Steroid injections or another surgery???

Saw my orthopedic doctor today and these are my options. I need to verify i can have the injections with my surgeons office tomorrow. But at my F/U today i have a bulging disk in my lower back don't know exact location until i get my report but he showed me the MRI apparently he said i have an extra disk too huh??? Anyway he also showed me another picture and the bulging disk is pushing on the nerve causing all the back pain... yet he won't prescribe anything until my injections i don't get it??? I go next Thurs for my 1st one and praying it works because i don't want another surgery. Anyone have a problem with things like this after surgery/weight loss?

I have a herniated disk.  It's very painful.  But I would definitely try steroid injections before back surgery.

Hi,

like can totally relate to your pain. I have several bulging in lower back. I had the injection (series of three) several times. Unfortunately, they did not help me. Acupuncture helped more than the injections. Losing 144 pounds has helped immensely. I still have back pain on occasion, but not like before. Before WLS I could walk five or six steps then had to stop and rest because of the pain. Now, I can walk two miles without having to rest. 

Ok, there is absolutely no need to go without pain meds.  What was his reasoning for not prescribing you anything until the injections?  I know you told him you cannot take NSAIDS and I am not a doctor but can not understand not prescribing something to help with the pain, or at least take the edge off of it.  That procedure is over a week away and being in pain 24/7 that is a long time to deal with pain.  I wish you luck, I really do.  Jane

His nurse and receptionist told me he just won't prescribe pain meds. I don't understand it. He works at a spine center where people come in with very painful conditions and proof of them and they just send them off to suffer i don't get it?????? Not like i am lying to get narcotics kwim??? My back pain is horrid but my left leg pain is worse it shoots down it spasm's all the time too! I cannot walk without a limp or pain and going to the restroom is almost impossible! When i do go i hold it as long as possible because as soon as i sit it pinches the nerves worse and my left foot goes numb and my leg starts hurting worse. I am frustrated i am getting the run around. Between urgent care/etc i have gotten valium, toradol NSAID which was A NO NO, Lidoderm patch, Tramadol, Zanaflex (muscle relaxer) and Robaxin (muscle relaxer) and one time i got tylenol 3's which took a little bit of the edge off. All the other meds just make me a zombie. i have another call into my primary care again to see if she will help with the pain meds since he will not. He is booked solid with injections and they actually wanted me to wait 2 weeks to come back for my 1st injection HECKKKKK NO! 2 weeks feels like 3 months with this pain. So i have to have someone drive me 45 minutes to MA so i can get in earlier.. i asked him for something for the pain and he said only the injections will likely work and to use ice. OMG like seriously i have used ice every single day and if it was working i wouldn't need pain control i don't understand these people.. giving controlled substances to people who abuse them yet making people *****ally need them suffer because of the abusers it's BS!

I would find another doctor. What would he have you do during surgery, bite on a strap of leather!? Is this guy old enough to have served in the field during the Civil War or something!? That is just outrageous, and IMO, irresponsible!

Seriously-he's not the only game in town. Find another doctor who is reasonable.

I had 3 bulging discs when I was pregnant with my son and decided not to have surgery but to do therapies and "care" for my back.

23 YEARS later, I have no regrets for that decision - don't rush into surgery if this is a new thing for you!

Surgery is what i am trying to avoid. The last thing i want right now is another surgery. I just had my RNY 3.5 months ago. This is a new thing for me never had a pinched nerve, bulging disk or anything like that.