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.

[calin53]

Hello...I have read your post and am wondering how you are doing today, given that you posted 2 years ago. I have a herniated disc L5/s1 that started in 2006. After 2 injections I was pain free from 2007-2012. Now I am wondering if surgery is my only answer. I've had 4 injections this year and I have numbness in my leg and foot. I'm interested to know if your surgery is still a success. I really don't know what to do and the surgery frightens me.

[aisha03]

i was diagnosed with disc herniation on L5 S1. been suffering since the birth of my lovely 6 mos. old daughter. Can't walk far, can;t stand up for long period of time. Feels like i have a tube stuck under my buttocks. I used to love to cook but now, we eat a lot of take outs and frozen foods.Oxycodone, hydromorphone didnt work at all. Too depressing! :( Looking forward for the Spinal Epidural injection soon!! I pray for all of us to  be pain free!

[Sam0802]

Omgoodness I can't believe so many of us are going through this exact torture. This back n leg/ foot pain has taken it's ruins over my life there is not a minute in the day I don't have relief or not consumed with this monster. It all started for my in fall 2009 u see I had no accidents to have caused this annoying pain so I had no idea what was going on. Saw my pc n he sent me for n X-ray yes X-ray of my back n nothing showed so he basically pushed me aside n literally told me it was in my head n I was seeking attention or meds I was pissed. So went home n struggled through the nxt few months, doing everyday tacks was almost impossible.I was so frustrated n I knew something was seriously wrong I then sought out a nuero for my horrible migraines n I then told him of my issues he believed me what a relief he sent me for an MRI gave me pain meds n sleep meds then sent me home w this teeter machine which stretches out your back n did help for the time I used it until I was finished n the pain would haunt me once Again. I went back for my results n there it was a herniated disc in my L4 L5 S1 boy I was a ball of emotions that day that I finally had an answer n it wasn't "all in my head", lol. So for some odd resean he referred he to a orthoped for surgery during my wait to see him they had me see another specialist to recieve cortisone injections to see if that would ileaviate any pain n nope it did not touch the source so went and did another round still nothing. During that time dr put he on gabapentin did nothing but I still took them for some glimmer of hope that they would. Finally saw the ortho n he told he surgery  a microdiscectomy n I agreed he was curtain it would help w the leg pain more so than the back pain so I agreed 1st surgery was in April 2010 did not help I was in so much more pain after this surgery I was devastated to have put myself n my poor family through this caus so they loaded me up with percocets I was going crazy everyone was is suffering around me. 2nd microdiscectomy was performed 4/5 months later n he told me I reherniated again n this rarely happens but it does he also found some disc fragments that were left behind which were all crushing my sciatic nerve he swore again this time was it he was 95% sure I would recover so after healing for a few more month with more meds n still a lot more pain I complained again n again I was sent for another MRI n emg. My result for the emg came back normal but abnormal nexus I just had surgery n they should have read abnormal so my nerves r miss firing I was going even crazier by the day at this point. So I started researching more than I already was n I started calling every nuero I could to get in to see someone for a second opinion  n by this time I was on so many meds I couldn't function without them percocects, xanax, oxycontin,hyrocodone,gabapentin,ambien, zanafex, cymbalta n of course NSAID's,  I litterally was sitting on ice all day still I was miserable n not too mention a walking pharmacy. I was am so depressed I didn't see the reason to live why does someone how does someone stay strong enough when yrs r now going by nothing but PAIN. I broke down everyday asking y me? Finally I saw another neuro n he said surgery again but a more exploratory Aubrey this time which meant a larger incision which at this point I didn't care just do it so 2wks later I went in n under went a 3rd back surgery. He did an exploratory microdiscectomy found many things wrong I once again reherniated this time the bulge was much larger than my MRI showed n I also had major scar tissue which was intwinning around my nerve impinging it and the dr before again left tons of bone fragments which almost severed my nerve. This was in june 2012 I am now now 3.5 months post surgery n my back feels some what better I don't have the tightness like before but it's a catch 22 here, my leg n foot r still in agony I can't win here. But good news in I am off all meds but percs n ambien. I still struggle to sleep through the night. I hope that my body hasn't reproduced more scar tissue n whats nxt for me. I can't work I do take care of my beautiful babies 3boys 10 y/o n 4 y/o twins. I feel so self consumed though everyday with my pain that I just want to be normal again n idk if that's ever gonna happen for me.I want my life back I want meeee back. I appreciated everybody out there for sharing there stories n experiences I wish everyone a pain free life. God bless!!            

Samantha

[jen1596]

I have been sitting here on the internet crying after reading horror stories and I am so sorry to all of you. You are NOT alone!!!

Background- I am 23 years old, and a runner and former athlete. I have been exercising at a gym for 3 years now as well as going to bikram yoga. For the past year, I had right ankle pain. So bad that I was limping when I walked and off balance when I ran. I got X rays, an MRI, physical therapy, and the pain was gone. They said I had a weak ankle. I even got custom made inserts(for having a high arch) as suggested by my doctor. Then I started working out again.

but- I still feel pain. Though not pain in my ankle- extreme pain in my lower back. I think the pain was there all along but it was masked by my ankle pain. It hurts to drive, walk, sit, exercise. I have pain in both my knees and right leg when walking. I feel like a cripple. I can only walk short distances. I can't wear normal shoes. When I lay in bed at night my lower back burns until I fall asleep. I have sharp pains every time my foot hits the pavement when I walk. I have intense shooting pain in my thigh. When I exercised my body was off balance and my knees and legs were hurting so bad. I could only run for 15 mins before the pain was so bad I gave up. I frequently have to shift positions while sitting or standing to relive the pain. I even have to lay a certain way in bed.

Unfortunately for me, my personality is to ignore things. So for a while I thought I was just having normal back pain. Until it has now gotten so bad that I know it is not "normal" back pain. Especially after reading these stories and speaking with my doctor.  I was running and exercising for 4+ months while having this pain but I finally told myself to stop.

I went to see a doctor who did X-rays and prescribed an MRI. He mentioned I may have lumbar disc disease or a herniated disc which is what I am also guessing it is after reading these stories as well as other websites. I have my MRI soon and I'm praying that I can get this fixed with physical therapy and that if it does result in surgery, I hope that it will permanently fix it. I just really hope I haven't permanently damaged myself. I am such an idiot for waiting so long to fix this problem. I really hope I can one day walk normally again and feel no pain because I honestly don't remember what it feels like to not have this pain. I have been crying since I went to the doctor because I'm so afraid of the outcome.


PLEASE, if you are reading this and having pain, GO TO A DOCTOR. Please recognize your pain and get help. I hope everyone finds some relief and gets better ASAP. You are not alone!!!

[tofisgod]

Swimming ,Alcohol and give up pain killers.  I started lying down on the floor or using a pilates ball in the house as my settee was too soft. I couldnt walk for two months and now found out it is ls 51. but since i gave up naproxin, ibuprofen, amitytriptaleen and tramadol i feel better, Swim three times a week and dont stretch. Bottle of red a night and lay on the floor on a rug works wonders. i dont recomend it as not a doctor but it works and smoking weed is even better but drugs are bad and so is pain!!

[Nando65]

Hi , thanks for your words of encouragement I seem to be suffering from the same problem. Can you tell me what type of exercises you do specially you mention weights?