Disk Herniation L5-S1 Help!

I have a 9mm disk herniation compressing on my sciatic nerve at S1 that I did 3 1/2 months ago.  I have been taking Ibuprofin daily, Topamax 75mg for the nerve pain and going to physical therapy to try to stregthen my back.  I still have 3 weeks of physical therapy left but the pain is really getting to me.  Its really bad at night laying in bed and when I get up in the morning. Just to put my pants on is a huge ordeal.  I'm terrified of an epidural and am wondering if 3 1/2 months is enough time to wait to see if it will heal on its own or if I might be facing permenent pain in my right leg. The pain has maybe improved 5% since January.

[Titantic]

When I first injured my L5 disc, I had a Lumbar Micadescectony. It was immediate  relief !  I suggest you do not go to long on seeing the doc again. The longer you put it off, you could be damaging that  nerve.

[midnitemoon]

I got in to see the Ortho Surg doc right away and just started crying in his office.  I was so embarrassed.  He hugged me and told me he was going to take care of me.  Great guy! He looked at my MRI and said I had a huge herniation and it has been over 3 months and the pain was so great that I needed surgery right away.  I have it scheduled for Wed. A lumbar microdiskectomy! (Did I spell that right?)  In the meantime he gave me a prescription for Percocet and Vistoril.  It is the first time I have had some form of pain relief in 3 months.  I was taking about 1600-2400 mg of Ibuprofen a day just to take the edge off so that I could get dressed and drive.  I can't wait until Wed.  I'm going to have to give the Nurses and Doctors flowers or something.  This has been a nightmare and I have 2 other bulging disks (I was a Paramedic lifing huge amounts of weight every day-hence the bulginess and popiness of the disks) and I am doing to make darn sure this never happens again.

[too_young _4_this]

Well I'm a 16 years old girl and I have know for two weeks now that I have a herniated disc and spondylolisthesis (a vatebrae that has slipped out of place). I've had back pain for almost 5 months now when I first injured my back during weight lifting. I'm in high school and I'm know as the best girl basketball player in the valley and this injury was about three weeks before the basketball season started and I played the whole season hurting. Not playing wasn't something I was considering and so I decided to tolerate the pain and took A LOT of pain killers to help. I also visted my chiropracter about 3 or even 5 times per week. In the begining of the season my back was still giving me problems and it continued on to the end. There were times, and there still are, when I couldnt staying standing or sitting down without it hurting. There are also times when I cant lay down and I cant get back up without feeling the pain. I'm seeing a chiroptacter, physical therapist, and orthopidic specialist. I'm no longer in any sports and I'm trying to avoid surgery. I'm just wondering if I'm ever going to be able to get back to my normal, active life of sports. I'm sure I will get back to sports, but will I be 100%?

[RONNIEEEOHH]

L1 bulged disc and nerve compression.I'm taking 45mg, morphine slow release twice daily naproxen gabapentin and flexorol in the p.m.
How long can I expect this bulging disc to subside and what can I do instead of bedrest?

[High Noon]

Bed rest is recommended for two days at the most for back problems then walking and regular activites. The bulging disc may not subside on its own and depending upon the amount of compression may not even be the cause of the pain.

What exactly were the results of your MRI?
What kinds of Doctors have you seen and what were their recommendations?

Good Luck