[Unrigged64072835]

I have two bulging discs in my lower back. Both cause me pain when I bend down, stand or walk for a long time. I'm seeing a surgeon next month.

I suppose I could Google it, but I'll throw this out there and see if anyone knows.

My mum's did, in the 1980s. She didn't need surgery either. Took painkillers and eventually healed.

I went through physical therapy and learned some fery helpful exercises that improved things greatly.

[NikoleS]

I just recently got an MRI again. I had a herinated disc a year or so ago. I didn't have insurance at the time to continue. I now have insurance. I'm still waiting for the results.

It has gotten better since then symptom wise. My left leg used to be numb and now my back just hurts every so often. I lost some weight so that helped a bit.

[jrae]

from what I know, I guess it depends on who you talk to. some say they can get better over time and others say they usually don't!

and I completely understand. going thru the same thing right now. about a week ago, I just got my fourth injection in my lower back. trying to put off the 's-word' as long as I can.

and for me, I have at least 5 bulging discs - one is even touching my spinal cord

[healingme4me]

Yes, it can get better. I do think it takes more than just waiting it out however. I've had problems with my back, several times. I've taken the chiropractor route before. Prednisone is what my neuro prescribed, the last one. He got involved because the dr in the er went full blown omg panic when ms came up in my chart. Yes, someone with ms can slip some discs and get sciatica and numbness. Working on balance, core, posture through yoga style stretching and maintaining healthy weight have been my tools at preventing futher back struggles.
Is surgery a last resort? Sorry that you're dealing with it, back pain is no fun.

[Unrigged64072835]

Originally Posted by healingme4me

Yes, it can get better. I do think it takes more than just waiting it out however. I've had problems with my back, several times. I've taken the chiropractor route before. Prednisone is what my neuro prescribed, the last one. He got involved because the dr in the er went full blown omg panic when ms came up in my chart. Yes, someone with ms can slip some discs and get sciatica and numbness. Working on balance, core, posture through yoga style stretching and maintaining healthy weight have been my tools at preventing futher back struggles.
Is surgery a last resort? Sorry that you're dealing with it, back pain is no fun.

My husband has MS, so he gets that too.

I can go back to PT again but other than home exercises and traction there isn't much he can do.

[with or without you]

My laundry list of issues:

1) almost constant upper back pain
2) lower back/hip/glute pain that has somewhat resolved itself but I still cannot stand for more than about 20 minutes at a time. The pain comes back into that area. It resembles sciatica but it doesn't travel down my whole leg like "textbook" sciatica. My thighs never hurt. The pain picks up again in my knee, gastrocnemius muscle, and worst of all - it ends with weakness and decreased mobility in my right foot.
3) I have weakness in my right hand, and since March the pad of my middle finger has had a range of sensations from numbness to tingling to dull pain.

I have one confirmed disc bulge between L4 and L5 but the radiologist said it was "non-obstructing". My orthopedic wanted to do a spinal epidural injection after getting this MRI result, telling me it would reduce the bulge and therefore hopefully (but no guarantee) put the brakes on the problems with my leg. I freaked out and ran for the hills because I had incidentally just fallen before walking into their office (I lost control of my foot) and they wouldn't even look to see if I had injured myself after I told them. I gashed my left elbow which tore off a big piece of skin, and it took 4 weeks for my other knee (the one that I fell on) to heal. I stopped seeing them immediately.

I got a second opinion from a neurologist and she ran a battery of tests - an EEG, an EMG (I never want one of those again) and a second MRI of my C-Spine and brain. The only thing these tests showed was a muscle spasm in my neck and I sure can feel it when my PT works on that area. I have no neuropathy, no pinched nerves, no nerve damage, etc. The neurologist told me to investigate rheumatology or a vascular specialist. She is standing by her initial opinion that this stuff in my extremities is not totally coming from the disc because it's not touching my sciatic nerve, but some of it is. She also gave me the name of another pain management doctor but I'm not ready to go down that road again because I've had bad experiences with two of them now.

As of right now, I'm just rolling with PT and acupuncture. I am going to see a rheumatologist next month. (yes, I am aware that a disc issue has nothing to do with rheumatology). But my leg and hand problems are annoying the crap out of me. I try not to take any OTCs if I can help it.

So, in answer to your question........I don't know.