Bulging Disc: Surgery or not?

[Iggy82]

About 2 years ago, I started feeling classical symptoms of sciatica - pain radiating down my right leg, all the way to the knee, mostly on the side of the leg. This happened right after I made about 10 consecutive jumps. A year later after that episode, I had MRI done. It showed that I had 2 bulging/herniated discs and 1 herniated disc. The bulging/herniated discs are at L1-L2 and L2-L3 position. The mildly herniated disc was at L5-S1 position. My leg pain is always there, however, its severity is on and off. It's never extreme, such as inability to get out of bed or not go to work. However, at times it's distressing resulting in inability to exercise at gym or do various physical activities fully.

I am 25 years old and sports has always been a somewhat large part of my life. I have a gym membership for 10 years, I play basketball, tennis, soccer and other sports recreationally. This pain has inhibited some of those activities and I had to cut out many of the exercises that I used to do in the gym (squats, back rows, military press and etc.)

Recently I had 2 epidural injections done, about 3 weeks apart. The first one helped for about 10 days and the 2nd one I had done less than a week ago and the pain has already come back almost fully.

I have seen 2 surgeons and both recommended surgeries after first trying more conservative treatment. I have been prescribed by one surgeon to undergo a PT course for 6 weeks. While I didn't start it yet, it's unlikely to help in my view.
The first surgeon recommended a laminectomy and the 2nd one microdiscectomy.

Is it worth going through one of these surgeries given my age and somewhat nagging pain, should PT fail (as I predict it will)? If so, how successful are these surgeries in terms of pain relief? Will I ever be able to go back to gym again at at least 80% of how I used to? In other words, do the benefits outweigh the costs of recovery, pain and some risk?
Is PT any help in situations like these where the pain is chronic and according to MRI and X-Ray, I have some bone spurs and somewhat degenerated discs?
Thank You for your time and attention,
- Igor

[kprinss]

My mother had the same problem bulging/herniated disks a few years ago.   She is in her 50's and very active.   WOrks out with a trainer 5 times a week.   Her doctor reccommended PT too and her pain persisted because she ended up shattering her disk.   SHe had the surgery and is back in the gym, skies, plays golf, you name it.   If you have to choose between the 2 surgeries the microdiscectomy is a smaller incision and quicker recovery but make sure you have  an neurosurgeon who is well versed in this surgery.   Good luck.

[Iggy82]

That's interesting because I hear mixed results from different people and even doctors. My primary physician recommended me a good surgeon, who did a surgery for one of her patients and she said the patient has not complained of pain and is the 70's and doing much better. Yet she would rather me avoid the surgery given my age.
Other people say that surgery is extensive and is very long to recover from and has some risks.

What surgery did your mom have and how quickly was she able to recover? Walking? Workout? And etc.?

I will probably start PT next week, but honestly, I don't hope for nor expect any improvement.

[Billsdaughter]

My sister had a blown lumbar disc that disabled her, the surgery really helped. She's not into sports but does vigorous work. I think you may find alot of variation in results, maybe each person is different. I know one who had a fusion and has never been right since. Something I thought of reading this is an injection therapy called prolotherapy or something like that, think it is hyaluronic acid, not sure I recall the details exactly. I remember a holistic MD who did that and saw an article by the previous surgeon general Everett Koop advocating it. Just a thought as you sound like you are not eager for surgery yet. I have read things that imply not much difference for herniated discs whether you have surgery or not, maybe you could get some objective stats on that. It sounds like your quality of life is not affected alot as you are very active so it may be worth waiting or trying alternatives for awhile longer. Maybe acupuncture would help with the pain?

[sassy706]

I had disc surgery on C-6 and C-7. All the radiating pain is GONE!!! It was the worse pain ever. The worse part of the surgery was the morphine. I had the surgery and was discharged the next day by noon and was at my friends for dinner that night. Of course PT followed and is very important. I recommend the surgery.

[Iggy82]

My quality of life is somewhat affected, just not to a very high degree. Some days it's worse than others. But you are right, Billsdaughter, I am not lying in bed nor struggling through each day. I have been recommended to do PT for 6 weeks by the surgeon and I will probably start this week and see how it goes. But given that I have at least 2 moderately bulging and herniated discs, I doubt it would help very much. I do think that at the end, I will likely go with the surgery. I guess my biggest question is how long does the recovery take, for me to be active, and will the surgery renew me to the degree that I would be able to go to gym and play sports normally again, without severely restricting myself?
But thanks for input guys!

[Billsdaughter]

Hi, how are you doing? are you trying the PT and is it helping? I'll bet a sports med doctor could answer those questions for you. I hear there is a good spine clinic in the San Francisco area who has worked on well known football players.

[Runnomore]

I am in the same boat.  I am 31 and I have three bulging discs.  My left leg is always numb, my buttocks aches, and my back throbs.  I hurt my back running.  My weekly mileage was @70, with a lot of speed work.  My doctor says I can never race again, or even run.  

I have had three epidurals, all with no effect.  My L5 is crushing my S1 and the only option is to have surgery.  My L3 and L4 are also bulging. So much for staying in shape.

I do not want to be on NORCO pills my whole life. I think if you have an injury especially in your 20's to 30's and all options have been exhausted then surgery needs to be done.  I cannot live with this pain for the next 40 years only for it to get worse every year.   They say that these bulging discs heal in 5 years with no intervention, yeah right.  Mine will heal then I will lean down to tie my shoe and blow my disc again. At least if the surgery is done I can possibly mtn bike again, or continue rafting.  

I do not know much about the surgery but I am at the point where I have no other option.  I cannot take the pain any more.

[milkshakebabe]

I know excatly what you are going through my husbnd has a buldging disc ,
  he has been in hospital for 1 week so far after suffering at home for 5 weeks he is now at the stage that he cant stand or sit and has to lie down constantly,his whole left leg is completely numb and has tingling in his arms and leg and foot.
   he is in agony and has become very down, because he cant support me and our three children , he just wants the pain to stop and to get his life back .
    He had a spinal block injection last week but has had no effect, the doctors are just talking about pain management through pills and have said that it is not yet bad enough for surgery how bad does it have to be to get a operation?
  He has already had a operation on the same disc 10 years ago.

[needrecovery]

Hey run no more.  I am somewhat in the same boat.  i was a jogger ( only about 15 miles a week) and I have been playing rugby for the last 10 years, I"m 29.  I have been diagnosed with S1/L5 and L5/L4 disk bulges/herniations.  I just receieved my first opinion and it was to have surgery.  Have you had any surgery since January?  Where are you at now?

[lisa309]

I'm in the same boat here too. I'm 44 and since May I've been having excruciating pain that runs from the side of my left hip down the front of my leg to my knee or below.
Often, I have complete muscle weakness in both legs. I've not been able to walk (usually 4 to 5 miles a day), sit on the floor with my kindergarten students, or sleep for that matter!
My dr had me go for an xray and then an MRI in Aug and I have bulging disks on my L2 and L4. An old sacral bone fracture has not fully healed correctly which is also causing issue.
I'm in PT right now but find the day after, I'm in more pain due to aggrivating the issues with the exercises.... anyone know if the PT is supposed to make it worse before it gets better?
I feel like I don't want to go through all the PT in order to hear time for cortizone shots in your spine.....been there done that with tendonitis in my elbow and ended up with surgery after a year of PT and shots!

[cin818]

My mother is currently going through the same thing & what really annoys me is the way that her doctors are educating her.  I do not believe that they are NOT knowledgeable, but they are incapable of thinking outside of their own box... and often times, there are alternatives out there!
I work for a leading national health insurance company and have had first hand experience as to what type of "inabilities" that doctors have when offering and referring care.  Generally speaking, a medical doctor (primary care, specialist, etc) is trying to make a buck and only trained to do one of four things: diagnose to the best of their ability, medicate, refer out to a specialist, or cut.  There are other non-surgical options that are available that your doctor is NOT telling you about.  Often times when your have a bulging/herniated disc, there are other problems that lye within your spine that your doctors are not addressing.  My mother's one vertebra is completely misplaced, which caused her disc to slip to begin with.  Her doctor and surgeon want to go in and fix the disc; not address the misplaced vertebra - because that is outside of their realm of expertise.  The end result may not even fix my mother's issue and her pain may persist; especially if they are fusing things together to correct the disc surgically.  Fixing the symptom does not fix the problem, it may create more stress on other discs, other areas of your back may start hurting because they are compensating for the problem that still persists, and your surgeries will become cyclical.
My thought... try everything first.  Back surgery (or any surgery) is a serious, serious thing.  I understand that PT can be painful and cause further problems, but I urge you to see a back doctor - not a primary care physician, an orthopaedic surgeon, voo doo, or witch doctor... see a chiropractor and ask about DTS before getting cut.  For many people this could be an option and will allow your body (with a little help) a chance to do what it does best - and heal itself.  Most health plans offer 20 visits per calander year and more if medically necessary.  I urge you - get a referral and go.  

I found one link that I thought was good:
http://www.ewerspecific.com/DTStherapy.aspx

google it, use your resources, talk to a chiropractor and see if this could be an option.  

[selmaS]

Thank you for ur prospective on this issue which I agree is a biggy...especially since I will most likely be facing that option.....however, a chiropracter is not always a safe choice...it depends on what other "things" r going on in ur spine....such as chiari malformation, which manipulation would not be a wise choice......but there r other non surgical ways to reduce pain.....

Again thanks for ur insight.

Godspeed
"selma"

[jz723]

you think you have it bad, I have buldging disc's in my NECK.  Yep, from gardening last summer.....it started with a pinched nerve then I found out it was 3 buldging disc's in my neck.  They are the "C" disc's.  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 buldging 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 buldging disc's?  In Chicago?
Thanks,
jz723

[InPainInSiouxCity]

I just found out I have bulging/ruptured discs in L3&4, L4&5, L5&S1.  I've been refered to a surgeon who specializes in cervical/lumber spine surgery...but I am afraid.  I am only 29 and have lived a very active lifestyle up until now.  I am in extreme pain but have only been given Lortab (which has not helped at all with the pain) and 800mg motrin.  Anyone out there with positive stories about surgery or other options? Pain relief?  Thank you for your time.....

--In Pain in Sioux City

[lightsong3]

I came across an interesting website by a PT who advises not just PT exercises but understanding how what you do and how you position yourself might be affecting/reinjuring your disks. Interesting info and seems to have helped a lot of people with disc pain to avoid surgery and feel better. The site is: www.drbookspan.com/ May be worth a look.

[Dtechnet]

L1 -2 = medium sized disc protrusion centrally extending to the right side which is markedly extruded superiorly producing encroachment upon the thecal sac and RT. neural foramen.... Thats what they are telling me, it hurts like hell but not sure what it means

[OMG_ouch]

Hello all. I’m 33 and I had a discectomy w/ laminectomy surgery to repair my L5-S1 disc about a year ago. It was the WORST mistake I have ever made in my life. I would not recommend back surgery to anyone, ever, unless you are facing possible paralysis and surgery is your last resort. I started out with getting cortisone injections and nerve blocks and when that did not have any long term benefit I opted to have a relatively minor outpatient surgery (microdiscectomy) and things just got worse from there.  This was all in an effort to get back to “normal”. It’s really hard to know what to do when the doctors that you trust are recommending this procedure and that procedure, but don’t forget…they make the most money on surgeries…of course they are going to recommend them. If you opt to have all the tests, scans, procedures and surgeries and they FAIL, the most any doctor or surgeon or specialist can offer is a 5 minute pity consultation and a prescription for pain killers. I wish so much that I would have tried adjusting to my limitations instead of jumping into invasive medical procedures on my SPINE.

[CJsBack]

I would like to know if anyone else out there has a central disc bulge/ herniation.  that is when the disc is bulging in the central area of the spine causeing pain on both legs and at different times. while also pinching off nerves and compressing the spinal cord.  that is what is happening to me right now and i am in quite abit of pain and cannot bend that well at all.  My Pt has sent me home cause after seeing my MRI was fearfull that any excercises will make matters worse and he did not want to take that chance.  In 30 years this is his worse case ever.  I have tried everything including the spinal decommpression, im lost and have no idea what to do next.  Is Surgery my last resort and if so what am i too expect,  I m in a very physical profession and i need to hear that im going to be able to continue working.  Can someone please give me some advice?

Last Resort

[renee399]

Hello out there
My recent MRI shows a large bulged disc in my lower back.  Can anyone recommend pain relief (this issue is killing me and I am now off work) that does not increase chances of constipation?  I have had 2 surgeries for anal fissures and cannot risk getting constipated.  I have been on morphine pills for 1 week and it is not taking the edge off and it is slowing my whole system down.  
Thanks for any suggestions.

[Thesilverfox]

I'm 26.  Very active, used to be a body builder.   Suffered a bulging disc at L4-L5 when I was 25 and deadlifting at the gym.  Hurt BADDD!

I refuse to have surgery and get cut open unless I have to.

There are numerous supplements that DO WORK that I have tried/am on right now.

For the pain, look into this
-----Curamin
Their main website is "http://www.curamin.com/"

To help restore joint/disc health look into this
----Glucosamine/Chondroitin/MSM supplement (24 hour release is best)
Here's the one I took  "http://www.iherb.com/Now-Foods-Glucosamine-Chondroitin-240-Capsules/568?utm_source=gb&utm_medium=f3&at=0"


To help restore fluid within the discs and also help with inflammation, look into this.
----Hyaluronic Acid.
I'm taking one called "Baxil" but I can't find the link on the web.  Regardless, look into it b/c the discs in your back are made up of this acid.

Most of all, Stretches.
http://www.spineuniverse.com/article/back-pain-exercises-4413.html

I do the "pelvic tilt" and the "knees to chest" stretches morning and night, and they really seem to help and it feels good.

Good luck to everyone.

--J

[backhurtsbadly123]

ok i am 18 years old. i was in a severe car accident when i was 17 and a fourwheeler accident when i was 14. may 09 i was moving furniture for my mother and the next day i was in so much pain i could not even walk. i went to my family physician and he told me all i have is a sore muscle, so he gave me a narcotic pain killer and a muscle relaxer. after a week my pain still persisted so i went back to him, same thing over again. my pain never gave up. finally he sent me to a neurologist, he sent me to 5 weeks of physical therapy, he said he did not want to order me a MRI because he didn't want to flag me at such a young age. Therpy did nothing but make it worse. he prescribed me some more narcotic pain killers. i had the MRI and found that i have a severe budging disk. my dr said he would not like to do sugery once agian my age. he ordered me a epidural, which did nothing. i went back to him and he said we will do one more, well i had the last one 2 days ago and i still feel no relief. now i know i am young but i dont think i can handle this severe pain, i cant do anything with my friends, the only thing my back will allow me to do is lay in bed, everything is way to painful to live with? should i have sugery? anyone have any ideas for me?????  

[ffdengine127]

I have stumbled upon this forum and very interesting. I'am 31 have 3 children and my career is a firefighter/emt I hurt my back in june and at first it was tollerable. I took off wrok for about 2 weeks and then went back only to work only for it to get worse. My job fianlly put me out on medical comp and now trying to get it taken care of. Last diagnosis was a bulging disk. Well I for one don't want to be on meds for any length of time and realy can't given my career. I'am going to go to doctor today to find out what my options are. I now have alot of insight from this forum to bring with me! Thankyou all and good luck to all. Back pain ***** and can stay with you for EVER!!

[Kelabela]

I have a buldging l4/l5 disc with a tear.  This dosnt stop me working, when i hurt it i get inner thigh pain, leg pain, lower back pain and stomach pain.  its not to bad, its just uncomfortable and constant.  i hurt myself and am in pain for a month, then i get better for a couple of weeks and do it again, it seems impossible to avoid hurting it.  I have been re hurting it for about a year now.  seeing a nuro specialist on Thursday and getting some advice on what to do.  I am scared to have an operation, i dont get a lot of back pain, just pretty much every where else, i am scared the operation will give me back pain.  every time i left something and reach i seem to do the injury, i think it might be the buldge getting squished and iritated. I feel like i shouldnt get surgery because i am not stuck in a bed, but i swim 1k everyday, walk an hour everyday and still have pain and sciatic to my foot, i feel like my right leg is getting weaker and i have had to stop doing alot of things because it causes pain.  I have been wanting to have a baby soon with my husband also but have been putting it off due to this back issue.  i am only 25 and it seems very unfair, but thats life i guess.