Bulging disc

[Tiff24]

I wrote about two weeks or so ago about some back pain asking for some advice on pain relief. My dr. ordered me an MRI and it turns out I have a bulging disc. When the pain first started (about a month and a half ago) the dr. gave me muscle relaxers and 800mg motrin. Neither of those did anything for the pain. Needless to say, I didn't ask for a refill because I don't want to take medicine that isn't doing anything. However, I'm pretty much in constant pain. I have good days and bad days but the bad days are still bearable. I have a one year old son so it has to be bearable. I start some physical therapy tomorrow, the dr. said they would show me some exercises to help with the pain. I exercise everyday at home, it actually makes my back feel better. My dad has had bulging discs so I asked him what I should and should not be doing and he told me that exercise helps and to not lift anything too heavy. It took me a week just to FINALLY get my dr. to call me back with the results of my MRI so I would rather not call her again with questions. So.... does anyone have any advice? Do bulging discs just heal by themselves? And what are the chances of this happening again? I'm only 26, is it likely that I will deal with this repeatedly? And lastly, should I be seeing a "back dr" for this? BTW, I have no idea how it happened. I just woke up one morning in a lot of pain and it hasn't stopped since.

 

[ladybug8372]

for one....get a copy of your MRI report. either the place that done the MRI, or you should be able to call your drs office and ask for a copy of it. that way you can read it yourself and get a better idea as to what is going on. i dont know why..but drs do not tell you everything that is on the report. for instance..i have 3 discs that are bulging...but only one that has ruptured...i wouldnt have known about the other 2 bulging discs if i hadnt gotten a copy of the report since. that was 2 years ago..and i still have yet to hear a dr say anything about the other 2 discs. i also have arthritis in one area...no one has told me that either.

SOMETIMES bulging discs heals on their own after a few weeks, but drs like to give it 6 months before they start talking surgery. in the meantime, do physical therapy, limit bending, twisting, weight limit of 10 pounRAB or less, no pushing anything heavy (like grocery buggies that are full of groceries...thats a HUGE no no!!), no clirabing, no running. always TRY to practice the correct lifting, bending, getting in and out of bed, out of chairs techniques....like we are SUPPOSED to do...but are always lazy and just do it however is easiest! lol. and if the pain gets too bad, you could ask for epidural steroid injections...it helps some ppl...but not all. remeraber this term....once a bad back..always a bad back. if you are lucky enough to get this one to heal on its own...your odRAB have increased that it will happen again. for now, a primary care physician is ok...but if you start having nerve problems...like sciatica...pain down the leg...or nurabness...or just unbearable pain.......time for a different kind of dr. a neurosurgeon is a good choice...because they deal with nerve injuries. just because he has "surgeon" in his title doesnt mean that its an automatic surgery. they like to try the pt and injections, and other "conservative" methoRAB before mentioning surgery.

as far as you not knowing how it happened....you can mess up a disc by doing something as small as sneezing....it takes nothing at all! hope i have helped some..its a tough world living with back pain.

 

[ms_west]

I would ask for a referral to a spinal surgeon (orthopedic doctor with additional training in spinal surgery). Just because you are seeing a surgeon does not mean that you need surgery. I would insist on having one review my xrays and to make a game plan which might consit of pt, epidural shots, course of steroiRAB, etc. Good luck and I pray you feel better soon.

 

[Tiff24]

for now, a primary care physician is ok...but if you start having nerve problems...like sciatica...pain down the leg...or nurabness...or just unbearable pain.......time for a different kind of dr. a neurosurgeon is a good choice...because they deal with nerve injuries.

On the bad days, I do have sciatica pain. It's pain down my butt and leg, usually my right side but not always. I told my husband today that I don't think my pain is from the bulging disc itself, I think it's just hitting a nerve. So does that mean I should go to a neurosurgeon?

 

[ladybug8372]

i think thats probably the next step. some will debate which dr is best...a "spinal" surgeon, or neurosurgeon. my personal preference is a neurosurgeon. i know that spinal surgeons are trained in this field, but in my own personal opinion...when you are dealing with nerves..you'd want a dr that deals with nerves on a constant daily basis...which would be a neurosurgeon. to me, it just makes sense. but thats my own personal opinion.

my pain, as well. doesnt seem to be from the disc itself anymore.....although i just had an updated MRI that showed that my condition has not significantly changed in the last year....my body says otherwise!! over the last few days...i have had the most horrible "toothache" feeling from my lower back down to my toes. i've read where thats an indication of spinal stenosis...but as i said, my MRI didnt show that. its been occurring off and on for a few months now....but this is the longest that it has stayed with me...and am finding it harder to sit down in my own chairs....it used to be that after awhile, i would get this deep aching pain, and burning...now its just the toothachy pain...worse than the deep achy pain....i know that may or may not make sense to you.....but once you have reached that point, (i hope you never do!!)...you will totally understand where i am coming from. like you, i dont take medications just because the dr hanRAB them to me....i only take them when i am so miserable that i cant stand it....my pain meRAB have lasted me almost a year....but ive been taking them more and more here lately. i have my very first appt with the neurosurgeon next month...and i REALLY cant wait..this is the one time in my life that i have ever been excited to have a drs appt!! up until these last few days....i've had good days and bad days as well, and the bad days were tolerable...i have learned to live with it. BUT....the pain i have been going through lately........i dont think i can tolerate it as well if its here to stay. i have so many symptoms and problems from nurabness to pins/needles to pain down the leg.....i can deal with all of that....i cannot deal with the pain that ive been experiencing lately.

i hope that i have been of some help to you. i truly understand what you are going through. its hard to know what to do when your body hurts so bad, and all you want is to get better....but you dont know where to begin..or what dr is going to be the best dr! good luck and keep us posted.