I had been having pain/tingling in my left leg all the way to my foot so I seen the doctor and he did an mri and they diagnosed me with a bulging disc in my lower back and prescribed physical therapy. I havnt had my first appt yet but this morning I woke up and my left leg doesnt hurt but now my right leg hurts all the way to my foot. Does anyone know if this is normal with a bulging disc or could it be a sign that things are getting worse/better?
#1 by dbdb1275 on February 27, 2010 - 1:14 am
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If the pain ends up down both legs its getting worse but because it has just switched legs it more a sign that the bulging disc has shifted, the protruding area is now pressing on another area of the nerve. You need to inform your doc at your next visit and also tell your physio as well. You run the risk of a disc prolapse if your bulg is already that unstable that it is shifting. Please be careful with this type of injury as currently you may be able to get better by physio and watching your posture but it can get worse very quickly and surgery is the only option then, good luck
#2 by KOOLDOWN on February 27, 2010 - 7:04 am
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Yes that is normal. Your doctor knows. It all depends where the bulging disc is pinching the nerve. I don’t think things are getting worse, you migh have slept or pressured the right side of your back causing the nerve there to be pinched overnight. It is the sciatic nerve. It could left side then alternate to right side depending on your activity.
#3 by heathrjo on February 27, 2010 - 12:07 pm
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I’ve been there, done this. If there’s any changes in your pain/tingling you doc should want to know about it. The changes in the pain/tingling mean there are changes with the disc. Most likely what is going on is this…
When the disc is bulging it is pressing up against a nerve. That nerve runs down your leg and into your foot…either your right or left leg. Most likely what is going on is that the bulging has “switched sides” and is protruding from the right side now and pushing on the nerve for your right leg rather than your left leg. Being that this happened when you got up this morning makes sense. When we sleep our discs “refill” with fluid and become more plump…we can actually be taller in the morning than at night because of this. We also move around at night and do some strange movements in our sleep. You may have flung your legs or hips around and caused the disc to move…or even herniate (rupture). Usually if a disc ruptures it will cause severe spasms down the leg though…and I promise, you could not sleep through that.
Another thought is that another disc may be bulging now. Did the doc mention that any others were close or that s/he was concerned about any others?
Of course, I’m not a doc. I’m only going by my passed experiences of what happened with me. There’s tons and tons I don’t know. This much I do know…avoid surgery at all costs, no matter what they promise you. Do everything else first. Search out and exhaust every other option before you even consider surgery. I had the best surgeon, it was a good surgery…sometimes I think my body just hates me!
There have been a LOT of advancements in the area of back discs lately. You have a LOT of options if the physical therapy doesn’t do the trick for you. Get online and research and keep yourself up to date. Discuss everything you find with your doc and let him know you are doing your best to educate yourself, s/he will appreciate that (or find another doc).
Cortisone/steroid injections work wonders for many people and can stave off surgery for years and years. Just make sure you look up how the procedure should be done and that your doc is doing it perfectly how it should be done. No, I’m not joking. I had some done at a teaching hospital and found out (after about 9 injections) that I could have been paralyzed.
There is no better info than talking to folks who have been there. The docs will always promise you the best case scenario, but that’s not always reality.
Most times folks who have these injuries come back from them in about 2 months time. Follow your doc’s orders perfectly to avoid long term problems. At the first sign of any problems, at any time, get right to the doc and don’t mess around with things. Back problems can seriously change your life.
Good luck. I wish you well. May all your discs be soft and squishy and right where they are supposed to be!