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.

[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!!!