Bulging discs and leg weakness

[CharliesAngel]

I was diagnosed with 3 bulging discs in Aug. (I was on crutches from March until July for ankle surgery and then a broken knee and it upset my back). One was shown to be pinching on a nerve and I had a spinal injection of a steroid to help relieve some of the inflammation. It helped but I was hoping for more relief. I've been going to physical therapy, and chiropractics now for over 6 weeks. I'm also walking 30+ minutes a day 7 days a week at just a normal pace and doing all the recommended stretches/exercises. My question is - is it normal for my legs to always feel so weak? I'd think that after 6 weeks of daily exercise, the strength would be coming back. The pain is still there but not as severe. I'm considering another injection but not sure what to do. I've read weakness in legs is normal but when does it all heal? The discs are between L2& L3; L3 & L4; and L4 & L5. Sitting is uncomfortable, walking too long is uncomfortable, standing is uncomfortable. About the only thing not uncomfortable is laying on my bed on my side with a pillow between my knees. I feel pretty OK after PT and chiro but it doesn't last long and I still feel so weak. Can anyone offer some hope or help?

 

[KLZ]

I'm sorry for your pain. I know exactly how you feel, I too suffer with a buldging disk, terrible nerve pain, nurabness & tingling down from my back to butt, legs & feet. I also have a L5 S1 synovial cyst pressing on a nerve & lately my right foot has just totally given out on me. Not much eases the pain, I take percocet and anti-inflams, tried PT but hurt waaay too much, I bought a heating pad that only eases it slightly and I constantly coat my back with A5-35. I also bought a back brace for when I'm at work which helps me not to bend or twist the wrong way, it was only $30 & it fits nicely underneath my scrub uniform...yah...but it isn't a cure all, just eases like everything else. I hear the TENS machine may help??? Don't know enough about that tho, sorry. My doc is sending me to a specialist, so guess I'll start the injection faze too. grrr!

Wish I had more advise or a magic pill to end this torture for us. What your doing is down the right path but perhaps your next step just may be surgery, I'm afraid. I would try another injection first tho.

All the best!!!

 

[CharliesAngel]

KLZ-thanks for the response. You sound so much worse off that I am. I had severe pain for quite awhile but then had a spinal injection and the steroid did help calm things down. I was told NO HEAT unless it's followed immediately with ice, as the area is already "hot" and inflamed. Heat may feel better for awhile but it aggrevaites the problem. I was told to use ice and though that's uncomfortable, it really has helped. I go to physical therapy twice a week. We use ultra sound waves in the area -- it's supposed to increase healing or something. Then we follow that with electrical stimulation and heat. I then do some mild stretches and then we ice the area. The stretches were killer painful at first but are not really an issue now. The ortho doctor gave me a back brace and that seems to help lesson the weakness in my legs when I'm on my walks. I read that gently bouncing on one of those big air balls helps bring nutriants into the damaged area. Talked with my PT and he said it would be beneficial - so I bought one and bounce on it for about 5 minutes a night while watching TV. So far, it seems to have helped. I also sleep with a pillow between my knees and sleep on my side - this has relieved pressure in my hip. I'm scheduled for another injection next week but am hoping things continue to calm down between now and then. Hope you can find something to help!!! Maybe try a different PT? Good luck