back

[misthang158]

I just found out I have a mild bulging disc and it's painful my right arm and legs get numb. I could hardly do anything I just wanted to know what should I do

[Enoch Choi, MD]

Go ask your neurosurgeon or orthopedist for an opinion.  Your symptoms are puzzling since to get pain in your arm from a disc bulging it would be in your neck and usually is more than mild.  Leg numbness can be from bulging discs in the low back.  It's most worrysome when the numbness proceeds to weakness, especially if there's loss of bowel or bladder control (you wet your pants or soil your pants).

kyphoplasty is the procedure star queen describes, and yes, it's a newer procedure that is less invasive.  all surgeries have risks, so you need to see if it will really help you or not.  Many people don't realize that back surgery may not really help their symptoms after all.

Dr. Enoch Choi, MD
Palo Alto, CA

[star queen]

See an orthopedic neurosurgeon who specializes in spines.  There is a "new" surgery where the doctor can go in and replace the disc with a spacer that serves the same purpose as the disc.  The recovery isn't too long and full, painless motion is usually restored.  good luck