For the last three years I have had chronic back pain and it is only getting worse. I had an MRI and I have a bulged disc, but the doctors say that 60% of the population have a bulging disc, it just doesn't effect them. They don't think my bulging disc effects my back pain because the disc is bulging out the left side and I don't feel pain down my legs. I feel it all the way up my right back and into the shoulder and arm. I have been downing robaxacet like candy and it never helps. Last week I was flying on an hour long trip. I had to sit and wait to board the plane for an hour, than I had to wait another foury five minutes until we finally took off. Half way through the flight I had to ask the flight attendent if I could lay down in the aisle because my back was hurting so badly. I just can't believe how terrible the pain is but I can't do anything about it. I don't know nor do I care what is causing it but I need a way to somehow manage it. When do you think it would be justifiable for me to ask for some prescription medication for the pain or am I justified in asking for it at all?

I have always looked at pain killers as a last resort option or as a means of opening a window of opportuniy to undertake rehab. In your post you dont mention wheteher you r doing any exercises (hydro, pysio etc) to ssist you to mange the pain. I would be exploring these options before I started down the track of heavy drugs. Not sure if this answers your question but thought I would add my thoughts just the same

Good luck

Losy :confused:

You didn't say at what level you have the bulge...but if it is in the lower lumbar, it is very unusual to have pain where you describe it. I would suggest that an MRI of the thoracic and cervical area would be wise to rule out a problem there. It's awful to be in so much pain and not know what is causing it; generally speaking, lumbar pain travels down not up but there are exceptions to every rule. You are probably going to have to find a doctor who will play detective for you and locate the source of this pain.

Much good luck.

Carol

Even before a doctor finds the cause of your pain it might be worth requesting pain medications. If you only use them in frequently then at least it's available to you when you need them.

I am on a university track team and the back injuries are a direct result of an injury I sustained during a competition. For the last three years I have had access to physical therapy and chiropractors through the university's sports medicine program. I just recently had an MRI that said I have a bulging disc. I think it was at S1, its at the lowest part in the back. I don't really feel that I have any options here because I have been going to chiropractors and physical therapists for three years and I am only getting worse. I have access to doctors that are top notch sports medicine doctors, as they are the doctors for all the schools athletic teams, but nobody seems to know what the problem is or what to do about it, because we have tried everything.

I would suggest getting an outside opinion from another doctor. An MRI does not always show everything and there are other tests that can be done as well.


Carol

I agree. I had a "bulging disk" for years too and it was painful and kept getting worse until finally an MRI revealed it had herniated onto the nerve. Then the doctor said he thought it had been torn all along. So MRI's don't show everything, only sometimes.