Bulging disc

[Tink8607]

Me again, I was just wondering if someone has any advice and if its normal, I was pretty much resting constantly trying for a little over 2 months with sciatica that turns out I have three bulging discs and a cyst, I saw the specialist and as I'm starting to improve, (no more sciatica) he's referring me back to physio I didn't have any back pain to start with but I feel the rest has caused this god awful deep dull ache, I had no choice but the rest as I couldn't weight bare through one leg. Can I still get better from this? Physio has given me some new exercises to do I did them for two days and the muscle in my butt went into spasm I could barley walk. I'm trying to increase my daily walking as well as the exercises but I just hurt in the lower back, my butt muscles and back of the tops of my legs, and the fatigue just hits me so bad. Please tell me this is all normal recovery

These things can take a long time to heal.

Maybe you are not ready for the exercises yet. Try to walk as much as you can for the moment.

Try to keep the pressure off your spine. Don't sit for too long, lying down is better than sitting. Try to avoid bending, twisting, lifting etc. If you need to bend over use your knees. Keep hydrated and try to relax. Stress can make this worse. I love heat pads and a tens machine.

I hope you are feeling better soon.

Go swimming (back stroke). If it's too painful to swim walk up and down the pool.

Oh yes and heat. Hot water bottle on the spot.

Thankyou, osteopath has told me to get walking as much as I can, nhs physio told me the exercises are more important. So conflicting info from.bith of them, but walking is helping I just cant walk far.

I wouldn’t want to give specific advice for your back because I’m not remotely medically trained, but I’ve had a couple of bulging discs in my lumbar spine for years and for me, I’ve realised that resting (lots of lying down) is actually not helpful, because the muscles cool down and stiffen up (partly because they’re trying to guard against pain). I’ve learned to try to distinguish between discomfort that comes from exercising weak muscles (good/constructive discomfort) and actual nerve pain related to the discs (to be avoided wherever possible). Stronger hamstrings and glute muscles are good for my back in the long run, but when you first start exercising them they will grumble at you.

i do sympathise with the fatigue though! When my back flares up I could sleep all day. But I’ve tried to really focus on strengthening the relevant muscles in the last couple of years (NOT when I’m in the middle of a flare-up) and it has made a huge difference.

Thankyou, that's a good point of distinguishing between good pain and problem pain. Just desperate to get normal again, although I think that's probably a long way off yet.

From my experience I have found there is so much conflicting advice about how to deal with this issue. Medical professionals vary so much in their opinions and it's hard to know what to do.
I dismissed it at first but I do think anxiety and stress play a big role in this. Also when I was at my worst rest (lying down as much as possible) helped.
The physio exercises exaccerbated my sciatica symptoms in my leg. But I know they do work for others.

Same as @PacificState I've had two bulging discs for years, along with sciatic pain, leg numbness. Rest doesn't mend it but sometimes you have to. I try to keep everything moving and keep core muscles in shape. I also have RA and OA.
Initially it probably took 9 months to "recover". It seems it never fully goes away though so it does flare up from time to time.
I took the exercises given by the physio and found some more helpful than others. Anything which opens up the back is good. I find that when I am walking if my back starts to hurt more than usual bending forward really helps. I guess it's because it frees the trapped nerve.