Bulging discs...what's your experience with them?

[phorsenuf]

Talked to the nurse at the Drs office today and I have bulging discs at L2-L3, L3-L4 and L4-L5. L3-L4 and L4-L5 are pushing up against nerves. Guess that would explain the pain, weakness and loss of reflexes. He said the Dr would probably refer me to someone. It also said degenerative disc disease (knew that already) and no critical narrowing of the spinal column. He rattled off something else too but now I can't remember what it was.

So until I talk with the Drs what should I know. Any do's or dont's?

 

[Jennasis]

check out www.spine-health.com they are a tremendous resource and really helped me through my discectomy surgery this past spring.

 

[Kitty 34]

My experince with them? They hurt!!!!

Physical therapy and a few back pain meds here and there help me through my episodes with them. Good luck and sure hope you get to feeling better soon.

 

[Explodo]

I fought a ruptured disk in my neck (C-7) for almost 7 months before they finally had to do surgery. The recovery was brutal for about 6 weeks, but after that it's been wonderful.

If you have nerve issues, they are probably going to want to be more aggressive in their treatemnt. Don't monkey around with their instructions...You can really mess things up if you decide you know more than the docs (I thought I did once...Once)

 

[The Mystery Machine]

DH has been dealing with his back for over a yr. He has been getting cortisone injections into the some L's and his last injection was in the S1.

He really made progress when he went to the physical therapist. He stretches every morning now.

 

[lttlmc3]

My DH just had surgery a month ago for two bulging discs in his neck between c-5 and c-6, and the c-6 and c-7. He first had pain and a weakness in his arm. He went to the chiropractor and it just kept getting worse and worse. The MRI showed his bulging discs. After the MRI, we saw a neurosurgeon here in Nashville and he was put into surgery the next morning. He came home the same day. It was a surprisingly easy surgery. they put cadaver bones in inplace of the discs and a metal plate that will help fuse them. He will be fully functional in another two to three months. He can do office work, but not much else. Of course, this led him to getting fired from his job, but that's a story for another time.....

 

[dislaney]

I also had multiple bulging discs and had discectomy surgery very soon after I was diagnosed. It was the best thing I ever did. Good luck!

 

[okeydokey]

It wasn't disks that was causing my leg pain but a pinched nerve at the L-5. My Dr prescribed Vicodin and ice. After a week of no improvement I went to a chiropractor. Best thing I ever did. I fell great!

 

[Jennasis]

It wasn't disks that was causing my leg pain but a pinched nerve at the L-5. My Dr prescribed Vicodin and ice. After a week of no improvement I went to a chiropractor. Best thing I ever did. I fell great!

But what was pinching the nerve? Nerves don't kink or pinch on their own, something had to be irritating it or pressing on it like a bulging, ruptured or herniated disc.

I had a "pinched nerve" causing crippling leg pain, numbness and weakness. Pain so bad i literally ahd to crawl to get around my house (no back pain at all...just pain down my whole leg). Went to a chiro who did some adjustments which made it 10x worse (but the chiro insisted that was "normal" after an adjustment). A day later my friend who is married to a pain specialist found out and made her hubby send me for an MRI, which showed my "pinched nerve" was caused by the largest herniated disc the surgeon who would eventually remove it had ever seen.

I was in surgery a week after the chiro nearly ruined me, and was 95% pain free immediately upon waking from surgery. I am 13 weeks out of surgery now and doing splendid...PAIN FREE.

 

[lttlmc3]

My husband was VERY surprised how he was automatically pain free after surgery. It made him so happy!

 

[Mermaid02]

My husband was VERY surprised how he was automatically pain free after surgery. It made him so happy!

Mine too! After two years of trying EVERYTHING (chiro- acupuncture- PT-Massage etc) my dh had surgery and was better immediately after surgery, he was almost afraid to say it out loud! Be very careful with chiro's. DH's did nothing for him and charged us TONS of money.

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

My husband was VERY surprised how he was automatically pain free after surgery. It made him so happy!

Chronic pain is just awful (for the sufferer and any caregivers/supporters around them) -- finally getting relief is so amazing, isn't it?!

 

[okeydokey]

But what was pinching the nerve? Nerves don't kink or pinch on their own, something had to be irritating it or pressing on it like a bulging, ruptured or herniated disc.

I had a "pinched nerve" causing crippling leg pain, numbness and weakness. Pain so bad i literally ahd to crawl to get around my house (no back pain at all...just pain down my whole leg). Went to a chiro who did some adjustments which made it 10x worse (but the chiro insisted that was "normal" after an adjustment). A day later my friend who is married to a pain specialist found out and made her hubby send me for an MRI, which showed my "pinched nerve" was caused by the largest herniated disc the surgeon who would eventually remove it had ever seen.

I was in surgery a week after the chiro nearly ruined me, and was 95% pain free immediately upon waking from surgery. I am 13 weeks out of surgery now and doing splendid...PAIN FREE.

My pelvis and lower back alignment were off. The x rays showed the problem was not the disks. I also discovered that I had undiagnosed scoliosis.

 

[luvmy3jewels]

After on and off back and leg pain over the last five years, I finally had an MRI done recently that showed something similar to what the OP has (three bulging discs and deg. disc disease). I was referred to a neurosurgeon and he told me that as long as the pain did not radiate below my knees, he would not consider surgery to be an option. He thought my best alternatives for managing the pain would be either physical therapy or a chiropractor.

I just wanted to add my experience to let the OP know that her diagnosis doesn't automatically mean surgery (which is what I first thougth when I was told of my MRI results).

 

[phorsenuf]

Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences. I'm waiting now to hear from the Dr to see what the next step is.

Did the Dr advise you of do's or don'ts?

I have a lot of pain in both achilles, do you think that could be related to the back or a separate problem?

 

[jazzielady]

check out www.spine-health.com they are a tremendous resource and really helped me through my discectomy surgery this past spring.

Are you still active on there? I am a regular in chat! Those folks are such knowledgeable and caring people, I'm addicted, even though it's been a while since my last surgery (as you can see from my siggie!)

 

[mill4023]

After on and off back and leg pain over the last five years, I finally had an MRI done recently that showed something similar to what the OP has (three bulging discs and deg. disc disease). I was referred to a neurosurgeon and he told me that as long as the pain did not radiate below my knees, he would not consider surgery to be an option. He thought my best alternatives for managing the pain would be either physical therapy or a chiropractor.

I just wanted to add my experience to let the OP know that her diagnosis doesn't automatically mean surgery (which is what I first thougth when I was told of my MRI results).

I would suggest at least seeking another opinion if the pain is bad. I'm not saying surgery is always the best option, but it sure was for DW. She had back and leg pain that had gotten progressively worse over the course of a year. She ended up having 2 ruptured disks in her lower back that were compressing her nerves.

After surgery, the first week was horrible. She was in intense pain and could barely move. After that, she started feeling a little better each day. It was a slow recovery, but within about 3 weeks, she was already feeling less pain than pre-surgery. Ten months later and she's pretty close to 100%.

 

[jazzielady]

If surgery is recommended, don't be afraid of it!

My opinion was - NO ONE - was coming near my back with a needle or knife, until the pain got so bad that I looked like Quasimodo.

Surgery fixed about 80% of my problems, but that's only because I waited too long. Nerves regenerate about 1 cm. per month (so I've been told), so the longer you wait, the worse it gets, the longer recovery is, and you can do permanent damage.

 

[redsunfish]

I was diagnosed with two bulging discs, L4-L5, L5-S1 diagnosed in December 2007, after my pain got so bad I was finally sent for an MRI by a neurologist (my primary care thought I had a pulled muscle from playing in a volleyball tournament). My back never really hurt but the sciatic pain down my leg was so bad that I was crying on the floor. For 6 weeks they wouldn't do anything invasive - just PT (which was excruciating) and pain meds. After 6 weeks I had my first epidural steroid injection and it was almost instant relief. I've had a couple more since then when the pain has flared up and they have always given me relief. From what I understand I was pretty lucky....not everyone gets relief from this. Now, when i feel any kind of tweak i treat at home with high doses of anti-inflammatories and ice (when I get irritation all my muscles tighten up and just make it that much worse). I also stretch every single morning before beginning my day.

As for what to do and what not to do my Dr. told me to walk as much as possible but I don't know if that was particular to my situation or not. Hope you feel better really soon!!!

 

[mill4023]

I was diagnosed with two bulging discs, L4-L5, L5-S1 diagnosed in December 2007, after my pain got so bad I was finally sent for an MRI by a neurologist (my primary care thought I had a pulled muscle from playing in a volleyball tournament). My back never really hurt but the sciatic pain down my leg was so bad that I was crying on the floor. For 6 weeks they wouldn't do anything invasive - just PT (which was excruciating) and pain meds. After 6 weeks I had my first epidural steroid injection and it was almost instant relief. I've had a couple more since then when the pain has flared up and they have always given me relief. From what I understand I was pretty lucky....not everyone gets relief from this. Now, when i feel any kind of tweak i treat at home with high doses of anti-inflammatories and ice (when I get irritation all my muscles tighten up and just make it that much worse). I also stretch every single morning before beginning my day.

As for what to do and what not to do my Dr. told me to walk as much as possible but I don't know if that was particular to my situation or not. Hope you feel better really soon!!!

After her surgery, DW was told to walk as much as she could manage every single day. She wasn't supposed to bend or lift anything, but they said walking would help with her recovery. So I guess walking is good for the back, without being too rough on it.