Lumbar Disc Herniation: Part 3: Treatment options 

This is one of the best explanations of disc herniation that I’ve ever seen. Thank you so much!

Dr. Su has been my spine surgeon for several years, extremely clear with all explanations of diagnoses and procedures. And, best of all, he really listens!

I have had quite a few spine surgeries including an ALIF that almost took my life. My first surgeon waited for almost 3 years to do my first surgery because he was relying solely on the CT scan (which for me never tells the whole story of what is going on inside of my body). The result of the delay is permanent nerve damage, loss of my prestigious career, and inability to live with a reasonable quality of life due to constant level 6-8 pain. None of my doctors have explained spine issues and surgery better than Dr Su. I am currently dealing with yet another herniation (I currently have three fusion levels). Dr Su’s videos are helping me tremendously in having more control over my decisions; thank you so much!

Awesome video! I had to search the internet learning bits at a time and contending with misleading information before I could even begin to know what was going on with my back. I really wish I had found your videos first! They are so informative and professionally done! I hope people can discover your channel more frequently so they can jump start their recovery!

You are one of the best and gifted professionals to explain this. Thank You

My experience on Epidural Steriod Injection almost had an immediate effect. I thought I was back to normal. It helped a lot. Although I’m still nursing it but I’m glad the pain had faded for 8-months now.

This is an excellent video and an excellent RU-vid channel. I'm currently 47 years old. I had a microdiscectomy at the L5/S1 level about 9 years ago now. It was 100% successful and I've been completely pain free for those 9 years. However, this year, I started to get pain in my leg again, but this time on the other side i.e. the other leg, but the pain feels the same (burning down the outside of my calf) and I know that it's coming from the same disc. At the time that my surgery was done, the neurosurgeon reported to me that the herniated disc portion was very large and it had in fact dislodged itself from the disc and had attached to the nerve. The scar tissue was already visible on the disc when the surgeon went in. Thus, my neurosurgeon had to carefully remove the herniated portion for the nerve where it had attached itself. He did mention to me that because the herniated portion was so large I may have some issues in the future. Well, the future has now arrived and I'm having issues. It's very depressing and emotionally draining to be back here. My question is whether any new surgeries have been developed whereby a substance can be injected back into the disc thereby inflating it. Almost like a flat tire on a car. A spinal fusion is such a massive surgery and so many people could benefit from a much simpler procedure whereby a nucleus type substance is injected back into the disc, causing the disc to gain height and releasing the trapped sciatic nerve. Dr. Su, I would love a video perhaps detailing what advancements have been made in regard to treating disc's that have lost their height due to large disc herniations. Thanks very much.

That was a very good and informative explanation Dr su. Thank you very much 👍

Thank you for this amazing Explanations.

Very informative. Finally, a doctor who can speak to the patient!

Much respect for making this video Dr. Su 👊 This is easily the most informative essay on the topic of disk herniations I could find. Very relieving having this explained clearly and in entirety. Thanks again

A brilliant and comprehensive explanation by Dr. Su

Great explanation of this condition and the treatment.

Very informative and made clear. Thank you.

BY FAR THE BEST INFORMATIVE VIDEO'S I HAVE WATCHED.

I have watched numerous videos on this problem. You are by far the best! Your knowledge and way of explaining is second to none. Thank you.

Excellent video! Thank you for helping me understand my back issues.

Very informative video! Thank you for this!

Excellent, actionable information I will use IF I ever have another sciatica episode, Thank you!

Best videos on the internet for spine. Thank you so much!!!!

I watched the 3-part series and I want to sincerely thank you. I now have a better understanding of what my situation is and the type of intervention involved - noting that I have am a complicated case.

Thank you for your very informative video. I’m so glad that my lumbar/leg pain doesn’t need immediate surgery.

What great information and we'll presented, thank you!

That was very detailed and much better than the pain doctor and surgeon i have met with several times in the past 8 months… thanks

Best video I have watched on this subject.

Wow! Thank you for giving hope🙏

I am so far away in the Cayman Islands, so I know that I cannot have you do my surgery. I feel so much more educated on this topic because of you. Thank you.

Dr. Su, I appreciate that you took the time to simply explain and illustrate the issues, procedures, and outcomes. You have given me peace of mind for my upcoming surgery. I will be sharing your videos with a number of individuals. Thank you.

Fantastic explanation. Thank you

Best video ever..Thank you! I have more w/ your videos than 4 years of schooling..Thank you Doc!

Very informative, I need to learn whether I have a herniation or compression. Thank you for helping me become educated.

Very easy to understand. Plan to continue following him. So glad I watched. This has given me hope

Dr. Brain, thanks for endless and for ever for you. You are The BEST all over the world.

This video is so good. Very helpful and easy to understand! You covered every single thing and explained everything so well. Bravo and thanks a lot.

Dr. Su , I really want to thank you for a outstanding expression of the spine

Great manner communication -explaining lumbar stenosis and treatment. Thank you.

Great info on the anti-inflammatory and how to take it. THX

World needs you. For endless and for ever

Thank you for this wonderfully educational and simply explained video, Dr. Su. I'm debating between treatments right now for my L5-S1 herniation recurrence, and the information you provided along with the playdoh visuals really helped me better understand what's going on inside my body, and how the surgery may impact my back. I'm feeling more at ease because I have had a lot of questions answered. I still have a surgical consult coming up so now I think I'll be able to follow the discussion better. Thank you so much!

From experience, this video is the most accurate description for the herniated disc problem.

Thank you for posting this. I had an MRI Friday as I'm having issues with my right leg. I told my dr and it seems she didn't believe me . I have scoliosis. I'm diagnosing my own symptoms. Getting an xray and MRI. Thanks!!!

This was very informative!!! Thank you

This video is so informative. I am currently suffering from severe leg pain from a herniated disc. I received an epidural steroid about 9 days ago and although it alleviated the pain some, it is still pretty severe to the point where it is affecting my quality of life. I will be going over my options with the spine surgeon and discuss my MRI findings. I believe surgery is a real possibility for me and it’s a scary thing. This video definitely put me more at ease should I need a micro discectomy. Thank you Dr. Su!!

I am so impressed. My appointment with Dr. Su is coming up and the detailed explanations for what may be part of treatment protocol is dramatically lessening anxiety levels. Thank you for proactively educating your patients and the community.

Great information. I am an NP in pain management and will refer my patients to your website. Thank you for accurate and easily understood information!

This was so specific , and detailed.. I feel a little better, I’m getting my first epidural, I’m so nervous, but an intervention is a must…. I fell out of a second story window at 18 y/o.. now that I’m older I’m having problems.. I’ll keep you up to date..

Fantastic. Great video.

Wish I watched this before my long awaited appointment here in Canada. 🙄🙄thank you Dr. Su. Maybe I should show this to my doctor. 🙏🙏🙏

I wish I had seen this video a year ago. This is so helpful.

I've watched many related videos on the subject, but this series about lower back disk herniation is by far the best. It addresses all my questions including what does the disk inside contents look like, where and how it goes away on its own, how exactly is surgery performed. Thank you so much for these videos! Many kudos and all the best 🙏🏻

A good explanation.Before I go to Surgeon ,watching lot of vedios to take decision.Thanks for your guidance e.

Awsome video thanks Brian

Very good. Thank you. God bless.

I appreciate all of the time dr.su.took to really explain everything..thanks ur videos are the best n giving me a piece of mind...since I'm still living with severe lower lumbar pain...2 years like this..n it sucks..u have no life

Incredible priceless information. Relieving to know one shouldn’t rush to surgery. Thank you.

thank you for the insights.... I have disc herniation and my doctor advise me surgery. :( Your video helps me with my psychological preparations. It's good to always have knowledge.

Pretty good. Very exact explanations.

This was a very good and extensive overview of spinal disc issues. I had a dyssectomy 20 years ago where the surgeon took 75% of my disc out, but my outcome was not all that great. Perhaps coincidentally, I had psoriasis onset which has been with me ever since. I always felt it was related with my back and seems possible as Dr Su described the jelly is a foreign substance

Thank you for the great info!

Thanks for the information!

This is an awesome video and I applaud the professionalism of Dr SU for educating its patient. I'm going to surgery in 4 days with him and feel very confident and all my fears are gone. THANK YOU Dr SU

Thank you! your videos are extremely helpful..i have these issues..

This man is amazing! Very informative and intelligent.

Amazing video and gave me hope for my disc herniation now going on month 4 with some nasty sciatic pain.

Really needed this break down. Grateful for this information. I'm having L5-S1 issues and was told I have some form of arthritis in that area. Getting an MRI in a couple of wks. (On the 23rd of this month). Ready, to see what my spine specialist is going to say / do for treatment. I'm so ready to walk normal again w/o pain and numbness.🙌🏾✌🏾👑

Very informative!

This was amazing

Very informative, thank you’

Excellent video, well explained, I'm on the waiting list for that procedure, removing some bone and taking the pressure off the nerve. In the meantime I have learnt a lot of information on excercise and have recently brought a inversion table, very good stretch excercise obviously in moderation. I will see how my sciatica pain goes before deciding on operation.

I have lumbar herniation in discs 1,2,3,4, and am soon to have surgery. Dr. su is helping tremendously in increasing my knowledge of the problem and treatment options. Thank you.

Thank you for your information and explanations. I will discuss them to my doctor which could be the best option to be done to me. I can’t bear anymore the non stop severe pains and swelling of

I have lower back pain. I wish I could go to you for treatment. I am here in Europe. I still have to look for a good back pain doctor. Thank you all the explanation. It was very interesting.

Very good info

Thank you from South Carolina. I have herniated disks,spondylilothesis and bone spurs. The pain is in hip and leg and foot leg is partially numb with radiating pain down side and to big toe. Physiatrist is going over mri next week. Currently tried pt,RFA worked twice 3rd time pain worse than before. Meloxicam helping some and methocarbamol. Icepack helps most and lying flat. Quality of life has gotten worse cant stand in one position long pain stsrts. Walking pain starts. Pain is getting worse everyday do not want narcotics, but can become unbearable if i try to do too much. Thank you for videos great info. Wish you were in South Carolina!

You give the best of the best explanations and visual explanations that I have seen while searching for answers. I am due to have the injection in the next week and wanted to know the who, what, where, why when and how of the procedure, results and steps before and after, and I must say, YOU ARE THE BEST. THANK YOU AND KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK.

Great video! Ive had 3 back surgeries 1 at age 19 and then 2 at 28 im 41 now and have another herniated disc but this one is not near as bad as the ones that required surgery.

Thank you! I wish you were close in Florida. I am dependent on pain management right now. May need to see a surgeon if the next round of injections do not work. The first time I had an ablation four years ago worked well. This time, no improvement. Darn.

This is amazing, thank you, I have been dealing with this for years and no doctor has offered this type of education and information - for the first few years I got nothing, no anti inflammatory, no pain medication, nothing. Finally I was given Mobic/Meloxicam then told it was causing kidney failure! I lived in barbaric pain and could no longer work- could not find a doctor for steroids, pain or surgery- I don't know how I made it- I went from walking and being active to barely being able to use a walker and needing a wheelchair. I finally found a doctor who works with pain medication but still my mobility is limited and I need a more permanent answer as the acetaminophen component is risky. What type of a doctor does these surgeries?

Excellent explanations--thanks for making this 3-part series

Thank you for this excellent video. Please address anterior disk herniations and treatments for it in a separate video. Thanks,

Thank you very much

Brian, your video and sharing are brilliant and so helpful👍A BIG thank-U🙏 On anti-inflammatory 💊 for a consistent period, my friend in his late 30+ when suffering gout metabolic arthritis took the pain killer which lead him to kidney problem unfortunately So I’m wondering any extra precautions necessary for patient to bear in mind say 🩸 test after some time or must be on doctor’s prescription ?

Thank you for explaining this now maybe I can go back to the doctor and explain it to him that I need surgery. I am a 3 my herniation is around the L3 L4. I've already tried anti-inflammatories to the point where I have ulcers and the epidural has not worked. My quality of life is about 0. I can barely move. At least this way I can explain my situation better after listening to the video

Bro! You are awesome. Thank you for the piece of mind. A question i had was if i was supposed to really take Naproxen if pain was tolerable. Many said not. I went from 6mm protusion 2 months ago, to a 4.6mm extrusion. Since ive felt more of a sting. I’ll be taking the naproxen every 12 hrs as was prescribed by doc, instead of the off days “as i was doing in order to avoid meds”. Ill do 2 weeks that way as you recommended. Hope that will help?

Thank you Teacher cum Doc,you explain things so beautifully.love from Kashmir❤

Great video sir 👏.. I’ve been having herniated l5 and sciatica both sides for 3 yrs now and I can’t have a normal life .. though I tried everything I’m thinking about surgery

Thanks

I'm due to go into hospital in about 4 months time, I've had back pain in my 4th and 5th Vertebrae and pins and needles in my legs and feet. I've had x ray, MRI scan and now waiting for a CT scan. I live in Spain but from the UK. I can't speak the language so I have to rely on a translator. I'm 74 always been fit, used to coach squash and racket ball. I fell heavily on my back on metal steps and think this is a cause of my injury. The consultant said he was going to do an operation that is not too invasive so I guess it is like you have demonstrated in your video.

I was constantly taking gabapentin 600mg with Advil 600mg, but when I fell my pain got worst. Epidural after two years of treatment every two months, gave me Epidural Lomatosis and increased lower back pain, and groin pain.. Please read my other comment that I sent on another video: Lumber Herniation Part 2.. LIVE WITH THE PAIN! Sir, I haven't had a normal sleep, appetite and pain.. I went to the EMR, bc my PT thought I had Cauda Equina.. 15 hours in EMR and yet nothing was done, but told to see a Neurologist.

Thank you so much for this Video Do you have anything on cervical disks

Thank you for the detailed information. This is very helpful. Can pressure be taken off the nerve by spinal decompression therapy with chiropractic care?

so helpful thank u

Excellent series. I have watched these several times for a year after dealing with numbness and gradually intensifying pain over the past 2 years. I have done every single non-surgical practice you suggested only to have symptoms increase. My quality of life is diminishing greatly and I am only 62. Thanks to your series, I think I have a full understanding of the situation. I have decided after much contemplation to move ahead with surgery, even thought I am very anti-surgery in general. I am in the Midwest near Northwestern and am now blocking out all the naysayers for this surgery and moving on through the process with a smile on my face and the confidence that it will work. I am now willing to do it and take the risks because my quality of life is extremely important to me. I wish you were closer - I would travel to you but I feel confident the Northwestern surgeons will know the best way to help me.

thank you so much

Very informative video I had an l4-l5 herniation with a partial tear did epidural with 12 weeks Pt pain started coming back went to see a chiropractor recommended by a close friend and did a treatment plan of about 18 visits 3x3 2x3 and 1x3 currently I go once or twice a month for adjustment. Just this past week I fell asleep on my couch and the pain is back idk what I did if I slept funny or what but the pain is bearable unless I move in certain ways then it feels very intense just like it did before with my herniation. I still had some meloxicam left over from the last time so I’ve been taking that but I fear that surgical intervention is going to be needed to address the issue.

I did surgery of microdisectomy L3-4 selective root block L3/4 RT

thanks you

I'm glad you mentioned Cauda Equina Syndrome which is what I had and I got an emergency laminectomy 14 years ago. Everything was fine until 2012. I went back to the fucking neurosurgeon who did my laminectomy and even though I was in extreme pain he told I needed to lose weight. I lost weight and I still have unbearable bc pain and two degenerative disc in my lower back and arthritis in my spine and hips.What is the point in advising patients to wait to have surgery for !at of us to end up worse than before?

This video is great. I show this to all my patients who have failed epidural steroid injections and want to know "what's next".

I like the jurassic vertebrae behind.