L3-L4 Herniated Disk 19 years after L4-S1

L3-L4 Herniated Disk 19 years after L4-S1

Q:

Age: 36 Sex: M Concern: Sports injuries

I had spinal fusion surgery(successful)L4-S1 in 1988. I fused, rehabbed and strengthened my lower back enough to competed at Illinois and pro in tennis. Just last week I reached for my left car door and my left leg felt like a knife was going through it. I also had numbness down my leg. I saw a spine doctor and got x-rays, CT Scan, MRI and an EMG. I recieved a steroid injection into the nerve two days later. I began light rehab and have iced each day. With a herniated disk above the fusion what are the short term and long term strategies. I do not want surgery.
Thanks,
JDZ

-- jdz

A:

Do everything you are doing. Exercise, exercise, exercise. Don't gain weight. All else fails, you may need another fusion.

-- Sherman Nam Tran, M. D.

to ask Dr. Tran.