L5 bulge and nerve compression - HELP!

Injections failed for me and I would never take Gabapentin because of the side effects. In the end, I had a laminectomy at L4 through S1 for severe right side sciatica and I was better in one day, completely done with all residual pain in a week.

All I can say about injections is they are a temporary fix, and have a lesser effect each time they're used. My best luck was with the first one, lesser for second, etc. I don't have the same issue as you. I had spinal stenosis at L3/L4, as well as disc deterioration in that area. Had minimally invasive type surgery with a single rod and two screws, and disc removed. The rod is on one side of the vertebra, and a pad between L3/L4 on the other. My own bone material was used as fusion material.

If you have a bulge, I would assume it will only get progressively worse, with surgery the only other option.

Mine has seemed to have worked out well, with the only problem an arthritic hip. I am in week 8 of healing. Not sure this helps, but would add, if you elect for surgery, get a second opinion from another surgeon, and get the best surgeon possible.

I've been up all night too i think this is the third time this past week. i had really bad sciatia pain down my whole right leg, this is something new, usually its the left side.

Before you have anymore steroid injections, please do some research on them. i had over 20 (L-4-5,S1 ) as someone else said, they may give some relief in the beginning, but seem not to the more you have. Also, i stopped getting them when i found out they are not approved by the FDA to be used in your spine. Drs like to push them because they make alot of money off them. i even heard one patient telling that her pain dr refused to give her anymore pain meds unless she agreed to the injections. Look up Dr Oz's opinion on them on Youtube. Also do some research on adhesive arachnoditis. I've talked to some that ended up with this. Its very painful, and there's no cure for it. It's caused by scar tissue that can build up and cause the nerves to stick together.

Ive had disc replacement done at L5, with a titanium cage above. Degenerate disc disease. My level 3 disc is now bulging, and i've got arthritis in my back. i had a spinal cord stimulator put in about 3 years ago, with no luck either. I'd have it taken out, but i dont want to go thru another surgery. It causes my lower spine to vibrate even when it is off and the battery is dead. pain has been so bad im vomiting from it.

I just had x-rays taken to see if all my hardware is in the right place, and not have any broken screws. My dr had his license taken away because he was in on a scam where they were putting screws in that weren't hospital quality, and they're snapping in half in people.

Good luck to you, and always get a second opinion. I got 3, and another 3 after my surgery. None of them made a difference, they all told me the same thing.

Hi Sar,

Sorry to hear you are in pain. I'm not a doctor but here are some of my experiences.

My sciatic pain built up to the point where I couldn't tolerate it, even with strong opioids, so I opted for the nerve decompression surgery (discectomy and laminectomy) for L4/L5 and L5/S1 back in 2010. The recovery from surgery itself was fairly quick but I needed about 6 months of P/T for the pain to diminish completely, and for me to get off of the pain meds. After that I had about 4 years of relief but eventually developed spinal arthritis. I've never gotten a straight answer as to whether the surgery hastened the arthritis or whether, due to the degeneration in the area, it was inevitable anyway. Studies do show that a large percentage (over 50%) of people who get that decompression surgery are in pain again 5 years later, but at least I got 4-5 years of relief - so given how minor the surgery was, I'm glad I did it.

Like others in this group, I've had multiple epidural injections, the duration of which faded over time. If your injections did help for a period of time, though, you might consider talking to your pain doctor about a "radio frequency ablation" - during such a procedure the doctor burns a small lesion onto a key nerve pathway with radio waves (or heat), shutting off the pain. It works similarly to how the injection works except that it can last for 6-12 months and can be repeated. The process is similar to how you get an epidural injection (except that they thread a thin metal wire down the needle instead of steroids and heat the wire to put a very small burn on your nerve pathway).

I've also had a spinal cord stimulator (SCS) implanted and I would say that while it hasn't been a cure-all it has definitely decreased my pain level significantly, and has allowed me to lower my level of pain meds. Just be sure to insist on getting a high-frequency SCS because with those you feel no vibration.

Finally with regards to pain meds - I'm a believer in taking what you need to be functional, under a doctor's guidance. I've had good results with gabapentin and the only side effect I've ever had from it was simply a bit of fatigue. I've also had better success with pain meds that are extended release rather than immediate release, since much of my pain occurs overnight and in the morning after immediate release pills wear off (but extended release don't).

Good luck!

Morning...if you are to the point of not being able to live a normal life, surgery is really the only real option you have. I've had spine/disk problems my entire life. Started when I was in elementary...I'm 56 now. If you have surgery it is imperative you go to physical rehab & learn how to lift & not lift for the future. You must strengthen the muscles in your lower back so to support the other disks. Once you have a cleaning & or fusion done the disks above or below will be weakened because they take on more stress. I had my first surgery on my neck when I was 26. Since then I've had 10 more surgeries...I'm fused from C2-T3 & L3-S1 I'm not saying this will happen to you. What I am saying is you must take better care of your physical health going forward. I played competitive sports & I now see how it caused me more probs with spine. Good luck & God Bless,

I have had numerous procedures on my spine since I had a disc removed L4/5 in 1982.....

Finally was recommended a Denervation via the Pain Management Clinic and it worked a treat in 2015 and have required NO intervention since MAY 2015 apart from the odd pain relief for other problems.....the nerve was cauterised but I had an initial flare up thinking I had made a dreadful mistake but after 6-8 weeks all was perfect. I have just started to get more pain but in a different place as Doc said the nerve will grow again but they don't know in what place/direction and I am due for a review in next 2 months to see if I can have another denervation...I will jump at the chance.....was perfect for me and hope it will be again....no guarantees mind you but well worth asking your pain people about it....

Good luck....x

chico has wrote some nice stuff on backs and has a nice mathodical aproach to it .

not an expert me had the ten years of chyro the 50 day reaction to the epidurol steroid injections .three levels herniated disks root nerve impindgment and S1 L4-5 stenosis decompression operation anyway liaten to chico you will survive its tough going to start with but you will power on through be strong 😃