Focal Disc extrusion

[mcculloughfloss]

:confused: What is it? I have had lower back pain for the last 2-3 years. The severity changes quite often. I cant lie on my stomach as this hurts my back and I cant lie on a bench to do a chest press (gym weights€0 so I have to put my feet on the bench too. It got to the stage about 1-2 years ago where I was curled up in a ball on the floor and COULD NOT move. I havent had that problem since, but I have seen doctors, orthopaedic surgeons, masseurs, chiros, remedial massagers, physio's..EVERYONE. I have had xrays and MRI's done and the mri showed a focal disc extrusion but i dont know what this is. The physio said to do exercises, but thats crap, it does nothing. The only way to fix it is to have an operation, but at 20 years old I dont like the risks involved. I play netball and have been advised not to play because of the shock. At the moment I wear a magnetic back plate which takes the pain away, but I shouldnt have to wear this for the rest of my life.
Has anyone got the same problem or know what it is and how to fix it???

[Osteo]

Floss,
An extrusion means that the gel like material contained within the disc has broken through the outer wall of the disc. It is here that the material can press on nerves are cause referred pain into the legs. Exercise could be productive or counter productive depending on what they are are how far the disc material has herniated. The body has it's own way of breaking down the inner disc material (nucleus polposus) but discs can be strange things.....some people with small bulges experience excrutiating pain whilst other with very large bulges are relatively pain free. Surgery is not the only choice available to you as manual therapies can help even though you seem to have had bad experiences in the past. Good luck