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

[Sarah_Jane616]

Im 21 about to be 22 and i have a 3mm bulge in my L5-S1 that is pushing right into the nerve. some days i cant even walk. I was in PT once a week for 2 months and it never helped. My doctor is referring me to a surgeon. I visited with my family chiropractor who said that I would be a candidate for surgery because it is directly on the nerve. My doctor also said that epidurals were and option for the pain but i havnt tried one yet because of all of the comments about them not working. Has anyone tried acupuncture? I was given neurontin which helped the pain but made me severely depressed, then I was put on two different muscle relaxers that do not work at all. None of my doctors want to put me on narcotic pain killers because I am so young so I am really considering the surgery .

[Neno48]

Do not listen to that Doctor. Have that surgery. Eipdurals don't work.

[Eva8]

Ok well don't have that much hope for PT.  Honestly it's just ice and heat and a few simple exercises.  Try finding a massage therapist who does deep tissue massage.

I would recommend you do not get back surgery.  You're problem is liveable and you don't want to take the risk of surgery unless you are facing paralysis.  Honestly the nerve irritation from herniated discs does resolve on it's own (fluid stops leaking out on to the nerve).  Live with this problem for a few years and see if it gets better on it's own by giving it time.  You are 25 and have a good change, other people who are older have recovered too.  

[NatKat3333]

I was recently diagnosed witha bulging dis at C4 in my neck and failed several neurological tests. Along with excrutiating back pain radiating into my shoulder, right bicep and tingling, selling and numbness in right arm and hand, I have severe headaches now. is this familiar to anyone? I have beem told to wear a neck brace, quit my coaching job, not drive, and wait until anti inflamitoresand a course of steroids help reduce swelling before taking the next step. I have rad a great deal and gathered information about traction, ,limmiting activity, and basically not doing much of anything while I wait for improvement. I see a neurologist who may prescribe injections but I am not too hopeful given the degree of pain and that i have heard most results are temporary. I was a very active coach of young gymnasts and a single mother of two teens and I am very independent. Now I am "couched!"..and not happy at all. I do not "want" surgery, however if anyone can tell me that it is an option which will eventually get me my life back, i will take the recovery pain and the hardship rather than 12 or so other routes which will take equally as long and keep me deom my kids for just as long and possibly not end up with a positive result anyway. Any ideas and as always good luck and positive thoughts to all thse out there suffering in the same way I am or worse. thanks ahead of time for any suggestions.

[NatKat3333]

I was recently diagnosed witha bulging dis at C4 in my neck and failed several neurological tests. Along with excrutiating back pain radiating into my shoulder, right bicep and tingling, selling and numbness in right arm and hand, I have severe headaches now. is this familiar to anyone? I have beem told to wear a neck brace, quit my coaching job, not drive, and wait until anti inflamitoresand a course of steroids help reduce swelling before taking the next step. I have rad a great deal and gathered information about traction, ,limmiting activity, and basically not doing much of anything while I wait for improvement. I see a neurologist who may prescribe injections but I am not too hopeful given the degree of pain and that i have heard most results are temporary. I was a very active coach of young gymnasts and a single mother of two teens and I am very independent. Now I am "couched!"..and not happy at all. I do not "want" surgery, however if anyone can tell me that it is an option which will eventually get me my life back, i will take the recovery pain and the hardship rather than 12 or so other routes which will take equally as long and keep me deom my kids for just as long and possibly not end up with a positive result anyway. Any ideas and as always good luck and positive thoughts to all thse out there suffering in the same way I am or worse. thanks ahead of time for any suggestions.

[Jasonic]

I have just spent the last 8 MONTHS! being told by GP's that I had syatic - after insisting on an MRI scan I have been told I have a buldging disc.  I now have to wait another 4 weeks to see the specialist.

I am on Tramadol, Naproxin, Codine and like you - it does very little.

I feel for you - and others here, bottom line - If you dont insist on action - no-one is going to do it for you!  I wish I had taken charge of my care MUCH sooner - dont end up like me spending 7 - 8 months being feed crap.

[Doovie1]

I've been in pain for the past 2 months although I've had this pain for years in my right buttock and side of my calf, it got really bad while doing squats at the gym. Since 2009 I've been to pyshio's, chiro's, osteopath's, massage therapist's and now trying a homeopath and acupuncturist . My MRI results show a buldge in my L4/5 disc. I think surgery is my only option now as I've exhausted all avenues