Bulging disc

[Tink8607]

I have suspected bulging disc and piriformis syndrome. From previous posts I'm seeing alot of people say to walk walk walk, I cant walk with out my crutches. I'm so anxious that I will never get better I've been off work now for 8 weeks but in pain for 11. I don't know how I've done it. Please tell me it gets better, I really don't want injections or surgery I suffer with anxiety and this is just absolutely freaking me out. How long did it take you to recover? And is it possible to do without medical intervention?

Reading this gives me validation, I have been feeling so angry and frustrated with the physio lady, she's absolutely usless. Even in the waiting room another patient said to me I hope you get on better than me they are usless here.i will definitely look into private physio thankyou. Was you on any pain medication? How are you doing now? Seeing improvements? Did you have an mri on the nhs or have to go private for that too?

Also to add I have a plug in heat pad which helps a lot and a tens machine too

I'm sorry you are going through this too. It's awful. I hope you find a way to get the help you need. Nhs isn't what it used to be, it's actually scary how bad it is now.

@Tink8607 I wasn't prescribed any medication. I do take Nuromol over the counter. I suffer from IBS and haven't had any issues with this. A scan wasnt mentioned at my first consultation, they seemed to think symptoms and diagnostic tests were enough to confirm what it was. Private physio agreed from her checks so probably not needed.

Thankyou. Osteopath is convinced it a bulging disc and piriformis for my peace of mind I'm going private for the mri.

Just dropping in to say I hope you feel better soon, that pain sounds unbearable.

My mum got lidocaine patches on nhs scotland. Don't know if that may be an option for you or if the heat patches you use contain the same active ingredient.

She also got oramorph. As in morphine she didn't notice much difference but I think it's because she didn't let it build up enough just wrote it off and stopped after a couple of isolated attempts.

I'd recommend acupuncture for anything if you can afford it. From an acupuncturist not a sports physio or something ie someone who does acupuncture for eight hours a day rather than occasionally.

I thought with my back pain that the problem is that everything gets inflamed when something in your back is out of place.

And then the inflamed bit and the inflamed place it's meant to go into don't marry up again.

So the inflammation needs to be reduced and it needs to be encouraged back in. And then you need to do exercises to keep it in by strengthening everything in the core up.

The bit I don't get is how they do they get it back in? A chiro will basically shove it back in if it's something small but once it gets too bulgy presumably they can't? Is that why we get encouraged to take exercise? In the hope it will slide back in?

People slag off chiros but in my experience they've helped me. Quickly. Before things got too swollen and wouldn't fit back where they should.

When I went the nhs route with physios and exercises the next time my back hurt it took for ever.

I know that's not helping you and your problem is different to mine just saying in passing that if it happened to me tomorrow god forbid, I'd be down the private chiropractor route not physio and it'd be the first available day.

I do hope you get relief soon. It sounds awful.

The fact that the pain fluctuates and has improved is a reassuring sign. Have you discussed neuropathic medication with the Dr ? This is medication desired specially to treat nerve pain . It is different to NSAID's and Opioids ( cocodamol etc ) . Opioids have strong side effects of constipation and arnt advised to be given to treat back pain anymore.

It sounds as though the pain is quite high irritability ( doesn't take much to increase to high levels ) this makes it difficult. Once you have the results of the MRI you may need to consider a pain management referral for spinal injections ( I know you don't want this but it may be your only option if pain meds cant be changed ) or surgical opinion if it warranted , the radiologist will recommend this if they think it is warranted.

You need to cont with what you think helps and there is no harm In trialing passive approaches e.g acupuncture ( unfortunately alot of it isn't the NICE guidelines to treat back pain anymore that's why the NHS doesn't do it) BUT that doesn't mean people don't find it beneficial privately.

I hope things start to improve for you.

Thankyou.thats reassuring, I think I need to figure out a pain management plan and get my self a private physio.

Yes I'm going to have to figure something out pain wise. Paracetamol and a wheat bag are taking the edge off but not really enough.

I know it's not what you want but I did have the surgery. The pain first started in January and I had surgery in April. It was completely deabiilitating.Once I had an MRI the physio I went to wouldn't take me she said she didn't feel comfortable and could do more harm. After the surgery I was flat on my back for two weeks and a slow recovery for a few weeks after. However that was nearly 9 years ago and apart from twinges I have never had an issue again and gave birth twice after.

I just want to try and reassure you that nothing in your back moves . Things become inflamed yes but nothing moves and the chiropractor cannot physically move anything in your back . You cannot manipulate a bulging disc .

It really is worth getting someone to do bespoke exercises with you. I cannot extend at all because if I do I trigger more discs being blown because the way my spine is essentially deformed at that level. Extensions work really well for others.

I was taking tramadol and naproxen for a few months but weaned myself off them. I found they don't hugely help anyway, it's just bloody painful! I avoid pregabalin and amitriptyline because they give me horrible brain fog and make me sweat..there is also some research linking them to dementia so I don't think they're worth it.

Forcing yourself upright will really help. I know it's the most painful thing ever but it will help the more you can avoid being hunched to one side.

Oh I'v le had all my MRIs on the NHS, as I say I have had many episodes of this over my lifetime. They thing is that unless you're experiencing cauda equina symptoms then it's just about r&r. You definitely want to avoid any surgery because while it can work, the surgeons I have spoken to admit that it's very much a game of chance, it can make it a lot worst and my physio says that she sees a lot of people 5 years down the line with new problems caused by scar tissue.

I was diagnosed with two bulging discs a couple of years ago. Also a trapped nerve which causes numbness / pain down the leg.
Actually I think I also probably had this about 20 years ago and have always had a dodgy back since falling off a horse.

Do not dismiss a physio because they are NHS. Physios are people and will vary. They can't work miracles and without an MRI will be a bit cautious. I've seen good and bad both private and NHS.

It took me six months of repeating the exercises to see an improvement. Probably 9 months to feel ok. However it flares up now and then so I doubt it will ever be "cured".
The main thing that helps is exercises designed to open up the back, so essentially curling up knees to chest and arching my back (dog like yoga).
What really doesn't help is anything that bends me backwards.

I can walk miles but have to stop from time to time to release my back. That works.

Also and I know people will disagree but I would avoid chiroprators like the plague and be very wary of osteopaths.
It's very easy to make things worse and that happened to me with a chiroprator.

I thankyou, I'm going to walk alot more today even though I'm on crutches it's got to be better than sitting. Think I'm going to also lay flat on my bed for short amounts of time. There's no way I would touch pregabalin nore gabapentin (can't spell) I've heard nothing bur horror stories with those meds.

I'm going private for mri because ny physio is actually usless, waiting weeks in between appointments, plus for ny peace of mind just to know for sure that's what it is will help my anxiety I'm hoping. That's why I want to avoid surgery probably as many success stories as failures..im not ready to take that risk right now.

Your right there are good and bad whatever, but my one doesn't feel me with confidence atall. I'm seeing her tomorrow so I'll see if I feel any different. Sorry your still experiencing issues.

I have had physio for 20 plus years on and off - last 2 NHS ones were brilliant but both retired . Over those years I have also seen 2 private physios who were unhelpful - made it worse. Currently have a private physio as it is cheaper than getting a taxi to the hospital - but that is the only reason.

If you chose a private physio try to find one who has experience in leg hyper mobility ( ELD or CP for example) as they may recommend things that will improve your leg and that will in turn improve your back.

I have had all my MRI and CT scans on the NHS via surgeon referral - even though further surgery has been ruled out - u may find you need an MRI of your hip as well as your back and if money is an issue it may be cheaper to have it done at the same time as a private back MRI or going via the NHS.

Apologies if u have tried and failed to get a consultant referral already on the NHS. It is very variable - the GP has me on morphine patches and extra painkillers whilst his understudy ( one of the non qualified assistants ) thought a mindfulness course is the only treatment needed ! I did try that during the pandemic through online courses - now that is something that I do think is a complete waste of resources!

his understudy ( one of the non qualified assistants ) thought a mindfulness course is the only treatment needed !
Appalling. I remember weeping in pain to a specialist nurse who did a head tilt and wondered whether I need counselling.

I would really recommend that you buy a small TENS machine OP - they are not expensive on Amazon. I found it gave the best pain relief when moving about - it let me get on my feet, potter around at home, go for a short walk, etc. It was definitely more effective than most of the painkillers. Unf it only works while it’s on but it’s a great relief when you are in lots of pain.

also ice - I used a scarf to tie a bag of frozen peas over the painful area, that helped.

I have had this. Osteopathy really worked for me. I have tried chiro, massage, yoga (don't do it!), painkillers like bloody horse tranquillisers... only osteo has actually eased the pain and helped me get movement without pains.

I nearly forgot

Swiss ball - this helped me lots although it was quite undignified sprawling across it to just rock back and forth or later on I used it as an alternative to a chair for ages. The gentle movement helped me.

I agree with you about chiropractors. I went to see one for several years when I knew one of my discs had moved a bit and he was usually able to make a noticeable improvement but when the disc slipped altogether, he made it even worse. I had my six week follow up after my surgery recently and asked my neurosurgeon what I should do before I could get to see him if my back problem recurred. He said to try physiotherapist, lots of rest, use a TENS machine, and see the acupuncturist. He advised me under no circumstances should I see a chiropractor again, although I realise that advice relates to my particular circumstances and everyone's problem is slightly different. I had nerve root block injections in February of last year Which had only a very minimal effect, but the surgery has made a very big difference and I now wake up naturally in the morning rather than because I'm in pain. I think that 80% of the pain has gone now, and because my nerve was compressed for so long, it's taken a long time since the surgery to get to this point, and it's still improving gradually. I spent two years with the worst pain I've ever experienced and I'm not sure how I would have coped without acupuncture and my TENS machine. I took the maximum dose of codeine for the whole period, and am still taking a relatively low dose now. I found naproxen also helped, although that affected my blood pressure so I had to stop. Doctors kept trying to get me to take gabapentin, but I have always refused, partly because I saw the effect it had on my Mum, partly because most GPs don't seem to understand how slowly you have to build up the dosage and then reduce it again when you stop taking it, but mostly because of the link between gabapentin and dementia.

I used a chiropractor after every baby. Then was fine ish for 20 years.

When the back pain started again I went back. Eventually he said I can't do any more for you. Your hip is thrown out and one leg is shorter than the other. This was pre MRI when they discovered scoliosis.

How the heck I carried three babies, did so much physical work for decades I can't fathom. It's when I stopped at early retirement my problems rose to the surface