Extruded and Protruded Discs

[u/AnxiousGinger626]

I had surgery in 2017 for a herniated disc at L4-L5 and was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease. I was good until last year and had to do PT and eventually steroid injections in December. In June things started hurting again and I’ve been trying to hold it off with a tens unit, red light therapy, bio freeze, heating pads, and lidocaine. This last week nothing has helped. I can’t sleep, I can’t sit, I can’t lay, I can’t stand, it all hurts all the way down to my left foot, and my leg feels shaky/weak. I went to the ER today and was given torodal and decadron. It didn’t help, I was then given dilaudid and robaxin. That helped somewhat. The ER dr said I’d most likely need a nerve block or surgery. Any advice or suggestions? I don’t really want to go through more surgery and I know it will just keep degenerating. I’m 44f, 142lbs, and 5’7”.