Bulging Disc: Surgery or not?

[Iggy82]

About 2 years ago, I started feeling classical symptoms of sciatica - pain radiating down my right leg, all the way to the knee, mostly on the side of the leg. This happened right after I made about 10 consecutive jumps. A year later after that episode, I had MRI done. It showed that I had 2 bulging/herniated discs and 1 herniated disc. The bulging/herniated discs are at L1-L2 and L2-L3 position. The mildly herniated disc was at L5-S1 position. My leg pain is always there, however, its severity is on and off. It's never extreme, such as inability to get out of bed or not go to work. However, at times it's distressing resulting in inability to exercise at gym or do various physical activities fully.

I am 25 years old and sports has always been a somewhat large part of my life. I have a gym membership for 10 years, I play basketball, tennis, soccer and other sports recreationally. This pain has inhibited some of those activities and I had to cut out many of the exercises that I used to do in the gym (squats, back rows, military press and etc.)

Recently I had 2 epidural injections done, about 3 weeks apart. The first one helped for about 10 days and the 2nd one I had done less than a week ago and the pain has already come back almost fully.

I have seen 2 surgeons and both recommended surgeries after first trying more conservative treatment. I have been prescribed by one surgeon to undergo a PT course for 6 weeks. While I didn't start it yet, it's unlikely to help in my view.
The first surgeon recommended a laminectomy and the 2nd one microdiscectomy.

Is it worth going through one of these surgeries given my age and somewhat nagging pain, should PT fail (as I predict it will)? If so, how successful are these surgeries in terms of pain relief? Will I ever be able to go back to gym again at at least 80% of how I used to? In other words, do the benefits outweigh the costs of recovery, pain and some risk?
Is PT any help in situations like these where the pain is chronic and according to MRI and X-Ray, I have some bone spurs and somewhat degenerated discs?
Thank You for your time and attention,
- Igor

[Badbackjane]

Everyone here seems to be mentioning PT - but what is PT please?

[Mystery132]

I hear you.
It's horrible.
Looks like your case is even worse due to the fact that part of the disc was removed and now it's degenerating.
I've heard that they can remove disc and fuse vertebrae if that's one option.
It'll limit some flexibility but should be pain free.

BTW, I bought an inversion table and it's been more than a month and pain has reduced quite a bit.
I'm not sure if it's due to the inversion table or it just got healed in a month but it does relieve pressure on the back.
I went to chiropractor few times and quit as they said, we will put you on a plan and hopefully the bulging disc goes back in.
I can stay home and hope without paying them.

Best of luck on your treatment!

[potions11]

i had an op in 2000 on l5s1,part of the disc was removed... before that i had pain 24/7 in my back and leg and nothing helped...and i mean NOTHING.....now 14 years later its back again...the same disc has apparent central disc protrusion, displacing the thecal sac?....I also have some disc degeneration.....I was into running and mountain biking also...now I work, however on light duties and feeling rather useless and lay in bed when Im not at work...I cant do anything, not even walking as exercise.Ive had a CT which showed the above described and am seeing a specialist n the 15th january........Ive heard mixed results from surgery and Im hoping I dont have to go down that path but cant see how I can avoid it when I currently have no life due to the pain and discomfort and its interfering with work also...Im scared sh!tless!!!!....and very depressed.

[Mystery132]

Hi,
I'm 38 years old now and been having back pain since 1999.
In 1995, I jumped from around 12 feet high wall and my left knee didn't bend and I felt a shock in my back.
It didn't hurt that time but in 1999, when I was playing with friends, it started hurting real bad and I knew it was the exact same spot that I felt shock in 1995.
The doctor suggested either pain killers or surgery in 1999 after x-ray but without MRI.
I opted for pain killers.
The pain went down after few weeks but I always felt it's there.
I constantly had numbness in that area and had to constantly adjust my left leg bones to feel comfortable.
In 2009, I had MRI and it showed L4, L5 bulging disc and that's not pinching but compressing sciatica nerve on the left side.
L3 also may have slight buzz. I lost my MRI disc so don't remember.
I had steriod injection that time.  It really helped for a week or so.

Since then, it was same pain, uneasyness and numbness until last week.
I was in the bed trying to wake up and had a big sneeze that moved my left leg really high close to my chest.
I can bring my knee to my chest all the time but that sneeze did it I don't know in what way that my pain suddenly went up 10 times and I could not even put any pressure on my left leg.
After resting 3 days and stretching, I can at least walk and work but I have to limp as it still hurts on left side if I put my weight on it.

I'm seeing chiropractor this weekend to see if that helps.
Otherwise, will go for surgery as the pain is too much now compared to before.
It's been almost 15 years so I know it's not going anywhere on its own.
:'-(

[ozglobal]

I am 58 years old and never suffered any lower back lumbar spine problems or injuries. From January 2013 to March 2013 I bought and used the Abdoer Twist exercise machine. I went overseas for a holiday and 4 days after stopping to use it I started to notice sciattica symptoms in my right leg. After I got back and within a month my sciattica had developed into heavy legs syndrome in both legs. I had CT guided left and right facet joint injections of cortisone and the heavy leg syndrome lifted. I was left with excruciating pain in my lumbar spine, pelvis, both hips, buttocks and both legs. Plus extreme weakness in both legs. Suspected of Multiple Sclerosis which was ruled out by an MRI. Doctors changed my pain meds to Oxynorm from Endone. A total of 9 CT guided facet joint injections of the S1, L5, L4 plus physio exercises 2-3 times a day plus 2-3 times a day hanging in an inversion table have not improved the pain and symptoms. I have been diagnosed with bulging discs at L5/S1, L4/L5 AND L3/L4 and spondylolisthesis of L5/S1 and L3/L4. Now considering surgery options of Microdiscectomy laminectomy for up to 3 discs L5/S1, L4/L5 AND L3/L4 and to a lesser extent because I am very concerned at the potential ramifications of a Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion for spondylolisthesis L3/L4 & L5/S1. I was as strong as an ox before I used the Abdoer Twist and had no lower back pain or injuries. And the machine is sold with promises that it cannot injure you! This is false misleading and untrue claims which I have completely debunked and shown why at a blog I have written at http://abdoertwistreview.org
Do NOT buy this equipment and use it in the method taught by John Abdo

[michaelson]

Hello harryh9,

Found your post very useful. Why did you try to sleep in a recliner and how, do you think, it improved your condition?

Thanks