Hi,
Since the dics are buldging, an epideral might help you. Also I would go to Orthopedic dr.
Brenda

Hey Blue...same thing here. Just had MRI that showed two torn and bulging discs. My rheumatologists has conferred with a neurologist and they suggest I go to a Pain Management Clinic to get a shot (??) to give me relief.
I have had time-limited relief from Medrol dose packs, which help the inflammation; however, pain returns full-blown when the med wears off. I am on Percocet for pain and a muscle relaxer.
NO...do NOT take the neurosurgeon's answer as the end-all-be-all. He is a SURGEON, and as such, without the need for surgery he is out of answers for you. That is what the neurologist told my rheumatologist when we were planning to see the neurosurgeon: that a surgeon would be a waste of time.
My advice is to get to your GP and ask for a referral to pain management so you can heal.
(((hugs)))

physical therapy may help or decompression therapy

What do they do at pain management? Maybe that is possibility for me.

Hi! 1st I'm so sorry to hear you are dealing with bulging discs and pain - it's horrible! If I read your post right you were sent to a neurologist. I would go back to your GP and ask for the following referrals - 1.) Pain Management Dr - they will usually recommend a series of shots directly into the back. Some of these Drs will help you get on a Med regime if you refuse the shots. 2.) A Physical Therapist - they will help you learn excerises and stretches that will help adjust the bulge back into it's place and relieve the press on the nerves (which is what is causing the indirect pain in foot and legs). 3.) Ask to see a NeuroSURGEON, they will study your MRI's and if surgery is not necessary they will say so. If they say surgery is necessary PLEASE ask them, why, where, what happens if you don't...Usually for bulging discs they do not do surgery as non-surgery methods (1 & 2) usually relieve the pain within a month or two. If the pain is not relieved in that amount of time or the pain worsens it could be that the disc has been damaged further or possibly herniated. I'd have all reports from specialists sent back to your GP so you can discuss which course you will take and find out if it works. If one does not work re-evaluate the pain and symptoms and try another course. I wish you the best of luck and hope this has helped, please feel free to ask any questions if you want. I have been down each avenue, even to the point of having surgery (just 1 month ago) and now my disc that was operated on is bulging already again so I am back to square one on non-surgial methods of treatment. Take Care!

Go to a specialist, my GP told me almost the same thing. I went to a specialist and am now in pain mgt. Its the best thing I could have done. The pain is much better. With the Xrays, spinal tap and MRI they also found alot of arthritis, so now they can treat that as well. I'm having injections soon. My surgeon actually offered surgery to me, however we decided on pain mgt first. I still like my GP and would go back to her for most things, my back is a ongoing issue for a long time, so I'm glad I went to the specialist, he did my neck surgery some years back so, I felt comfortable going to him. You might need a referral for your ins. call your ins co to see if you need referral if you do request it from your GP.

ralop here... Listen to the advice that Jen and Dusty gave u sweetie.... Also the possibility of the decompression if the disks are not injured worse yet from the time frame... The pain management clinics are sometimes not the greatest place to be it all depends on the place.... They do some proceedures like the shots that were suggested and many people get some long term pain relief from these... Then there are some more invasive things like burnning nerves and such but they grow back and so none of these treatments are going to make it go away never to reture.... If the decompression works and you do the physical therapy and possibly the steroid injections too those 3 together may get you pain free and have you back on ur feet for some years to come.

This would be my only warning... Please do not do any physical lifting or even too much of your so called light house work.. as these things can take a buldging disk and herniate and or tear it and then you cannot heal so easily. You also want to be aggressive without too much and get the pain under control while y



ou are doing these treatments because the acute pain can turn into chronic pain and they are very different. Please be sure to take meds as prescribed and to tell ur doc if they are not working and tell the doc why you want your pain under control. Chronic pain is something that may change the complete face of your life and may never again give you peace. Find a doc who is really educated and experienced with the difference between the 2 pains.
Best of luck... do not wait to take action... yo u are in our prayers.
In Light, Love, Truth, & Service
ralop