Disc bulges

[bowers53]

Just found out today I have disc bulge in L4 can it be treated to stop the pain

[RobbieT]

Your doctor will advise what is best for you. I'm on fentanyl - but also suffer from fibromyalgia. Tramadol is good but I was taken of the large doses as it affected my breathing really badly. However I do still take 50mg each day.

Hydrotherapy is a real relief & acupuncture can help. Overall though, it's a bit hit & miss as your doctor introduces different meds to see what helps your particular needs. It's frustrating & at time quite debilihating. But remember, in these forums we are all going through pain - whether physical or mental. Or, in my case - both! We're here for you. xx

[Joalan in reply to RobbieT]

Hi, I injured my back (L5/S1) 24 years ago & due to wrong treatments it got a lot worse, so please be very careful about your choice of treatment. I’m hoping you’ve had an MRI to provide the diagnosis?

I eventually then found an osteopath that practiced ‘cranial osteopathy’ who did help me a lot + I had acupuncture, frequently, which helped a lot with the pain as I could not take the morphine based pain relief my GP was giving me.

The osteopath needed to see my MRI result before he would actually treat me as the first osteopath I saw had made the problem twice as bad. This is why I think you need to consult you doctor & only gently Or conservatively keep you body moving, just walking at a fairly gentle pace or the basic floor stretches first few Pilates stretches where your back is supported (you can use your bed instead of the floor initially)

Since then I now suffer degenerative disc disease & Fibromyalgia so have bulges in my neck area as well as mid spine & L4/5 as well as L5/S1 so life can be quite painful but if you pace yourself & by that I mean keep going but make the changes needed to allow you to do so. Don’t lift what you don’t have to, and learn how to lift. Rest in between tasks, don’t sit too much as this puts pressure on your lower spine.

A lot to remember I’m afraid.

I hope you find some good help & look after yourself.

[RobbieT in reply to Joalan]

Great response - thank you. You are so right re selecting treatment carefully. I was seeing an acupuncture/oesteo specialist & she pressed too hard in my neck & pain just coursed through my whole body. I ended up on the floor sobbing. She kept apologising saying that she hadn't realised it was so tender.

[bowers53 in reply to RobbieT]

Thanks Robbiet