hi jennyd36,
I had a bulging disc the same as you. My primary care physician recommended going to an osteopathic physician/surgeon. She can't recommend chiropractors but I told her I felt more comfortable going to a chiropractor. I did go to chiro and got amazing relief in a short period of time with no medication for pain. I have been pain free since last June. He recommended I do daily back and body support exercises and stretches-very gentle and slow. It has strengthened my back and whole body. If you google "Classical Stretch" The Esmonde Technique with Miranda White or go to www.classicalstretch.com you can follow her on TV. She was a prof. ballerina. It has improved my posture and given me more energy and has strengthened my back. I need to do them every day tho-no excuses. It's totally worth it.
Hope this works for you. It a personal choice.
Happy stretching,
Jessica
(Is your disc still inflamed? You must allow it to heal before you start the exercises, common sense. My chiro took xrays and was gentle and I never rushed this process) Let me know how it goes with you.It took me 6 weeks to become pain free.

Jessica, thank you so much. I will see my neph today and discuss this with him.
I'm not sure if it's inflammed, but it hurts 24/7 and I take pain meds for it, but I am take pain meds for abdominal pain caused by the kidneys. I did try acupuncture 2 times and found it to be helpful, but cant afford it right now.

Hi Jenny. I can't recommend anything unfortunately but I just wanted to tell you how much I feel for you. I am sorry that there does not seem to be any surgical options for you at the moment but I suppose 'they' know best and if it's a risky procedure then you don't want to be doing this and potentially causing yourself more harm. I hope you can find relief fom more measured techniques soon. x

my back feels like someone has kicked me every day. i often wondered if my kidneys were causing pressure on my back

Recently went thru a battery of tests regarding a herniated disk.
I went to a neuro surgeon who specializes exclusively in the back region.
I had regular X-rays, MRI (a must) and regular blood work which included a CBC and a Sed Rate (measures inflammation).
The doctor says that most herniated disk do not cause pain, unless a tear happen suddenly. What causes the pain is the hernia pressing against the nerves. Many times this happens, sometimes it doesnt. I guess it depends on the location and extends of the hernia. There are several options which can be as simple as losing weight (simple, what a joke), up to more aggressive ones which include surgery (cutting away the part of the disk that has herniated). Many times anti-inflammatory drugs will help. He strongly recomended swimming.
BTW, I dont have PKD and know nothing about medicine, but like I said, just recently went thru this.
PKDAD

Jessica, let us know how this all works out for you.

I used to have a lot of lower back pain, and I finally took the route of a chiropractor, who helped a LOT. Another thing that I found out was that I had flat feet, and that throws off the rest of your posture. So I have some orthotic inserts that really have helped the last few years.

Although my native kidneys have certainly grown, as evidence from my growing belly (used to have a flat tummy with a six pack) and of course ultrasounds show greatly enlarged kidneys. But I don't get the pain the many of you get. Back about 15 years ago when my kidneys first started growing cysts, I ate a lot of dairy, and when I stopped (especially cheese) doing that and limited animal proteins and sodium, and all processed foods, I found that my kidney pain nearly stopped. Who knows what tomorrow will bring for me, but that's my story to this point.

We are all so different in how this disease progresses in each of us. I do know however that a lot of medical folks have no confidence in chiropractic. And of course, I am sure that there are some chiropractors that deserve that vote. But for me it was quite helpful.