Friday Q&A: Compressed Lumbar Discs

Q: My 73 year old father's lumbar disks have compressed and are causing nerve problems which result in knee pain & effect his mobility. His western MD recommends surgery to fuse the disks but he is leery of this approach. Any recommendations on a more holistic approach?

A: Thanks for your question regarding your dad’s disc situation. Unfortunately, without the benefit of examining dad and his tests, it would irresponsible of me to offer any advice regarding his treatment at this time. That being said, disc compression is not the same issue as osteoporosis, although if your dad had a dexa scan or some other diagnostic test to screen for OP, he could have this in addition to his disc compressions. 

Lumber disc compressions are quite common, and get more frequent as we age. Your dad’s symptoms seem to be affecting his daily activities, so yoga may or may not be right for him. A private session with a seasoned yoga instructor or yoga therapist might be a good first step in deciding if some yoga-based movement could help with his pain and mobility. In addition, a visit to a physiatrist, an MD who works to help rehab folks with such conditions and who is not a surgeon, might also be worth considering. Sure hope this information helps!

—Baxter

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