Bulging at L-3 L4?

MRI showed Bulging Disc at L3-L4 this is a work related injury. went to see a ortho surgeon. he told me that i had arthritis and that the disc would heal itself and release me with no restrictions back to work. i am a Certified Nurses Assistant. I disagree with Dr and have refused to go back to work. i have lost my WC and could now lose my job. Did i do the right thing? i am still going to PT. but ROM is very very limited.

You should have gone back to work. My son has a bulging disc at L3-4 from playing high school football and he is fine. he works on a farm doing hard manual labor every day and is fine. This is something that you can live with and it in no way kept you from doing your job. Workers comp. benefits in no way compare to your regular salary.

PT is a wonderful adjunct to repair and rehabilitate soft tissue injuries. However, if you have a bulge at L3/L4, would it not be a better idea to have the disc decompressed to help pull that tissue back inward away from your cord and nerve roots? On a positive note,,,it said that the disc was bulged as opposed to herniated, fragmented, or extruded. Bulging is the most mild form. Discs do not "heal themselves" though . They are similar to a sprained ankle. Ever sprain your ankle badly in the past?How easy is it to step on your foot JUST the wrong way and have your ankle give out from underneath you now? Discs are ligaments...they can be damaged and stretched as well. See a chiropractor or osteopath and have them manipulate the L3/L4 level in flexion...Once the acute pain is gone...THEN it would be advisable to go through PT to strengthen what is already healed.

Dr. B