Discectomy - After the Operation

[Hoofers]

I've been reading the thread for a while and found it very helpful, thanks everyone. Just wanted to share my experience with speeding up the process (a little bit). After my first major episode 6 years ago when it took 2 years to see a consultant, by which time of course I was better, I was expecting a bit of a wait on the NHS. Anyway, this time after first referral in May I was looking at Feb 2012 for the op. A bit desperate I started looking for other options such as paying privately. Then my consultant's secretary mentioned 'Choose & Book' the system by which you have the choice to be treated at ANY hospital by ANY consultant including private hospitals and the NHS pays. So I inquired at the private hospital that my surgeon also works at and their waiting list was one week to be seen and 4 weeks for the operation. So I went back to my GP and got him to fax the original referral letter to the private hospital. I was seen by consultant AGAIN that week, then booked in for the op.

Being fairly socially minded the system is pretty rubbish on the tax payer, but I'm desparate. So,

NHS - 4 months to see the consultant
Private - 1 Week
NHS - 5 months to have the op (maybe)
Private - 4 weeks (with a definite date)

Sorry if you already knew about this but I've seen a lot of postings from people having to wait, so I hope this helps

This time next week I'm in a hospital bed, I just hope it works

 

[TemskyncTes]

Thank you all for the kind words

I can relate to all of your comments When the pain was at it worse I seriously felt like i'd be better off dead it was that bad.

I just cant wait to get back to normal and move on with my life.

 

[hockeybeast88]

One thing I will say is that if the private route is taken ensure that the cost includes any treatment if there is an infection or problem, a package deal is sometimes what they call it covering all eventualities

Good luck for next week and speedy recovery! I wish I could afford the operation I want, it's not available on the nhs yet.

 

[ktrgrlvq]

Good luck Old Skool and post on your progress i'm nearly a month and a half post op and feeling good, small 4cm scar healed up nice and quick. The surgery was a walk in the park for me in comparison to the sciatic nerve pain. Best of luck.

 

[Mixer2]

Thanks for the good wishes. I'm hoping it goes smoothly, it's great to hear your positive news Budskinson. I'm hoping, probably over-optimistically to be back at work for the start of Jan. I prefer to be optimistic!

Just to clarify Cascara, the Choose & Book system isn't actually Private health care it's the NHS through private providers, so there's no payment for the patient. But probably for any complications they just send you back down to the local NHS hospital! The joy of the public-private partnership

 

[mit endorI]

Yep, absolutely right, all my clinics appointments are made through choose and book, however choose and book is not going private, big difference and worth point out

 

[gameskslilas]

I know what everyone is going through out there as this was the second time my disc had reputured but the first time, ( 2 years ago), i refused surgery and the pain did eventually go away. However this time there was no way I could live with it and I'm very lucky to have private health care through my job and so I got the operation relatively quickly. I did wake up with no pain whatsoever either in my back or leg, however 10 days later I have now got pain down my leg again. Has anyone experienced this as I'm concerned I may have done too much in these first few days as lying around doesn't come easy to me.

 

[tennis97girl]

I suffered left leg pain a couple of weeks after I had a lumbar discectomy at L5 S1 level back in April 2009. I worked through the pain following the advice of my physio and have not looked back since. I still suffer the odd pain in my left leg as I have a bulging disc at L4/L5 level which I manage by doing pilates 2/3 times a week. I cant play sports like football/hockey like I used to but have plenty of other hobbies now like kayaking, walking, cycling and swimming. Work through the pain if this is what you are advised to by your physio and take things easy. Dont do too much too soon. When recovering from my back op, I went walking, swimming, watched the TV, caught up with friends but only gradually. Enjoy your time recovering. Hope the pain goes away.

 

[wellys xmas stocking]

Well having been to see the surgeon this morning I've been offered surgery.

I've been told this will take place around February time

 

[jfedjuuuikoibtesd]

All the very best, for the procedure in February Deboy!

I bet you are over the moon?

What procedure have they offered you deboy?

Let us know how you get on butty!


We all offer our best wishes and sincere hopes for your recovery!!


SPINELF

 

[Edward Bongshanks]

Well after being put off for another week, I'm due into theatre in about 3 hours time. Starting to get a little nervous. Will post about the recovery.

 

[Jack Black is back]

Hiya Taity.

Post 'flare ups' are a common feature of spinal operations, so don't worry too much yet.

Listen to Dalep, very good points made, do take it easy, work at your own pace, keep written records of you prgress to motivate yourself, and enjoy your increased mobility.

All the very best.

SPINELF

 

[nwefguvjiqeiometu]

I understand what you are feeling Old Skool, I worked so hard to arrange and pay for my op in 2008, I had not thought about procedure itself. When I finally realised at 3 hours before, I could not stop shaking and my legs went to jelly, with the shock of it all!! I had to ask the aneasthetist for a sedative, in case I started bouncing on the table during the operation!

But I'm sure you will be fine!

The very best of luck to you Old Skool and best wishes for a full recovery!!

SPINELF

 

[SeiliRerihark]

SURFERDUDE!!


how are you?

hoping you are well and still improving!!

best wishes


spinelf

 

[hpfourch]

I've been told they are going to remove the disc.

I was given three options. 1, leave it and let nature take its course. 2, painkilling injection or 3, surgery. I feel that the only way forward for me is to have it removed.

Thank you all for your kind words.

 

[Mujer Alta]

Just thought I'd post an update. Went into theatre at about 8:30 last night, got home today at 12:00. What a change, I'm getting vertigo from being my normal height again. I can stand and walk upright again. No leg pain, in fact the only pain I've got is from the site of the op. I know it's very early days and it might be different once I'm off the painkillers (though I'm on no more than I was before the op), but I'm starting to get my life back.

 

[nickson faction]

Hi

I read though quite a bit of this forum whilst I was deciding whether or not to have surgery....it was reassuring to see some success stories and in the end I went for it!!

I have suffered from lower back problems for about 18 yrs, In the past I have always managed to get it fixed with a few weeks of chiropractic and some rest. I've always done a lot of sports, ran at national level, and its usually been football that has ended up with me getting injured. Last November I started getting a really tight muscles through the right buttock and a little way down the back of the leg. I didn't think much of it since i could stretch it out at the gym and continued running etc... However it was getting progressively worse over the next few months and started seeing a pyhsio - by this stage the pain was all the way down the right leg into my toes. I didn't go for chiropractic since my back didn't hurt in the slightest. Then one night at football I just felt my back go on me. That was in Feb this year and I've spent the rest of this year in total agony. During that time I tried 3 chiro's, 2 physio's and an osteopath and whilst I got some short term pain relief from the last chiropractor it clearly wasn't working for me.

In September I went to my GP and got sent for an MRI which revealed a minor disc bulge at the L4/5 level and a right paramedian disc protusion at the L5/S1. He put me on Tramadol which helped a bit with the pain and referred me to orthapaedics on the NHS. Unfortunately as many people will have encountered the waiting lists can be pretty horrendous. My appointment was not until Jan 2012 and realistically I was looking at a long wait for surgery so I decided to look at going private - the prospect of waiting another 6 - 8 months was quite depressing. I went to see the consultant at the beginning of November (the same guy I would have to wait another 3 months to see on the NHS!!!). He offered me either injection or the surgery. He said we would always recommend injections before surgery but at the same time he wasn't in pain and could understand why people go straight for surgery. He also put me on amytriptyline which he said would be much more help than the tramadol provided I could hack the side effects. The first few days on it were evil but then it was fine and my nerve pain was much more managable.

I went in for my discectomy on the 14th December. It all went well and the surgeon removed a 2cm piece of disc as well as some other little bits. When I woke up the nerve pain had gone though I had a lot of pain from the wound and couldn't even shift poistion in the bed. I didn't get out of bed until the next morning and even with 2 physios virtually carrying me i could only manage 4 small steps. At that point I thought "Oh no, what have I done?!". But in the afternoon they got me up again and I got out my room and down the corridor. The next day I managed to get myself out of bed and up and down some stairs and they said I could go home that afternoon,

Been home for a couple of days now and can move round quite well though still being really careful. I've got a lot of aches and pains in various bones and muscles and I feel like I might snap if I bent too far forward or moved too quickly. I'm getting plenty of rest right now before going back to physio in a couple of weeks. I really want to get exercising...patience is really difficult!!

I know I am fortunate in that I was able to pay for the op out of my own pocket but at least there's another space on the nhs list for someone who can't. I'm just looking forward to next year and making up for time that my boys have lost not doing dad stuff!!

 

[WatCeououu]

Hi and welcome

Lovely to hear a good success story. Please take it easy though it is very early days, I am always out doing far too much too soon lol and then suffer.

Look forward to hearing more about your progression back to fitness

 

[flowr]

Good to hear dml33, you had th same op day as me. I'm out and about now with a 30min walk each day (the ice isn't helping) and feeling good. Sleeping is actually harder than it was before because my back doesn't like me lying on my front. But everything else is several orders of magnitude better. Being able to get outside alone is bliss after being virually housebound for the past 2 months.

I know surgery isn't right for everyone, but for me it's definitely been the right choice. As has been said before I just have to pace myself now, though I have just cleaned the bathroom and loved doing it!!!

Good luck to everybody and I hope you can have a happy Xmas.

5 days post op and counting......

 

[KING OF BANANAS]

August 2002 I had my first discectomy, recovered really well, was pain free and returned to work within 4 weeks, but had reduced reflex in right ankle.In August 2009 had full hysterectomy, returned to work after 3 months but with some bladder retention proplems, however I just learnt to go loo every 2 hours (any longer and would be in severe pain),
August 2011 had L/4 L5 discectomy and root decompression, was on 10 different tablets before op. Have been housbound since 1st August, cannot drive, they have "repaired my back", but now still got same root pain, weakness, numbness in right leg, discharged from hospital and now still on all 10 tablets plus morphine.And to top it all have severe urine retention, I now have to self catherterise 6 - 8 times a day.
I have been referred to pain clinic and a Urologist. I`ve SORN my car as I can`t feel my right lower leg and foot, still on crutches. I am sometimes awake 36 hours, have severe insomnia, I thought I`d be back at work in the new year, but my medication and symptoms prevent me from driving/operating machinery.Have had to apply for income support, as my comp sick pay was only 13 weeks. Was advised that the nerve may take weeks or months to heal. My right leg is useless and is wasting away, I walk about the house on my crutches, have had to have a raised toilet frame and 2nd stair rail fitted, along with bath seat and grab rail.
My life consists of clock watching, so I can take my next tablets and I feel I have lost all my independance.My pain is still bad when standing/sitting, but I do get taken out by friends on short shopping trips, but suffer afterwards with leg pain. I have a back brace which gives me some assurance I won`t slip another disc, and now need an ankle brace, as I fell and badly sprained my ankle(didn`t feel any pain when I fell, but was badly bruised and swollen)
The only drugs I had in the house before all this was Calpol and Tixylix for my 3 grandchildren.
I am desperate to get back to work, but need to get the root pain sorted.
Anyone else still suffering symptoms like mine?