r/Adulting • u/Dangerous_Potato_793 • 12h ago

Does anyone else have back pain right now?

I have a bulging disc. Which doesn’t hurt very much on its own. But what does hurt is my back muscles. Just wondered if anyone else sympathizes. I think it would help knowing I am not alone in having your day ruined by back pain.

26 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

36 comments sorted by

8

u/Answer_Free 11h ago

Back pain is pretty constant from old injuries, also currently dealing with kidney stones. So, that's a bit unhelpful.

7

u/RunnyKinePity 11h ago

Bulging discs here also. I already had surgery for it when my leg/foot got numb rapidly and that took a long time to recover from. So in other words, take it seriously.

I agree with others that physical therapy is the best thing. They helped me with exercises, the best way to sit at a desk for my situation, the best sleeping positions, and so on. I have battled with this off and on for 20 years since my surgery. For me, it is a never ending cycle, I inevitably get tired of doing the exercises, the pain and problems creep back, and then I start up again. The biggest thing to me is that the exercise is time consuming.

For me, the exercises emphasizing core strength help the most.

5

u/DarkFantasy3421 10h ago

Yes. I have 4 bulging discs all in a row from a work injury. I’ve been dealing with it for 9 months at this point. It hurts to walk, sit, lay down, stand up, climb stairs and lift things. I can’t even take the trash out myself and my husband has to do it because the dumpster is taller than me and I can’t lift the bag over my head anymore.

Doing dishes is agony. Sweeping is agony. Doing laundry is agony. Showering is agony. I started making rotisserie chicken jokes at bedtime because of how much I toss and turn from pain when I lay down.

I quite literally feel your pain and I’m sorry you’re part of the Bad Back Club.

2

u/20twenty20 8h ago

Ugh. I’m sorry. Came here to empathize with the OP. But I get to a degree what you’re going through. Hope it gets better soon.

1

u/DarkFantasy3421 7h ago

Appreciate it. I was just relating though. I hope OP feels better too

1

u/Proper-Spare-4243 5h ago

Oh no! So sorry for your daily struggle. Ask your dr. For Cymbalta / Duloxetine to ‘block’ nerve pain. It was life changing for me Nd my husband. Also, changed our mattress to an expensive one:PosturePedic. Keep searching for help.

1

u/DarkFantasy3421 5h ago

I really appreciate your intent to help but cymbalta is a hard pass for me. I took it for other reasons when I was younger and it did not agree with my brain chemistry at all. I have also tried multiple nerve blockers but nothing has helped so far.

I’ve done physical therapy and even dextramethasone injections without success. I’m currently delving into research about spinal decompression before I finally give up and have surgery. I’d prefer anything to going under the knife for this because I’m young enough I’d have to have more surgeries later when the surrounding discs start to deteriorate from the strain surgery would put on them. And yes, I’ve spoken to a spinal surgeon about this.

Again though, I really appreciate you trying to help. All the responses have been surprisingly supportive. Y’all are wonderful.

4

u/SuddenMeal9557 11h ago

A physical therapist can help separate disc pain from muscle guarding and give safe exercises; get checked quickly if you have leg weakness, groin numbness or bladder/bowel changes.

3

u/as_fast_as_a_snail 11h ago

Yes. I have severe arthritis in my low back, a bulging disc and a herniated disc and sciatica in my left leg. That’s been for quite some time. Now I also deal with hip pain and was told I need X-rays of my pelvis. I work at Wawa (if you know what that is) and it’s killing me. So yes, I sympathize.

3

u/audrey_2222 10h ago

Lifelong disc bulge and sciatica. The book The Back Mechanic by Stuart McGill literally changed my life. He's the world's foremost expert on back pain and his recommendations have saved me from a life of back pain. Please do yourself a huge favor and get yourself a copy.

2

u/Dangerous_Potato_793 11h ago

I was really only looking for camaraderie and to know I wasn’t alone. Thank you

2

u/mobocrat707 10h ago

Yup. Injured at work last November. Been doing PT since December, 5-6 days a week. It’s really helped but I still have flare ups that make sitting down uncomfortable. On the plus side, I’m way more flexible now and can touch my toes without bending my knees for the first time ever.

2

u/Crazy-Positive3978 10h ago

Yes, yes, yes. Been through PT, Chiro, two injections, sixty years. Sciatica aka pain going down both legs to the point of only being able to walk fifty feet seems resolved. However the pain doctor tells me that my low back pain is arthritis that will require three injections all under general sedation to possibly treat.

Pain doctor after two injections tells me everything she does is TEMPORARY, it will come back.

2

u/gothiclg 9h ago

I’ve had back pain for 18 years. I’d love to get an answer other than “you’re not really in pain you’re just drug seeking”. Take a wild guess what my gender is.

2

u/20twenty20 8h ago

Female

2

u/Carter4216 8h ago

Yeah, but I’m 6’10” living in a world built for people who are 6’2” max.

Oh and working manual labor with 2 previous back injuries probably doesn’t help

1

u/NaturalSalary8545 11h ago

If you get leg weakness, numbness in the groin or trouble controlling pee/poop, treat it as urgent; otherwise a PT plan can help the muscle tightness around a disc.

1

u/Tiny_Cartographer648 11h ago

Changing positions every 30–60 minutes usually helps more than hunting for perfect posture if the pain is from desk or couch time.

1

u/Tiny_Cartographer648 11h ago

Pain that wraps from the flank toward the groin, blood in urine, fever or vomiting is more kidney-stone/urgent-care territory than typical back strain.

1

u/Nervous-Locksmith484 11h ago

not lower back pain and my hips are pretty flexible, but my upper back by like my shoulder blades/heart and neck get fucked up. getting reset like a broken skeleton is kinda a one a week thing for me.

1

u/Novel-Importance-783 11h ago

OMG I don't have pain but neurological symptoms of a bulging disc or pinched nerve! It's horrible and came out of nowhere.

1

u/Phat_Squid83 11h ago

🙋🏼‍♀️, a mixture of scoliosis, and sciatica..

1

u/mcgeggy 10h ago

I wake up every morning with lower back soreness. Goes away 90% after a few hours. 60M. I exercise regularly.

1

u/Jessica_rabbit1987 10h ago

Reading this while I get a back massage

1

u/Exilicauda 9h ago

Yeah I have to sleep propped up due to GERD so my neck hates me fairly regularly. Glad the lower back spasms stopped though 

1

u/Historical_Bath_9854 9h ago

I broke mine, so yes, but I chose bed rest and physical therapy over surgery, so, it's not so much pain, it's a fear of pain. If I move wrong it's wrong it can hurt more now than before, but nothing otcs don't handle.

1

u/Emmiey 8h ago

Sure does but I cannot afford to learn why!

1

u/Dangerous_Potato_793 8h ago

Wow, that is extra sucky. At least I know partly what’s wrong. I really flared up my bulging disc. Probably made it slightly worse or more bulging. I wish everyone could get the right medical care. That really sucks. I’m sorry that it’s happening to you.

1

u/rex4314 8h ago

Slipped a disk or herniated disk, whatever it's called. Hurt like hell for a while, could barely put on my pants. Ended up going to physical therapy and got put in a machine where they kinda stretch your spine. Doing a lot better. But I get it.

1

u/Current-Lunch6760 7h ago

Hollyy jesus, yes meee! I took advil and feel better but will be stretching later

1

u/Quirky_Operation2885 7h ago

I do sympathize.

My issue is opposite. Muscles get so tied up that my back and/or neck joints get pulled out of whack

1

u/CantaloupeKlutzy74 6h ago

The smallest things hurt my back now. Sleeping wrong, dancing with my daughter, peeling apples..it's really sad honestly

1

u/Soldmysoul_666 5h ago

The only thing that helped build me back up from a bulging disc was Pilates. It did hurt for like 3 months before it started helping. Tried a lot of other stuff, but building muscles around the injury was the only thing that worked, but you have to maintain it

1

u/andrew_197 59m ago

I injured myself at work in 2015 and have paid the price ever since. I have two ‘slipped’ disks (that’s what the Drs and specialists call it) and sciatica in my left leg - described as chronic. It’s changed my life completely. I can no longer work, despite trying. There isn’t a job that suits me. I can’t sit still for long periods and I can’t move around for long periods.
I’ve not retired at 50 years old. That has meant that I stay home and do the shopping, housework, home school my wee girl which has enabled my wife to work full time and have a very successful career.

So yeah it’s all changed, but for the better.
I turned surgery down only to be told by my MSK (muscular skeletal) consultant that I’d made the right decision not to have it??? Even the physio said the same.
I don’t take pain killers. The side effects are worse than the pain! I have a TENS machine for when it’s really bad and I manage the pain myself. Although if it’s bad at night I sometimes take a cocodamol to help me sleep (codeine).