Ridecamp: [RC] Bulgin disks/radical intervention

While the research cited in the post below indicates that
bulgin diks are not always a cause of back pain, this research
has been used by insurance companies to deny MRI scans,
the logic being that if people have lower back pain, and if the 
film shows a bulging disk, they will want surgery, even if it
is not the cause of their pain.  The problem with this is that 
MRIs are the only reliable means of revealing soft-tissue
problems that don't show on an xray (such as ruputered disk).
I underwent 8 weeks of physical therapy that did nothing for me.
Only when I could barely walk was I able to badger my Doctor 
into ordering asn MRI, which showed severe spinal stenosis
caused by a massive ruture of the L5/S1 disk.  I had 
microsurgery, which took 45 minutes and left a one-inch scar.  
I walked out of the hospital 3 hours after the surgery.  The 
surgery was 100% sucessful and I am no longer plagued with the 
back pain I have has since I was 17.  I do suffer from some 
neurological deficit that probably could have been avoided if I 
had been treated sooner.

"I greatly appreciate the fact that Dr Ramsay did not suggest 
radical
intervention of some type.  I wish she was in my area to be our 
physician.
There was a very large study (thousands) done using x-rays from 
young
service inductees.  There were basically an equal number of 
people w/disk
abnormalities, such as bulging disks, who had no back pain as 
individuals
who did have back pain.  Similarly, there was an equal number of
individuals w/no apparent disc problems who had back pain as 
people with no
disk problems who had no pain.  One interpretation of this very 
large data
base was to question cause and effect of apparent abnormalities 
from x-rays
and back pain.  My wife, who is WELL shy of 40 had back surgery 
when she
was young related to a sports injury.  She regrets the 
procedure to this
day and inspite of the fact that her hubby is 12 years her 
senior and has a
bout 0.1% of her riding ability I can ride all day pain 
free.........she
often cannot.  Proper (and that is very key) strength and 
conditioning of
the muscles supporting the back goes a long way to relieving 
back pain.
Unfortunately, it is still rare to find competent advice on good
conditioning work, but simple effective exercises for ones back 
and
abdomen, as well as overalll muscular strength can have a huge 
impact on
spinal health.  There are a number of sports acceleration 
programs around
the country that can be helpful.  I have generally been 
impressed by there
multi-faceted approach.  I beleive there address is something 
to the effect
of sportsacceleration or sportsaccelerationproducts.  Give it a 
try.


Jon K. Linderman, Ph.D., FACSM
Assistant Professor of Health and Sport Science
University of Dayton"

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