Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Bulging L4/L5...yeah me!

Well my 4-week "flare" ended up being a "slight" bulge in L4 L5..although I'm not convinced that I'm not also flared.

I've had quite a bit of steroids this past month which always helped but would not completely clear things up.

This last shot (Friday) got me much able to walk better, better range of motion and made me feel much less weak (I was nearly bed ridden). But I'm worried that it's wearing off as I'm starting to get that swelling feeling back again and that lump on my sacro area is still there.

Doc (rheumy) said it will clear up on it's own if not got to orthapedic doc.

Anyone have advice on next steps? I'm putting calls in to 2 friends who are sports doctors to get their opinion on how to handle this.

My worry is the traditional excercises they suggest will just flare up my AS...aaarrgghh!

I'm so depressed right now and looking for any input! Be gentle I can't take much more bad news. It's been one health crisis after another for 2 years straight and I'm trying to get my "fight" back but I'm just beat down right now!

Sending Hugs

Gerri and Service dog Makaylah PS she sends hugs as well

That is what I thought it was. I have one there too Rita as well as a few others. It was getting bad so I got an epidural but I think something happened back there during surgery and Yikes it all hurts!

My first bulging disc happened in 1994 and I had to have a Laminectomy. Years later it will disintegrate but mine took 14 years to do so and then I had to have a fusion to stabilize the area. That helped a lot too. Our spines are very, very fragile and it doesn't take much to do harm to them. When I became aware of this I started to watch what I did more carefully and protect my back as much as possible

I am so sorry you are faced with this. I hope you find some answers and some relief soon.

Hi Ritachick,

That stinks big time. I have L4 and L5 herniated discs and I think that can be a lot of what is causing pain. I am glad you are getting to walk better each day. I hope you are taking it slow and not trying to rush things. When I was in your situation I would do a little more each day but not wait till it started to hurt. Baths and bed rest helped but I learned to get up every once in a while and walk around or I would get too stiff. I would not do any exercises till I was healed and then only those your doctor or this site recommends.

Hope you feel better soon

So sorry to hear about your discs Rita I have herniated discs at L1/L2, L2/L3, L4/L5 and L5/S1 with annular tears as well, so I hear ya on the pain!

Great that the steroid injections seem to be helping somewhat - they never did for me sadly.

My advice is to find a really good physiotherapist who has experience in multiple issues like ours and won't just give you the "standard" exercise. I found lots of soft tissue work to keep the muscles in the area mobile helped, gentle stretching and very gentle pilates style exercises to get the core nice and strong. Also second the regular getting up - I found 5 minutes just wandering round the house every 30-60 minutes was better than just sitting around and lying was much easier than sitting. Heat packs were a must!

I hope you can find some relief soon!

I am sorry you are in pain.

You came to the right place where we all understand. Bulging discs are not fun.

Ice helps and heat helps. I use Lidocaine patches at bedtime to help with sleep.

Blessings.
Possi

Thanks for the support all, it means a lot!

I'm still not convinced I'm not having an AS flare as well, SI joints are ouching pretty good and the swelling in the sacro area does not seem consistent with the disc issues.

Steroid shot (arm) wore off yesterday with a vengence every muscle and nerve in my body is screaming (Fibro as well?). and I feel so stiff/swollen every where.

Can't eat cant sleep, losing weight fast.

Trying to get back into the doctor, the nurse is supposed to call with my sed-rates but I'm getting the impression that once the doc heard disc bulge she was done..hope I'm wrong!

I have some bulges that go in and out. Flare up for a time, then recede a bit. But when it's flared, miserable. So big hugs. Do you have a pain management doc yet? That's who to see first. If you need to see a surgeon, they can tell you that, too. I'd exhaust all non-surgical options first, before I saw a surgeon, but that's my choice. You might feel differently on that.

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