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MRI results show bulging discs: what are my options?
I recently learned I have some bulging discs again(past history of this 2 decades ago, HAD totally numb feet back then). I also have a vertebrae out of place. All are pressing on spinal cord(worse with the lower vertebrae). My one foot is tingly, one numb toe, and I cannot walk far because of my hip. Pain is severe lower back both side and right hip. Both legs take turns on weakness and pain. I just started with physical therapy and was wondering your opinions on if I should also see a chiropractor too. (A chiro helped decades ago with my first bulging discs. But years later I had to stop because I have fibromyalgia too and the chiro I had made EVERYTHING worse, I could barely walk for 3 months. I am doing whatever I can to NOT have surgery and to get that one lower vertebrae back in place before more damage happens. My spine specialist(physiatrist) also suggested injections since so many nerves are giving me grief. RFA helped with my neck, but not back(injections never really helped much) but to get RFA I had to get injections first(thanks to my insurance, ugh). He is thinking my sacroiliac joint area. OK, so my question is, can a physical therapist move my lower vertebrae back to where it belongs or should I just start seeing a chiro. I know they can adjust bones back in place.
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I was diagnosed with a herniated disc and disc bulges years ago, and was told by 2 surgeons I needed back surgery.
By some miracle I found John Sarno's books, Healing Back Pain and The Mind Body Prescription. I worked with the recommendations in the books for a couple months and I've been pretty much pain free ever since. When I do have an occasional flare-up, I get his books out and within a few days the pain subsides.
There are many amazing stories like mine on amazon.com under Healing Back Pain.
Has anyone had a bulging disc in their back? How did you manage the pain and did you end up having surgery? If so, how was the recovery?
I have had a herniated disc and ended up having 2 discectomies before finally having a spinal fusion. Probably could have avoided 2 surgeries had I not had a steroid injection. At the time I had no idea of any of it and was told it would “start the healing process.” Not only was that bad medical advice, the same “doctor” hit a nerve which gave me nerve damage that I didn’t have prior to my first surgery or even the injection. In my humble opinion, I would never tell anyone to get that injection, primarily because it doesn’t actually heal anything. You will still have a herniated disc whether you get the injection or not. And you can only get so many injections over a short time span because the steroid can break down the bone and ligaments over time. It’s at best putting a bad aid on something that is broken. It will never fix it. And the steroid injection is done under X-Ray guidance, there is a lot of things they can miss and hit as the X-Ray is not a clear or precise image guidance, especially when talking about nerves. They can’t see everything.
All 3 of my surgeries happened over an 8 year period in which I suffered for nearly all 8 years. The first 2 surgeons were orthopedic surgeons. First surgery did not hurt me any worse than I was after the injection but didn’t help. Prior to injection I had low back pain only. After injection I couldn’t walk and (I’m a former athlete before all this). It was brutal for a long time. My Second surgery was 7 years later and actually cause more nerve damage as the orthopedic surgeon rushed the surgery and did not get all of the protruded disc material out. 11 months later I had a spinal fusion with a neurosurgeon, and I wish I met this doctor and had this fusion surgery years prior as I’m 85-90% better, and as good as I’ve been in nearly 9 years. With the grace of God, my nerve damage is nearly all but gone. I can move my leg and walk again.
Be careful in the doctor you choose and don’t jump into band aid’s like steroid injections in my humble opinion. I wish I never had that injection as I may have only needed 1 surgery at most, as I could walk, work and go to the gym daily before I had the injection. I wouldn’t have lost 7-8 years of my life. I hear PT helps some people, I wish I initially tried that before the malpractice the original “doctor” injected me with. Not trying to scare anyone but sharing my story in hopes that people just be cautious. They make a-lot of $ off those injections that don’t permanently fix anything (it’s a never ending money pit) and can really make things much worse for your long term health. I sincerely hope you get better soon and hopefully you don’t have to go through 1/4 of what I had to go through.
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2 ReactionsWife had them in her back - tried everything short of surgery (PT, injections, etc.) none of which worked, and later had three lumbar vertebrae fused and a nerve canal opened because it was putting pressure on the nerves causing pain in her legs. Had her surgery in late June, still recovering from the surgery. Her post-surgery therapy is to walk with a rollator, minimal use of stairs and lifting no more than 2 lbs. With the rollator we go about 6 blocks very slowly and she now progressed to walking short distances on her own with a cane. Complete recovery is a long way off yet.
My problem (and she'd agree) with this was that it dragged out so long before the lumbar fusion while she was is severe pain and virtually crippled.
I had a bulging disc which affected the nerve. The pain was excruciating, but it did heal on its own over a 2-3 month period. I did have one injection on several docs advice, and it did not help (but also did not make things worse.) I have other bulging discs but have not been advised or considered surgery. My hope is that my spine will continue to be manageable.
Hi @linda125. You will notice that I have moved your post into the Spine Support Group, which you can find here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/bulging-disc/
At what location is your bulging disc and have you been seen for it yet?
You might want to look into nucleoplasty and annuloplasty. https://spineone.com/annuloplasty/
My problem is not my disc. I have osteoporosis and I have had six broken vertebras. My bones will not hold hardware for surgery. The last vertebra I broke was L4 and the doctor messed up the kryoplasty. Since then I have had extreme pain.