Hi betty, you h-ve a lot goinh on. I agree on the injections bu/ what kind of surgery are you considers?

@liz223 , thank you for the welcome. I've had fibromyalgia 20+yrs. I has been real bad the last 8 or so yrs. It's everyday , bad most days . But I've recently been put on a med. that seems to be causing several side effects, one being headaches increase in stiffness and muscle spasms. Life's never been harder . If have the support of my sweetheart but my new difficulties are straining our close relationship. I have no other supporting people in my life . The thought of losing him because of these things has become an all consuming fear. I can't get back to where I was when I was at least coping with my pain and other issues. I need help but have not found it from my medical professionals. I don't know what to do to help myself. Feel everything slipping away. He gets upset to hear my weakness spoken out loud. . So thinks for giving me a place I can speak honestly. GOOD luck to each of you with you struggles.

@liz223
Good Morning,
I am so sorry you are suffering from such pain. I know how horrible living with pain can be. I've lived with chronic pain for more than 10 years. It leaves you emotionally and physically exhausted!
You really did not give us very much information about how you developed the buldging disc and what you have tried. Due to most insurance company policies, there is usually a 'protocal' of steps they take to deal with the disc and pain. An x-ray and MRI should be done to pinpoint the issue(s).
1. PT is usually the first step to try to build your core.
2. Pain meds for a brief time to help take the edge off (although these days, that might not be so).
3. Injections (anything from trigger points to epidurals and everything in-between. It is best to get these shots from a pain management doctor who has experience, since it is often difficult for them to hit the right spot.
4. When all else fails, surgery.
Never rush to do surgery. It is the last step when all else fails. As I said, I lived with chronic pain for over 10 years. It was just one year ago that I decided to seek out an alternative to shots because they no longer worked. I was 63. I had 2 surgeries. The neurosurgeon replaced 2 discs in my cervical spine. Then, about 7 months ago, he did a X-lift fusion on 2 lumbar discs. The first surgery went well and I recovered quickly. The 2nd surgery also went well, but the recovery was long and very painful! I am happy to say I no longer have the chronic pain (except from osteo-arthritis). I now have another issues coming from my spine, but it is not causing pain.
I guess what I am trying to say is try other steps before jumping into surgery. Surgery is not always the answer, either. Many surgeries are not successful.
Once you have surgery, if that is the way you go, you have to change the way you do things in order not to ruin what the surgery has accomplished. Although you might feel well, it could take 12-18 months before everything is 100% healed and the settled. That means....no lifting (anything more than a gallon of milk), bending, reaching, twisting, sudden moves, etc. You'd be amazed how often we do these things without giving it a 2nd thought.
Well, I hope this helps.
Stay strong!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

@liz223.... Funny, but not....a uti, is so uncomfortable it may trump stroke headaches, TOS, fibro, and trigeminal all at once! The burning and ache are so acute. Feeling for you, pain in back and bladder is NO fun. No fun at all.