Bulging Disc L5 / S1 - referred Leg Pain. Sciatic nerve pressure.

[Benny87]

I have extreme referred leg Pain - caused by assumed sciatic nerve pressure from bulge from diagnosed minor Bulging L5 / S1 disc. Signs of canal stynosis - as I have pins and needles in my left foot and calf muscle consistantly. I get severe Glutenal cramping from walking so awkwardly to lessen the impact as sitting and walking seems to aggravate sciatic nerve due to added pressure on the disc. Lying down relieves leg pain. Acupuncture and physio can not relieve my pain more than temporaraly. Physio has given me exercises and also tape strapping to keep me standing straight, not crouching. I have had a few spine stretching treatments with a machine - pulling lower back down whilst strapped to a table. Dry needling, Hydro therapy, Massage and looking at remedial massage currently. You name it - I feel like I've done it. I've got no known allergies to any other medications or supplements ever prescribed or suggested.
I took magnesium yesterday as suggested for muscle cramping. This only caused me a massive headache, dizzyness, extreme stomach cramps that then turned to nausea and vomiting. I guess magnesium just didn't agree with me.
Due to having a bulging disc, all the doctors I go to seem to laugh when I say i'll do anything to take the pain away. They tell me to learn to live with it and write me another script for one of many pain killers Endep 25, Indocid 100mg, Tramadol 100mg, valpam 5mg... nothing is effective any more and I can't help but feel so depressed that after 4 months of dealing with this excrusiating pain at 20 years old - the rest of my life is going to be unbearable.
I keep getting told by practically everybody that surgery is not the answer. The hospital has put me on a waiting list for a consultation with an orthapedic surgeon and after all the attempts in the worlds to get an earlier appointment I've only got to wait another month - but after that there will be many more waiting lists to look forward to, who knows... what surgery is considered in these cases.
Can you suggest anything that will take my pain away? I don't want to be addicted to pain killers and I'm scared it's getting worse not better, or even bearable.

[Ambitious1985]

I have this same L5/S1 bulge... Only mine is severe. I have no fluid in the disc and the bulge is so severe that my sciatic nerve is in a constant pinch. It is pulled so tightly that i also have Radiculopathy, my nerve is pulled to tightly at the joints all the way down. Left hip (inner and outer), knee, ankle, and toes. I have burning, pinching, shooting, muscle cramps and weakness, and also numbness from my left genital region and lower left back all the way to my toes. The entire outer back side of my leg is in constant agony. I was unable to walk for several months, until i had steroid epidural injections, (one on the disc and another on the nerve root), once every two weeks for 6 weeks (3 total). That helped so very much! I can walk now, I get through the store without a motor cart most every time. I am also taking the following meds... Gabbapentin (nerve pain), Chlorzoxazon (muscle relaxer), Naprosen (alieve rx), and Norco 7.5 (pain management). These meds keep me going. Ultimately, I need surgery. There is no other option, besides continued deterioration and pain. I plan to see an orthopedic surgeon soon. The surgery that would benefit you is a discectomy, where they go in and remove the portion of the disc that is bulged out. That would relieve all of the sciatica leg and back pinch pain. That is the surgery I plan to have, althpugh I'm not sure what they would do about my disc having no fluid... I do not want a fusion of the L5/S1 vertebrae. I hope this helps. Good luck.

[Insress]

Can i end up in a wheelchair

[vkbans]

Hi my situation is exactly the same as yours..did your pain finally got relieved and how?

[Belal_____]

I'm in the same road. I'm 25 yo. I have L5 S1 4mm .. All the doctors didn't recommend any surgery. And I live in a complete hell. I visited tons of doctors, Only one doctor told me to do the surgery. I used Mesotherapy injections, PRP injections, And it was really expensive, I went to PT. Nothing helps. I'm a man but let me say it. I cry all the time, Everytime I see the fact that I'm like an old men, Actually I saw many old men are better than me. I'm so depressed, I so much want to die and thinking of suicide everyday. I can not live like that for the rest of my life and I don't want and I have no spirit to be fine with that test and challenge That I have. I see my life is just dark, I can not find a job out of pain, can not walk for more than 10 or 15 min, can not sit for the same amount of time. I can not do any single kind of sports anymore for the rest of my life. just coz one God damn day in the stupid gym and did this squat with weight. I'm so stupid person and I shouldn't even think to go to gym. nothing is gonna help, even doctors said that surgery will not benefit me. Some doctors said it's pelvic and SI joint and all of this crap and no one help. I just wanna die or something.
at least i found here people like me. I'm so sorry for my depressing sentences, but those who live in pain will feel me.
I wish you the best all.  

[Lulacait]

Chiropractic naturopathic treatment. I slipped mine out. Couldn't wAlk. Called chiropractor to house, he adjusted it back in place . Better instantly. I now do exercises and regular adjustments to keep it in line.

[BernaDom]

Hi. Could I ask many years later how things turned out for you as reading your post it is exactly the same as my situation, including the 3 kids bit...youngest of which is 10 months old. Feel like I'm in hell. I'd be so grateful to hear from you. Thankyou.

[Eliza008]

Hi. Go for a MRI. Stay in bed and put some pillows under your knees. Use a band waist to see if is much better. But don't use it all the time because after your back muscle will not be so strong.
Use gels for you back pain and in all places where you feel pain. Use ice 10 minutes every hour. After a few things you will see what is working and what don't. The holiday trip is not a good idea because you will need to walk. I don't have a bad pain but still I can walk more then 10 min.

[LisaLeg]

i am going through all that you described & i am at the end of my tether. I have been given Tramadol, Amitriptyline , Naproxen Dihydrocodeine , Neurontin Gabapentin, Liquid Morphine & another 2 that i cant remember & none of them work. Its the morning getting up & putting weight on my foot. OMG It is worse than child birth it makes me scream out in pain & i cry whilst holding on to the side. i slowly shift by tilting my foot to the inside & shuffle along on the inner side of my foot very slowly. I dont want to live with this pain. I CANT LIVE WITH THIS PAIN!!! im going on holiday in 11 days & i dont want to go because i will not b able to enjoy myself. I need HELP

[valandjeremy]

My son, "the trophie body builder" now has similar problems. he is 36 and is being sent to buff. to a specialist. pinched siatic nerve and herniated disc. L1- S5. Pain meds help but do not relieve his severe pain. laser sergery is what we r hoping for. Has anyone mentioned laser sergery to u? It is relatively new but he just told me of a case in which it worked! this is good news in our favor. research it for yourself and good luck. being buff in the gym and he is a builder, roofer also. he feels better when working than not.. was just here laying on the floor after his gym life. he lives and breathes body building. poor kid of mine. so proud but yet ripps my heart right out at times. i would gladly give him my arms or legs if I could. so love my sons
Val and Jeremy (mom and son)

[philnoir]

Vax-d is a mechanical traction device for the lumbar spine.

My personal experience with traction, whether at PT or chiropractic clinics is that they may cause some temporary relief, if any, but do not make lasting changes with moderate or severe spine disease including degenerative discs, facet disease and other osteoarthroses of the lumbar spine, scoliosis, or lumbar stenosis.

Like with all treatments, ask your back doctor if this is safe for your and give if a try -- it's non-invasive and causes no irreversible changes -- but don't expect Vax-d or any other treatment to be a panacea for all lower back disease.

[shelling54]

I have been through the gamut with back pain and my brother is a doctor and I know lots of doctors . Surgery is the last and worst option anyone could take for their injured back . And I known Nero surgeons who take their wives to get other forms of treatment because they know that surgery does not work. I do know that spinal decompression works pretty well for someone who doesn't have extensive damage in their nerves., The only true spinal decompression machines are called Vax-D. there are other a few doctors in each state that have these machines . I hope this helps you.

[shelling54]

I know what you're going through , because I have the same bulging and herniated discs L4 five and S1 . I also have a failed next surgery and have stenosis in my neck now. However the good news is I know of a wonderful solution that has helped me more than all the epidurals or shots or pain meds,
It's called Vax-D. do your research on this, I and thousands of other people suffering from herniated and bulging discs have been able to get their life back to a large degree., In my state there are only three doctors that have this machine. Some chiropractors have what they call spinal decompression but they are not, they are traction machines. There's a big difference.. Find someone with VAX D and you can get back to not having that kind of pain , if you don't abuse your back. I hope this helps you.

[Draynay]

I hate to hear about all these people in pain and they haven't tried Decompression.  Along with good nutrition and some stretching a lot of people would be in a lot less pain.

[Madimel]

After bitching to my Dr for over 2 years about my feet feeling like i am dipping my feet in boiling oil, walking on thorns and looking sunburn then turn purple he put me on pain meds and gave me more depression meds thought it was in my head...FINALLY i told him look i cant walk more then 20 mins w/o felling like my bones are grinding bone to bone and my legs are numb with shooting pain going down them, he had to do something I begged him to give me a MRI and i said if I am will to pay $400 out of pocket NOW would I be faking it? So i go it and HUMMMM i have bone spurs pushing on my nerves and a  Herniated disc..I am so mad because he just kept feeding me pills and allowed me to be in pain for tha 2 years :(///// Do  you think water beds make YOUR BACK FEEL BETTER? I got a memory foam w/the cooling pack on it and it hurts me so bad thank you Jeni

[PaulaCH]

After being a very sporty person, I can't remember when I didn't have a bad back.  After going to Chiro to help it I found instead he possibly cause my disc L5 S1 to herniate or bulge and I have been in constant pain ever since.   Right now I am in bed trying to recover from back pain and referral lower abdominal pain and leg cramping I get when my back is bad.  No Meds seem to help when it is bad.

I have just become a yoga teacher in the last few years and have spent a lot of time studying backs and the only way I think we can help our back injuries is by relaxing the muscles around the affected area in order to take away the pressure on the nerves. This involves correct breathing into the abdomen and Daily relaxation incorporating that breathing in a comfortable supported position with legs on a chair or over a bolster or with the knees bent.   I find is most beneficial and better than any operation or medication.  TRY IT AND LET ME KNOW HOW YOU ALL GO

[Lisaanne27]

I have just had two surgerys to relieve the very same problems you have had, I'm three weeks into recovery but am starting to have that awful pain come back once again!!! After my first op I was fine then eight weeks later my sciatic pain pain came back soooo bad I couldn't walk, sit, stand do any thing and was taken to hospital via ambulance and spent a week in there continually getting worse, the pain I kid you not was really worse than child birth, I know this because I've had three children without pain relief. The pain meds I was on tramdol, Panadol, gabapantin, codeine, morphine, cedamine, amoung a few other ones but none of which did any thing, then added hot and cold packs and electro pads to help but still nothing!!! After seven days in hospital which felt like a life a life time I got to have surgery for the second time for the same thing.  I woke up feeling remarkably better, no pain but numbness and pins and neddles in the back of my buttox down my entire leg to the bottom of my foot ( left leg)  but three weeks later the pain is coming back, I am sacred the pain will be as bad as it was, and I can't really afford for this to happen, no scratch that I can't afford it period as I worked for my self for cash and have now been out of work for six months. This sux!!! Are you all better?

[daisykay]

I lay my legs on a bean bag at 90 degree stay like this until pain is gone I sleep like this too I pray you feel better.

[daisykay]

I have found if I put my legs up 90 degrees and I use a bean bag to do it  but it has to be 90 degrees and lay there a while it has help me a lot .I pray for you to get better. marcia

[daisykay]

How are you feeling today 2014 hope still doing good please tell for I am looking into surgery.Marcia

[Amal1936]

I had similar problem in September 2012 wherein The L5 S-1 disc height is mildly reduced thereby I found it very difficult to even stand/walk/run.  At one stage I could not even stand continuously for 10 secs.  My Doctor advised me to do exercise daily but no improvement.  I tried all sources to get rid of the problem but could not succeed.  Finally, I went to a Homeo Doctor who gave some medicine and within 15 days time, the problem was totally solved and became normal.  I suggest that there is very good medicine in Homeo and pl try out.

Amalraj
Chennai

[selmaS]

  Hi the member u r asking a question of has not posted since 2010.....if u want to see if that member checks in, send them a PM-(private message)

Or post as a new thread and an open question regarding a certain med, who is on it and how long, dose etc....

[suzanne969]

Hi. What dose of the meds are you taking now? Fentynal Patches are very good. And it lasts for up to 3 days. You must be opiod tolerant though. Let me know what mg your meds are.

[Slipsoup]

Hi. I'm sorry to hear what you've been going through. My situation sounds similar, timeframe and all. I haven't had much intervention though, just physical therapy and a muscle relaxant. I haven't had an MRI but am thinking about pushing the issue with my doctor. Did you get your results? Did they provide any help? I think my pain is nerve-related at this point, though no one has said that. Have you been told anything specific neurologically?

[chilldojo]

I suffered an injury about 8 weeks ago and for the last 6 weeks have been in excruciating pain. My whole life turned upside down. No work, no gym, no having fun. Went to urgent care a couple times and had lumbar x-rays but had a problem with my insurance and couldnt get an appointment with a primary doctor for over a month. I tried chiropractic, acupuncture, physical therapy, a couple rounds of steroids and a variety of pain killers/muscle relaxers.  The most frustrating thing is people just dont understand the pain and what it does physically and emotionally. Reading all of these stories was a huge help. I ended up in the emergency room about a week ago after not being able to get out of bed one morning. They gave me IV morphine and valium and I could still feel pain. The worst for me was the muscle pain caused from tightness. Since then, I have had a huge change in pain. I take valium at night and my muscle tightness/spasms have reduced drastically along with alot of my sciatic pain. I am still waiting for official MRI results but seems to be bulging L5-S1. Hopefully my recovery continues after the valium runs out because I am sick of masking the pain with percocet/norco, etc. Good luck to all

[Ricksta1]

Hi I have a bulging disc causing constant leg pain and pins and needles in my foot and shooting pain thru my leg.. I've been suffering near 6 months now no pain killer seems to work or even take the edge off.. physio seems to do nothing and my pain is gettin worse..  I suffer headaches that I assume r related to the pain killers. Also as of a week ago I've noticed mild loss of feeling on my inner thighs n slight bladder control issues..
I've told my doctor n they just hand me another script n send me on my way..  living like this is becoming unbearable..  any suggestions on hoe to cope???
Desperate!!!