I am 34 year old woman. I have degenerative disc disease. I have surgery on L4-L5 nine years ago. I have had pain off and on since then. In a recent MRI it was found that I have four bulging disc L2, L3, L4 and L5. They also found osteoarthritis in all the facet joints in my lumbar spine. For the last six weeks I have been in some of the worst pain in my life. A neurologist suggested a lumbar spine fusion, but my PCP has opted to put me through PT, again, and spinal injections. All I know is that I need some relief fast.

anon55341 post 139: My doc told me that if I started losing control of bowel movements that I was really in the danger zone and there could be permanent damage to the sciatic nerve and the longer it was being irritated that more chance I had of having that happen.

Get a second opinion obviously, but make sure you do something to take the stress off the nerve (strangely enough icing it 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off worked pretty well for me). What kind of procedure did your doc recommend?

Neurosurgeons want to cut first regardless so exhaust all other avenues (quickly) and make a definitive decision. Good luck!

My mother has this problem of bulging disc. her L4, L5 discs are creating the problem. The doctor asked to get physio therapy and medicine and he said if things don't work out we will go for surgery. she is 56 and i don't want her to go through this pain of surgery and i will be honest: i don't trust Pakistani doctors. i have lived all my life here. and though the neurosurgeon is the best surgeon i still don't trust them with this. what should i do? is there any cure for this? Regards, NA

I have two bulging/degenerative discs, L4 L5. i saw a neuro specialist just last week who told me that i was not a candidate for surgery. i have suffered for years (took them three years to do a scan) i asked what was the solution. he couldn't say, as some people have a stronger pain threshhold than others. It made me think i was weak in the pain side of it, but the pain is so bad that i can cry for a couple of hours.

I am going into hospital next week for a "spinal epidural." Not sure if this will work. i have already had my facet SI joints done and had no relief from that. i am at the end of my tether.

i am 37 years old, working as lecturer in a medical college. recently i had an MRI that shows i have L4-L5 bulging disk. The doctor is suggesting I have the surgery. Actually i have a problem in passing urine and constipation for one year. My KUB, KUB Plain scan and ultrasound show no stone. i am very worried about it. please give me some suggestions. thank you

i am from bangalore, india i have back pain and left leg pain (zoam) for the past two months and i went to the doctor and had an MRI scan. It shows that L4 and L5 have mild disc slip so please help me.

anon53286 (post #130): You are a carbon copy of what I used to be in high school (except I could only get a 4.5 40) 5'10" 180 lbs, could dunk a basketball, bench about 330, long jump 22' (you got me again on that one)etc. I feel your pain, but not until I turned 30. I played football in high school and college and the years of abuse took a toll.

I am no doctor, but from my experience (L-5 S-1) it will not get better by waiting. I tried that route and it felt better then the first time I tried to play a little flag football or golf. Bam! I was right back where I started. I then decided to tackle this head on and do something about it.

I tried everything to give me my normal life back and after all the epidurals, doctors, inversion tables, stretches etc. It was the last option to do surgery. Microdiscectomy was my choice. Minimally invasive and a fairly quick recovery. The thing is, I waited too long to get the surgery. I had some permanent damage to my sciatic nerve and that caused my calf to diminish to half the size of the other one.

Since the surgery it has grown back to a decent size but will never be the same. I can run, lift (no squats or deadlifts), and do most of the things that I was able to do before with little to no pain. Even considering joining a rugby club -- maybe.

You are young, you will recover faster, and you don't want to baby this thing the rest of your life. I found myself letting my back pain make my decisions, instead of doing something active I would just sit on my lazy butt and play PS3 for an hour.

My advice once again is to get it taken care of. Be done with it and go win that scholarship back! Let me know if you have any questions on my experience, brother. Feel free to post me back! Good luck!

in reply to my previous post. i have been in therapy for two weeks and i have had significant improvement. i am using a tens machine and lots of moist heat. i feel 80 percent better.

I am a male 42 years old now and having lower back pain for last 20 months. I also take a car commute of 80 kms daily which I feel aggravates the pain.

I have undergone two MRIs and Dexa scans, with a time gap of roughly 17 months. The MRIs revealed mild diffuse disc bulge at L4-L5 level.

The dexa scans revealed osteoporosis in the lumbar spine. Doctor said the pain could be related to low bone density. I am currently on medicines/supplements and mild exercises at home for two months, to improve the bone density and to see if the pain improves.

After that the doctor has advised injections for pain relief.

Anybody who has experienced both disc bulge and osteoporosis? Any suggestions? --SKM

I am a 45 year old female. Why is it they stick you on pain meds and want to give you injections? I will not do the injections. I tried them once and the PT. No help there either. Neither did anything for me.

I am going on three years with herniated disc at L4 and L5. My knees give out on me causing me to fall. I do take Vicodin when it gets bad which is happening more lately.

I have had to walk out of a grocery store and other places and sit in my car for 15 minutes to an hour for the muscle spasms to subside enough to be able to drive home. I am ready to try surgery. But they say I am not a candidate. So what am I supposed to do -- keep living in pain?

I'm 37 and evidently I've had bulging disks in my lower L4 for quite some time, and for two years its been pinching the sciatic nerve in my leg. hurts like hades, and the pain hits out of nowhere when I'm walking and almost drops me to the floor.

I do martial arts and have temporarily stopped, but this will not hold me back. I will achieve my second degree (i want to lose 25 pounds before i test). To midterm i had to get pain injections because i couldn't do a roundhouse without pain.

Oh well, I'll give my body some time to heal, then we are going to achieve our goal and kick some young butt along the way.

i am a 34 year old female who has been suffering with a bulging disc for four months. after three steroid injections and physical therapy, i have felt little improvement.

I'm not sure what the next step is. I met with the doc and he offered me several steps: more therapy, another shot, a meeting with a spine specialist.

All i know is that it sucks getting out of bed in the morning. i too used to be fit and run 5-6 times per week. Now, I'm 15 pounds heavier and can't even walk around the block.

I am a 30 year old male. Doctors found my disc bulging at L3, L4 and L5 about three months ago after an MRI scan. An orthopaedic and spine doctor said it was not necessary for me to undergo a surgery. Either physiotherapy or injection may cure the pain.

However, I have had my physio about two months but there seems to be no improvement. My back will start to hurt whenever it likes. The doctor advised all sports are prohibited except swimming.

I have stopped playing football and badminton for almost two months. Maybe some of you can try swimming, as it is one of the physiotherapies. Hope this can help everyone here.

I'm 19 and i have had a bulging disc at my l-4, l-5 that happened with i was only 17. i had a bright future but since the accident it has ruined my life, and my future.

i lost my scholarship. and i can no longer run, or jump or do anything athletic like i used to.

i played football for my high school and ran a 4.4. i also did long jump and jumped 23 feet, i could dunk a basketball and lift triple my body weight. i was a freak of nature at only 5'9 and 160.

now I'm 175, out of shape and can barely get out of bed. i feel depressed and that my bright future is gone forever. i hope there is some sort of treatment soon, something with stem cells or disc rejuvenation. i want my life back.

I was only 23 when i was having major lower back pains. I have been having these pains for approximately two years when i went to a different doctor and she told me about my l4 disc was bulging, pinching nerves, causing my right leg to go numb and was also causing my very sharp, dulling pains in my lower back.

I am now 25 and about to have the surgery to take out the disc that is bulging and they hope that the l5 disc which is trying to slip will go back to place with no problems. When they remove the disc, they will be placing a rod in place of that disc which will fuse the two vertebrae together, making one larger disc in return making me shorter.

Does anyone know about how long this will take for the surgery and about how long the healing process will take?

i have a bulging disc in my neck. i've been suffering for six months now. i did therapy but have had no relief with motrin, flexeril or naproxen and i had three epidural shots and no relief. i have spasms all the time and pain constantly. i have a tens unit and a neck cervical unit, but still get no relief.

I, like you, all have had the same problem but have found relief with acupunture. it's really worth a try.

After an MRI, the doc tells me I have two bulging discs, L4 and L5, and degeneration of the disc. I am starting physical therapy tomorrow, with hopes of getting some relief. He has set me up for three times a week for six weeks. He said he would see me again in two months. I asked him was I going to have to suffer like this for two more months, and he said PT should help.

He is a well known spine doctor and I trust him, but all I take is Robaxin 750 mg every eight hours and to be honest it doesn't always cut it. I am allergic to codeine, or I would take vicodin. I don't understand how he thinks robaxin, a muscle relaxer, will help my lower back pain that over the last few days has radiated into my hips. has anyone else taken robaxin? I had a heart attack in May so I was told taking somas was bad for my heart. Please help. I am 49 years old and becoming depressed because I can't even walk around the grocery store without being overwhelmed by pain

my mother age 53 has been suffering from severe lower back pain, pain in hips, up to her knees and lower abdomen. The MRI suggests disc bulge at L4-l5, level, and the right kidney is shrunken. The doctor suggested it is not working and failed due to hypertension. Please someone help me to get rid this problem.

I was diagnosed with a mild bulging disc (C3,C4,C5). I had major back surgery 12 years ago. At that time i was diagnosed with spondylothesis, lower back problems, had surgery, a bone was taken from my right hip and put into my lower back. In 2007 i had neck surgery for a disc. I was home the next day and did fine. Now i have had this neck pain for about a month. it comes and goes but when it is there it is very painful and wakes me up in the night at times also. I had an mri and as i stated at the beginning of this, they diagnosed me with a bulging disc and are suggesting i do therapy. does anyone think that therapy will help? I hate the thought of surgery again but am tired of the pain.

I'm 22 years old with three kids 4, 3 and 2. I'm a CNA and last December i had this 200 and some pound lady fall on me and i weigh 100 pounds. since last year everything got worse. i have a bulging disk. i've been to a neurosurgeon and a orthopedic doctor. i have to get shots in my back and stay on my meds which is lortabs 10's and somos 360. i sometimes get relief but other days nothing helps. do the coridone shots help? i hope all of you get better and God bless!

i am a 49 year old female suffering from back pain for five years or more. Today after having an MRI I found out I have 3 or 4 bulging disks and arthritis. I had major back surgery in 1974 and have a harrington rod in my back. I have shots 3 or 4 different times and no relief. I am going one more time for shots next week. I have been working and exercising up until a month ago when the pain took over. I find lying still helps me out more. I get up and do small walks but the pain is worse when walking or standing. Numbness started in the right side buttcheek and thigh going down into my right foot and last month it has started in my left side too. I also have been on pain meds for years now and find myself taking more every day to get through. I have a lot of other medical issues too, so this is almost to much to bear any more. I hope everyone finds relief somehow and can maintain an active lifestyle. I am just hoping I get some relief soon.

I am a 41 year old male. all i was doing when my back went was picking up some paper. I phoned the doctors who said phone back in six weeks if it has not improved. so i did that. since then i have been on tablets that have not worked. i am now on morphine. i had the cortisone shot in my back and then couldn't walk at all. is there a cure for this as this has been going on now for 18 months? Help!

I am a 59 year old female who is in otherwise pretty good health - I have been very active and busy. After suffering for six months with severe low back pain and "sciatic" pain radiating down the left leg as far as the ankle, I had an MRI and the doc told me I have a bulging disc in the lumbar region of my spine. I don't know if this is related to a car accident a couple of years ago when I was rear ended (and my car totaled) as I was stopped at a red light, *or* a couple of hard spills I took on the ice last winter, *or* degenerative disease of the lumbar region - *or* all of the above. My doc wants to refer me to an ortho doc and for pain management. The pain is worst in the morning or after sitting for any length of time and can be extremely debilitating. The only thing that really helps is sitting in the bathtub with warm water from the faucet directed to my lower back. If only I could conduct my life from the bathtub! I do not take pain killers even though the pain is excruciating at times. Sleeping is always an adventure and going up and down the stairs, especially with heavy packages, is a challenge. I live alone and I have no one to do these chores for me. I'm not sure what my next step will be but these posts have been pretty discouraging. After a 21 year teaching career I have earned a degree in nursing. Now I am wondering what kind of nurse I will be if I have to deal with constant pain. Hopefully, an empathetic one, at least! Good luck and God bless all my fellow sufferers!

Glad to see I am not the only one. I am now 42 years old and have been suffering with back pain for 20 years. No one seems to know what the problem is. I can bend over just to pick something up and then I am laid up for a week with severe back spasms. I had my second MRI done this week and just got back from the doctors who told me that I have three bulging discs in my lower back but that I should not be in that much pain from just that. She is sending me to a spine specialist. Who is she kidding anyway, there isn't any way that I could possibly make up this much pain. My husband had to help me up off the floor two times in the last week because I collapsed due to severe spasms. I have tried many things but seem to get nowhere. I am so tired of dealing with back pain and no one to help me or even figure out what is wrong. Now I know that I am not crazy after reading everyone else's posts.

I have some bulging discs in my lower back -- possibly herniated or has protruded into a nerve. i am in constant pain. a 9 on a 10 scale.. have trouble sleeping and wake up during the night and have a hard time getting back to sleep. i am wondering if it is possible to be prescribed medicinal marijuana.

Hi. I suffer from sciatica and bulging disc in my lower back. I thought I would share what works for me. I find that consciously relaxing the muscles around the pain site (in my case my butt muscles) in combination with anti-inflammatories usually sets me right within a couple of days (until the next flare up). I find that pain makes you tense, which often makes the pain worse. I find it helps if you can try to consciously relax your muscles while moving (eg walking) because this is often when you are most tense. There are many resources on how to relax. Hope this helps. Cheers.

I been having lower back pain for past eight months. The MRI showed i have a pinched nerve and bulging disc L4 and L5. The pain is very extreme and i just started chiropractic treatment. she tells me i will never be the same and wants me to buy an inversion table. I need help with this problem.

I have back pain for years. Last year got a breast reduction and the that helped my upper back. The last 6 months I have been in so much lower pain. X-ray showed arthritis and MRI showed bulging disc in L2-5 with tear. I am in so much pain some days. I am going to see a spine specialist soon. Massages feel good, love my chiropractor but can't deal with the twisting and turning. Tried physical therapy but it did nothing. I can relate to all of you. Why should we be living on drugs? I am only 40.

I have just been diagnosed as having bulging discs at C 4-7. I also have degeneration at C6-7. I want to know what are the medical options for me. I have been in severe pain for about 6 months. I am taking Lyrica, Lorcet Plus, Tramadol, and corticosteroids which make me nauseous. I am a heart patient on Coumadin and I don't want anymore surgeries if possible. Any suggestions?

I can vouch for using personal trainers. Having prolapsed a disc in April my physio suggested a PT to help my core strength. Six months later I am now able to play netball, lift weights and lead a practically normal life.

Yes, I was in a car accident about 6 months ago. Soon after, I had a MRI done and I found out that I have two bulging disks in the L5 Region and a separated joint in my lower back! I am in lots of pain. I don’t understand where you doctors are coming from with saying that a bulging disk isn’t painful because I am having some of the worst pains in my life. I have numbness in the right side of my leg and sharp shooting pains in the lower back! I am very young for all of this to be happening. I’m only 21 years old and I am hurting the worst I have ever hurt before. My doctor has ordered me to have a cortisone shot? I am terrified of needles, and I have never had to have this shot! Is it really painful and will it hold out! I know some people that have had this and they say it lasts about six months and then the pain is right back. Is this what I am going to have to look forward to? Am I ever going to be right again? When I decide to have children, will it affect me? *Help!*

#66 update. It's been a few months and this is what I’ve learned about 2 bulging disks L3 L5, Degenerative Disc Disease, and slight narrowing, all of which I have. PT did nothing except hurt, doc was great but this is a nerve problem. the pain is internal (inside) not external, building up your core is not the answer but might help some people, not me. I saw a chiropractor, again great doc, but this is a nerve issue, internal (inside) not a muscle issue, but the massaging felt great. Anti-inflammatories, pills, steroids were no help, except the tramadol does help on the sleepless nights. Good luck.

Today I found out that I have bulging disc C6/C7 in my neck/ I found this website to read about it and I'm glad that I found this. I have been having this pain on and off again for the past year and just didn't bother with it, now the pain is 10 times worse. I called a neurosurgeon's office to make an appointment and the nurse will call me on Wednesday. I don't understand why I have to wait three days to get an appointment but it's just two more days. I have a four year old and its hard to handle her with the playing and running around. My regular doctor gave me loritabs 5/500 and they do not help.

Hi all. thought i had bad luck. wow, some of your stories are scary. I was like most of you. young, active. that all came to a screeching halt with a bulging L5 disc. I don't think anyone has an answer for us. everyone seems to have tried one thing or another with no good results. that sucks. hope someone comes up with something soon. we are all too young to be couch potatoes. good luck to all of us.

I am 45 years young and have been diagnosed with a bulging disc in my neck. I have had two epidurals and the relief lasted no more than three weeks. I am and always have been very active. I teach spinning, ride my bike, run, lift weights, pilates, yoga etc. For the past year I experienced awful pain in my neck, shoulders and it radiated to my arm and turned numb along with my hand. I am at my wits' end because my quality of life has changed drastically. Headaches, numbness, stiffness. Just miserable. The pain doctor referred me to a neurosurgeon whom I'll see next week. I don't want surgery but I want my life back. Has anyone had this surgery? My orthopedist told me I'm far too young for it therefore he referred me to the pain relief doctor for the epidurals. Like I said: they were good for about three weeks and that was it. Any help or feedback would be appreciated.

I have been diagnozed with herniated disc in L5 and now getting the same symptoms at the bottom of my back. Does anyone find they have problems with their ears blocking?

I am 18 years old. i am currently attending a technical college. i messed my back up when i was 10 years old in an accident with a tree limb. i have been on naproxen and oxycontin and now vicodin tens with somas. i am constantly in pain all the time but most times i can deal with it. i have two bulging discs at L5 pinching my nerves in my back, along with sciatica of the right leg. I try and take it easy most times but sometimes i over do it and hurt really bad. i was asked by my docter to go on disabilty and quit work but i want to be a diesel mechanic being it is my passion. What can i do to help ease my pain without the use of meds?

Lyrica is a fantastic drug for bulging disc pain. I take 600 mg daily with Oxycontin. Yes, you feel completely drained and extremely tired some of the time, but it has done wonders for me. I would recommend Lyrica to anyone although it is costly.

Your poor people, good luck! I am 40 years old. i have been suffering for 20 years. i am in so much pain. I have tried everything that the law will allow me to do. i am ready to pull my hair out! I want to be pain free! for number 85, stop. don't pay any more. you are wasting your money. if it doesn't work don't do any more or pay any more!

I am a 36 year-old male who has just managed to lose 60 kilograms as the doctor had instructed for my health when i was involved in a car accident about nine months ago. Since the accident i have been suffering from headaches and migraines constantly. I have been taking large amounts of panadol and migraine medication to ease the pain, and just recently i was diagnosed with a bulging disk at c5-c6 that was caused by the car accident. can anyone tell me if they have had the same type of injury and if there was a cure or treatment that helped as i don't want this to stop me going to the gym or being able to live life normally.

can vertebroplasy work on a bulging disc?

hey all. i'm in the minority here. i have bulging discs in c4-c7 from a head-on car accident. the pain is so severe sometimes that i can't sleep or even move. i have sciatica running down my left leg from the pain and left shoulder and neck pain that causes migraines. i was miserable until i found a wonderful pain specialist. i had tried therapy prior to the specialist and only had relief for a few weeks before the pain came back. i also had facet injections which helped immensely but only for about 4 days. i'm now on percocet daily and couldn't be happier. nearly pain free and can get back to a normal life.

To all of you out there trying to find another answer to your pain I have a suggestion that helps take the edge off my pain: Toradol shots. My doctor gives them to me for the muscle spasms and pain I have from my car accident. They don't make the pain disappear but they definitely help. The biggest benefit is that they don't mess with your head like pain pills. Good luck to all of you!

Interesting to see I am not alone; now going on four weeks and being shuffled from doctor to doctor. I am still in extreme pain from my lower right back around my hip to right front thigh and knee. One doctor sent me for an MRI. My MRI said L3-L4 disc bulge, degeneration; was given pain pills which only take the edge off, some anti-inflammatories (did nothing) and muscle relaxers. I was to go to pain management; I ended up one night in the hospital because the pain was so intense I couldn't walk. ER gave me more pain meds, sent me to another doctor who sent me to a neurosurgeon. He said he thought it was a pinched nerve but wanted me to re-do the MRI because he said it was blurred; I said no. He has now referred me to pain management. No one is available until the end of the month and that is only for a consultation. This is a brief summary of what I have been going through. I am in pain and depressed. I am an active person and this has just shut me down.

I'm so glad I found this site! My boyfriend and I were in a head on collision about a month and a half ago. A guy was going the wrong way down a one way street we were on. Hitting us at 40 mph and coming around a blind curve, we only had milliseconds to react. My left knee crashed into where the center console meets the dash and my back twisted, not to mention all the internal damage done. As a result I have severe nerve damage in my knee and bulging discs at L4/5 and S1. My back hurt after the accident, but my knee and internal injuries hurt more so the docs focused on that. As the weeks went on, my back started to hurt worse and worse and I started to get severe spasms in my back and knee. I started to lose feeling in my toes and now battle numbness in my left foot. I'm in PT right now, but I leave each treatment hurting worse than before I went in. I'm pretty much at the end of my rope. I slather on biofreeze almost every day, as well as take naproxen like they are candy. Muscle relaxers don't help much either. Now the simplest things that I enjoyed like watching tv on the couch with my boyfriend are interrupted with spasms so severe I shake the entire couch. It feels like bugs are running inside my body and all over my skin. I also have lost my appetite from the pain. I just want to say to all of you out there, you're not alone. I just want the pain to stop. I want my summer back. I want my mobility and health back. I still have flashbacks from the accident. Thank you to all of you out there who posted. Be well.

I have bulging disks in my lower back in L3 and L4 L5 and S1 and I am in a lot of pain. The doctor gave me muscle relaxers but I do not want to get to depend on them. I am a custodian at a school and I don't know If I can keep doing this kind of work. My job is a lot of heavy lifting and moping. What do you think? I am going for physical therapy tomorrow. I hope it works. When I sit for a long period of time I start getting muscle cramps in the upper part of my legs. Does anybody else get these cramps? When I go for a long drive my muscle also cramps up.

I was in a car accident 4 1/2 months ago and have been in pain everyday since. (I'm 27) I recently found out I have a bulging disc in my lower back from the accident. I keep reading that other people with bulging discs in their lower back can get pain going down their legs. My problem is that my pain is going up through my back into my shoulders and neck. Usually once it's in my neck I get really bad headaches. My doc gives me shots to help the pain but is it also known for lower back problems to work their way up your body? I have had MRIs from my head all the way down to my lower back and they didn't find anything else. Please help!

Hi there, Sorry the last response was to #86, not #83! In response to #87, I have done acupuncture, physio, chirp, massage, rehab, pretty much everything in the book with no relief! I know that acupuncture has worked for other people, wish it would help me! Thanks though!

Hi there, this is reply to #83, I know exactly what you mean. I was best in British Columbia for Javelin and had to give it up because of my back when I was 16! Someone just told me to look into Prolotherapy. They had constant pain, and it worked for them, just a thought. I am just starting to do a bit of research on it

hi. i do recommmend acupuncture to help with bulging dics. let me tell you why.

1. it is purely safe and natural

2. it is effective because it helps relieve pain through triggering the release of your body's endorphins and through activating your body's self-curative potential which everyone has, but are dormant under normal circumstances.

3. it helps relive nonbacteria inflammation

4. bulging dics is a chronic disease. you cannot rely on anti-inflammatory drugs all the time because it damages your digestive system and your blood as well.

5. steriod injection is just temporary. it has lots of adverse effects. steroid is like drugs. you will get addicted to it and the side effects are enormous if you check medical dictionary.

6. surgery is almost unacceptable to most patients.

then why not try acupunture? it has solid scientific grounds to back it. if you look at UTS, UWS and many other universities you will find there are phd degrees in acupuncture, meaning it is a science.

however you need to find a real acupuncturist. he or she must have a degree in acupuncture. there are lots a quack acupuncturists around without a degree.

even GPs claim they do acupuncture but they have no degree, only 3 months or so time of training then they come back to add acupuncture into their practice. that is why acupuncture has a ruined reputation by lots of these people.

i have been out of sports since 17. i had a college scholarship, a bright future and a belief that i could represent the USA in the 2012 olympics in the long jump. but while doing dead lift at football one day i heard a pop and severe pain has been with me for 2 years now. i lost my speed, my explosiveness, agility, power, strength, my scholarship, and i lost my future. i pretty much lost everything because of this injury. i don't want to get surgury and opt to do chiro and physical therapy. they help a little, but i can never run again because it gets sore and it hurts. i've recently been looking into stem cell research as a hope in the future. i just don't think that at 17 years old anyone should be told to retire from playing anymore sports. does anyone know of anything that could help? i want my life back. thank you.

Hi there. I am 29 years old and have a 5 and 7 year old. I am unable to do anything with them! I have 6 bulging discs with tears as well as sponylotheisis. I have been suffering in chronic pain for about 10 years, and it is just getting worse! I am taking the max dose of Lyrica, have been on this drug for about 9 months with little impovement. All the doctors say is try this drug and that drug, and I hate taking anything. I have recently started decompression therapy and chiro together with a bunch or exercises, but so far have found it not to be helpful. I have been doing this for about 2 months! Does anyone know how long I should wait with no relief before I stop this as it is costing us $700 per month! I am going crazy, all I want is to get my life back and to enjoy my kids (I feel sorry for my husband who has to do all most everything!) Let me know if anyone has any thoughts!

hi i have been suffering with pain in my rght leg and hip for over a year. i have had 2 steroid injections for 1st tendonitis then 2nd trochanteric bursitis. these injections didn't last for long. finally i had an mri on my back 1 month ago. my consulant has been on holidy for 3 weeks. i rang his secretary and spoke to a colleague of his. i was told i have a bulging disc. thats all i know so far. i see my consultant tomorrow. my doctor reckons with rest i should be better in 6 to 12 wks but reading this it sounds doubtful. i will let you know what is said at the hospital.

An update! Like most of you I am/was a very active person (love to run, bike, lift weights, and am a former college football player). I am now 34 and paying for all those activities including a car accident in which a drunk driver rear-ended us at a red light totaling our car.

The pain was nagging and at times unbearable (I was unable to get out of bed for 2 days at one point). L5 S1 and a piece of the inner disc (think of the disc as a jelly filled doughnut) had squirted out and was lodged between my spine and the sciatic nerve (at that point they say it turns to the consistency of a boiled shrimp). Chiropractors wouldn’t touch me after they looked at my MRI. I tried 3 epidurals and they gave me some minor relief but I didn’t want to have to keep getting them every time I had a recurrence. I had some tingling and loss of muscle in my calf (it wouldn’t support any weight and I had no reflexes). I wanted to try everything. I could not get surgery so I waited it out for two years and I was very good to my back and didn’t do anything crazy. I got feeling back in my leg and was finally able to put weight on it and do some normal easy things like mowing the lawn. Then I took a long road trip and a day after I arrived at my destination it was unbearable pain again. I was right back where I started. It was then that I decided to get surgery and be done with it. I chose a Microdiscectomy. Basically they shove a cylinder in your back, chew through some bone, move nerves out of the way, and then pull out the piece of disc that is protruding. The day after your surgery it feels like someone took your back muscles out, stomped on them and shoved them back in. It also feels like the incision will split open at any moment. They are very ambiguous about what you are able to do. They just told me to do as much walking as I could (lucky I have a chocolate lab that loves to go for walks).

I am now 2 months post surgery and feeling a bit of a change, but in no way shape or form feeling like a new man quite yet. Still some dull nagging pain in my butt and down the back of my leg. I have my final follow up appointment this month so we will see what happens then. I will update! Good luck everyone!

gdebevoise

Hello, I'm 27 years old and was recently involved in a car accident. The MRI shows I have bulging discs at L2/3, L3/4, L4/5, and L5/S1.

I'm in constant pain and find it very difficult to make sudden movements or sit/stand for very long. I work a 9-5 where I sit all day and work on a computer. I'm usually very active and love to skate. Now, I have to get up every 15 minutes at work to release the pressure from sitting down. I am no longer as active as I used to be. Also, I plan on having children and the thought of me not being able to carry them around is kind of depressing.

I want to know what I can do? Does surgery hurt or help? Is this permanent?

I'm so glad I found this site! Yes, I too feel like I'm going crazy. The way the 3 doctors I've been to looked at me made me feel like "it's all in my head" because the MRI showed only "mild" bulging, (1.9mm) between L4 and L5. I found more on the Internet than what doctors are willing to share. I got Tramadol and I'm already doubling the dose after 2 months. Also taking meloxicam for inflammation. They all said swim and get exercise, but after riding my bike for 30 minutes yesterday I had to sleep on the floor. A medium hot bath and then cold packs help me the most. Sometimes nothing takes the heel pain away, what's with that? Let's all send positive thoughts to our backs right now!

Thanks! Lois

I was in a motorcycle accident recently. We where rear ended while sitting at a red light. I recently had an MRI done which showed a slight bulging disc at L3-L4. Currently I am attending phyiscal therapy once a week which consists of tens unit, ultrasound. I do my exercises at home and walk on my treadmill 8-10 minutes a night. Is this the appropriate treatment?

I am 30years old recently diagnosed with a bulging disk in my neck. I had pain in the neck and shoulders for six months.Muscles relaxers were given prior to the diagnose which did not help. I am scheduled to see the neurologist again and talk about possible injections to the neck.I am afraid any suggestions?

Hi! i had been diagnosed with a bulging disk a year back. i have read you people also suffer exactly the same way i used to. i went for a 10 days physiotherapy called TENS or IFT. it really helped me. i was perfectly fine. excercise is the best option to get rid of this problem. it works wonders. i stopped my pain killers in 10 days.

Treatment for bulging disk: a decompression table. some chiropractors have this treatment. It is non-invasive and is the only thing that has given me relief, maybe even recovery. Goggle decompression tables. I have 3 bulging disk in the neck. Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

Hi, Im am a 20 year young male with 2 bulging dics in my lower back. I work full time as a motorcycle/atv technition, as well as ride aa sportbike. I have not let my docs prescribe me any meds cause of the dangers.. duhhh. Anyway, I'm about to get a steroid injection in my spine in a few days. Are these thing safe. I am nervous as hell because of the risk of paralysis. I got my whole life ahead of me you know? Are there any ways to help the sharp lower pain without the use of meds, because I really need to be able to use my mind when I'm at work.-- Shane!

i'm 34 years old and i have a bulging disk. i've been to pain treatment for six months, had the shots and nothing seems to be working for me. i'm in pain everyday. some days are very painful, some days after waking up i can't move -- it's too painful. are there any suggestions out there? *Please!*

Comment to Blog 73 -

My mother was also taking Oxycontin (30mg) and was also taking Oxycondone (which I believe is also known as Endone). I believe you when you say this does not work. Narcotics are the worst for a bulging disc. They are addictive and only work for a short time, until your body 'no longer accepts them'. I believe Endone is a short term pain reliever, not long term.

Once my mother's diagnosis was complete, we saw a rehabilitation specialist for more effective pain control. I can suggest the drug Lyrica, also results can vary!! I hope this helps. Good luck

i am 39 years old and suffer from serious side effects from a bone marrow transplant for leukemia. they are so painful but just recently i got my mri results. i have a bulging disc in my neck and one in my lower back. i am on 80 mg of oxycontin and 30 mg of oxycodone four times a day for my prior chronic pain and i am telling you it does nothing to relieve these bulging discs. if anyone can give me any suggestions i would be ever so grateful. god bless and help us all. -- sincerely TLC

Kris, your input is very helpful. I discovered that regardless of rest, sitting, standing, walking the pain will do what it pleases and when it pleases. The worst for me seems to be when I am forced to sit for long periods of time (work). And although heat irritates the sciatic nerve, the only comfort I have found so far is a very hot bath at the end of the day-sitting on a washrag to buffer the tailbone. It relieves the burning legs and knees all the way up the spine. Sounds crazy but it works. I begin a series of cottleblocks (spelling) this week which are cortisone with a pain reliever that are delivered right into the spine so we will see. I will not take narcotics -- it doesn't take care of the problem and only makes you delirious and/or sick. I have found comfort in this website in that I have learned that the symptoms are real and I am not crazy while the medical profession scratches their head and that apparently this medical issue knows no age. I am blog 70 and appreciate your help.

I'm not sure how helpful this will be to some of you...

I have watched my mother go through this pain for weeks now. Her mobility isn't the same, she can't get herself up from a chair, go up and down stairs alone and generally needs help with most things.

I'm pretty sure her bulging disk was L5 and maybe L4. She has received 2 selective epidurals over 2 weeks which were absoutely fantastic for the first 2 days - then the pain returns. She takes pain killers 3 times a day and they completely wipe her out. She takes Lyrica which does help, but still gets a little pain throughout the day and night.

Her Doctor seems quite good - he suggests *no rest* except of a night. Basically, she was told to stay on her feet as much as possible but not to over do it. To go about her normal lifestyle. Movement is the key to healing. This seems to have helped as she used to find walking worse for her pain, but now seems to ease it. I have always read that rest is a great form of healing but my mothers doctor says no to this. We have also been using ice management. We were using heat, but I hear it's the worse management for a bulging disk. Apply an ice pack or real ice to the back area - even if there is no pain in the back - and apply ice to the painful area in the leg. Apply directly to skin. Do this for 15 mins every hour. Consistency is the key. It helps my mothers bulging disk a lot so hopefully this might work for you. Apparently, heat aggrivates the nerve at the bulging disk. You never know what to believe or try these days, but personally, this has offered some relief.

As the epidural shots failed, her doctor has now suggested surgery...I'm not keen on this idea as I have heard it doesn't help. Any comments on this?

My pain started gradually with a sciatic nerve and received cortisone shots and pills that eased the pain. Three months ago, the leg burning and extreme pain behind the knee in the left leg then the right with no relief from aspirin or ibuprofen. I was given an EMG (nerve) and passed with flying colors. The MRI just came back showing a bulging disc but no herniation or spinal trauma. The pain is now rising up my back making it hard to breathe at times and causing neck pain. So from the neck down to the heels of my feet I am in chronic pain and no one can tell me why. When I sit, my tailbone is on fire, and the pain starts radiating up. I can't find a comfortable position to sleep!

I was told after an MRI I had 6 ruptured discs. As most of you guys they doped me up and didn't tell me much. Now my right leg is numb and has been for over 2 weeks now.I fall a lot when I try to step down from any thing and now my lower back is burning very badly. and my discs are located in my lower back. it's the last 6. they said they would have to put rods in my back to fix it.The bad part is I'm only 29yrs old. thanks Lee

Hi. I was diagnosed with a mild bulging in my L4 and L5. I have numbness in both legs. I also have shooting pain down my leg and then up my back. I was also diagnosed with RSD (Regional Sympathetic Dystrophy)in my right knee. It hurts to walk, it hurts to lie down, more or less it hurts to even breathe. Last October I was paralyzed for 3 months and they kept telling me it was all in my head. On 7/07/2009 I ended up in the ER and they did a CT Scan and found the bulging disc. They never explained what it is and what I should do. They doped me up and sent me on my way. I cant even sleep and I am getting very agitated with the doctors on this situation. All I want is for the pain to go away and someone to listen to me instead of giving the cold shoulder. What am I supposed to do so I don't further damage my back?

I was told I have mild disc bulging after MRI was done. I have lots of pain in my waist. bending, sitting for a few hours causes more pain. what is the solution for this. The pain is very severe sometimes and very light when i take rest.

Hi

After my MRI I was told I had 2 bulging disks,L3 and L5, also arthritis and calcium in my thoracic. Im going to a pain specialist next week to learn more about what they found. Im 33, been in a couple bad car accidents, and a decent snowboard accident ware I landed on my back after falling 2 stories onto the ice below. This was all in the mid 90s { 15 years ago or so} where I had no back problems after any of these incidents. Around 2002 I started having back pain, just soreness, aces, and maybe some weakness, about 3 months ago I lifted a heavy object in an awkward position and went paralyzed for about 6 seconds, and was hit with the worst pain i have ever felt, worse then tooth pain. since this has happend ive done 2 months PT with no results, still having the intense sharp pain in my back and shooting down my right leg, numbness and weekness in both my legs, cant bend over at all,cant sit for more then 3 min,pain killers have no effect so i stopped taking them. wondering if this is from the recent lift or was this the past coming back to bite me? probably gonna try injections, scared of surgery. thanks for listening

I have been diagnosed with c-5 c-6 and c-7 bulging disks. i have been on pain pills, muscle relaxers and went through phyical therapy. Nothing helps. My dr cant give me any injections because "he wouldnt know where to put it" and last time the cortisone only helped for a week. What do i do next?

My mother has been diagnosed with a bulging disc in the lower back which gives her immense pain - so bad she can barely walk, sit or lay in bed. She has been unable to do most exercises, stretches etc as she is overweight and other medical conditions make this more difficult. Her doctor recommended an epidural injection. How effective is this? She has also been prescribed Lyrica. The doctor also recommends surgery as a last resort. She cannot bare this anymore, it has effected her entire lifestyle, caused depression and basically confined to the house.

Another doctor she had seen previously told her not to 'over do it' and rest. Not to bend, walk up and down stairs etc. Although, we have heard different from the doctor who has recommended the epidural, saying that movement is a good way to heal and she should keep 'up and about' but not too over do it. If the shot doesn't work, we don't know where to turn...

About a year ago I had an MRI done and was diagnosed with two bulging discs and a large schmorals node. I am being treated with pain killers and they seem to be working for now.

I am 42, and never had a physical ailment in my life. I feel like I'm 20. Today, I was diagnosed with multiple bulging discs in the lower back and I'm afraid! My friend had back surgery 12 years ago and the doc messed up. He now has permanent nerve damage from the waist down and his life is ruined.

I have been setup with the best back surgeon in my area. He does back surgeries on most of the docs that need it, but I'm still scared.

It's nice to have this site to come to.

I will keep you updated on what I have to do. So far, I have to wait 4 wks to see the surgeon.

I still can't see how PT will help me. My main pain is in my upper right calf. It's like a biting pain.

oh well..Thx for letting me share.

I was diagnosed with this today, after an initial diagnosis of "lumbosacral strain" twice. Muscle spasms have been bad for the past week. Cortisone shot today, and a steroid regimen for a week. Cortisone has eliminated the pain. I work in a warehouse, lots of heavy lifting, any chance I can keep doing that kind of work?

reply to anon24423

Can you still participate in cheerleading?

I have had an MRI scan after back pain for 2 years, diagnosed with a small bulge next to a joint and degenerating other discs, I have had 2 facet joint injections which gave me some relief for about a month each time. I have a neighbour who had the same problem and an epidural worked for her. I am currently waiting for a denervation, I am in agony and it is also making my right knee extremely painful either side 24 hours a day, pain killers do not work, I have to wait around 3 months more for this treatment, have already waited 2 months.

If the animal welfare found someone keeping an animal which was in so much pain they would be fined, and the animal taken away and treated, why do humans have to wait so long??

I have just had an MRI scan and been diagnosed as having a bulging disc and have an appointment with a specialist soon to discuss my options. I am in my 20's and been suffering with a very painful lower back for 7 months, and been off work for this long too!! My back seizes up and is always very achy and painful. I was pleased when I was told what it was, but after reading all your posts am not that happy with what I read- am I really going to be stuck with this for the rest of my life without any cure?? My job is very active and involves lots of bending and crawling around and it worries me that I may not be able to do my job any more!! any advice or experience you have would be welcome.

In response to 24423 or anyone w/L3-L4 bulging disc

problems, please share your exercises. The PT I went to had me doing the yoga "bridge" (laying down, feet flat, push up against shoulders to strengthen lower back.) I'm usually handling my back with care but two days ago my left hip started hurting to the point I have to start slowly whenever I move. Any ideas?

Bulging discs hurt bad, but pain killers, physical therapy and not doing any heavy lifting has worked 4 me.

is there anybody out there with broken hardware ...such as screws from surgery? i do.

I have a bulging disc in C1 and i've had it 4 years, pain for 6 months and pain free for 6 months. I tried everything, physio, acupuncture, laser treatment, chiropractor, walking and back exercise. Finally I tried Amatsu - it is a form of Japanese physiotherapy, involving very slow movements done by a qualified practitioner and it is the only thing that has ever worked for me. I would advise *anyone* who is suffering with any ailment to try Amatsu. It was my life saver and I'm still having it done to keep healthy. Seriously, my pain was so depressing and painful I would have given one of my arms to feel better and Amatsu really does work. It takes about 4 treatments to work, but well worth it and very relaxing alos.

I have been diagnosed with moderate diffuse disc osteophytic spurring at C4-C7.(Bulging discs in the lower neck)I have undergone physical therapy with no relief, three nerve block injections with only 12 days each of relief, and now am going through chiropractic measures to get relief. It was suggested that I take Vitamin B6 to help with the healing of the inflicted area.

Between the chiropractor, some exercises and the B6, something is finally giving me relief.

I work in retail and do everything from stocking to sweeping the floors. My activity at work has been less than normal since the neck pain began. I'm also an avid gardener and this is really going to cramp my gardening activities.

I don't know of any miracle drug or procedure, but give it some thought to try to get some relief from a chiropractor.

I have been diagnosed with a bulging disk and I am feeling pins and needles, numbness, in my left leg, hip and tailbone. Also my back is very sore. This all happened from a fall off a chair.

I was just wondering if the numbness and pins and needles are directly related to the bulging disk? I was also wondering if there is a good chance of this getting better?

Kudos to anon24651 for the exercises that strengthen the core abdominal muscles.

I'm a 60 yr old female with a bulging disc in my L4. I suffered with it for about 5 years before finally getting into PT -- 2 months worth -- and following PT did the recommended exercises every day for almost a year before I had one morning without pain. It happened to be the same day that I went to a specialist who ordered an MRI (that's how I finally found out about the bulging disc and what to do to avoid aggravating it).

When the Dr. says "no lifting, bending at the waist, and no carrying" -- believe it! Get in touch with your "inner diva" and ask people to help you carry, lift, and tote. That's been the hardest thing for me to do. I've not been able to mop the floor or run the vacuum for over 5 yrs without pain being the end result. (Is a clean floor worth all that pain?)

I do feel sorry for those of you who are young and battling the same condition. At least I have the excuse of advanced age! (trying to inject a little humor here... hope it helps) My thoughts and prayers are over all of you with the same condition. God bless!

these are very simple exercises that you can do, but if it hurts your back then stop doing them! i'll try my best to explain :)

so the most important thing is doing a thing called an "abdominal set".. basically lay on your back with your knees bent and your arms at your side.. then you have to kind of push your stomach down and pull up so that your back is flat on the ground.. never ever arch your back while doing an exercise.

then hold both arms straight up as if you were trying to touch the ceiling.. lower one down above your head (so that your arm would be almost flat on the ground beside your ear!) and then back to where it was before.. then do the other arm, then you can do each leg.. hands at your side and then bring your knee up so its 90 degrees to the floor, then back down.. and the other one.. do them all very slowly and always do you abdominal set before move your limbs.. how many times you do these differs depending how severe your injury is i'm sure one other one is in the same position, do your abdominal set, lift one arm up 45 degrees instead of straight up to the ceiling, then raise the leg on the same side so that your hand and knee are touching, and lightly press on your knee.. you'll feel it in your back a little bit.. do it with the other leg as well.. always make sure your back is flat on the ground and NOT arched.. you can also do it with both at the same time but raise one leg at a time.. you hold your hand to your knee for about 5 seconds each time i hope those help, they're very simple and physiotherapists can surely show you a lot more!

To: anon 24423 - you mentioned that if anyone wanted to hear about the exercises that you are doing to help strengthen your core, to let you know. I am very interested in learning these. Can you explain them?

Hi anon24423!

Looks like we are in the same boat. It is hard having these bulging disks because it has almost been four months. But the worst part is that I am now being homeschooled because I can't sleep because of the pain, and I am also missing cheerleading. If you have any exercises to help ease the pain please let me know!

I'm 18 and I cheerlead for my university team. I had severe pain 3 months ago, went to a couple different doctors, had x-rays and no one could tell me what was wrong. Then i finally went to physio back home and they told me i had a bulging disc between L3 and L4. I was advised not to bend over so that the disc wouldn't bulge more as well as sitting up very straight in chairs using a lumbar support (i use a towel in the small of my back). this alleviates some pain while I have to be in class or doing work. Laying on the ground with your feet up on a couch also works very well to alleviate pain. My physiotherapist said that physio won't do much to cure the problem because its not something they can snap their fingers and fix. I was given numerous but simple exercises to strengthen my core and so far they have been working. If anyone wants to hear about them let me know!

I am 17 and I have a few bulging disks in my lower back. Most of the time the pain isn't too intense, but every once in a while the pain is almost too much to handle. It takes me about 5 minutes after I lie down in bed for my back to relax and get comfortable. I found out I had them a few months ago. I was sitting at my sister's house and all of a sudden my back just started aching. It hurt to move. I didn't bother with it because I figured it would go away. About a week after that it hadn't stopped yet, so I went to my doctor...she did x-rays....sent me to an orthopedic specialist....he sent me to the hospital to get an MRI....it went on and on and on. It felt like I was at different doctor's offices more than I was home. I wish I could reverse it and make the pain go away, but all I can do is take pain reliever, exercise and hope it doesn't rupture or herniate.

Hello im 18 i have two painful bulging disks in my back. (l4 l5) i was 16 at the time of the injury and they get worse. Sometime the pain goes to my leg and if i crack my back the pain goes away. i was wondering if u had any suggestions that i could do to help my back. Thank you.

heya, I'm 15 and female!

I've got a herniated disc between L4 and L5. My L5 and S1 are completely fused together (sacralised)! I have something called bertolottis syndrome which is basically just problems from the fusion at L5 and S1.

I've been having lower back pain and shooting pains down my legs and around my hips for about 8 months now! I visited the GP after about 5 months and he referred me to a spinal orthopedic surgeon. I had an MRI and CT which diagnosed what was wrong. I started off with some physio which has no effect on the pain even though the physio said we had made good progress. I am now having a spinal injection in the disc which'll reduce the pressure on the surrounding nerves and should stop the pain. however there is only a 60% chance of this working!

I'm usually very active. I do gymnastics recreationally and a lot of dancing in my spare time and dancing shows. I also like to take part in new sports and just generally be active. So of course when i starting getting back pain and got told to rest i was very frustrated. The worst part is when your friends are all taking part in the activities and talking about them while you either sit and watch your friends enjoy themselves while you can't or you're not involved at all! I hope my back problems are sorted soon i'm starting to feel very sorry for myself! Fingers crossed! Susie x

I have had severe hip pain for just about three months. At first, we just thought it was growing pains, but there is no way those are this severe. I have had five x-rays on my pelvis/hip and two MRI of the pelvis and the spine. After returning to my orthopedic a few weeks after the second MRI I found out I have two bulging disks in my lower back. Now, my parents are wondering if there can be a pinched nerve, because lately I have had some new symptoms: extremely cold feet, tingling in hands and feet, migraine headaches, and nausea. I am now going to see a neurologist. I have missed so many days of school, and now I am going to become homeschooled because the pain has not gotten any better. Do you think this pain in my hip can result in hip pain?

I just received results from my MRI. Disc bulging (L4, L5 and S1) and Athropathy.

I am in constant pain in my lower back and at times down my right leg. I bought a treadmill for exercise. My concern is how extensive and

what types of exercise should I do? I don't want to do anything damaging. Stretching seems to help sometimes. Please advise. Also when I got my results I had a choice of a neurologist or

orthopedics. I don't know which to choose. Help!

I have bulging disc's in my NECK. From gardening last summer.....it started with a pinched nerve in my shoulder/back, then I found out it was 3 bulging disc's in my neck. They are the "C" disc's. I'm so depressed....It is now winter here in Chicago and I'm not able to help my husband shovel the sidewalk....and that brings me to you.....I'm looking for answer's and hope from someone that surgery for bulging disc's works!!

I am 56, love to work out and be outside. Any neck movement aggravates it. Even something as simple as driving and looking both directions for traffic (pretty soon, I'll have to turn right only) or shopping aggravates it to, (to much neck movement).....I'm hoping to find answers for help so I can get my life back to normal. It's embarrassing and I feel like I'm handicapped. I'm ready to undergo the knife to get my life back.

Anyone had neck surgery for bulging disc's?

I am a 28 yr old female. I was just a month ago diagnosed with a bulging disc in my very lower spine. Could this cause my tailbone, hip, and all the way down my leg? I got a cortisone shot in October and can't get another until January...has to be 90 days. Somebody please tell my if this pain is come from my bulging disc b/c I don't know what to do?

hiiiii

m 20 suffering 4rm disc bulging in L4 L5...diagnosed in mri scan very recently.. dunno hw i got it!! am not involved in active exercises like most of u... am a doc in the making and hate to be a patient when i have just started wit such a beautiful career.. i had just played cricket in the beginning of this yr!! am on pain killers and its too painful... ny advice by ny1 how to reduce dis pain coz i hate taking pain killers

I have a bulging disc in my lower back with started to cause pain suddenly down my right leg to nearly my ankle. I've had two steroid injections that have helped quite a bit. I also take Diclofenac (that might be the generic name), which according to the doctor, is an anti-inflammatory good for arthritis. It really seems to help. Ibuprofen does nothing for my pain.

hi, i heard about a machine called DRX9000 that they say can do miracles to your LBP.

For credibility purposes you should go inside the website and correct your spelling of disk which correctly spelled is disc

DustyM

Bradford pa... I'm a 26 year old male (certified welder) i've had 3 herniated disks for about 5 years now.. the last 3 months i've had back pain like you couldn't imagine. I can't stand, sit, lay, walk, run, anything without being very very very uncomfortable. It's bad real bad. I got laid off from my job which helped me a lot. I couldn't quit obviously due to financial reasons, but am getting unemployment. This is great , gives me a chance to go to the docs and testing to see what's up. I had an mri done a week ago and I've got 1 herniated disks and 2 bulging. my sciatic nerve in both legs is affected, both of my legs hurt BAD my left foot is numb and tingly i'm seeing a neurosurgeon in a few weeks. Oh the funny thing. When I originally went to my doc I told him how much pain I was in and how bad it was and exactly how i felt. He told me to take ibuprofen.. I bitched and bitched so he gave me prescription strength ib profin wow.. woohoo...

well after my test results the other day, he had no problem apologizing and wanting to feed me all this crap.. muscle relaxers, oxycontin 40mg with 5mg vicodin in between..

Well I thought I was indestructible. Guess I was as dumb as my wife said I was. I recently have been diagnosed with 3 bulging discs. More pain than anything I can remember. The only thing I found to alleviate the pain in my legs was a medicine called tramadol. Other than that my therapist has me doing some pretty cool stretches combined with some heat and something electrical that vibrates my lower spine. Good Luck, Rich

I am 14. When I was 13 I was diagnosed with two bulging disk in my lower back. If you have a son or daughter or you personally have a bulging disk do what ever it takes to help it! trust me! I have missed a lot of school, my parents have spent a lot of money on me and I feel horrible! So if someone you know, love, or care about or even you, please do what you can to help them or yourself!

I am 50 years old and have 2 bulging discs at the lowest lumbar and the first saccral disc. I have been fighting the pain for 2 years now. The doctors think my problem is a result of weakened vertebra from chemotherapy I rec'd in 2005/2006 and I believe it because there was no pain before that. I have tried Lortab and Percocet and now I do have a regimen of Lortab with a small dose patch called fentanyl (25mcg i think). This is working wonders along with my heat and ice application and PT exercises that were given to me. I am able to work. Yes, the pain can breakthrough but somehow I get through it. You can find what will work for you.

For the person with ankle problems, my son in law had ankle replacement done in bologna italy at the rizzoli institute. He is doing well ,,long recovery but better than fusion surgery. Check into rizzoli institute italy.

i want to know why doctors refuse to treat certain people and lie to them about their conditions

i am a 32 yr old female with a history of several injuries to my back and neck over the years (car accidents, horse accidents, etc). also have a family history of back trouble arthritis fybromyalgia among other pain causing conditions. i myself have been diagnosed with arthritis fybro carpul tunnel chronic migraines and chronic back pain due to the injuries. i recently had a new mri done and was told i have 2 bulging discs in my neck. i was also told that it couldnt be causing me pain or my migraines. well if that is so then how come im in pain daily and have migraines more than not???? and also why wont these doctors i see treat me? i was given cymbalta (a antidepressant) for pain and was told to take it at bedtime well i have. and im havin nightmares from it but yet they want me to continue the med. i didnt sleep much before because of the pain no im not only not sleeping because of pain but nightmares from the meds too.

I have had back pain for eight years. I just had an MRI done stating I had a bulging disc at L5-S1 and a nerve pinched at that location. I've got pain radiating down both legs and can't even stand up straight. I'm starting college a little late (I'm 29 years old) as I will be a freshman this year. Hydrocodone, Ultram and the common NSAID's don't even touch the pain. Anyone have any idea if there's a better approach to this? My doctor suggested something along the lines of Oxycodone or Oxymorphone...though, I want to be able to study at the same time.

I am a 20 year old female. I have had 2 ankle reconstructions; 1 @ 15 & the other @ 18. I was diagnoised with a slight bulging disk as well as Sciatica & degeneration of the spine in March 2008, My local GP feels its due to the ankle reconstuctions... its now August 2008 and I have unbearable pain in my lower back and down my right leg. I am in pain all the time... No pain killers help @ all.. In all this time it has been getting worse. My local GP has referred me to a rheumatologist but i'm not sure if this is going to help... Does anyone have any suggestions?

I was diagnosed with a bulging disc in my lower back last week. I have had 2 physical therapy sessions where they used traction as part of the therapy and I am already doing so much better - I could not even stand up straight 4 days ago! I am almost to a full upright position. I definitely would recommend checking out PT and asking about traction method. I am still taking ibuprofen but that mixed with PT is allowing me to do more.

I am a physical therapist assistant and where I work, we have a machine that's called "Traction." It pulls the vertabraes and it creates a vacuum in a way to pull the disk back. It relieves pressure and I have heard it works wonderfully. Just a suggestion.

pitiform syndrome can cause sciatica too. YouTube has some videos about it.

I went thru an Indian Ayurvedic treatment called Kati Basti after the MRI report showed that I had a bulging/herniated disk. The result has been phenomenal. My pain is gone, I am back to my normal self.

I am a 29 year old female nurse. I have a protruding disc at L5-S1 and I have had 3 epidural injections. I had pain that radiated into my right leg and down to my ankle. I have had some improvement with the injections. Before the injections I could not sleep or do normal daily living activities without assistance from my husband. The pain from the disc is now where it is bearable and goes no further then my knee. The thing to remember is not to over work your back, but to also not to completely rest it. It is better to keep moving then to have complete bed rest.

I am a 40 year old woman with bulging disk in my neck. I was told that this is something they would find in a 60 year old woman. I had an MRI and went to a doctor he said I could do cortisone shots or maybe surgery. My question is will I need to do surgery any way if so why should I do cortisone shots if it's just for a short time. I'm already having numbness in my right hand, leg, and foot. I'm taking anti-inflammatory medicine and it's not helping. Trying to find another doctor for a second opinion. What should I do. Surgery or shots?

Regarding Donavin's question.

Call tricare or your MTF and tell them you want a second opinion by a civilian specialist.

My 24 yo wife has had back issues for at least 3 years and was just diagnosed with bulging disc in the L5 area. She's going in tomorrow for 2 epidural shots. From the other comments I've seen posted, it doesn't seem like it's going to work. My wife's concerned about the shots. My mother (nurse) said she's heard of new procedure that's being conducted where they blow air into the disc which pushes it back in to place. Has anybody ever heard of this? and has anybody had resolution through the epidural shots?

I am in the military and I have had severe lower back pain(I can barely walk upright) for 2 and a half years. I have tried chiropractor, physical therapy, and have been on limited duty. My mri says i have minor bulging in l3, l4, and l5. My Doc doesnt seem to think i need surgery because there wasnt any nerve protrusions so their just going to kick me out. What do you think I should do.

Regarding ANON8598's question.

Did you get any advice on your question about exercises you could do. What you should and should not do. I was very active and now I am afraid to do anything that might mess it up again. I have to be active. Is running bad, would riding a bike be better etc. Thanks.

G

I am 16 years old and my spine is fractured on both sides of the L5S1 region (isthmic spondylolysis), and i also have a bulging disk there as well because of it. I have been inactive for six months, and that is a long time in high school athletics. I am still almost always in pain, but i still continue to play soccer, run track, and do competitive cheerleading. Does anyone know of a treatment that has a quick recovery?

hey im 21 years of age and i went to go have a MRI because i was having back pains in my lower back and i was told i have a bulge disc in T11-T12,L1,L2,L3,L4,L5-S1 i've been try to find out just how bad is this for me if u have any info. for me please post it my name is Big B. Thanks for any help, May God Bless us all.

I'm 15 year old female. I have 4 bulging disks, i want to say L5 L6 L7 L8, its something of that sort. i have not yet seen a a doctor other then my pediatrician, but i dont know if anyone knows the risk of playing on this. i have important games coming up. Does anyone know the possible risks?

I got into a car wreck on 2-9-08 and have been seeing a chiropractic and a D.O.(bone Dr.) and I had been having pains (sciatic and lower back)... my x-rays found nothing after a month I went to have a MRI and they found a mild bulging disc between L5 and S1. My D.O. said that there is no way that it could be causing me any pain. If that is so, how did I know where the bulging disc was located before my MRI??

I am a 17 year old female and have 2 moderate bulging discs in my lower back, (L4 and L5). I have had an MRI and been to a specialist and have been told to stop all physical activity for 2-5 years. I am very involved and passionate about athletics and running so I am wondering if there is any alternative... exercises or treatments? I can try rather than giving up my future career..? I have tried to start running again and it does get sore, so i am concerned that I may be doing more damage any info would be appreciated, thanks.

I have been told I have a bulging disk by my chiropractor. Bikram yoga is the only thing that I can tolerate as a form of exercise and it is supposed to help strengthen your body (back specifically) through continuous practice. It is done in a hot room so your muscles are more flexible and you can ease into the movements without any pressure. My injury is still very recent but I can say that I would do this a million times over doing any regular exercise. Good luck to you all. I hope this helps.

Hello to all with spinal pain. Here's some educational info I hope helps all of you out:)

My disc L5 S1 (4-6mm bulge) ruptured to the point I was almost paralyzed. Pain like you can't believe! No medication, cortisone shots, etc. were taking ANY pain away. I too, was really active.

Elected to have surgery. GO TO A NEUROsurgeon. No amount of physical therapy "gets rid of it". Went to Dr. Sylvain Palmer who teaches all over the world, how to do "painless" back surgery - I was scared to death, but scheduled the surgery. 45 minutes later (after having been in severe pain for over 4 months) after the surgery (yes, that's about all it takes) I WAS NOT IN ANYMORE PAIN! MIRACLE surgery at it's best. He's an experienced Neuro doc with years of education. Teaches alot of other docs about current pain management surgery. He's very interested in patient well-being and pain free surgery. I NEVER needed any pain meds AT ALL! Unbelievable. My back is great and I'm still active!

Here are educational sites to do your research on - Hope this helps all out there who are looking! Neck and Back pain. palmer

My son is 21 yrs and is a college basketball player. he had to sit out this year due to a bulging disc. He went to a chiropractor which did not help. Now he's seeing a doctor for the back pain. He had an MRI taken and one epidural shot. He's still in pain. The doc told him just to stay out of exercising to see if the inflammation will go down. Need help and assistance.

Thanks

I was recently diagnosed with bulging disk in the L5 region of my back. My doctor has me doing PT and advised me to take up swimming. I am a high level figure skater and skating is something that he told me I couldn't do because it causes pain. I have been following everything he told me and I am still in pain five months later. Is there anything I can do that would ever let me skate again?

my husband has been diagnosed with a slipped or herniated disk, as well as a bulging disk. the doctor is waiting to see how things go before he does surgery. what kind of exercise or physical therapy is good for a herniated disk? he's had one or two bouts of severe pain and sciatica due to it, and refuses to go get the epidural the doctor recommended. having had 3 of them myself in childbirth, it seems that one little epidural instead of days of debilitating pain is a better trade! from what i've heard, the epidural works wonders, but only temporarily.

I have very severe canal stenosis in my neck. Dr. say nothing can be done about this. I will be paralyzed one day from the neck down, which will result in my death. I am asking is there any help out there for this?

Robin - Try a pain management specialist. They have different procedures than Orthopedic doctors.

My daughter has been diagnosed with a bulging disc at L5S1. It has caused some pain. She is a gymnast who was staring at a full ride until the disc issue. She has been to several doctors including a pain specialist who has done the series of 3 epidural injections. The next step could be discography or surgery. I am not sure we will agree to those. Has anybody had this situation? 16 Seems too young for a kid to retire from sports. Thanks

My 15 year old son has been diagnosed with 2 bulging disks in his neck. He has always had 2 HUGE bones at the bend of his neck where it meets his upper back,any comments/help would be appreciated. I am under the assumption that this is kinda young for this to be happening, is this correct?! What does the future hold for him?

Thanks, Robin