Question
among the other back problenms that i have i also have a bulge of the l4-l5 disc. that is what the doctor said from looking at the x-ray. he did admit that it may be herianted it is very hard to tell from the xray alone. i also have spina bifida a great big hole in L5. this i guess is from birth. i realize that it is very hard to know exactly where the pain may be coming from that is reffered pain. some times in only my left big toe and perhaps the parts of that foot when i sit down it gets numb and goes to sleep. now i have read about the psuedo sciata of the piriformis muscle and when i mentioned this to the doctor he mentioned that he did check to see if the piriformis was tight and it was ok he thought. so do you think that this numbness of the toe and foot would be caused by the bulged disc and or spina bifida? also the doctor that i have really does not do anything with all the patients that i have had the pleasure of seeing there in his office while i was there. all he does it would seem is give anti inflammotories and advice. but his attitutde would seem to be well the back problems are too varied and complicated to fix so dont try to at all or ever give any areas to further explore. dont ever answer any direct questions. just say well its very complicated. anyway from doing massive amounts of stretching certain muscles and stenghten others daily i have reduced the pain level. but too me this bulged disc and spina bifida i really dont know how to proceed on or explore?

thanking you in advance.

Answer
Dear Jii,

You have proceeded in a most intelligent manner.  There is something effective you can do.

The relief you get from stretching indicates that the problem is muscular and not from the spina bifida.

Read the relevant articles at somatics.com/page4.htm; they give direct answers and guidance.

Get a preview of the program, Free Yourself from Back Pain from the Resource page at somatics.com/page7.htm.

with regard,
Lawrence Gold