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.

[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.