Possible bulging/herniated lumbar disc... something else?
Hello there. Until I can see my doctor for a real diagnosis, this seems to be the best place for a quick, knowledgeable guess as to the extent of my injury. Yesterday I was in a hurry and jumped in my car to sit down when I experienced an extreme, antagonizing shot of pain down my lower back. Now I've had a minor incident like this before 4 yrs ago but it healed as well as one could expect. Mayo clinic, webmd and other forums seem to point out that it is probably a slipped disc of sorts. My worry is that I can't tell if it's just Bulged or herniated! I'm a relatively healthy 23 yr old guy, very slim & haven't worked a heavy lifting job for months now. Moderate Pain continues as I bend or sit but no signs of Sciatica. Also it seems odd that such a severe injury would result from something trivial like sitting down. Is this LIKELY acute disc bulge or am I looking at months/yrs of chronic pain & recovery?