. good luck and hopefully this gives insight to others experiencing similar problems--there is a solution!!!

I have the exact problem but also have bone spurs and disc degeneration. My symptoms are the same as yours. I am getting treatments from a chiropracter who uses the activator method, which is adjustments with a small trigger tool and does not involve any twisting, popping, or other physical adjustments. I was very skeptical to start but willing to try anything to avoid surgery. I was amazed at the improvement and have gotten a lot of relief from the pain. I would recommend this highly. I also have an inversion table and use it every day. Lying on it for several minutes at a time decompresses the spine. There are times when I almost feel normal again.

try steroids, ask your dr about them, My mother had the same problems and got really addicted to the pain meds so please be really careful with how much you take that stuff is really addictive and changes your personality and your family suffers.
try accupuncture
try heating pads
surgery isnt going to help, your better off toughing yourself out.
try all different things and find a way to live with the pain it may never be gone permanently no matter what you do.