Pertruding disc in back

[Wingingit2047]

After years of on and off back pain then getting much worse resulting in me struggling to walk I've been diagnosed with a pertruding/bulging disc. This has scared me. Currently even on a lot of painkillers I am struggling to move and on constant pain. Has anyone had the same diagnosis and what was the recovery time like and what was your experience? Thank you

I had and have this.
I had a corticosteroid injection which didn't work.
A microdisectomoy which partially worked but reherniated and I will likely need a fusion at some point.
If I'm honest, spinal surgery was rough but some people bounce back. Which level is your disc protrusion at?

I had a bulging disc and was in a lot of pain. Paid for a private physio one time £60, did all my exercises he suggested religiously , took it easy with gym just walking etc instead , and it went away and has not returned , this was maybe about 5 years ago ? So try not to panic.

From diagnosis (scan) to surgery was 12 months.
By that time I had permanent nerve damage.
I continued to have pain and slipped the same disc again a short while after recovery (not doing anything stupid btw).
I would not bother with surgery again. I continue to take the pain meds otherwise I wouldn't get up in the morning.
Not sure if that helps you.
Every one is different. Back pain is a nightmare.
I found amitriptyline good to help sleep, it's a muscle relaxant and stops the muscle cramps.

Thank you for your reply. Its lumbar spine but I don't know more specific than that. Are you in constant pain? Can you work?

I had a massive herniated disc at l5/s1 and developed cauda equina so surgery wasn't optional. 5hr op
Discharged 21hrs after it, back on a horse 10 weeks later
I have some remaining back pain and loss of feeling in my leg and foot but I got off lightly

I really hope this is what happens to me. I saw an NHS physio today who gave me exercises which I have just done. I have a physio appointment through work next week. The recovery time is terrifying me. The whole thing is scaring me actually.

I have a discectomy at the age of 27 following L5:S1 slipped disc. I am so glad I had surgery - I came round from the anaesthetic and the pain had immediately
gone. Recovery was quick. Good luck

Hi rollerblind thanks for your reply I am late 20s. Was this through the NHS? What was the journey and waiting time from diagnosis to surgery?

I hace/had it. The third one from the bottom, I think it is.
After many gp visits and physio and an mri, I finally got a diagnosis from a sports physiotherapist. He identified it and have me a schedule of exercises. I went to him about 6 times and he gave me an additional exercise each time. Mostly pelvic tilt and different hip twist things. So my daily exercise now takes about 35 minutes. Since my pain started which got slowly worse over 18months, I now don't have any and I try to be religious with the exercises.

@Wingingit2047 yes try not to worry too much I know it sounds scary and I heard a few horror stories , I was terrified like you and in so much pain , mine was referred pain at the front of my pelvis , they thought I had appendicitis, trips to a&e doubled over , scans , was on tramadol etc for pain , MRI's .. it is all totally fine now I can barely remember it. You must do your exercises religiously and follow advice. Honestly don't panic and try not to catastrophise ( like I did ) I'm sure you'll be okay 👍🏼

I work part-time and ensure I stretch daily and visit a chiropractor/osteopath monthly. I have flare ups and I am on no pain medication after being on it for 5 years previous to microdisectomoy.
I have two herniated in my lumber (one operated on) I know my triggers such as: too much walking, too much sitting, heels, humidity, lifting, standing too long etc. I have had private and NHS physio over the years. I'm 32, so I know for me this will be a lifelong condition. I have found myofascial release helps my pain as often the muscles are inflamed which makes the nerve pain worse. Icing the area helps and I joined a spinal forum to connect with others in a similar position who gave a lot of support. Pilates helps for your core but I don't do that I do a lot of stretching. There's a fabulous video on YouTube for sciatic pain by HASfit (as lumber usually corresponds to sciatica). I would suggest a pain medication review as well.

However, I know of many that found the corticosteroid injects to help massively. So it really is a lot of trial and error unfortunately. I had a flare up this summer and I was in the worst way since my operation and I realised it was due to the heels I wore for a wedding putting pressure on my lower spine. I relish the winter months when symptoms are less.

I think it depends where it is, wether it impinges on nerves etc. I have one bulging in the lumber region l4/5. I don't have any pain but do get tingling in my left foot now and again because of it. Not on pain killers and doesn't interfere with anything, for the last 5 years or so since diagnosis.

My husband had 2 herniated discs for 4 years. He was in agony and unable to stand or walk for more than a few minutes without pain. 5 nerve root injections gave extremely limited relief.

he was being steered in the direction of spinal fusion but was extremely reluctant because of the downtime and risks.

He ended up having (private) microdiscectomy surgery carried out by a brilliant neurosurgeon.

To say it was life changing is an understatement. He is a fitness fan and was really concerned surgery would leave him unable to be fully active, which is why he was against spinal fusion. The surgery he had had the best possible outcome. He had exactly one day off work for the op and did a 100 mile bike ride 7 days later. The pain went immediately and he’s never looked back.

Don't be scared. How old are you? It's fairly normal to have back problems. I had this in my neck (as well as worn disc in lower back). Apparently if they MRI you they find abnormalities after a certain age it gets worse as you get older but not everyone will experience pain.

there is a concern it can result in nerve damage so definitely don't ignore it. Just do the exercises recommended by your physiotherapy and take up regular gentle exercise. I do pilates and swim regularly. I also got sports massage and saw an osteopath/ chiropractor.

They offered me a injection but research indicated no worse outcome with exercise alone. It was really painful short term and even now I get neck ache but not as much tingling and numbness. I have to keep up the exercise.

I'm currently going through a bout of severe sciatica caused by a bulging disc (assumed, not confirmed, seeing that I haven't even been able to do much as see a doctor in person since 2020).

It first happened 8 years ago with a huge flare up 4 years ago, then 2 years ago one so bad I thought I could die with the pain. Each time leaving me with long term after effects on my leg/foot. It can take weeks to go away with the right exercises. They do work in a lot of cases but you need to be religiously doing them as a pp says.

I also recommend a decent TENS machine. (A clip on wireless unit is best as there's not much worse than a crazy strong shock if you accidentally knock a wire off. It didn't half put my recovery back a bit cos I jerked my back!). I wear two machines most of the day. One on my sore back and one on my calf where the sciatica pain is really giving me jip. It allows me to keep moving around, let's me do my exercises and reduces the drugs I need.

Google Med-Fit professional strength TENS machine. I got mine for about £25 or so.

Yes. 10 years ago. Herniated discs at L4 &5/S1. It was literally a pain in the bum!

My opinion - waiting for the nhs will make you miserable and worse. If you can afford it, go private. I went private for the scan which fast tracked me a bit. I had nerve root injections which didn't really do much and then the mixrodiscetomy op nearly a year after original injury.

The thing that helped me more than anything was a chiropractor who practiced subluxation. You won't get this thru the NHS but honestly they're Miracle workers. In 10 weeks he had me walking around again. Still in pain but nowhere near as bad.

I bounced back from the op and haven't had an issue since. I still see a chiropractor and osteopath a few times a year for "maintenance adjustments" at £35 a session. It's worth every penny.

In my experience the NhS are only interested in medicating people which I personally think is a piss poor version of care. Yes medication and painkillers has its place but not long term. There needs to be another solution. Often there is - just not on the nhs.

Good luck to you op. I hope you're ok xx

Mine was first diagnosed in my teens and I'm now nearly 50. I try to minimise things I know which exacerbate it and baby it quite a lot. My only option to (try and) fix it is surgery but that is not an option due to having noone to help look after me afterwards. V potted version of v long story!

Going through this at the minute, have 3 bulging discs confirmed by mri. Terrible nerve pain and numbness on one side. On a ridiculous amount of pain killers while waiting on orthopaedics appointment- was told could be awhile! Have sent my mri to my private physio so waiting to see , want to avoid surgery at all costs as a family member had it and was left in worse situation after!

Don't panic!

I had this in my 30s. I went to an osteopath who signed me off work straightaway (for a month in total). I then had bi-weekly appointments with him for a few weeks which comprised manipulation and ultrasound.

Haven't had a problem since (touch wood) and I'm now 59.

Seriously, beg steal or borrow the money and try an osteopath.

(I only went to the doctor at all in the first place as I needed a referral so that I could claim on private health policy and my doctor was happy to do it.)