Posterolateral disc bulge

Hello everybody, hope all the members are in good health and stress free . Cant say the same for me exactly. Ive very recently succumbed to a back injury from work and went to a chiropractor and discovered that i have a left posterolateral disc bulge L5. Im still learning all the terms and what not. Anyway im wondering if anybody else has had any similar issues my chiropractor makes it seem like its something we can fix in time . He hasnt made a recovery time clear i do not want a surgery. Im taking it a day at a time i have a pinched nerve and have decreased sensation in my left leg and foot. Having a hard time sleeping and my aniexty has been driving me nuts lately i had a vacation two weeks agos and hit a semi truck tire 8 hrs away from home and had to turn around because my car took to much damage and me and my fiancée didnt want to push our luck. Anyway im unable to sit down comfortable unless i lay in certain postions. I cannot put on my socks or shoes without pain. If anybody has had anything similar please chime in im desperate
Regards and thanks, Anthony

Hey there Anthony, sorry to hear about your misfortune. I have no idea what a disc bulge is but have slipped a disc and torn intercostal muscles (rugby injury). Perhaps try something natural to help with the anxiety as that could exacerbate the mental effect a back injury has on a person. I'm no doctor but it helped me through some tough nights. Good luck

a reply to: Antwonzilla

Funnily enough I've had exactly the same diagnosis (I think). Mines at C6/C7. I was having gradually increasing pain in my left arm, and then a few weeks back my left forefinger went numb at the top. Went to the docs so he sent me for an MRI. Apparently he'd suspected MS so as you can imagine I was bricking it until the results came back.

Another doc got the result and just recommended 'pain management', which I don't know if you're UK based but it's basically fobbing you off and saying live with it. Luckily I found out this was his recommendation so saw a different doc (the original) and he immediately said I'd need to at least see a neurosurgeon to see if it needs intervention. He said I was too young to just see if it gets worse (I'm 40).

The pain comes and goes, and is basically the contents of the disc sack herniating and pushing against one of my main nerve junctions. Sucks big time so I know how you feel, if you pardon the pun!

The thing to realise is it WILL slowly get better. People have it all the time and recover. The key is to take it easy, so no heavy lifting etc. I like to run on occasion but can't anymore as it's high impact so that's something else to avoid. DON'T under any circumstances allow a chiropractor to 'manipulate' your back - it'll do more damage. Try and see a neurosurgeon if you can as they can review your MRI and see what's the best course of action. Remember just because they're a surgeon doesn't mean they need to operate - they're just specialists at this kind of thing.

In my case it may be they just say rest up and no intervention is needed. I really hope so - don't want anyone poking around my spine!

Also know what you mean about sleep. I struggle - as mine is higher up and tend to lay on my side. I've read that laying on your back, with a pillow beneath your knees will really help as it keeps your legs bent and relieves the pressure. Worth a try.

Chin up - it WILL get better

a reply to: Antwonzilla

I'm typing from My experiences, ••Your Mileage May Vary •• I was retired from My job due to a broken back and neck. My journey began at the Chiropractor stage. Then I did 19 months of physical therapy 4x a week.

Yes, that is how the majority of chiropractors operate. Why fix You in 1 session when they can sell You the 'Full Series'?.. Did they get any film e.g. x-ray or MRI?

I found acupuncture to be more of a relief.
There are things One can eat to take the pain and other supplements. You need to realize that when Your body is in a state of stress, like Yours is currently, some of the things You are eating could be causing even more pain. My Adrenal Gland also crapped out so other things can go askew so keep an alert.
You also need to make sure You stay hydrated.. cherry juice extract, etc. etc.

Thanks everyone for the responses. My numbness is in my left leg youcanttellpeople but it does sound like the same thing just different disc. Im 23 years young and just wanna take the most natural approach to this i dont want to take any opiates im currently on benzos for anxiety and i hate them. Sleeping on my side with a pillow between the knees works great because as soon as i read that i immediately changed my postion since i been in bed the last few days . Im ok layong certain ways but cannot sit to long car rides kill me even getting my shoes on. I am gonna get a yoga ball and try a few exercises i just want to avoid surgery. I havent spoken to my actual doctor about this yet i was just recommend a chiropractor.

I don't intend to make light of your condition but a bulging disk is probably the most minor problem you could experience. I know it's probably causing you pain right now but you definitely do not want to immediately consider surgery. I have had 2 cervical fusions due to herniated disks and currently have bulging disk problems up and down my entire spine plus a bilateral foraminal stenosis at L5-S1 that my Dr. wants me to see a surgeon about. In lay terms, that is pinched nerves due to the nerve path space closing up around the nerve extending out both sides of the disk.

As far as a bulging disk is concerned, the disk does have a tendency to repair itself over time. It will build a reinforcing layer over it that will limit further degradation and eventually even constrict the bulge. It just takes time.
My suggestion? Go ahead and see the surgeon but if he suggests surgery for a mere bulging disk, run like hell to get a 2nd opinion. He is just after your money.

As I said, I know you are hurting right now but honestly, a bulging disk is a minor injury you should do your best to ignore and live with it.

Go the standard route:

File a Workers' Compensation claim with your employer and the State. Have them pay for it.
Continued stretching / exercise / physical therapy.
Painkillers of whatever type you're comfortable with.
If you live in a state where a certain herbal medicine is legal, then try that for pain and sleep issues, but realize that it has essentially no anti-inflammatory properties.
Chiropractic treatment -- if you like using witchcraft (uh, non-scientific-based treatment).
Epidural steroid injection to possibly shrink the bulge.
Spinal surgery after all conservative measures have failed.
Another spinal surgery, possibly with a fusion and the implantation of hardware.
Long recovery, possibly with lingering effects, or additional surgery for failed back syndrome.

It can go either way.

a reply to: Antwonzilla

So you have pressure on the main leg nerve, the sciatic? Hope you have AFLAC or disability from work or something so you can lay down for a few months.

I slept on the floor with a pillow between my legs for years, couldn't even get into a bed without risking a whole day or two new pain. Don't know how bad yours is, mine was bad and really took about 10 years to do a total heal because of nerve damage caused by the disk. My leg was totally paralyzed for 3 months and had to be dragged around to some degree for a year+

a reply to: Antwonzilla


Sorry to hear that. That can be very painful.

I once had 2 bulging disks that were so bad I couldn't walk one morning. I was taken to the hospital, given percocets and slept on the floor for days.

Did physical therapy for 8 weeks, and learned that walking is a backs friend. Was told would never have a desk job again, worked a desk job another 2 years at 12 hours a day.

Yoga is really good for pinched nerves.

Physical therapy should help - best of luck to you!

Look up a reverse hyper machine designed my Louie Simmons specifically for bulging discs in the lumbar. Virtually any back injury can be overcome by taking physical therapy into your own hands.

a reply to: Antwonzilla

a reply to: Antwonzilla

Yes a chiropractor can fix it. It is your best choice for the problem. Expect it to take 6-12 weeks for the symptoms to mostly resolve.

a reply to: Antwonzilla

I have exactly the same thing and have been dealing with it for over 10 years. It's something a few people in my family also have. Everyone is different so it's hard to say do this or that. The best advice I can give is, no matter what, STAY MOVING! If you don't exercise then start. I am lucky enough to have a therapy pool at my gym that's heated to 94 degrees. I go every day. The pool is great because it takes the weight off your back and joints but if you don't have that then find something you can do. I made the mistake of basically living in bed for a couple years and now I have even more problems. I'll be sending some positive energy up into the Universe for you. Take care.

I have 7 herniated discs in my back and I am completely disabled. 1 failed back surgery. I have 3 herniated disc in my low back 2 are pinching my nerve and not only pinching but now calcified to the nerve causing tremendous pain to even move, lean, bend , twist, sit, lay . 3rd bottom disc is bone on bone.

I have 2 herniated disc in my middle back that are pinching up against my spinal cord. Dr said if it gets any worse I will go paralyzed and have to try to do emergency surgery so I wont be completely paralyzed.

I have 2 more bulging discs in my neck. That doesnt bother me to much though compared to the rest.

I have been dealing with this for 4 years.

If you need any information I can help you. If you do indeed have a pinched nerve. My first advice I can give you is to get shots in your back. When shots used to work for me , my first shot got me couch bound to walking around. Hopefully the shots will help you or awhile.

If they do not , and you still have pinching, I would immediately get laser surgery and have them cut the disc off the nerve. The longer you wait the harder it will be, like me I did not know I even had herniated discs until they started pinching the nerves. When I went in for surgery to cut the disc. The Dr said my discs were to calcified and hard to even cut. So they were unable to cut the disc off the nerve so they took a hammer and knocked the disc away from the nerve. However that made it worse. .. So you do not want to wait around for years allowing your disc to harden or you could be in the same shape I am. Trust me you do not want that. Took my entire life from me..

I mentioned the back problems I have.
You say your problem is in the lower back?
Do this!
1: With straight knees bend from the waist and touch the floor as long as you feel necessary. Do this several times and continue to try bending increasingly lower each time.
2: Depending on the side you are having the problems in, maybe even both legs, sit down and place the affected ankle on top of the opposing leg thy and let the leg drop as far as possible while leaning your body over that leg.

Both of these procedures will stretch the ligaments in the lower back, hip and leg and greatly reduce the associated pain. I guarantee it.

Also, while standing near the table, put your foot, heel on the table with the knee straight and bend forward over the leg. This will stretch the tendons as well.

You will be surprised at the relief you will see. Stretch the tendons....

Thanks everyone for the advice im very sorry to hear the pain others have gone through i know i do not compare with some of you . I plan on going to my doctor soon to hear her opinion i still am hurting quite a bit i dont want to anger my back anymore with exercise yet. I definitely think a anti inflammatory would help especially right now. I do have something going on with a nerve as ive lost some sensation in my left leg foot. I do not wish to be fighting this for years to come i hope once i feel up to it that exercising regularly will help me beat this battle. Thank you all again for great information and i wish you all well.

a reply to: Antwonzilla

Had that same problem in my Neck. Yes the chiropractor can help. Having your spine aligned will take stress off of it. Massage therapy was a very big help, along with ant-inflammatory foods. Swelling causes even more stress on the discs. I did all of those things for about 4 months and I was feeling gradual relief. It wasn't until I used an inversion table that I felt the most relief. A week using that just 20 mins. a day made the biggest difference for me. I still use one every day as prevention, and it's much less expensive than regular chiropractor visits.

Hope you feel better soon.

a reply to: Antwonzilla

i had 3 herniated discs. l3-l4, l4-5, l5-s1. What worked for me to get me out of the crisis of sciatica, which was near paralyzation and excruciating pain down my right leg was a program called Disk Decompression Therapy. DRX. Also in addition to chiropractic adjustments, try myofascial massage.

a reply to: Witness2008

Ive always wanted one of those table now i have a reason to get one!

a reply to: richapau

How long did the therapy last?

originally posted by: Antwonzilla
a reply to: Witness2008

Ive always wanted one of those table now i have a reason to get one!

LOL, No, not really.

I'm still chuckling over this.