Great info DocTodd, a question for you, what is the most reliable way to tell if a disc is herniated?
If its serious pain enough to be a concern, an MRI needs to be taken. This way, you can see exactly what's going on with your discs while your doctor looks at them. With a little research, you can learn to tell the severity of disc conditions and what should be done for each. Also, since you're standing next to your doc looking at these, he cannot feed you bullshit about your condition. If he recommends surgery for a simple buldging disc, you can check him on it and find another doc.
Is there a way the injured person can tell the difference between a herniation, a bulg or simply strains/spraings?
A disc becomes herniated when the nucleus tissue is forced from the center of the disc. The disc itself does not slip. But, the nucleus tissues located in the center of the disc can be placed under so much pressure that it can cause the annulus to herniated or rupture against one or more of the spinal nerves which can cause pain, numbness, or weakness in the low back. leg or foot. In my case, I had pain down both legs and lost one type of feeling in the left side due to nerve damage.
A lot of people consider a bulging disc synonymous with a herniation, but I disagree. I believe that its generally accepted that a disc in the primary stages of natural compression is "bulging" once it is protruding outside the natural edge. Or maybe thats just how I've understood it these years.
As far as self diagnosing a disc condition...I don't know bro, it would be difficult. The typical places to have problems with discs will cause problems in your apendages, usually your legs, as it presses against the nerve associated with whatever leg or even internal organ associated with that nerve. The parts of my nerve that were getting crushed were also associated with my schlong which became a serious problem. Just as a heads up, this is possible.
As a patient we often trust our docs to do whats best for us, but I have found that they often simply do what they know, the gen practitioner may simply tell you to take anti-inflamatories and take it easy, another may prescribe prednisone, another an MRI and surgery. Is there a way, as a patient, to tell just what has been done.
With respect to back conditions, since they are very vague in nature, in my opinion, the only true way to know is have an MRI done(simple), learn how to read the basics(again simple), and look over the pics with your doc.
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