L5/S1 disc bulge with spinal stenosis, severe back pain

[theDudesmummy]

I have been struggling with really bad lumbar pain for over a year, it was initially diagnosed as facet joint syndrome and I had various injections, nothing helped at all and it kept getting worse. I had an MRI this week and it shows a bulging disc, canal stenosis and likely nerve impingement which is probably the cause of the pain. I have of course been doing some reading, and I am seeing my pain specialist in 2 weeks, but had anyone had any experience of this and the treatments for it?

I'm interested to read any replies you may get -sorry I can't help directly, but I've had what was 'kind of' diagnosed as a sacrolitic joint issue by an osteopath whom I respected, but a problem that the NHS doesn't acknowledge. Facet joint was also mentioned by same osteopath. I do believe they know more about joints and soft tissue than GP's.
The best way I can describe it, is it's as if I've lost my suspension. When it first went into spasm, I thought I was being knifed in half. Giving birth was less painful. I couldn't stand upright and it felt like my back was bout to snap. This went on for months, years on and off, even.
The pain upon sitting (even the thought of landing in a sitting position now) makes me almost want to scream. It went into spasm after a holiday skiing, about 10 years ago - I fell hard, many times, (age - late 40's), but nothing showed up on the scans I had back then. I hope you get some helpful replies. Good luck.

I was diagnosed with 3 minor bulging discs last year, same area. I have just finished 4 months of physio, 10 appointments in total and am now starting Pilates next month at the same clinic. I’m paying for the Pilates, the physio was on the NHS. I did exercises every 2 hours for 2 months without fail. Now I’m down to 3 times a day. I was for a woman in her later fifties very fit before this. I do have a scoliosis and I pulled DH in to the recovery position when he had an accident and it did something to my back. I could previously walk 10 miles no issue. I’m now back up to 5 miles. The pain I had was excruciating at the time and it was all very sudden. They also discovered some issues with my pelvic floor, it all very much links in. So under direction it was exercises and walking. The other thing is don’t be over weight, I’m a healthy BMI but have decided I want to be go done a point or two on the index as the more weight the more strain.

Just to add that my physio said change position every 15 minutes. If you have a sitting down job then you need to be getting up a lot and walking around, stretching etc.

Thank you. That does give me some hope that physio may, if I do it properly, avoid having to have surgery. My job is entirely sitting down at a computer for many hours a day which is clearly not helpful. The pain specialist said in his letter to me with the MRI result that he may do an epidural. Maybe that will reduce the pain enough that physio might be somewhat less painful?

I did go to a physio before, when it was thought to be a facet joint problem, but I didn't keep up the exercises because of pain and, I admit it, laziness. I need to recommit, I am very scared of ending up with surgery.

My husband has a bugging disc. Ot has taken years but now is pain medication free, but only because he religiously does the exercises the nhs physio gave him every morning without fail.

At first he was medicated and doing the exercises 3 time a day, now no medication and once a day. But he is very conscious of where he sits down , and will only sit for short period of time . If longer sitting is required in an unfamiliar place ( no idea how.supportivebthe chairs are ) he will take his cushion with him.

Hello, I slipped 2 x discs L5 and S1 very badly, in january last year and was hospitalised on morphine for 2 days. The doctors let me go home only once I could stand up without help. (But gave me a wheelchair ride to the taxi 😊). It was horrible and the nerve pain was so awful. I'm sorry you're going through this.
I've had a lot of sciatic pain before and after the discs slipped, so I had codeine, then naproxen.
I did a lot of physio for the next 6 months, i found resistance bands really helpful - stepping sideways 20 times in each direction, with a resistance band round my ankles, I did the 'dead bug' and cat/cow excersizes, and practised slowly standing up from sitting while keeping my knees really straight. I would do 20 of these, take a short rest, do 20 more... The excersizes will help. It just takes time.
The thing that has helped me recover most, is stairs! In the autumn I moved from a small flat, into a house with 3 floors. I have twin toddlers so honestly I'm up and down those stairs all bloody day, and the workout this gives my glutes has been transformational for my spine. I think building up my leg strength is the biggest factor in recovery, for me. I dont take any pain medicine now. I still have the odd day of pain, but I'm pretty much healed.
Just wanted to let you know there is hope.
I really hope you feel better soon.x

Have very similar issue, but the bone bulges rather than the disc. Naproxen certainly helps and physio. Had to make some adjustments to prevent/ reduce the pain, taking care with lifting etc, found putting a pillow under the top of the legs helps with the pain in bed, as lying flat narrows the spinal canal thus trapping the nerve more. Apparently the prognosis with stenosis runs along the lines of 1 in 5 will improve with physio/ pain management, 3 in 5 remain the same and 1 in 5 will worsen, but there is no way of knowing which category anyone fits into

Not totally the same but I do have some experience with bulging discs!
Mine are L4/L5 and it's not so much pain but weakness, numbness and loss of function that have been the problem. I've been swimming and walking as much as possible and have some physio exercises to do. Also got the advice to change position frequently so don't sit/stand/lie for too long.
I do have inflammatory arthritis in my sacroiliac joints too, so have spent a fair bit of time doing physio and looking online for answers!
I was really into weightlifting and CrossFit which ultimately I don't think helped the disc bulges but I'm fairly confident I'll be back in the gym in some way soon.

Good luck with the pain appt. Back pain is horrendous 😔

My MRI showed two bulging discs and a trapped nerve, so very similar.
I had back pain and numbness in the leg, often followed by leg pain.
I also have osteo and rheumatoid arthritis.
I would be very wary of back surgery as it can often lead to either no improvement or worsening.
Physio was enough to get it manageable. The key for me was working out that opening the gap relieved the pressure on the nerve. It took about 9 months and it relapses from time to time. Having found the right manouvres that work for me I can get it back under control but I suspect it's never a complete "cure".

Thanks all for the feedback. I am going to book to see the physio as well as the pain specialist, I have just ordered the disc of the MRI from the hospital so that I can show it to the physio.

I absolutely would not want to go down the route of surgery.

I've had lower back problems for years. Last November I couldn't walk so was booked in for mri which I had in Jan. it was well times too because I was in that much pain down one leg with sciatica I was on morphine. Anyway turns out I have 3 herniated discs which are pushing on nerves one of them being my sciatic nerve that runs down my right leg. Two higher up bulges, some other things I can't quite remember. Doctor has referred me to a neurologist but my physio has said hopefully with my dedication to the exercises etc I could avoid surgery but it's going to take a long time! In the meantime I've managed to calm down the leg pain and the back pain is manageable too at the moment. I'm still on morphine and amitriptyline for the pain. I don't think I'll get my appointment for neurology for a long while as my friend is also on a waiting list that spans just over a year x

Are you in the uk? I didn't think you could get the mri image. I would like to see mine. I have the written report though. Xx

I'm in Ireland and it's a private hospital. No problem getting copies of scans etc. But the NHS should let you have your records, including imaging, if you request them. May take longer though.

watching with interest as similar issues.

I had surgery but was at the point of no other options
No issues, successful surgery

I'm on Tramadol for the pain, and even so I still get pain at night. I try doing walking as it's supposed to be good but if I overdo it I end up with pain radiating into my hip. Glad to hear the surgery did help, Buffy. What was the down time? I cannot afford to take months off work (self-employed).

Not long - I'm stubborn
Was out of hospital less than 24hrs after
And back on a horse 8 weeks post op

have spinal stenosis L1/L5 and have tried everything apart from surgery -=y name it i have tried every cream - treatments - id therapy - accupunture - physio - the only thing that has helped me is herbal ayurveda massage and
acuraflex cream and pills. -

You could try reading some of the work of Stuart McGill. I have found it very helpful. I’ve had multiple disc bulges, some spinal stenosis and lots of nerve compression and sciatica, I’m currently enjoying a flair up of pain in my upper back, and my back is in spasm at the moment but for the most part I am pain free. So try not to panic! Dont put your recovery in the hands of one professional seek multiple opinions from physios etc, you shouldn’t need repeat visits to a physio if you find that happening then find a new one! find a way to reduce sitting and keep active in pain free ways while you dial down the sensitivity in your nervous system. Be wary of surgery, unless for something non negotiable like cauda equina. Beware of the red flags for cauda equina, but don’t be afraid to move. You have my sympathy, as back pain is rubbish!