What is the best time to take Lyrica so one can sleep with bulging discs in lower spine?

I take it 1 hour (one hour) before bedtime.
Sometimes it starts working within 1/2 hour, although usually it takes a bit over an hour --it varies depending on how tired I am. Lyrica makes sleep possible. And my sleep is deep and restful.
I wake up clear-headed and with no unpleasant effects.
I have 5 bulging discs, and lost 1/2" in height due to two compression fractures.
You may want to ask your physician for physical therapy. It helped my pain significantly. It's imperative to do those prescribed exercises daily at home; it's been 10 years for me and when I stopped for a year I really noticed the increase in pain and so I went back to doing the daily at-home exercises.
By the way, I also have severe hypothyroidism and severe narcolepsy. Lyrica works wonders with my narcolepsy; the frequency, strength, and duration of seizures are all greatly reduced by Lyrica.