Pain Management
May 16, 2011 - 10:14pm
Lumbar/sacral pain
HI!
Im new to this site and not sure how all this works but im trying to get some info on a subject. Recently an MRI showed that my boyfriend who had been in an accident a bit over a yr ago now has a disc protrusion in his L3-4 & L4-5 also an annular tear in his L5-S1. Im trying to find out which resting & sleeping positions are best for him in his condition?! If any one has the answer or suggestions feel free to comment or messege me pls & thank you!
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Joydancer = Dance of Life, Love in My Heart and Spirit in My Soul !
C2/3 hemi-vertebrae scoliosis; C3/4/5/6 ACDF 1995; C6/7 T-1/2 severe DDD multiple bone spurs; Surgeon Assessments resulting in Living With vs. Major Complex Surgery; two procedures ant/post 8 levels of hardware C-Spine T-Spine bridge with High Risk Low Prognosis; Neuropathy in boh arms/hands; left severe multiple nerve damage and muscle atrophy; MVA Right Arm/Hand/Fingers Neuro-Muscular D
degeneration
Lumbar RFA's L-4/5 L-2/3 Moderate - Advanced Disc Bulges
~ Trusting Choice of No Surgery; Living One Day at a Time in best I can in faith, love and yes, finding joy..."I Am More Than My Body" Moments ~
Dimples, sorry to hear about your boyfriend's injury to his back. I have DDD (degen disc disease) for several years in lumbar spine on same levels and have found the best way to support my spine and find comfort.
The worst for back and very much doubt with his injury he is doing, is sleeping on your stomach.
Sleeping on your side is good with pillow support and I find sleeping with one between my legs at knees, take stress (pain) off my lumbar. However, I have difficulty falling to sleep in that position, so another is sleeping slightly to one side and laying more facing the ceiling, with back support pillow and leg support. I have all sizes queen/king pillows a must and standard size for sacral back and between legs works well.
He could very well have issues with arms, shoulders, hip or legs, I use pillows for arm/shoulders and as above use pillow between legs (supports hip, leg and lumbar).
Hope this helps, nice of you to have concern for him and let him know about Spine Health and to feel free to join us for any issues and challenges with his unfortunate back injury. Again, having several pillows for support and finding comfort position best formula! (no sleeping on stomach!)
Wish him well with continued recovery !
Janelle
Joydancer = Dance of Life, Love in My Heart and Spirit in My Soul !
C2/3 hemi-vertebrae scoliosis; C3/4/5/6 ACDF 1995; C6/7 T-1/2 severe DDD multiple bone spurs; Surgeon Assessments resulting in Living With vs. Major Complex Surgery; two procedures ant/post 8 levels of hardware C-Spine T-Spine bridge with High Risk Low Prognosis; Neuropathy in boh arms/hands; left severe multiple nerve damage and muscle atrophy; MVA Right Arm/Hand/Fingers Neuro-Muscular D
degeneration
Lumbar RFA's L-4/5 L-2/3 Moderate - Advanced Disc Bulges
~ Trusting Choice of No Surgery; Living One Day at a Time in best I can in faith, love and yes, finding joy..."I Am More Than My Body" Moments ~
Post edited. Spam content and forum violation.
Edited by Cindy
Member banned for solicitation and many other forum violations
He just has to find a position using his own body for cues. As joy said, on your side with a pillow between your knees is good. I have also found flat on my back with mylegs elevated or apillow under my knees is very comfortable.
You will probably wonder about mattress choice next. As long as the mattress provides enough support (by this I mean if you lay down flat on it, you feel mattress contact along your entire back) you are fine.
L5-S1 lam/disc for nerve entrapment on 7 Jan 2008 in Annapolis correcting a condition which first exhibited in 2006. Bulging disc with small herniation at the same level now causing leg issues...
I have very similar injuries to what you have described (see signature below) and I find lately the only way I find TRUE comfort is to sleep in a recliner
If anyone has any other suggestions, I would be glad to hear. I have a sleep number bed and have tried firm, soft and in between. Nada
Diagnosed with DDD January of 2012
MRI findings:
1.Disc bulges at the T12-L1 levels, impinging upon the thecal sac.
2.Disc herniations w/ associated annular tears at the L2-L3 and L3-L4 levels, impinging upon the thecal sac
3.Disc bulges with left foraminal protrusion at the L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels, impinging upon the thecal sac and causing mild right and moderate left neuroforaminal narrowing
Currently taking Norco 10/325 4 x day and Flexiril 10 mg 2-3xday