Hi Nikki

You doctor is right. Surgery at your age is usually not advisable. We are here to guide you to the appropriate health care professional. We do not generally advise on prognosis or complications as each case is an individual consideration. What may be a consideration in one case, may not be a risk in another. I would advise that your direct these questions at your orthopedic surgeon because he/she is familiar with your case and has seen you actual scans and evaluated your condition. If you are not comfortable with your current practitioner, seek advice from another who also has access to your records.

I do not recall having a very bad fall or accident. So, I’m unsure of its causes as well.

Earlier this week I went for an MRI and it shows a herniated disc compressing on my nerve which causes the pains running down my left leg.

I’ve seeked a second opinion and have started treatment called DTS or disc decompression therapy. I am sure you have heard of this. I go to the centre five days a week for a 15-minute DTS session followed by 20 minutes of rehab exercise.

Ideally, I will have to follow this program for 3 months. But during the middle of it there will be a reassement, if my condition is not responding well to it then I may have to proceed to surgery.

According to the doctor, it would be an open surgery as the protrusion is quite large. About 80% out.

I would like to know Dr Chris, do you think this DTS will work for me? My doctor told me as well that surgery at my age is not encouraged, may I ask what implications may be present if I do go for surgery.

Thank you.

Hi Nikki

Surgery should always be considered on a case by case basis. It is imperative that you discuss the risks and possibilities of complications with the orthopedic surgeon. You mention this inflammation of the disc but you have not stated the cause. It is imperative that this is established. It could be related to injury and autoimmune cause and so on. Unless there was degeneration of the disc and nerve root entrapment due to compression between the two vertebrae.

There is no denying that surgery is often undertaken with haste these days. However in this case, if it is the only therapeutic option to give you a better quality of life then it may have to be considered. The fact is that you are young and all therapeutic options should be considered before forging ahead with surgery. Possibly seek a second opinion from another orthopedic surgeon and speak to your family doctor for further advice as he/she has monitored/treated you for years.

I went to see an orthopedic surgeon and chiropractor for this. But I did not go for any scans. About a month and a half later, the pain in my right leg subsided.

But then my left leg started hurting. The pain felt different from the right leg, felt like my muscles were strained. With this new pain, i found it hard for me stand straight and lie on my back.

So i went to see another orthopedic surgeon. This time i went for X-ray and CT scans. It came back saying i had a ‘slipped disc’ in L4/L5. According to the doctor, it was quite a big disc.

The doctor gave me an injection to help shrink the disc. For the next 2-3 weeks, the pain away by alot. I could walk and stand straight.

But this did not last long as the pain in my left leg returned. It is not that bad during the day, i could walk, but when night comes, it starts hurting more and i find myself unable to walk again.

Although it isn’t as painful as before, i find myself considering if i should go for surgery. My parents aren’t too eager about it. But i don’t know if i can go on like this, especially when i have to return to college in a few months for my semester. Dr Chris, please do advise.

Hi Nirajdugar

It may be actual shocks – static electricity or from a short when the laptop surface (if uninsulated) touches your skin. Read up on electrostatic shocks and what clothing you could wear or not wear to ease it. Some people do have these experiences where they get these shocks due to static electricity many times in a day. If it is only happening on the thigh, even without computer use and so on, then it may be a paresthesia. Speak to your doctor just to verify.

Sorry I couldn’t give you better news TinaB.

However, my assessment is based on the information your provided (as well as limitations to what I am able to comments upon due to the editorial guidelines of this website). The outlook may be much better.

Nerve root compression does present with both severe pain and sometimes numbness. This can fluctuate depending on the extent of the compression which may account for your change in symptoms. Hopefully there are no other underlying complications.

Thank you for such a quick and thorough answer. Not what I wanted to hear, but at least I know what to do. I’m bad about just tolerating pain, but the numbness really threw me for a loop. Today it’s turned to actual pain, so I can’t continue to ignore this. Thanks again.