What is the treatment for back pain and leg pain?
Patient: Hi, I was having back pain along with acute pain at legs and somewhat at hands. I have undergone MRI and below is finding from MRI reports IMPRESSION: Early subtotal disc dessication and degeneration of L5-S1 vertebral level with mild disc bulge seen associated with thecal indentation Doctor has given me medicine for 15 days and asked for rest (didn t ask for bed rest just said don t bend forward and don t carry weight, that s it) and and said I will get relief in 15 days, but it has been 4 days while taking medicine but I didn t get any pain relief. Could you please advice me that how much days generally it takes for pain relief. Also, one of my friend who had slip disk in the past said that doctors generally gives medicine for 15 days to stop the pain and after that start traction etc. Please advice. I am worried because age is just 24 years Doctor: Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.  I’m sorry this has happened to you and at such a young age. back pain can be very debilitating. like your doctor said, you start off with less invasive treatment and give time. In addition to your medication, you can also try physical therapy and physiotherapy. After this, you can try some epidural steroid injections which calm the nerves down in your back and can give you pain relief and the ability to move around.  Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.