I have three herniated disks. I went through physical therapy and I am now mostly symptom free, and my activity is not limited at all. The only time that I have symptoms is if I’m standing for long periods of time and I get numbness going down my leg.

In terms of exercises, there are many—I recommend going to a physical therapist.

Yes – this person will be going to. Thanks.

My mum did and the physical therapist was the savior. She also used pillows under legs and knees to feel comfortable while lying down.

I developed a herniated disk in the ‘80s to the point of being bed-ridden. I had surgery and, after a fair amount of physical therapy, seemed to have recovered nicely. But a few months later I had a relapse for which a second surgery was recommended. I opted not to go back under the knife and made it through the next 30 years with no problems. Only this year did I begin having significant pain again. I believe exercise is now recommended, but the specific type of type should be prescribed by a specialist.

I have herniated disks in my neck. They happened from an accident I was in. A week after the accident was when the pain became excruciating. Some of the worst pain I’ve been in. All I could do was rest and take some drugs, because I was still so banged up all over my body.
My husband still had to take me everywhere. Literally, from the bed to a chair and to the bathroom. Eventually, the pain let up significantly, and I began to do some exercises an orthopedic surgeon showed me.

I still have to be careful, I can’t turn my head to the left for an extended period of time without having pain (this comes up more often than one might think. If I’m at dinner and want to speak with the person to the left of me I have to turn my body to not be very uncomfortable). I have to be very careful what position I sleep in. I have trouble leaning on my husband. If someone thinks it’s cute to rub my neck and shoulders—it isn’t! I can basically function normally in terms of just walking down the street, I have times I’m in almost no discomfort at all, but they are brief and when I am inactive. I’m careful almost all the time. Guarded.

My brother-in-law just returned from an emergency visit with his PCP this morning, with a diagnosis of a slipped disc. Rx; up to 800 mg. of Advil (with food) 3x daily; rest and taking it easy for a few days; no lifting of anything that weighs more than a bagel and cream cheese; eventually seeing a Physical Therapist (again) and this time actually doing the prescribed exercises daily.

I just talked to him and he said that he was in such discomfort that he was tempted to drive from the doctor’s to the ER and have surgery performed on the spot. Advil and rest are helping.