0:00 Some low back and leg pain but more numbness, pressure and right leg weakness.
00:50 "I woke up and my right leg was numb. I thought it was a blood clot."
01:35 xray rules out compression fracture, tumor and infection but does not show a herniated disc.
02:00 I've had a built in limp for the last month.
02:45 Herniated discs can be seen best on an MRI of the lumbar spine.
03:38 The size of a disc is often described as small, medium, large, and giant.
04:05 Putting the size of the disc herniation in context.
04:30 "Functional" numbness or weakness means that if you had this level of function permanently it would limit your ability to do things you like.
05:24 Discs affect you by both compression and by causing inflammation.
05:51 The longer a nerve root remains compressed or inflamed the more likely it is to be permanently damaged.
06:17 The herniated disc decision matrix helps visualize the recommended treatment for you based on pain and functional status.
06:55 With moderate pain and a functional deficit you are in the quadrant of the matrix for recommended microdiscectomy
07:17 The 3 options are wait, epidural injection, and microdiscectomy surgery.
07:51 The risks of microdiscectomy surgery are further nerve root damage, infection, or recurrent herniation.
08:22 John would like to avoid permanent nerve damage.
08:37 "The longer I wait the more damage I'm doing."
09:03 How to get your surgeon's office to move and arrange surgery.
09:30 It's important to stop a blood thinner prior to surgery as normal coagulation is required for a safe m microdiscectomy surgery.
10:35 Patients with a foot drop meet all criteria for commercial insurance to cover the microdiscectomy procedure.
11:34 Microdiscectomy is best done by a neuro or orthopedic surgeon who is specialized in spine surgery.

Links:
when to get an MRI of the low back: https://bestpracticehealth.tv/whensh...
Treatment options for herniated discs with sciatica: https://bestpracticehealth.tv/3thing...

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