Discectomy - After the Operation

[Welsh are best at rugby]

What you descibed does sound like nerve damage post injection, this should decrease over time as the nerves self heal. If it has'nt in a couple of weeks, go back and 'demand' further inquiry. Also, try some muscular massage therapy on the that muscle group, ask Stephen Jeffrey what he would suggest!

All the best

SPINELF

 

[bindao63108]

Hi everyone,

I am now 5 months post op and just had my second lot of facet joint and nerve root injections. Having started to improve I have recently had loads of pain in the top of my leg into my buttock. Both my physio and the radiographer seem to think my pain is due to a problem with my Facet joints which is apparently a common post op complication.

I am waiting to see my consultant in the New Year but wondered in the meantime if anyone else has had a similar experience? If so please let me know if there is anything to relieve it and that there is an end to this nightmare !

Thanks,

Mrs T

 

[momswildchild61]

Hi All

Haven't been on for ages! Sorry!

I am 17mths post op now and on the whole I am still doing well and pain free. Still get aches and tenderness when I am stupid and sit with bad posture in a chair that is too soft and 'comfortable'. I forget that whilst it may seem comfy at the time it certainly isn't when I try to get up.

I still have physio once every 6 weeks to tweek back any bits that need tweeking. It costs me £25 and I see it as my treat and believe that it really helps keep my recovery stable.

I still exercise a lot and feel worse if I don't do it. I am really sensible now thouigh and won't take any risks with anything that I feel may cause a problem with my back. I have found all the alternative low impact exercises which I can do when everyone else in the class is really pushing the difficult ones.

Sorry to hear that some of you are not doing so well. It did take me 11mths beofre I could really say 'Yes this has worked for me' and up until then I had doubts as to wether I would ever feel good again. I do know how it gets you down and really sympathise with you all. I hope that you all see improvement and start to benefit soon.

Regards

Pennylane x

 

[Toni]

Pennylane,

Thanks for the update, it's great to hear positive reports from people that have been there, done it, and sorted themselves out - well done to you!

Dangerous time of year, Christmas, got all the decorations out of the loft today, then set and lit a nice log fire - now having a quick rest hoping the aches are just over doing it a little bit too much - why don't we learn???

Stay well Pennylane!

Essexboy.

 

[Joe8Clark07]

Wow! you can do all that and they say you need another op! You sure?

 

[gtejkujqiupibzemy]

Hi everyone,

Not posted for ages!
Still suffering with back n leg pain, no improvement still.
Officially left work in september but my job is being held open, so am staying optimistic that hopefully one day i will go back!

How are you Jess, Olli, Melza, Tracey?
Hope things are getting better for you guys.

And to everyone else, i hope things are improving for you too

Merry christmas all!!

Love Ali xxx

 

[Six Six Six]

Hello Ali! Just thought I'd pop in and see how everyone is, I see you're still having pain..but is it as bad as before. I'm still going through that crazy maze of treatment, or non treatment. I can now report awful pain in my groin area and around my pelvis, also in my arms, neck and shoulders. Can only get better eh.

Gone round in a complete circle with some things though, on the one hand I have been declared unfit for work and about to lose my job (taken longer than I thought). And then I have been advised to take my complaint about Southampton hospital up with my local primary trust chief executive. The funny part is that they are also my employers, he's my BIG boss! Right now Southampton want me to keep going for a pre assessment until my blood results are okay, I don't think so! Gonna have tests done with my GP instead, but still desperate to get off this roller coster ride...it makes me feel sick.

Wishing everyone a pain free New Year, I know some people are having a really bad time in life so feel quite lucky in comparison.

Melza

 

[saydgeelyaves]

Yep, 100% agree with you Pennylane. It definitely took me the best part of a year before I felt anywhere near approaching 'normal' again. After just over one year, I am feeling much better and can do most things again (even things I thought I would never be able to do!) I am careful about how I lift things and also wary of sitting on spongy chairs. I am mostly pretty pain free these days. There were certainly times when I thought I wouldn't ever get to this point so hang in there people who are doing it tough.

Good to see posts from you Ali and Melza although sorry things aren't going quite to plan still.

Wishing everyone, and their backs, a good new year.

 

[My pic says SLIPKNOT!]

hi

Im just waiting on my op date on a prolapsed disc. I have been off work since august and recently been put on morphine for the pain. I cant stand for more than 30 seconds without being in agony, walking is now pretty much limited to getting to my girlfriends car. i have little or no feeling in my toes and down the outside of my right leg, and the pain is there 24/7 dulled by a combination of tramadol, solpadol, morphine, diclofenac. Im reading a few negative stories regarding the operation, has anybody benefitted greatly from it, it seems to be my last hope as i have tried everything else from acupuncture to physiotherapy.

 

[jonneyswife1]

Wishing you a swift date for your op, sounds like you are in a rough state, how long did they say you would have to wait?

 

[wishlist]

the consultant says it could take as long as 4 months

 

[DeweyWatermelon]

Hi foolsgold, I never fail to be shocked at the way people are left to suffer with back pain, just thought I would repeat myself (again) and ask where the 18 week rule went....doesn't seem to have been very active. Also, there are more people than you think having successful surgery, the winners leave the site and go back to livng their lives. This could be you too so try and keep positive. You just see a couple of old whingers hanging around here with negative experiences, just take advice from people who have had successful ops and ignore people like me.

I have my my palms pressed together and praying for something to make sense in 2010, I'm on a mission to be acknowledged and provided with any kind of treatment that will end this misery...but no more drugs!

A happy and pain free New Year to everyone! xx

 

[Live Life Love]

Thanks melza, fingers crossed, hope you all have a nice new year

 

[PandaNinja]

4 months is less than 18 weeks though, thats why they give that time. Still seems like an age, but take the time to ensure the op is the right way to go

 

[ndmagicman]

This is true Cascara but in that fairy tale world of the government it should be 18 weeks from the referral letter... I appreciate back problems aren't life threatening but its a very painful and isolating condition. Ideally we need the secretary of health to suffer a disc prolapse and then the magic wand will be waved in our favour.

I can dream!

xx

 

[*au natural*]

Hi, I had a disectomy on L5 on 26th November. I had been suffering for over 18 months and from August this year had been in constant pain and walking with a limp.
I was home the next day and walking much better than I had in months. I won't say its been easy - one step forward and three back most of the time - but I can honestly say that I seem to be almost back to normal. The real test will be on Monday when I return to work - although I will be working only three hours per day for the first week and building it up gradually.

I was terrified of the operation but I can honestly say that its worth it and despite all the frustrations and soreness during the weeks after the surgery, I would do it all again if necessary.

Best wishes

 

[deergefrill]

Hi all!

Here's wishing everyone of you a Happy New Year!

I hope 2010 brings improvement and that you all progress along the road to a future without 'the pain in the backside' - if you know what I mean!!

Kind regards

pennylane x

 

[Each_Ego]

Just popping in to say here's hoping for a happier healthier 2010 to those of us still struggling on. Mrs T x

 

[DreamWeaver]

So true Melza. I spent much more time on this site when I was in the early stage of recovery after my op and not going so well. It was a good place to come and whinge, or ask questions or talk about the recovery process and see how others were going in their own recoveries. Now, I lead a very active life and I am out and about a lot. Luckily for me, the operation has been a great success, even if it has taken most of the past year to get to this point (I appreciate for many of you it has been much longer.) I consider myself to have had an excellent outcome from the op, and I don't regret it for one second. I drove for six hours yesterday which would have been completely unthinkable even six months ago. I am back to competitive sport. I have my life back. It's definitely been a good thing for me.

 

[Prizzy]

Hi folks,

Yes there is some good news on here, I am sure a lot of people move on and get on enjoy their new lease of life after a successful recovery.

I had my discectomy on 3rd November, and went back to work today. Three hours sitting on trains, walking for 45 minutes, and sitting at my desk for most of the day - fantastic, just a slight ache in my back tonight. During the past month I have been swimming most days, and got back to the gym for some light cardio exercises. I have started walking our very lively and strong dog again, something I wondered if I would ever be able to do again. When the ground thaws out I plan to start helping out with the youth football training again.

I know if i am not careful it could go wrong again, but at the moment I am delighted with the results.

I am one of the lucky ones, so far, hopefully you will be too, foolsgold!!