L4/L5 Herniated Disk - looking for advice

[u/sreylas843]

Any fellas in here dealt with a herniated disk, specifically at or around the L4/L5 area? Pain started Saturday morning 8/23 when I woke up at the station before shift change and progressively got worse throughout the day to the point I couldn’t sit, stand or lay and could barely walk. Decided to go to a small urgent care/ER that night and had an xray done which showed nothing, they gave me a steroid injection and muscle relaxer injection and prescribed me Methylprednisolone and Orphenadrine. No relief whatsoever from the injections or the meds. Woke up the next day (Sunday), same amount of pain and symptoms. Went to a chiropractor that afternoon, did some twists and pops and told me to up my water intake and keep icing it. No relief. Monday (8/25) I decide to go to an actual ER for CT scan or MRI just to at least get some answers. Did the CT scan which showed the herniated disk. Gave me a dose of Vicodin and a lidocaine patch which didn’t touch the pain. Physical therapist came into the room afterwards and did some stuff, actually felt a bit better after that. Getting up from sitting or laying still hurt but walking was actually less painful. Hospital switched me from methylprednisolone to prednisone and continue taking orphenadrine, but neither seem to help.

Fast forward to today, pain comes and goes but when it comes it’s rough. I start physical therapy this afternoon and hoping for some progress from that. But just posting to see if anyone here as some insight or advice on what worked for them. Just looking for some light at the end of the tunnel.

P.S. take care of your backs.

[u/AdmirableDouble5]

L4/L5 herniation here. Unbelievable sciatic pain. First injury was 1.5 years ago. Epidural steroid injections along with PT helped the most for me. Most Docs anymore are against diskectomy unless you have motor deficits, due to down the road leading to more surgeries. Biggest advice I can give is that getting through the first 2 years without reinjury is super important. I re injured it twice shortly after steroid shots cause I felt back to myself again and started doing too much to fast. Baby steps as it heals and time. Luckily for me I have an awesome crew that is helping to protect my back and doing most the heavy lifting. I am back to about 70 percent now as far as the pain goes. Stretch as much as you can, walk a few miles everyday, and do your PT.