Disc bulge in lumbar spine,has anyone had surgery ?

[Classicmichael]

Hi, has anyone had surgery for a disc bulge. I am unable to walk very far as the pain in my hips and down my left leg is excruciating.

I am seeing a consultant in two weeks time and really hope that he will be able to help, but before seeing him l would love to hear from anyone who can advise me of their own experiences to give me some hope that this is not my life forever.

[MalcolmCClark]

Both my gf and myself suffer with our backs and in fact my gf has just had steroid injections into the lower back so its wait and see. My back has bulging discs along the whole length of my spine and I do suffer with occasional sciatica. It is very painful. I cope with condition through morphine caps and my gf on morphine patches. As far as I know injections only work on some people and surgery can possibly make things worse. I will admit that back surgery has come a long way but make sure they spell out all possible outcomes and do not sugar coat the procedure, you then have to weigh up your options.

Just do your homework first is my message, on the procedure and the surgeon carrying out the operation.

Good luck and fingers crossed.

[Manditts]

Read my story,i saw a neurosurgeon and had depp compression back fusion done 6 months ago ,they fused me at if my memory is correct,L4 L5 S1,and a few other things,made me a new vertebrae.I had suffered for 24 yrs,if this didnt work i was going to end it.About 7 hrs of surgery,best 7 hours of my life,i walked out 48hrs after my surgery.The best thing i could of done,im a new person,my sciatic pain has gone and my lower back pain is now bearable.There is hope ,dont give up.☺😷

[Classicmichael in reply to Manditts]

Thanks Manditts it's good to hear that your suffering was ended with succesful surgery, l really hope l am as lucky as you with mine. Good luck with the future

[sianr]

Hi there I’m sorry to hear your going through this. Back pain is possibly the most debilitating of pain especially when it radiates to other limbs and causes mobility issues which affects all parts of life, chronic pain from any source is not just a physical but combined mental struggle with constant torment and for most it’s hard to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

I hope the surgeon is able to help you but please don’t put all your eggs in one basket, there is the chance surgery is not an option and you may have to find alternative ways of dealing with your pain.

If that is the case it is not all doom and gloom it depends on how you address it from an emotional perspective.

If surgery is an option it depends on the type required and it may not help, there is the chance it won’t work, there is also the chance it will help and that’s great, however some pain may still remain or you may be free of pain intermittently. Some types of back surgery only last for a short length of time and may need more surgery after <_> 5 yrs.

Please look in to all your options and try to take an optimistic look at your options it’s easy to look through tinted glasses and have a pessimistic view especially when pain is such a struggle.

What would you say to a family member or a friend, this way may work for you or you may think I’m completely nuts 😂 at this stage give anything a go but meantime look at painassociation.com.

Good luck 😉

[Classicmichael in reply to sianr]

Thank you so much sianr you have summed up so well what l am going through and, l guess that l am putting all my energy into getting this surgery done to illuminate this awful pain from the disc bulge, however the tumour continues to grow and l am conscious that if it grows into the cauda equina l may pedometer paralysed from the waist down with loss of bladder and bowel control, l am praying for a miracle.

[sianr in reply to Classicmichael]

Hi ClassicMichael

I hope the surgeons can help, do you have a tumour on your spine?

SA

[Manditts in reply to Classicmichael]

Its Manditts here,i was fortunate enough not to have a tumour,but i had lost bowel n bladder control,completely.I am about 7 -8 months post op now and im regaining some control,its getting betterI read another pist you put up and it sounded exactly like me before my op,except the million and one different injections i had didnt help,i had everything and anything to try get relief.My op was life changing,i still have dsys that arnt fantastic but nothing like before.,i can run around playing soccer with my grandson and ride my bike with my granddaughter.I walk my brothers Dingo during the week and there is no pain while im walking.The lower back pain i get is not enough to complain about.I feel like i walked thru hell to get to heaven.The veryebrae they replaced was obviously the worse culprit for my pain

[deb25426]

I have a coup,e of bulging discs, degenerative arthritis, spondylitis etc etc..my pain in my lower back is bearable, BUT it causes me not to be able to walk far as it mocks my back want to spasm! I’ve been to pain management and eventually had and epidural cortisone pain injection..it helps me for at least 8 months. I’m now 19 months after my last one and due to some misinformation but the clinic, my next appointment isn’t until the end of January.. so I’m coping ....just about..

Anyway my point is the epidural pain injection helps me so much...for me it doesn’t kick in for about 6/8 weeks but it’s worth the wait for me.

[Manditts]

Im so glad these injections work for you,i had no luck.What works for some just doesnt for others.I hope you continue to get relief from them.