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Disc Protrusion Commonly called a disc bulge, a disc protrusion occurs with the spinal disc and the associated ligaments remain in tact, but form an outpouching that can press against the nerves. Disc Extrusion A disc extrusion occurs when the outer part of the spinal disc ruptures, allowing the inner, gelatinous part of the disc to squeeze out. Disc extrusions can occur with the ligaments in tact, or damaged. Disc Sequestration A disc sequestration occurs when the center, gelatinous portion of the disc is not only squeezed out, but also separated from the main part of the disc.

Not exactly like this one. Started off looking at my MRI. Got that figured out...Heard of medics returning post herniated but not much after an extrusion. I have a long wait until I see the surgeon and really just want to know my odds.

Just curious to find out how many paramedics where able to return to work after a disc extrusion (not herniated/bulged disc but extrusion) either with or with out surgery? Feeling about a bit discouraged today. I would be very very interested to know. Thank you so much!

So I got a call from my doctor who said that I have been given priority 1 status although even with that status it can still be up to a 12 month wait to get in. My back is no better and I only have 2 yrs leave from work. I hope they are much quicker then a year. Welcome to Canada where the healthcare is mainly free but the wait to get in to see a doctor is LONG!! Grrrr

You will lose your job?! Thats crazy. My work is required to hold mine for at least 2 yrs and even then if I am able to return then they will hold it even longer! Be very very careful. You only get one back in life. You muck up your back even worse and you won't be able to go back to your job. So very happy that you are feeling better though. Gives me hope that I will get over my roller coaster ride of a back injury someday soon.

Oh no! Thats awful! I read that it takes 3 months to recover fully but never heard the 1 yr thing. That worries me. I only have 2 yrs on my leave and I have a year wait to see the surgeon (and I am 7 months in already!). I am even more scared then ever to take that route! I probably already know this but I must ask again. Did an orthopaedic surgeon do yours or did a neurosurgeon? My pain seems to be easing slightly in the sense that when I tweak my back it seems to recover a bit faster. I am wondering if it has to do with my core strength coming back. If your back is like this now is there still hope of your return to work? If you start a blog then give me the address. I will follow it.

I am so glad your surgery seems to be working so far!! So it is looking good for you to return to work then? How long of a recovery time will you need? I am waiting for a call back from an orthopaedic surgeon. Looks like I will be following suite. Keep posting on your recovery! Very interested and so relieved that you are doing so much better!

Yes, I have searched the net. Trying to cover all my bases. Didn't know if anyone had any dealings with him through work (maybe transfers or trauma calls in the ER) or via personal injury.

Just curious if anybody know Dr Joel Finkelstein from Sunny brook Hospital in Toronto? Whats his reputation? Any info would be great. Thanks

Does anybody know anything about Doctor Joel Finkelstein at Sunnybrooke? Good guy?

I have seen my nurse practitioner, physiotherapist and my chiropractor now. I guess I have been focusing on the wrong thing on my MRI. 'Extrusion' is what I should be looking at. A tear in the fibrous outter tissue of a disc that has caused the gelatinous inner substance of the disc to leak out. I have been signed off work until I have seen an orthopedic surgeon in the city for a consult to see if I continue intense therapy or do surgery. Until I can get in to see him my physiotherapy has been bumped up and intensified. Wish me luck and thank you for all your input. It has helped me greatly. I appreciate it. I will keep you posted on what happens. Medicgirl… 6 days to go. Let me know how it goes.

How long did it take you to come back? Are you still doing what you where doing before?

Thanks medicgirl! Good luck to you as well. I see you are into horses. So am I. Have not been able to ride though so my 2 are hay burners for the time being.

So I got a call from my nurse practitioner today and she said the same thing as my chiropractor did. I have a 19 mm extrusion at L5 S1. This to me seems huge! Esp since the other day i told a doctor in passing I had a 12 mm bulged disc and his jaw almost hit the ground. Imagine what he would think of 19! I can not even seem to google this size. She will be talking to the specialist I saw and the doctor and I am most likely going to be referred to a specialist in the city. Needless to say I am even more worried now. Scared of what is to come.

I have been off work for going on 5 months now with lower back soreness/pain, cold numbness/pins and needles intermittently going down the left leg. I have major difficulty bending over. I have lost full range of motion in my left leg but can still walk and get around with out a limp unless I have a flair up. I can't sit for any extended period of time. It easily flairs up. Apparently my symptoms according to a specialist I saw a few weeks ago are not severe enough for surgery although I am showing only minimal improvement with Physiotherapy, Chiropractor and Massage. I have improved enough to return to the gym to do a strict, short and light work out twice a week though... I wonder if I can eventually return to work with a herniation this large… I saw your one post. How are your treatments going? I can not remember exactly what you said you where having done though.

Hey all I have an appt with my physio therapist and doctor next week to go over my MRI results but was hoping I might be able to get some help translating this in the mean time to appease my curiousity. Here goes... 'There is appr. 3-4 mm of retrolisthesis of the lumbar spine at L5-S1. The vertebrae heights are normal. The conus medullaris is unremarkable in appearance. There is moderate disc height loss at L5-S1. A large central to left lateral recess disc extrusion is present with appr. dimensions of 19 mm (ML) x 8.5 mm (CC) x 18.8 mm (CC). The disc extrusion contacts and probably compresses the traversing left S1 nerve root. The Remainder of the lumber spine is within normal limits. IMPRESSION A large disc extrusion is identified at L5-S1. The disc extrusion contacts and probably compresses the traversing left S1 nerve root.' I have a basic idea of what it says but would like your thoughts as well. Thanks so much!

Hi all I just stumbled across this forum. I have never come across one like this and it is refreshing to see. I know there has been postings about back injuries but I would like to add my own. I am feeling down and could use some advice and encouragement from fellow medics. I have been diagnosed with a 12mm L5 to S1 herniated disc. I have been doing treatment for 3.5 months with no improvement. I am worried. I was diagnosed with this through a CT and so my MRI is going to be next week since I have not improved at all. I have seen a specialist who said that my symptoms are not severe enough for surgery. I have numbness and pins and needles in my left leg and have mild to moderate lower back pain. My physio therapist and even the specialist hinted that I may not be able to return to work. Could this be true? How long until i know for sure that my career is a write off? I have no idea what else I would want to do for the rest of my life. I have 11 yrs of seniority and holidays with 2 young children that rely on me. I would love to become some sort of critical incident stress debriefer but I keep slamming up against closed doors. Any advice on how to proceed with this? This is the only thing I could think of doing. I am going to miss the adventure, the respect and the pride of the job if I am no longer able to be a medic. Although I won't miss the endless transfers or the long distance transfers for that matter Am I over reacting? Will I be able to return and last 17 more yrs do you think? I feel so lost. On one hand I would love a regular job with regular hours so I won't miss a thing with my kids but on the other hand the cost to change jobs is out of my financial league and I would really miss the adrenaline when you are actually doing your job and saving those lives. I look forward to your replies. Thank you in advance.

What did you end up doing? I might be forced into a career change due to a herniated disc and would love to know your outcome.