“Spine bulge?”
I am 25 years old. I have a problem with my lower back pain. It started in my early ages, I went to the doctor with some medicine and exercise I did not feel any pain. Recently I lifted a heavy weight from that day I am feeling pain (it become numb) on the same spot. I have taken my MRI and they have a spot problem in L-4 L-5. It says there is a small-sized disc bulge with a superimposed right neural foraminal small disc protrusion mild bilateral facet arthropathy mild spinal canal stenosis moderate right and mild to moderate left lateral recess narrowing mild to moderate bilateral neural foraminal narrowing. I have visited a neuro physician a few days back and he prescribed medicine with one exercise. I will be getting married in a few months but from that day I am not getting any erection. I'm confused why this happening to me. Will this create problems in my married life I am taking my pills and doing exercises, how many days will it take to cure my spine?
Male | 26 years old
Complaint duration: 1/14/2022
3 Answers
OrthopaedicSurgery|OrthopaedicSurgeryoftheSpineOrthopaedicSurgeon
Thanks for sharing your spine bulge issue with the FATD community. I am sorry to read about this. I would be happy to offer you my thoughts, tips and suggestions. It is unlikely that your area of concern (L4-L5 vertebral level) has anything to do with an erection. This usually occurs from the parasympathetic nervous system and nerves from the sacral level of the spine (lower, closer to the pelvis and tailbone). The pudendal nerve is also involved in erections. Unless the spinal canal is compromised (which was not written in your question), it is not likely that your lower back pain and the problem are causing this lack of erection.
I think that after the trauma of lifting too much, the lower back can sometimes hurt for 4-8 weeks (depending on how severe the damage is and the strength of the inflammatory reaction). Generally, I believe in controlled elongation (traction) of the lower back while in a prone (face-down) position. This can help re-hydrate a disc that has escaped from its home (the annulus fibrosus or ligaments that house the gelatinous disc): the protrusion. With anti-inflammatory medication (not narcotics, they can have negatively affected a person’s ability to have an erection)., and the right exercises to strengthen the muscles around the lower back, one can usually feel less pain and get back to great function. However, this may take 3-6 months and with a routine of stretching, conditioning, and strengthening exercises. Sometimes a ‘cure’ is not possible, but rather a loss of the feeling of pain and the ability to do the things you like without fail can occur (which may as well be a ‘cure’). The best way to not get this again is to not lift too much, and if you do like to lift weights, do it with meticulous technique. I like exercises like those found at this link:
https://www.pop-doc.com/browse.cgi?&action=browse_results&category1=Lower%20Back&category2=Tone
I hope this helps.
I think that after the trauma of lifting too much, the lower back can sometimes hurt for 4-8 weeks (depending on how severe the damage is and the strength of the inflammatory reaction). Generally, I believe in controlled elongation (traction) of the lower back while in a prone (face-down) position. This can help re-hydrate a disc that has escaped from its home (the annulus fibrosus or ligaments that house the gelatinous disc): the protrusion. With anti-inflammatory medication (not narcotics, they can have negatively affected a person’s ability to have an erection)., and the right exercises to strengthen the muscles around the lower back, one can usually feel less pain and get back to great function. However, this may take 3-6 months and with a routine of stretching, conditioning, and strengthening exercises. Sometimes a ‘cure’ is not possible, but rather a loss of the feeling of pain and the ability to do the things you like without fail can occur (which may as well be a ‘cure’). The best way to not get this again is to not lift too much, and if you do like to lift weights, do it with meticulous technique. I like exercises like those found at this link:
https://www.pop-doc.com/browse.cgi?&action=browse_results&category1=Lower%20Back&category2=Tone
I hope this helps.
Typically Spine surgeons Neurosurgeons or Orthopedic surgeons deal with bulging discs. Their aim is typically pain relief unless leg weakness or loss of feeling is present. Then surgery is needed to prevent a permanent deficit. Erectile dysfunction would not occur with a lumbar disc at L3, 4, or 5 unless many other nerves are being pinched. If that would occur you would have a loss of feeling in the perineum, incontinence of the bowel and bladder. So, erectile dysfunction is likely from another cause. I would suggest you see a Urologist.
You have a nerve pinch. An EMG test might clarify. They need to unpinch the nerve. An epidural block might be a consideration. Long-term some form of surgery is a possibility. Work with a first-rate neurosurgeon to figure it out.
