Back Pain Bulging Disk

[mandco]

If the numbness has spread you really do need to get more advice asap. There is a risk of nerve compression/damage which can lead to long term problems if left untreated so its really important to get it checked out.

with my bulging disks I get combos of pain ,numbness, pins & needles but they are all within the normal for me range- If I develop anything new or any get worse than before I've been told to get advice asap.

[linder]

When I had this I went to physio straight away he was great. He did manipulation, acupuncture a d gave me exercises to do.The pain was unbearable I could hardly walk. I took paracetamol and ibuprofen But had physio for 6 weeks altogether

[Innocenti]

Going through exactly the same thing, my L5 disk, and its pressing on my sciatica nerve. Right leg is numb, freezing cold, pins and needles and pain unbelievable. Started as a back injury beginning of March, about 3 weeks ago it started easing off but i twisted wrong and then had pains etc in both legs and buttocks.

Back pain went overnight, left leg disappeared the same.

This week, I went to my Doctors monday, hospital rang me tuesday, MRI scan wednesday and Doctor phoned me with results Thursday.
Been prescribed Naproxen and I think they are working ... still numb, still flashes of pain but not as much.

See you GP and ask for an MRI, if not Naproxen at least

[Dazed]

I went through this with my daughter. She had the same symptoms as you are describing. An MRI confirmed disc bulging. Do NOT ignore the pins and needles or your legs giving way. These can both be signs of Cauda Equina Syndrome which is serious.

My daughter had an Emergency operation on L3, L4 and one side of L5.

Please ring 111 and don’t be scared of going to the hospital.

[mushumadness]

Well it’s 3am
I can’t sleep because the pains really quite bad
I’ll be calling 111 soon as it gets
To a more decent time (I wouldn’t be able to drive to a doctor like this and it wouldn’t be fair to have to wake dh and our four kids )
Gonna do some ice and heat pack rotations and more pain meds soon as I can get downstairs

[tocpe321]

Hope you get some help soon. It sounds horrendous. Take care.

[Edie ray]

This sounds awful, hope you get some help soon xxx

[Mazbar]

Right you need to have it checked by a mri scan. It might have prolapsed and is not bulging. This has to be seen to as quick as possible. My wife disc prolapsed on a Christmas Eve and went into a and e on the Boxing Day after putting up with the pain over Christmas Day. They wouldn’t do anything other than giving mussel relaxants and pain relief. They told her to see her doctor. Long story short he sent her to see a back specialist the wait list was 6 months we paid to see him privately he took one look and said yes the disc had gone but it was a neurosurgeon she needed to see, his waiting list was 8 months so we paid again. In the end it took 7 months before she had the surgery with the disc pressing on the nerves. The surgery went fine but because the disc was pressing on the nerves for 7 months it damage them leaving her in permanent pain. She had to have a spinal implant ( think tenns machine but wired into her spine with a power pack inside her). So my advice is go to a and e and insist on a mri to see if it has prolapsed if it has demand it be admitted and surgery to be carried out as quickly as possible. Do not be put off, it could be the difference between staying in hospital for a month or being in pain for the rest of your life.

[mushumadness]

After speaking to 111 that night I’m still no where better
Problem is the tramadol are making me feel really sick but if I try go without it’s not something I can cope with
It’s going to be awfull tomorrow as I’m on my own with the kids and Dh at work (keyworker)

[ginwithaslice]

My DH has this and Tramadol did nothing except make him sick. Naproxen and hot water bottles helped, and he tried to walk a bit. Sounds like you should think about a&e, they could give you something better.
I went a couple of weeks ago and it was very well organised and seemed safe to me. It was also quite empty!
Good luck OP!