Sciatic nerve / Bulging Disk- recovery Questions

My wife eho is slso 35 is goimg threw a bulging disc too. My fault i did it during rough sex. Shes in pain. It happended about a month ago. She just started seeing a chiropracter and a pain managment Dr. They are going to do a pain block on the first of october. Its an epidoral they put in her disk where the nerve is to numb it for up to 3 months of pain relief. We are trying to avoid surgery if possible. Shes still working though she is an LPN nurse. I here that jefferson hospital in philadelphia spine center is the best around. Thats last resort. How is your progress now?

I am 41 and I was diagnosed with bulging discs in my lower back as well as in my neck. I went through physical therapy twice along with having back injections and traction for my neck. I've seen two chiropracters and because none of this helped I continue to be in pain alot as well as having muscle spasms. Sometimes the pain gets so bad from my hip, down my leg, especially in my knees that I can hardly walk at times. It's depressing at times. This has been going on since 2007. Can anyone give some advice.

Have you access to a neurosurgeon? If so, armed with your MRI results, see one and seriously consider surgery.

Its 4:09 am where I am, and I am reading everyone's stories about their neck and back disc bulges.  I was in a car accident in Dec. 2010 and sustained bluges to C4, L4-5.  Months of PT helped using ultrasound, traction and TENS plus a drug (antidepressant) amitriptyline was my life saver (This is what I was put on by my neurosurgeon).  A little abt. this drug- yes it is an antidepressant, but low doses have been proven to help with neruopathic pains etc. and under low doses (10 mg o.d.) I experienced very little side effects.  Its a very old drug, but worked wonders for me.  Tramadol left me feeling very nauseaous and spaced out (affected my sense of peripheral awareness) and Lyrca did absolutely nothing for me.

I recently became pregnant, and I'm just about past my first trimester and it feels like my accident all over again.  The sad thing is, I haven't gained any weight yet, and I am experiencing killer migraines (hence the reason I am awake at this time), neck and shoulder pain, low back pain, and sciatic in my left buttock/hip region that extends all the way down my left leg up to my left arm.  The sciatica is wrose now than it was in 2010, because my OBGYN says the baby is resting more to the back.  I am so stressed out with the pain, that my hair has started to drop, because my doctor says the pain will only worsen as the pregnancy continues.  I read in someone's post that their hair was dropping as well-its a side effect of the stress from of the pain and the worrying that we do and sometimes if you're on pain meds too that might contribute to it.  However at present my hair falling might be from my pregnancy too I guess, but that is so unimportant right now to me.

Left with not much pharmaceutical intervention (pracetemol/acetaminophin), I have restarted using my TENS, icing, and traction (at home) under recommendation from my therapist.  I am seriously considering seeing a chiropractor, because sometimes all I can do is cry and hope that my pain isn't affecting my unborn baby's development.  Its so hard to keep happy and positive when you're vomiting and managing pain issues and constantly worrying about how/if its going to get worse, worrying about job security, and the regular day-to-day stuff that we all deal with.  I also feel so sad that I am putting my husband under so much stress too, because he sees me crying and can't really help.  What is supposed to be a happy time in our lives (first pregnancy) is such a stressful situation.

My silver lining, is that there are always people in far worse situtations that ourselves.  I firmly believe that sometimes God tests our faith and this pain is a way for us to be closer to him, because in times of pain whose name do we call out the most?  Some people never remember God except in times of calamity or disaster, but for those who have faith, his name is always on the tip of their tongues and God answers our prayers.  So in conclusion, I pray that we can all find solace in our faiths and that we have enough family support and love in our lives to help us get through perhaps the most difficult time we have ever experienced.  We sometimes have to accept the fact that normal may never be what it used to be.......but a new normal might exist.  Life is always constantly changing, and it never stays the same for too long.  God willing, so too will be our pains.  May God fill our lives with patience and make us strong enough to accept these new normals we have to deal with daily.  May God also bless our spouses and loved ones with patience and understanding so that they can continue to help us through our pains.

 

 

 

im awaititing surgery scared stiff but in so much pain oalso have l4/l5 disc bulge been off work 6 mths going in hosp jan tried all other treatments racz catherter electrod radio wave and caudal inj awaiting microdiscotomy allergic t ampytrityline even though it is good treatment on gababentin dont seem to help now ;(

Not only did I use my chiropractor on a regular basis (2-3x/week) during my pregnancy, she also was in the delivery room. Mine was able to relieve pressure to my spine as well as use a technique on my feet to speed along the process. Also note, she uses the Activator Method which is very gentle. Also consiter craniosacral therapy in additionto chiropractic. Best wishes for finding relief!

Not only did I use my chiropractor on a regular basis (2-3x/week) during my pregnancy, she also was in the delivery room. Mine was able to relieve pressure to my spine as well as use a technique on my feet to speed along the process. Also note, she uses the Activator Method which is very gentle. Also consider craniosacral therapy in addition to chiropractic. Best wishes for finding relief!

My advice is to get off of the gabapentin immediately as it is incredibly dangerous - I developed neck tics within a short duration of beginning it and was advised never to use it. Personally, I am planning surgery for my L5/S1 bulging disc because I prefer not to incur the difficulties that consistently arise and prevent me from living life with quality. Of course surgery is incredibly frightening, so be sure to research the best doctors at the most reputable hospital in your area as you have every right to choose who performs it. Good luck!

Thanks for reply .is gabapentin dangerous why would they put me on it ? What are neck tics i have a disc bulge can you drive with this no one has said otherwise .i havent driven as i have hadno advice from no one and no one will tell me nothing pls advise thx in advance

To OP about your ankle pain. It could be the plantar sciatic nerve itself. If so, a topical anti-inflammatory (prescribed) may work. Or, if you were off your feet a while, it could be some weakness due to atrophy or disuse. You might benefit from searching how to strengthen your foot/ankle, such as this: 

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This is more for people who are suffering sciatica.

All I can suggest is consider the cause of the herniation to a) give a conducive environment for recovery and b) avoid it happening again. I have a massive 16mm extrusion (rupture) of my L4/L5 nerve with foot drop/decreased range of motion, leg weakness and numbness.

What's shown me the greatest progress (and the quickest) has been trigger points in my glutes/low back and massaging the area and leg, particularly down the leg affected.

The sciatic nerve and it's branches can run quite superficially and rubbing the area, with anti-inflammatory cream or just rubbing it helps. The trigger points are crucial because your spine and musculature within that area all attach to your hips, legs etc. For instance, your psoas attaches to a part of your thigh bone (the lesser trochanter) and passes through the pelvis area and attaches directly to your lumbar spine and the lumbar discs. That's reason enough for me to ensure my muscles are stretched out, and have good circulation.

Incidentally, I have many knots or trigger points in my right glute in comparison to my left (left-sided herniation), creating a pull on my spine/pelvis and a prime opportunity for my lumbar disc to be forced/allowed to herniate to the left side and each time I suffered an L4/L5 herniation (or now a worsening of it), 2.5 yrs apart, had a leg shorter than the other which was corrected by a pt or masseuse, indicating muscular imbalances. I went for a month with worsening neurological symptoms to affected leg to within a day seeing a major improvement from intense trigger point focus and self-massage. Four days later foot drop is hardly pronounced and numbness, weakness regressing. 

In theory, I would wager that if you can encourage your spine (and pelvis, hips etc) to come back into a proper neutral position, and keep reminding it how and/or manipulating it to do so through massage etc, posture, etc etc, if you do not have a sequestered fragment from an extrusion (rupture) and rather have just a rupture or a bulge, you're body SHOULD be able to resorb some, shrink some etc. Many disc hernations go unnoticed. It's nerve involvement and/or acute disc pain that cause us to notice. My herniation is considered large or massive and my neuro symptoms have retracted enormously through massage specifically to legs, glutes and low back as well as trigger point focus. The quicker you resolve it, the less damage that's done.

Good luck! Hope this helps someone!

I was in car accident two yrs ago now left with disc bulge awaiting surgery does anyone drive with this ? No one seems to advise you onanything

Yes I drove after, however I invested in some orthopedic cushions and support and used them for months until after I had finished PT.

Thx for reply but did u drive while you had sciatica and a disc bulge im havin min done jn jan thc for help

There are many unsafe drugs on the market. Doctors are sold drugs door-to-door, and are wholly uneducated about them. Nurses are far more wise. As it happens, my sister is a naturopathic doctor and makes meds from plants. She is the one that has been treating a patient that was on Gabapentin and suffered from severe side effects for two years after the fact. She said she would never take it herself. That was when I was already experiencing the neck tics. After ceasing the med, the tics stopped. As far as driving with a bulging disc, I'd say listen to your body. If any motion hurts either immediately or the following day, avoid that motion. For me, this involves twisting, rolling my pelvis under, or lifting anything whatsoever. When my sciatic nerve acts up, I drive with an ice pack behind me, and ice EVERY 2 hours without fail. In addition, I rest for 20 min. increments at least every 4 hours. That alleviates the pain as fast as possible, depending on the severity. Most importantly with disc issues, try anything until you find what works for you. After 9 months of life-altering agony, I found some semblance of balance by practicing the aforementioned things and occasionally using Tylenol. I avoid any hard meds. Of course, follow the advice of your neurologist. However, if your body reacts negatively to anything, follow your gut as well. Doctors are far from perfect. (So am I :D) I wish you the best!!!

There are many unsafe drugs on the market. Doctors are sold drugs door-to-door, and are wholly uneducated about them. Nurses are far more wise. As it happens, my sister is a naturopathic doctor and makes meds from plants. She is the one that has been treating a patient that was on Gabapentin and suffered from severe side effects for two years after the fact. She said she would never take it herself. That was when I was already experiencing the neck tics. After ceasing the med, the tics stopped.



As far as driving with a bulging disc, I'd say listen to your body. If any motion hurts either immediately or the following day, avoid that motion. For me, this involves twisting, rolling my pelvis under, or lifting anything whatsoever. When my sciatic nerve acts up, I drive with an ice pack behind me, and ice EVERY 2 hours without fail. In addition, I rest for 20 min. increments at least every 4 hours. That alleviates the pain as fast as possible, depending on the severity.



Most importantly with disc issues, try anything until you find what works for you. After 9 months of life-altering agony, I found some semblance of balance by practicing the aforementioned things and occasionally using Tylenol. I avoid any hard meds.



Of course, follow the advice of your neurologist. However, if your body reacts negatively to anything, follow your gut as well. Doctors are far from perfect. (So am I :D) I wish you the best!!!