Discectomy - After the Operation

[Miguel Sanchez]

Ben

I have been there with worrying about whether it worked or not. For me the physio inflamed the problem and mad it worse. I suggest you leave it alone for a while as it sounds like it might be making it worse. I strongly reccomend accupuncture which really significantly helped me when the GP said he could not. Try to keep a positive frame of mind and dont worry too much - give it time. Above all dont try to exercise or physio yourself out of this one from experience it doesn't work.

Rod

 

[elle.]

Hi

I have read and have been told that if you serioulsy stray from mild physio in the first six weeks it is very dodgey. You have ondergone a reasonably serious operation and your body needs time to recover. Take it easy for the first six weeks. The physio I had didnt help initially as I went for it and thought that that alone would help me, needless to say it didn't and hurt a lot. Dont expect too much too soon.

Regards

Rod

 

[***DANCER***]

Viv - well done am chuffed for you. Remember to take it easy and take things at their own pace. Would reccomend accupuncture, yes the needle is jumping but can't over emphasize how much it helped me.

Melza - keep going and pestering and don't let them grind you down. If prolapsed disks were treated a bit more seriously bey the medical profession the world would be a better place.

For all those in pain - keep fighting- keep thinking positively!

Rod

 

[tinyavenger]

Thanks for all your kind wishes.
I just want to share the advice I was given by the physio I saw before I was discharged, bearing in mind I only had my op on Thursday. I have been given some very gentle lower leg/feet stretches which I do twice a day 5 reps for each leg. The idea of the physio at the moment is not for the back but to help the sciatic nerve recover from the pressure caused by the prolapsed disc. She also said LISTEN to your body if it hurts DON'T do it. I was also told to expect some nerve pain to return (which it has) but not to panic this is normal and full recovery can take at least 6 months. Although we need to recover from the back surgery which should take about 6 weeks, it's the nerve damage that has been caused which will take the longest My recovery seems to be going ok at the moment, I managed a short walk this morning and am only having to take pain relief twice a day. My blood pressure dropped very low after the op so I had to have lot's of fluids so my main drawback at the moment is I keep feeling light headed and dizzy as if I'm recovering from flu?? Hopefully that will right itself over the next few days. I'm off now to watch hubby tackle the ironing, a sight I very rarely see
Best wishes to you all x

 

[pariurispx]

Hi all,

Still awaiting op date, and been referred to the chronic pain team for a lumbar epidural.
The one i had before wasnt so bad, got 3 weeks relief from that one.
And they are much more humane than the caudal one!

Hope everyone is doing ok, thinking of you melza and Viv x

 

[Pinup]

Hi all, just wanted to ask any of you that are post op a question. I am now day 8 post op and thought I was doing really well . However this morning as I was getting dressed I felt a popping sensation behind my wound and now my back really hurts. My wound has been glued so I have no external stitches , my son has checked the wound and says it all looks ok, I'm just really scared I have done something . Has anybody else had a similar problem ??

 

[Staci Lancaster]

Hi Viv,

I havent heard of what you are describing, its unusual for a wound to be glued as they normaly stitch or staple it.
As you say it is painful, i would say to see your GP, if anything, to put your mind at rest.

Hope the rest of your recovery is going well

From Ali x

 

[Pompal 09.]

Hi all

Ben and Rod thanks for the advice, hope all is OK with you.

Had a reasonable weeks last week, few twinges and some buttock pain but less than the week before so stopped the diclofenac on thursday and today back in pain although again not too unbearable, so have started pain killers again.

Went to physio, just given a very few exercises, inclding leaning back and rolling knees side to sde, followed by hugging knees to chest and lifting one leg at a time from lying flat position. Doesn't seem like much, but this will be reviewed in 2 weeks.

Acupunture was good, quite painful when needles put into buttock, but afterwards about 20 hours pain free! THe acupunturist is sure the pain is around tissue inflamation rather than nerve, he says that why for most people post operation the pain is different and why leg raising, coughing etc can cause pain as soft tissues inflamed around nerve.

The main thing is constant worry about this having happen or happening again etc. I was planing a second MRI, but have been told this may not be conclusive. Does anyone have any thoughts on when a good idea for second MRI.

Back to work next week, which is a bit of a worry, but can't be put off any longer.

Viv hope your popping is nothing major.

Regards

Howie

 

[ichliebedich]

I have heard that you shouldn't have another MRI after a Discectomy for at least 6 months as the results will be inconclusive, something to do with scar tissue,not sure if that's true or not.
Phoned the clinic where I had my op about the popping/pain, they were really good, I had to go and see a dr there and he thinks I may have burst one of the internal stitches and I have a small haematoma behind the wound. They have bought my follow up appointment foward so I'm going to see the consultant on Tuesday , it isn't as painfull today so hopefully if I take it easy (what's new) it should be OK. Thanks .

 

[Ez Jane]

Hi All,

There seems to be a lot of people out there who have just had the op. I just wanted to let you know how i am doing.

I am still on light duties at work but they are looking at me going back on the fire engines by the end of October. I am worried about this because i know i am going to ache from head to toe when i go back. I am doing loads of exercises in the gym to get myself fit and i feel that i am getting stronger every week.

I still have not lifted anything too heavy until yesterday when i helped my wife int he garden lifting some bags of soil, i also painted the garden gate which took about 4 hours of a lot of bending and reaching. I was very sore last night but i seem to be ok today just a bit of an ache around the base of my back.

Sitting down is not a problem but i will say my back doesn't like standing in one place for too long or walking slow like you do when you go shopping. I think i am making good progress but i know there are still some big tests to come.

I think everyone goes through the same thing for the first few months of has it worked or not and what is that new ache and why do i have that pain. I think we forget we all had aches and pain before we all went bad and most of the time there is nothing wrong.

Keep going with your stretching and exercises and try to do something new every week even just little things like reaching for the top cupboard or walking and extra 200 meters it all helps.

Hope you all recover well,

Olli

 

[michael c]

Hi, everyone.
I have just joined the forum and would like to hear from folk who have had an anterior discectomy and fusion. I had it done in Feb, 08 and although my surgeon was happy with the way it went and tells me everything is looking good, i still have the numbness in my right arm and hand along with the neck pain i had prior to the op. more worrying though recently i have had alot of pain and numbness in my left arm which i never had before. I find myself waking up with this numbness in my arms and hands and it can take quite a while to get back to normal, which is worrying. I have seen my own GP who didnt seem to worried and give me a course of tablets which needless to say didnt work and the problem continues. Has anyone else had the same symtoms after surgery and would it be a problem that they continue to have. I look forward to some replies hopfuly,
Thanking you.
Bryan.

 

[maggie l]

Howie

I went back to work after 3 weeks. I bought a kneeling chair to help. Basically it keeps your hips in a standing position. I alternate this with an ordinary chair. It helps. Expect some pain when you go back to work as your back muscles tighten a bit. My advice keep up the diclofenac which you can also get as cream, keep up the acupuncture to support your move back to work. The psycological benefits of going back to work are massive, even with a bit of pain. Keep in a positive frame of mind. Good luck.

Yesterday I cycled in to work and back, a round trip of 20 miles, am trying to make thsi part of my routine.

Rod

 

[boomn4x42]

Hello Bryan, it seems from previous posts that nerve damage can continue post surgery....and for some time afterwards. But of course you should check with your doctor just to make sure. I was interested in your post because not only am I waiting for a lumbar discectomy but also waiting to see a surgeon about prolapsed discs in my cervical spine, is this what you had? I'm really hoping I can get some long term treatment (surgery perhaps) so that I can get on with my life, is there any information you can share with me? I'm scrabbling around in the dark here and have been for several months.

Thanks
Melza

 

[The Benchwarmer]

hi everyone!
just thought i would send a little update. haven't been able to look at the forum for a week or so cos i was pathologically self diagnosing every problem written on here!! am getting better about the whole anxiety thing now - finally managing to sleep was a major factor! i am now completely drug free and hoping to NEVER again have to take a painkiller or sedative or anything other than herbal stuff.

my mobility is much improved. i can bend easily enough, although still support my back by resting my hands on my legs. stupid washing machine broke yesterday so i ended up lifting loads of soaking wet washing and wringing it all out in the sink, then hanging it up. survived all that! i have found a cushion between the knees makes for more comfy sleep.

olli...which hamstring stretches were/are you given to do? i was just told to lie flat and lift one leg at a time, pulling gently towards my chest. i am supposed to be aiming for a stright leg and right angle at my hip, but am finding i can't even straighten my 'bad' leg. bearing in mind i was a gymnast who could pretty much get my leg on my shoulder, this is a bit of a difference! actually am not worried about flexibility, just an absence in any improvement. everything else is improving, but my hamstring seems a bit stuck...

planning to start swimming and pilates later in the week. still managing daily walks and a couple of shopping trips, so am gradually getting my life back

for those of you still waiting for an op. you will get there. normality awaits so hang in there!

jess xx

 

[SassyLittlePikachu]

Hi Jess,

Hamstring stretch,

Lay on back, bend one leg, with the other leg rest it on the bent leg (the knee of the bent leg should now be underneath the knee of the leg resting on it), straighten the top leg if you can but it doesn't matter it you cann't, now pump your foot backwards and forwards 30 times, do 3 sets on each leg.

This is also working the nerve so to start with you may get a bit of leg ache like you used to, if it hurts too much don't do the foot pumping and then after a while try it again. The better you get at it the higher your leg will go until you will have to use your hands to hold your leg up.

I am getting a small device that keeps your leg straight when you stretch which i feel will help me go just that little bit further.

Hope this helps

Olli

 

[xruqtdeu]

Hello Melza.
I first got the symptoms of a prolapsed c6 in Dec,2003 when i was in the army. The army doctors tried various treatments to no avail over a period of four years and they always told me that surgery would be the very last resort and always advised me against it. When i left the army in dec,06 my civilian GP continued to treat me but seem to take a different approach. He seemed to think that surgery was the right thing and although it had risks i should go ahead with it. I seen a consultant in Nov,07 who was actualy the person who would do the operation. He stated to me that i had alot of nerve damage and he would put me top of his list as through time it would get worse and didn't think i should wait much longer. I hadn't been taking things that serious because the army doctors hadn't told me the symptoms would get worse through time. I agreed to go ahead with the op and had it in Feb,08. I went in to hospital on the Tuesday, had the op Wednesday and was out Friday. Although it was straight forward enough i was very sore after it and there was a rather ugly scar on my neck with 12 staples but have to say now you wouldn't notice it. I work as a security guard and they told me id be off work for six weeks, i was back in four but only because i didn't get sick pay. Things were going ok and the surgeon was happy enough but he did tell me before i left hospital that during the op id made him sweat because it was harder than he,d expected. I was in theatre for six hours. Six month es on and as you know I'm having this problem with the numbness in both arms which was explained to me before the the op might occur. I'm waiting to see the consultant to discuss this and will let you know the outcome. Although I'm in pain most of the time i can still get about and i still work. You just need to get all the facts prior to the op and be 100% sure about it. Hope this has been of some use to and i hav,nt bored you to much.
Bryan.

 

[decatur052005]

Thanks for that Bryan, my scan revealed 'multiple abnormalities' in my upper back and I'm really hoping they can do surgery to fix it up again, although I'm still waiting to see a consultant about that little lot. I had a bad night last night while I was trying not to put pressure on my lower back and avoid stressing out the upper back....but failed miserably and got drugged up instead! The previous consultant (who only deals with lower back surgery) ordered the scan on my upper back because my thumbs weren't reflexing. Unfortunately it took a long time to discuss the results with him but he 'strongly advised against neck surgery', obviously missed the huge scar along my neck from a thyroid op. Plonker. He was going to give an epidural but my GP has referred me to the relevant hospital.

Now I'm just waiting (almost) patiently. One more question....what part of the neck do they go through? Not sure if my heads going to drop off after all this hacking about.

How is everyone else on here? More patient than I am no doubt.

 

[Karate Kat :)]

Hello Melza, i hadnt much sleep last night either and im now at work trying hard to stay awake. To do the cervical discectomy the surgeon goes through the front of the neck, right side. If you want to give me your e,mail address i will send you some photos. Take care and hope you get agood nights sleep tonight.
Bryan.

 

[kELLz !]

Pictures too Bryan! Perhaps better not see them just yet, talking about it is enough for me at the moment thanks. Just wondered how it would be if I already have a scar in that place. Don't know if it was sensible but I bought myself a neck collar to try and stop me moving my head, I'm hoping that will stop the muscles tensing in my neck and shoulders, what do you think?

Ali and Viv, how are you getting on now... I hope your popping has stopped now Viv (that made me feel proper sick, I hope I don't pop) and Ali, have you had your epidural and did it work. Epidural didn't work on me so there's no way I'm having another one. I hope yours does the trick though

Take care

 

[Oiortiz]

Hi Melza, your right, photos maybe a bad idea. The neck collar may help, i never had one before the op but had to wear one for 3 or 4 days after and had to sleep or should i say try to sleep with it on, i couldnt wait to get it off. Im seeing my GP this week about the increased numbness in my arms, il let you know what he says although he will probly refer me to the consultant again who iv to see anyway at end of Oct. Keep on battling and take care.