Understanding the Intensity of Bulging or Herniated Discs: A Personal Journey

A personal account of enduring the excruciating pain of bulging or herniated discs. This article shares the firsthand experience of a former educator who suffered through two bulging discs over a decade, offering insights into the nature of this debilitating condition.

What do Bulging or Herniated Discs Feel Like?

Bulging discs can be described as one of the most intense and unrelenting forms of pain you’ll ever experience. My own journey with bulging discs began during a hiking expedition in Antarctica, marking the onset of the excruciating pain that would overshadow the next six months of my life.

In the early stages, the pain was initially mistaken for a mild hamstring pull. However, as time progressed, the pain rapidly intensified to a point where it became an inverse of my life's quality. Six months post-hiking, my pain was so severe that any attempt to find comfort—whether it was standing, sitting, lying down—was futile. The pain was a constant, 10 out of 10 on the pain scale, every movement, every moment, with no respite even during sleep.

Description of the Pain

It’s incredibly difficult to explain the sensation of a bulging disc in words until you’ve experienced it. Imagine having a dozen grizzly bears gnawing on your leg for 24 hours a day, continuously tearing flesh down to the bone, persistently over a period of 12 months without a moment’s respite. This was the reality I faced. My pain was far more intense than the experiences of childbirth, kidney stones, or even shingles. It surpassed all of these in magnitude and intensity, making it one of the most severe forms of pain known to humans.

Anecdotes

My affliction was not exclusive to me. Two of my friends suffered from shingles, which they ranked at an 8 out of 10, while the pain from their herniated discs was a resounding 10 out of 10. Another relative underwent a fierce motorcycle accident, enduring intense pain from the fragmented disk compared to the excruciating sensation of limb amputation.

Treatment and Hope

Despite the dire nature of my condition, I initially tried to push through the pain by continuing to teach calculus for over 30 years. Medications like hydrocodone and oxycodone were virtually ineffective, offering no relief. Friends suggested various treatments like chiropractic care, acupuncture, and epidural steroid injections, but these too failed to diminish the pain. Finally, I sought the advice of a neurosurgeon who performed an MRI that revealed two bulging discs—one nearly disintegrated—toward the bottom of my spine. It was discovered that a piece of bone was missing, exacerbating my condition and making it hereditary, as a similar condition occurred in my father and his father.

Unfortunately, all other methods failed to alleviate the pain, and I ultimately opted for surgery. In just six months, I underwent three surgeries, and a year later, I was pain-free. It has now been 13 years since my last surgery, and I sincerely hope to never experience that level of pain again.

Negative Testimonials

The stories of two friends who ended their lives in desperation to escape their pain and a relative’s account of a grueling motorcycle accident serve as stark reminders of how dire and all-consuming the pain of bulging or herniated discs can be.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

While bulging or herniated discs can be an extremely painful condition, the option of treatment, albeit present, is not a cure-all solution. The intensity of pain can vary widely, and those who suffer from it must be resilient and seek the most suitable course of action. My personal journey has left me with a deeper understanding of the value of pain relief and the resilience required to overcome such challenges.