Bulging discs/sciatica/general back pain

[Dollydaydream12]

Hi everyone just after some advice on back issues. Recently had an MRI which showed I have some bulging discs in my back. I've had back pain for years on and off but a couple of weeks ago I ended up unable to move which prompted the MRI. Since then I'm now able to move around but have today woken up with sciatica which is all down one leg. I've took more time off work as my job involves a lot of walking but obviously I can't keep taking time off.

Does anyone have any experience of these kind of back problems? GP has referred me for physio but they've just sent me some exercise videos which that doesn't really solve the problem.. can it even be solved? I'm only 28 and it's getting me down, I feel like I have the back of a 70 year old! Are there any alternative treatments people have done or anything that can help? I'm desperate now! Thanks

I was like this for years on and off until 7 months ago when it got so bad I couldn't stand or walk properly. I had a microdiscectomy last week and they removed part of the disc and some bone. Best decision ever and I am finally not in pain.

I've seen people have great results from the Alexander Technique.

I was in a terrible state with mine. I couldn't stand up straight and in agony. I also had a discectomy and it was amazing. I was out of pain as soon as I came round from the anaesthetic where it had been constant for 6 months.

I should add that I had tried an osteopath and a chiropractor which didn't sort it. This was 20 years ago and have had minimal bother since

I had a spinal fusion. I went from having to spend time in a wheelchair to being able to walk all day.

But it's a bit of a drastic solution.
My bil saw a private consultant and had scan/mri done and got a proper diagnosis, prognosis, advice and treatment. He was told he could have a microdisectomy but advised specific exercises. The exercises worked well and he's had very little more trouble.
To be honest my experience with NHS physios was not great and they offered very little help and the exercises they gave were wrong for me.

Thanks for all the replies they're very helpful! Because it's only just getting to the point where I'm struggling pretty much daily I've not looked into many other options - wouldn't know where to start.

I will look into those options and see whether they may help. In the short term does anyone have anything I can do to ease it at home? I'm on my 3rd hot bath of the day which isn't great given the cost of living

I'm just so fed up of it. The pain makes me moody which isn't great for dd or partner!

I had a bulging disc and it was treated by a steroid injection into the spine. The consultant said that he would prefer I tried the less invasive procedure first, and consider surgery only if the injection didn't work for me. He couldn't promise how well the injection would work, nor how long the effect would last. But as it was far less invasive than surgery, I decided to try it. Amazing. Consultant expected to see me back a year or two after the injection, but it's been 6 years now and the problem has not returned. I do still get back trouble, but physio, exercise, stretching and diazepam have prevented any flare ups from getting to the point of needing invasive treatment.

Alexander technique and Pilates are both wonderful for improving your back 'usage' when you are not in active pain, but right now you probably need physio, gabapentin, and referral to a spine specialist orthopaed.

yoga cured mine. One on one, not you tube / general class.

DH has a disk bulge. He has always found cycling and swimming to be the only thing that helps - he will often rest for a day of the pain is exceptionally bad, but then need gentle exercise to loosen it.

Short term - codeine, naproxen, amitryptiline, movement when you can, look up stretches for sciatica on you tube

Medium term - osteopath, walking (in a pool if on land too painful), yoga

Long term - gym work to strengthen core and glutes to protect your back. Great care with posture. Standing desk if you're office based?

Cycling helps my bulging disc, but that's only when I've not done anything to tweak it, so once you're doing better that might be worth a try. When I wasn't cycling and was on mat leave I had way more problems with it. GP prescribed naproxen for mine.

Mine is quite low down in my back and I also feel like an old lady because if I wear shoes with a heel or that aren't flat for more than a few days in a row I have back pain now! I can't wear my favourite chunky boots every day any more, not if I'm doing any amount of walking

As a fellow sufferer all I can recommend is walking. Walk like there is no tomorrow - even when you feel wibbly wobbly because you have shooting pains down to your feet - keep walking. It is the only thing that ever works for me.

I had this problem at 30, in L4 and L5, the consultant said I had a few discs belonging to an 80yr old (nice!)

I was advised to operate (my bulges were actually protruding a lot) but opted for second opinion, I was told to keep slim, keep moving gently (walking, swimming) and do not start resting

Basically keep as normal

I had a cortisone injection and just tried to continue my life

Had a few flare ups but now. At 50, I realise that over time it indeed did sort itself out within a few years

Not telling you to do what I did as al back problems are different. But just to say it CAN sort itself out. There is hope. It does not mean you will have a bad back for life

It's horrendous pain isn't it? I've had several episodes over 10 years where my back's 'gone' and I can't get out of bed. I've been refused an MRI or any treatment other than physio on the NHS. The only thing that helped me a little was a treatment called theraflex and shock therapy at a private physio.
Out of interest those who've had MRIs, discectomies or other surgery, did you have to go private to get this?

Yes I went private

I was 34, had sciatica on/off for about 2 yrs, bent down one day and my back just 'pinged', all I could do was lay flat on my back (my skirting boards ended up very clean, with me shuffling about), with a hot water bottle.
Walking was awful, I just couldn't, siting was OK for short periods of time. Lots of painkillers etc, massage/chiro didnt help. Ended up with an MRI and my herniated disc was pushing on my spiral column. Consultant wasn't happy I had seen a chiropractic as they could have done more damage and should have refused to touch me!
Surgery was my only option once it was done it was sooo much better, I had aquatherapy which I found better then physio. Now I get the odd twinge but it's usually because I've been still for too long or done far too much!

I would suggest trying the physio (or ask about aquaherapy) but also ask your Dr about a referral to a consultant who specialises in spinal issues, it's worth a chat with them about things.

Also just remember codeine based painkillers can bung you up so then going to the toilet can be even more painful, make sure you take the laxatives they give or you take a natural remedy to keep you regular (TMI I know)

I was seen, operated on and had all my check ups and aqua therapy in a private hospital but it was all via NHS.
I consider myself very lucky but this was back in 2019 and I had been on at my Dr's for quite a while about my back pain.

No, mine was NHS but they said the disc was too far out for any other treatment to work.

I started with lower back pain and pain / numbness down my leg in April. Was referred for MRI which took place September (I assume yours was private if you got it in 2 weeks?)
Results show two bulging discs. I have appointment this week to see GP but judging by this thread he won't have much to offer.
I have a close friend who had surgery for same thing a year ago and she seems no better.

I had surgery but I had cauda equina

Thermacare lower hip and back wraps are the one thing that kept me sane waiting for surgery

And mine was NHS - sort of
I saw a private physio who referred me for an NHS MRI, and then I was on the NHS list for surgery. Developed CES 72hrs before my planned op

I had 2 prolapsed discs nearly 5 years ago and now prone to bulging and causing pain.
walking is the one thing that keeps it at bay when I feel the tell tale signs. Sciatica bothers me from time to time.
I’ve been prescribed a lot of medications over the years mentioned already. Mri on the NHS but physio/chiropractor/osteo paid for privately due to not being able to wait months for the treatment. I was flat for about 4 months as it was. Horrible and even now as soon as I feel the niggle I get up and out and walk and walk until I feel my legs might fall off for about a week. Every day. And inbetween the flare ups I walk daily 4-5 miles. A bit in my lunch break and then a bit more after work.
it’s a fucking nightmare, takes so much time (although thankfully I do enjoy walking and have discovered travel podcasts!) and it’s just constant.
I’ve been told that surgery is an option for the future when the daily pain exceeds a certain level for prolonged periods. At the moment it’s okay enough that I’m not considering the surgery because I’m alright from one week to the next but when the balance tips I’ll be going back to talk more about it. Really heartening to hear positive stories from people who have had discectomies 💐

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I have a very big prolapse L4/L5, lots of pain, GP prescribed painkillers and physio. Painkillers helped a bit but I was on a lot of them! Physio didn't really do anything.

Eventually used private healthcare and got MRI which identified the prolapse. Had a caudal epidural injection and have been pretty much pain free for 6 months. Might still need surgery eventually but so far so good.

The pain is hideous, you have my sympathy!

I was able to go private, and had completed my treatment (MRI, injection and physio) by the time I received the NHS physio appointment letter 6m after the referral. I can just about imagine how hideous it must be to have to wait for months in that sort of pain . I was signed off from work for several weeks, and on such quantities of drugs that I could barely function intelligently. The spine injection was amazing, and I was back at work within days - albeit on physically 'lighter' duties for another month or so.