Should I have surgery for my bulging disk?

Question

About a year ago, I had woken up with excruciating pain in my back and down my left leg followed by numbness. When I went to the doctor, I had an MRI done and I have a bulging disk that is sitting on my sciatic nerve (L5-S1) and he suggested surgery. My leg no longer hurts, but it is still numb. I have put off having the surgery because people that I know have had back surgery and have had bad experiences with it. I don't want to go to a chiropractor either because I don't want the disk to mess up more than it is and I'm not in pain. However, I have been getting severe headaches that start from the back up my neck, and to the sides where my temples are. Sometimes they are so bad that they make me nausous and all I can do is sleep. It usually takes a good day or so for the pain to go away. I hate having headaches and I'm thinking that my bulging disk is causing this. If so, do you think this type of surgery is safe? I don't want to be paralized if the surgery goes wrong lol

I am not having any pain in my back or leg, it is mainly the headaches that I am most troubled with.

Answer 1

I had the exact same situation. My Orthopedic surgeon that I saw told me that he did not want to do surgery because the risks out weigh the benefit. He told me that it could actually make things worse. He told me surgery on the back is a LAST RESORT. His suggestion was physical therapy. Basically you go and build your back up and the disk can go back in place. I went for 6 weeks. The pain, numbness and headaches left. It has been 2 years now and no recurrence. Don't let your doctor push the topic on you. I really do wish you the best of luck.

Answer 2

My husband had the same thing happen to him, same location and all. He nearly had surgery, but his Dr. did not recommend it. He told him to "baby" it and after some time the body would "grow accustom" to the pain and he would tolerate it easily. Now, the only problem as I have learned some 20 plus years later, is that the disc cannot heal if it is not relieved of its pressure.
Now, I have learned that a Chiropractor can do just that and more. I have had a similar problem and had many migraine headache's. A year ago I began seeing a Chiropractor and he told me and showed me through ex-rays that the disc fluid can begin to rebuild once the vertebrate are realigned. My headaches were from my neck, I had subluxation there and he worked on it till the bones began to move and stay where they should be. Once he worked on the neck for about three months, I have had few headaches and they have been light ones at that. Today, I am almost pain free. Once in a while I will move wrong or lift something too heavy and it will cause me pain. But nothing like before.
Now, Having said all that, No I would not have surgery. See a Chiropractor first, the ex-rays will tell him what he can or cannot do for you. And maybe surgery will not be needed. I would not risk surgery on my back, too may things could go wrong. Try a good Chiropractor, it is better to try that first, don't you think?
My heart goes out to you, pain is hard to deal with. I will pray for you. Good luck in your decision.

Answer 3

Have you tried physical therapy?
Have you had the nerve conduction test done??? emg?
If the nerve conduction test shows that you are having dying nerves from this disk, then surgery is good.

have you tried nerve block injections?
those work for a lot of people.

my disks are in my neck that buldge, cause numbness.
the pain was first, then the numbness because the nerve is pinched.

I would consult another ortho-doctor and see what 3 opions had to say.

yes, the disk could cause all the pain and headaches and numbness.

chirop. helped me.
what's good for me, may not be good for you.

if you don't believe in chirop. then don't go, it just won't work for you.

my brother had surgery on his lower back at age 15 and it was a miracle for him.

I'd say try 6 months of physical therapy get 2 more doctor opions and then decide!

Have your MRI updated, as it's been a year see if there are any new changes, and if you were to have surgery, they would want a new mri.

good luck!!!

Answer 4

from own experience keep away from surgery if you can.
chiropractors will make it worse.
find out your alternatives.
nasa scientists developed the drx 9000 spinal decompression equipment which is used to alleviate inter alia,bulging discs.
i know it is available in canada,so it must be available where you are.find out about it from the spinal decompression center nearest you.
good luck!