how do i get low cost relief for my bulging disk, and pinched nerve pain?

Question

i am in total agony, with a lot of pain in my lower back, and radiating into my right hip. i dont have much money to spend, but i need pain help. ive been in pain for probably 5 months, and my doctors insisted that i was not in pain. now after an mri showed a bulging disk and a pinched nerve in my back, they are refusing me pain meds. im on a lot of other meds, for different stuff, so herbal is not an option. i dont have the money or any insurance to cover chiro or massage therapy. does hot water or ice packs work? is there a massager i can buy to help with the pain. it has to be low cost though. any other ideas would be nice. im not supposed to stretch it, or carry anything over 10-15lbs. i am basically bedridden at the moment, because movement causes me serious pain

Answer 1

I've been there and it's not fun! Here are some no cost options to try:
1) if it's a pinched nerve, don't use heat because it may aggravate it/inflame it. Use ice. Put some ice or frozen peas in a bag in a towel or washcloth and place it on that area for as long as you can stand it (maybe 10 minutes or so). Wait a few minutes and do it again. You may have to move it around a little, so it's not constantly in the same spot. You need to do this several times a day!

I agree with "Faith" that medical doctors really don't understand back pain..."not stretching" is nuts! Try this:
2) if you live with someone, lay on your back on your bed with your feet hanging off the edge. (it's easiest if you lay on your bed from side to side, rather than the direction you normally would lay). Have someone GENTLY tug on both of your legs (at the same time). It's easier for them to hold on to you if you have some shoes on, like sneakers or a snug shoe. This tugging should feel good because it allows the discs to separate a bit and relieves the pressure on the nerve (the nerve fits between the discs). Sometimes, if you're lucky, the nerve will move the slightest bit and will actually relieve some of the pain. This simulates the idea of traction on your spine.
3) After you've done that, have your friend/spouse walk around to your head and GENTLY tug on both of your arms (both arms at the same time). While they do this, take a deep breath and let it all out. You'll find that the deep breathing allows for a more complete stretch. This should also feel awesome on your back/disc.
4) If you possibly can, lay on your back on the carpeted floor. Gently pull one knee up to your chest and hold it there. You may need someone else to help you with this if you are in major pain. Put that one down and do the other knee. Then you could try to lift both knees up to your chest at the same time and GENTLY roll side to side.
5) Another good stretch: stand up and GENTLY allow your hands to drop down towards the floor (so that you are trying to touch your toes). Stay there and keep deep breathing. Each time you exhale, allow your body to "fall" a little deeper. Hang like a limp rag doll. Sometimes this feels really good on your back.
6) As for pain, can you take ibuprofin with your other medication? If so, take two 200 mg tablets to help reduce some of the inflammation and the pain.
7) Check on the internet to see if there are any chiropractic schools or massage therapy schools in your area that you could get a reduced rate for treatment.

I feel SOOO bad for you! No one understands that pain unless they've experienced it! Try these and let me know how they work for you.

Answer 2

Here is the exercise that my Husband and Daughter use to solve this problem.

Lay on the floor and put your legs up on the coffee table or foot stool to get your legs in the L shape. Lay this way for at least 30 minutes each time.

This will open the vertebra and give the nerve a chance to "unpinch". Sleep flat on your back with sofa cushions behind your legs to keep this position over night. Stay flat on your back.

Take Ibuprofen to help relieve the inflammation in the disk.
Ice packs are good to, to relieve the swelling.

Sit on Hard seated chairs ONLY> If you drive or ride in the car, put a square, towel covered board in the seat so you do not squish down and allow it to pinch again.

If it has been in this shape for 5 months it might take that long using these methods to correct it.

My daughter had this happen and carried her wood seat everywhere and occasionally still uses it. It took many months to resolve the problem

I had this many years ago and finally discovered the cause was my car seat had developed a soft sag. (I was driving 100 to 200 miles a day).

I had padding added to the seat at an auto upholstery shop and it solved the problem.

Good Luck.

Answer 3

I disagree - any light stretching you can do right now, as long as it doesn't make your leg more numb, is good. Use a combination of ice and hot packs. If you belong to a gym use the Roman chair (lightly, just let it stretch). If you're at home do an exercise which is a dip with your back to a chair, legs out in front with your hands behind you on the chair (get it?) Has to be a stable chair too. Then let yourself up slowly and down. Also lay on the ground with your legs up on the chair for stretching. Even hernias will eventually heal given the right influences.
Also, stretch slowly on your back from side to side, then pull up both knees slowly and then down 5-10 times. Also try lying on your stomach and push your upper body up slightly so you arch your back. Do all these exercises lightly so they aren't too painful. Start slow and build up over the next couple weeks till you can do it easier. Good luck! (the opinions of this chiropractor are not the responsibility of yahoo and the chiropractor may have been drinking at the time...etc.)

Answer 4

Relief For Bulging Disc

Answer 5

I've had a bad back since I was twenty, so you have my deepest sympathy. Try lying on the floor and putting your legs on the couch. This will take pressure off your lower back and let the muscles start to relax. Those muscles are pinching your Sciatic nerve and that's why the pain goes down your leg. This might take several days, but once those muscle do start to relax, try popping your lower back by twisting your hips slowly. Don't push it to far. If you do here a pop, then stop and let your back relax again. I find its like a jigsaw puzzle, as muscles relax you'll be able to adjust your back, back. As for doctors, they have no sympathy. A couple of years ago I kneeled down on two nails and they went into my knee about a half inch or so. The doctors didn't want to give me any pain pills because their wasn't very much swelling, even though my leg was on fire.

Answer 6

You aren't suppose to stretch it?!? That's crazy!! I have the exact same thing (my left lower back). When I can't afford to go to the chiropractor this is what I was taught to do from my knee surgeon, who by the way use to be a chiropractor. Lie flat on your back either on your bed, on the floor, where ever you are most comfortable. Then one leg at a time, bring your leg up (bent) as close to your chest that you can. Do 15 to 20 reps. with each leg every day. It really helped me, but what has also helped me is that I have started working out. My lower hasn't felt this good in many years. I think I'd be getting a second opinion on the no stretching. Talk to a physical therapist..... you will be amazed at the things they know that medical doctors don't like to tell.

Answer 7

Although stretching is very beneficial to help with the muscle spasms associated with bulging discs and the resultant nerve pressure, you need to be doing the right ones so as not to aggravate the disc injury. Pulling the knee to the chest may aggravate the disc because that causes lumbar spine flexion which can push the disc out further. Conservative chiropractic is very successful treating disc injuries. Although you may be limited financially many chiropractors have great payment plans which is much more affordable than surgery if not treated properly.

Answer 8

You may want to seek a really good chiropractor preferably petibon, because this is not something that will just go away. Surgery is extreme and it can take years to recover from. To ease the pain if they won't give you meds, hot and cold therapy and rest. Chiropractor can help realign you in about 6 to 12 months

Answer 9

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Answer 10

When you are able to do it I have heard of people with disk problems benefiting from Yoga.