Hi, thanks for writing to HCM.
Based on the description of symptoms, it is evident that you have
lumbar disc disease with
radiculopathy. Epidural steroid injections will help in alleviating your leg pain for a few months.
The initial conservative management of your conditon is as follows -
- Avoid excessive forward bending activities as it will worsen the
disc protrusion. if you want to bend forwards, do it with your hips and knees flexed.
- Use a lumbosacral back support to stabilize your spinal muscles
- Intermittent pelvic traction might be helpful to cause a regression of the protruded disc
- Maintain optimum body weight,if you are obese
- Avoid lifting heavy weights as it imparts more strain on your back
-
Physiotherapy is needed to strengthen your back muscles. Physiotherapy has to be done after the acute pain has subsided.
- Use analgesics like advil or aleve and muscle relaxants as needed.
Vitamin B12 supplements & Pregabalin may be helpful.
If all these measures fail to provide you relief within 6-8 weeks, then surgical decompression may be an option.
Hope this information is helpful. Good day