I have bulging disks in my back..HELP!?

Question

I found out a little over a year ago that I have three bulging disks in my back, which was causing pain down my both of my legs. I have had about 5 nerve blocks to try and stop the pain but nothing is working and the doctor wont do anything else. He said I am to young to have surgery(I am 20yrs old). Does anyone know of something that I can be done to fix this problem. I dont care if I have to have surgery. I am just to dang young to be having this much pain!!

Answer 1

i am a chiropractor and specialize in spine related injuries. the disc acts as both a cushion and a spacer between each vertebrae. if a disc is bulging/herniated, that bulge can put pressure on the nerves exiting between each vertebra which causes a "pinched nerve." also if the disc is wearing out (getting thinner) you lose the space between the vertebra, which leaves less room for those nerves to exit--and again can pinch a nerve. those nerves in your low back form the sciatic nerve which runs all the way down your leg. if any are "pinched" they can cause pain, numbess, tingling, weakness from your low back to the foot.

as a chiropractor i see this type of scenario on a daily basis. for those who have degenerative disc disease, disc herniation, disc bulging, etc.--normal chiropractic care can usually help with those problems. but there are also many people out there that have had this problem for many years and can't find relief with anything they try--including chiropractic.

but now there is a treatment that is perfect for your situation and the best part is: it's non-surgical and non-invasive. if you haven't heard of it yet it is called spinal decompression. this type of treatment focuses on disc injuries and the problems they cause. i use the DRX9000 spinal decompression system in my office and it works wonders for people with these types of injuries (approx. 90% successful). the DRX9000 is fda approved and is the best decompression system available (there are cheap knock-offs that don't give the same results).

my recommendation would be to see a chiro, especially if you've never tried it before-just to see what they have to say. also do some research on this treatment and then contact someone (usually a chiro) who uses it in their office. i would just google "DRX9000" to find info on it and doctors in your area who may have it. this treament is able to encourage the disc to go back to it's normal orientation and also rebuild its height--which then takes the pressure off whatever nerve it is compressing. pain meds, cortisone shots, epidurals won't do anything to solve the problem--all they do is cover it up and they become less and less effective over time. surgery AT BEST is 50% successful and usually doesn't solve the problem either.

this treatment is extremely effective for degenerative disc disease, disc bulging, herniation, etc. and also sciatica type of cases, especially if you haven't had surgery yet. i've had many patients who were scheduled for surgery, tried this treatment as a last resort, and then ended up cancelling their surgery altogether after treatment was completed. it really does work and that's what my recommendation would be for you. good luck and hopefully this gives insight to others experiencing similar problems--there is a solution!!!

Answer 2

Hmmm. Have they isolated the nerves where they are giving the injection? My mom has been in pain for over 3 years, finally gave in to an epidural to the nerve they diagnosed and after about 10 days she was pain free. Now almost 3 months later she says the pain is coming back, and she is planning another treatment. The dr said that if you go too long with the nerve pinched in the back, that surgery might not alleviate the problem. She had every test and treatment imaginable to try to ease her pain, including prolotherapy and a 'unique' massage technique from the UK that very few people do in the U.S. No-one could help her pain, or find the exact cause or root of the problem.
Finally the dr had her x-rayed standing up and bending over, rather than laying down. This enabled them to immediately see where the problem was. That was when they isolated it.
I would try another dr. Try isolating the nerve and try another epidural to the nerve. At that point I would seriously consider surgery, especially at your age.

Answer 3

You are having sciatica pain in your legs. I know this too well. Ive lived with chronic pain for the past 5 yrs, due to a car wreck. I had back surgery for MY sciatica pain, and it worked. BUT I still have pain all over my body, mainly my back. I have 4 bulging discs in my back and I know how you feel.

Id see another doc. Maybe someone else can help you. I would look into a chiropractor, they helped me alot recently. I was always against them, but now I feel differently. They are using this laser therapy now, and it helps alot. You should look into it. I wish you luck and hope you can get some relief real soon. Dont give up. Things COULD turn around for you.

Also, try laying on ICE. Its better than heat. This doc shouldnt be thinking about your age, he should be thinking about your pain. I had to leave the state to get someone to help me. My new doc said that they made alot of money on me here, and he was right.

Answer 4

OK I know this sounds weird but this happened to my dad and he didn't want to have surgery cause he is very active. So he went to a physical trainer everyday to build muscles up in his back and he would do low impact cardio. Then this is the weirdest part he would sleep on the floor on his back. He did this for a year. He and now he is in good condition again. But he only does cardio every other day now. But has been pain free and this was about 6 years.

Answer 5

OWWWWW! That sounds PAINFUL and you're too young to have a bad back! I think that your best option is to see a chiropractor, as you're NEVER too young to receive chiropractic treatment. For more information on chiropractic care, please check out Dr. David W. Darrow's website. He's a local chiropactor in Altimonte Springs, Florida, but he has a wealth of information about chiropractic care in general on his Darrow Total Care website.

Answer 6

I would seek a 2nd opinion.Your not to young. if they injections haven't helped and often they don't. Your still in daily pain. Then it sounds like surgery is thw way to go for you. Seek another doctor.

Answer 7

sounds to me like you need to find a new doctor if this one is more focused on your age than your pain,

Answer 8

I feel your pain....And that's all I can do to help you.
May this go away as soon as possible, so you can talk about in past tense.

Answer 9

young or not, it sounds like you need the surgery,,