Discectomy - After the Operation

[Lovely Bunny]

hi
i was supposed to go to manor with mr oli and they put my notes as none urgent so i was delayed i decided to pay private in the end. totally disagreed with doing it as i have paid in the tax system for 3o years but i was suicidal so money was not a issue i found it someway and after consultation was in the next 3 days and now in recovery, the other problem i had with manor they wanted to give me cortizone injections first which would have only delayed my problems i wanted a cure.
im glad you operation went well though bought some hope back to nhs walsall.

 

[dayu]

wow its very quiet on here now! Good tho cos that means you must all be up and about and getting back to normal.
I hope you are all doing well and out of pain.
Ive got my app to see a member of the surgical team(lol) on the 21st of this month. Im getting kind of scared cos its been such a long time coming and soon i will know the out come..to operate or not...
I had to have a medical assesment for the dss and the dr there said i didnt have limited capability...i would like him to be me just for a week and then he may change his mind...stupid man and the stupid questions they ask. Has anyone else had this assesment? I would be interested to know what happened.
Best wishes to you all that have had the op and on the road to recovery. x

 

[Mark Fisk]

Hi shazza, I haven't had that assessment because I know darned well I'd fail. I'm able to do quite a few every day activities but have a lot of pain afterwards, and they don't seem to include pain in 'capability'. As you say, it would be different if they were suffering the same thing.

Recently I've tried Amytriptiline to ease the nerve irritation in my legs, nearly knocked me for six! It hasn't been all that successful and I'm returning to the back clinic on the 21st. I'm in a strange situation, I'm not in as much pain as pre op but have more than I can manage....and is it worth risking further surgery, possibly, trying to ease the pain I have? Its a tough one, I'd really like to be pain free after all this time, it would be like a well earned holiday. Sleeping the whole night with out burning painful legs...heaven!

Hope everyone else is doing okay.

 

[SINNER SAVED BY GRACE]

Hello,
Been reading this thread and others on the web, thank god for the internet but not for our backs lol.
In my case I had a week ago the nerve root block procedure done, first time, oh I have a disc protrusion on L4/L5. I try to stop the pregabalin after this but the pain came back, granted a little bit lower than before the injection although the pregabalin could have been hiding the "real" pain.
Anyway from my web research, it seems that I should probably have a second injection, I have not yet received my follow up appointment with the specialist.
My problem started a year ago, it affects lower back and left leg sciatica reaching my ankle.
Wonder in your experiences, those that did the injection, how successful was it and when did you have the second one?

Thanks!

 

[Pompal 09.]

Hi
I am doing not bad really, saw the surgeon for my 6 week post op assessment last thursday, it wasnt my operating surgeon, one of his team. Spent all of 3 minutes with me, asked how i was, told me i could go back to work as long as it was light duties,(told him i was a farmer!) not to do any heavy lifting for 6 months and not to ride my horse for another 6 weeks atleast. He said that if i wasnt careful it could come back.
Had a bad cough on week 5 which really knocked my back, got alot of pain around operation site and its made it weaker.
The little nerve pain i was getting down bum cheek and down leg when sitting is easing off now.
But we are lambing full force now and no time to take it easy and i am feeling the effects of it! Being very careful not to lift more than half a bucket of water at a time but i am on the go from 7am til 11pm.
Strength is coming back slowly, amazed how long its taken, even my legs were weak and it was a struggle to walk around properly.
My back was never very good and im not sure if the pain i am getting to the left of the wound site is to do with the op or previous back problems. But when it goes its very very painful shooting pain. I do my best to be careful of this area.
So thats my update!
Hope everyone is doing ok post op! and good luck to those still waiting!

 

[heogog]

Hi Teixe, I always get confused between the epidural injection and the nerve root injection...I'm hoping someone responds to tell me the difference. I had an epidural injection in the middle of December, I was told I wouldn't feel the full benefit of it until 3 weeks later. It made a bit of difference and I started exercising again...but in the middle of January it came back even worse than before. My instruction leaflet advises that if there is no difference at all to the pain make a follow up appointment, which I have now done. You need to either sort out a follow up appointment yourself or maybe your GP can sort it out for you, then you can, hopefully, discuss the pain you're experiencing since the injection.

Jaysh W, I know l sound like an old woman (actually....) and I know it annoys other people, but I really do worry about people doing too much post op. I appreciate your work is especially demanding right now, but try and ease the pressure on your spine...any way you can. If you can utilise something with wheels to carry water for you, anything to carry heavy weights could make a lot of difference in the long term. Being conscious of your posture will also help so no bending over to pick things up.This old woman knows how awful it is when things go wrong and its better to err on the side of caution.

 

[Orange]

Im off to see the surgeon at 3.....fingers crossed!

 

[ibu guru]

Oh Shazza how did you get on?

 

[Gtrgtrvtr]

From what I've read, an epidural injection usually refers to the more general epidural, while the nerve block is a targeted epidural (also called a transforaminal epidural injection). The nerve block is targeted at specific areas and considered safer.

I'm almost certain to be having a nerve block myself in the next few weeks so I'll report back with more details.

 

[*Melcy* <3]

Oh Jim, that isn't what we expected is it? Is everything ok? How do you feel now after the op?

 

[Meganjoy]

Hi Cassie, I've gone backwards quite rapidly I'm afraid. The first few weeks after the op were great, but then the leg pain started to return. Just the calf to begin with, but then gradually it crept all the way up my leg, and its now as bad it was before the op. I can't walk more than a few steps. The only saving grace is that the crippling back pain (that prevented me from getting up at all) hasn't returned yet, so I'm clinging on to that.

 

[Ether D]

Hiya, im afraid it didnt go too well! They have found that i have wear and tear in the bones at the bottom of my spine and the surgeon would have to go in through this to remove my disc.
He is sure my back pain is due to the wear and tear and not the disc so feels that to operate would only make it worse. He has said to do more exercise and take up pilates to strenghen up my muscles and go to the pain clinic to see what they can do.
That still leaves me with the pain in my leg bum cheek and all the other moans that goes with the siatica.
Have to go back to work and just get on with life as best as i can, just wish the consultant had told me all this back in october and not wasted my time. Hope everyone else is doing ok. x

 

[Ellisia]

Oh Shazza, what a blow! I'm a bit surprised though, most of us will have degenerative spine conditions....I know I have, but they still operated. I think its spondylosis, and the discs are dehydrated as well. If the pain interferes with your life you should be a bit more persistent.....a second opinion would be useful. The thought of spending the rest of your life in pain is very depressing, it certainly makes me miserable! You have to go along with his opinion for now I suppose, but don't be afraid to make more fuss later on.

My MRI scan is on March 23rd, I'm expecting the same outcome you've had but I had to find out what was going on in my lumbar spine...understanding might help me to accept the situation. All a bit gloomy really, no jobs, alone in a flat I hate living in but can't escape from, and I'm skint! Apart from that I'm just fine.

By the way, I was very interested to read about an op that cauterized a nerve in the spine (I think), the operation relieved the patient of a pain that stopped him doing most acitivities. He's now able to return to walking trips with his wife....I'm looking out for that one!

 

[florence]

Thought I'd drop by as it's been a while since I posted. I'm glad so many of you seem to be improving post surgery but I know that's not the case for everyone and I'm thinking of all of you who are still yet to reach your desired outcome.
I'm now 5 and a half weeks post surgery and doing fine, although my scar site is still quite tender and I still prefer to wear a dressing to stop my clothes touching it, but I'm sure that will improve.
Saw the physio yesterday who gave me the all clear to begin driving again next week. I'd been told all along that I'd be off work for 6 weeks and have a sick note up until then, but yesterday she told me I'd need to be off for a total of 12 weeks post op. No-one had ever mentioned having to have 3 months off and that threw all of my plans into disaray. Anyway after checking with various other senior people (although not my consultant or his secretary as they're both on annual leave!) I was told I was fine to go back to work as long as I was "sensible" and didn't do any lifting etc. As my job is mainly office based and I can control my own workload, I'm going back a week on monday as I feel I'll be able to manage my activity fine. I'll be careful and if I need to shorten my days then I will. I'll just play it by ear. In the mean time, I'm going away to Tenerife with my mom for a week to benefit from some warm weather and get some walking done to make sure I'm as physically fit as possible. English weather is too unpredictable to be able to do that here!
It's been a horrible year, with many ups and downs, but this site has helped a lot in ensuring I retained my sanity. I'm now hoping I can just continue to improve and that the worst of my back problems are now behind me. I'm so grateful for this operation and the support of like minded people.
Here's to getting back to a normal life....

 

[Polly Cookie]

Hi Melza, You dont have it so good but i love the way you are so positive..good for you. He did say that i could go back to see him anytime,just try the exercise first. Like you im trying to stay positive and hope the exercise helps a lot or i will be going back to see him. As you say most people will have wear and tear and im only 44 not 104 so i dont see why i should suffer when i dont have too!
Good luck to you on the 23rd, i hope you get some good news. Take care. x

 

[callsignfuzzy]

hehehe I feel 104 ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

 

[Ms. Skellington :)]

Hey Shazza! You really are too young for all this. My back problems started 6 months after my 50th birthday, a time when I could celebrate raising my 3 children without causing them too much damage and thinking about ME for a change....ha ha ha ha....oh well. I think acceptance describes my outlook, not a positive attitude. You all know I've ranted and raged about all this, its so frustrating! It always seems that back problems aren't a real problem to anyone but the sufferer. We don't seem to get noticed in the outside world. If I had one wish it would be to have people in power give a higher priority to diagnosed back problems, so people can return to normal lives or get help in adjusting to long term problems. Ah, I can dream! xxx

 

[Mrs Emma K Doc Prof Santa]

I totally agree Melza, its so unfair. if we make that extra effort and get up it is suddenly "oh you are better!" never mind we end up paying for it for days if not longer afterwards.

But so many have used a bad back as an excuse and got better,

 

[?Who Am I?]

Not been on here for some time but I thought it might be worth giving an update. It is now approx 6 months since I had a L4/5 discectomy for a large prolapse. I progressed steadily after the surgery and was able to return to work on a phased return after 8 weeks. Around the same time I returned to my gym membership which I use 3 -4 times a week.

The only remaining reminder is that my leg does occasionally feel a little 'fizzy' but it is not uncomfortable and does not stop me doing anything and it is steadily reducing.

I was very apprehensive about the surgery but I am so pleased I went ahead - life is back to normal and I have no restrictions placed on activities, although I avoid lifting and I probably wouldn't plan to go horse riding!! I have had virtually no need for pain relief since the surgery, in fact I can't remember the last time I needed anything. Overall for me the surgery has made an amazing difference and I have moved from a position a year ago were I felt very concerned and spent a lot of time thinking about what I couldn't do, to now where I am to be an active mum again with my family and at work.

 

[Gabby Jolene]

Hi there all
New to this forum.
I am having a L5-S1 Micro Discectomy on 23rd this month after having been through injections. Pain is excrutiating from lumbar area going through to my left leg and calf to my foot.
I have a question which some of you may have faced leading up to your op.
I have been reading that a Lumbar Discectomy if for the leg pain as the nerve is freed up by removing disc tissue.

My question is will it help with the back pain I have (which is probably worse than the leg pain).
I have been reading on the web that this kind of surgery is not for back pain but for the sciatica it causes.

I do not want to go through this surgery only to find out that it have fixed the leg pain but the back pain still exists.

Please if someone can advise I would be very grateful.
Thanks