Discectomy - After the Operation

[Chris Anderson]

ali...just wanted you to know i am thinking of you. i only wish there were words left that might help you feel better right now. i spent one night in hospital because the pain got too bad before my op and just thinking about it makes me want to cry. and how frustrating that you came off the morphine only to go back on it. at least you know you will come off it again soon, post-op and will be fine. it's just a physical need for now. soon you won't need it any more. hopefully you won't be left with a slight phobia of taking tablets like me...am getting over it with the folic acid though total gluton for punishment!
have just managed to waffle on about myself again when all i wanted to say was i am thinking of you and am working on winning the lottery for you and melza and everyone else waiting for the op.
take care, stay strong and never, ever eat the 'baked egg' that they tried to feed me in hospital xx

 

[Angel]

Hey Jess! Lets be optimistic about our recovery and use your lottery money to book us all a long holiday on a Carribean island, it would only make a slight dent in your win I should think.

Contacted PALS at Southampton hospital again, PALS can sort out numerous queries and are always worth a go if you have a problem. The kind lady I emailed investigated my March appointment and has been told that it will be brought forward. Also, if I don't hear anything in a week or two I should contact her again. It makes such a difference having some sort of contact don't you think, it's too easy to feel like you've been abandoned.

How are you coping with the old folks Ali.....another hot tip from me....always take ear plugs with you! I did last time and it made a real difference. And as for the baked egg Jess, if it puts me off food for a long spell I shall give it a go, I feel so fat! Now, can anyone tell me, yet again, how long they think I'll be in hospital for. I'm going in on a Thursday and I'm sure I'll be kicked out next day rather than the weekend, what are the chances?

Take care Ali, and I hope you are recovering well Jess. And how is that nice kind Octavian?

Melza

 

[Arslan]

my top tip for weight loss melza would be to endure a 'prescribing error' which means your codeine is reduced too quickly, resulting in 3 weeks of nausea and no eating. i lost a stone. all back on again now though, since rediscovering the ability to eat. plus that whole drug withdrawal thing is actually no laughing matter at all. it was horrible.

as for time in hospital... i went in on a tuesday morning, had the op that afternoon and the consultant said i could go home as soon as i felt up to it, even the next day if i had no complications or side effects from the anaesthetic. i ended up staying a little longer mainly cos of the 3 flights of stairs to my front door! i think about 48 hours seems to be the norm...

i am finding all the US election stuff really hard to deal with at the mo....how can they spend so many millions of dollars on an election and there not be enough pennies to pay for a decent health care service for the few who need it here. i just don't understand it and it makes me mad.

to end on a positive note... my recovery is going really well. 3 months post op tomorrow and am getting back to normal. still stiff and sore every morning and after swimming or pilates. achy leg most of the time, but not really painful and definitely no need for drugs. it won't be long til you're all there too, i am sure of it! xx

 

[Negeshia]

Hi Melza
I had my op on a Thursday at 2.00pm and was discharged the following morning at 11.30 (and that was private)personally I would see if you could stay a couple of nights at least until the effects of the anaesthetic wear off. I don't think 1 night was enough.
I am now 10 weeks post op and back at work full-time, finding it harder than I thought , I have a follow up appointment with the surgeon next week so hopefully he will tell me that all the aches and pains I'm getting are normal!
Good luck with the op , will be thinking of you and Ali I hope you will soon be making your way down to theatre also.. Best wishes to you both and hope you will be pain free soon xx

 

[bperhuuxiyxioqesf]

Hi Melza
I am good thanks. 6 weeks post op now and starting a 'back class' at physio this afternoon (I keep tellin' 'em it's me foot and leg that's the problem not me back lol). Going back to work Monday on a graduated return so a little apprehensive about that as I mainly sit at my desk all day so not sure how I'll cope with that.....will let you all know how I get on, stay strong in your fight & you to Ali, don't give in quietly lol

 

[Djohn3markx]

Hi Melza, with regard to your question about length of hospital stay my surgery was performed on the Sunday afternoon & I was discharged on the Wednesday. That seemed to be average for the hospital I was in. Hope that helps.
I took your advise & contacted PALS as the pain I have at the moment is far worse than when i had my initial prolapse. Although they were very polite & rang me back when they promised they would they didn't have much good news for me. My surgeon had marked me as urgent due to the incontinence (very embarassing at only 38) & leg weakness. However, his patients have all been called for November & December. Therefore, unless someone cancels or my surgeon decides to do an initiative list i'm looking at January. Unless of course i'd like to present at A&E again then they could admit me (to the hell whole thet name an integrated assessment unit) & help control the pain until surgery date. (with 4 children xmas is already going to be bad enough with the credit crunch & santa now being on half pay without the children having mom stuck in hospital)
I am ashamed to think I actually belong to the NHS, was there not once a time where patients comfort & wellbeing was a high priority??
Anyway, hope you are okay too Ali, I found an ipod was brill when i was in. I know i'll be old too one day (although i feel about 90 now) but pain, stress & lack of sleep are no joke.
Good luck with your surgery Melza if i don't catch you on here before then & congrats to all of you post oppers who seem to be doind so well, hopefully i'll be joining you soon

Tracey xx

 

[buttercuplove47]

Hi All

Now this is my second prolapse I have had & i'm on that long journey .......... awaiting surgery. The pain i'm having is mainly to the outside of my leg, ankle & big toe which i am told is normal for L5. However, the big problem I have at the moment (besides the pain & lack of mobilisation, stress, irritability & boredom) is that whenever I get out of bed & try to mobilise, be it to the bathroom or downstairs & even when sitting as I am at the moment is that I sweat like I have never known before. You can actually see it running off me, my hair is soaked through & I have all the doors & windows open as i feel so hot. Obviously this isn't going down well with other members of my family! I'm on Tramadol, Paracetamol & Diazepam. Anyone any ideas, they would be gratefully received??

Tracey xx

 

[golden sindy]

Hi Tracey, I'm a bit drugged up at the moment as I've had to keep taking the Tramadol...who am I? I get the hot sweaty stuff but thought it might be hormonal, although I don't see how it can be thanks to HRT (sorry boys). I wonder why that is? The drugs? The effort? My muscles are pretty damned weak and have been for a while, maybe that's why we are sweating like pigs.

Like you I am very disillusioned with the NHS, what a shock it is to be on the other side of the fence. Those poor patients! I've had the last of my half pay and feeling very poor, I have 3 bigger children but as I'm the only present buyer I feel I have to make a big effort. My credit really is gonna crunch! What can we do but sit and wait. Isn't your hospital rushing to reduce their waiting list ready for the 18 week deadline in December? It might be worth phoning the secretary....or maybe every single staff member in the hospital, perhaps they'll get the message then.

Where is Ali? Has she beaten me to surgery? I think everyone should lay bets on which one of us gets 'done' first.

Need to rest my doped up head now

love to all

 

[xxamethystnightxx]

Oh Melza I have spoken to or emailed everyone who is anyone at the hospital. I am beginning to wonder if in my drug induced state I am making any sense to them. They are now saying that as i wasn't re reffered by my Gp & apt was made over the phone by myself the 18 week ruling may be difficult to apply. They talk total pup!!!!
I'm so glad it seems to be quite normal to get these sweats.
As for xmas my children have offered to have very little this year, gutting insn't it. I have worked every xmas for lord knows how long trying to make others xmas's as normal as possible whilst in hospital & now sit here chewing at my nails wondering which peter to rob to keep peter happy. (Oh to be a consultant on 100k plus a year with no worries other than .... what dates can i do at the local private hospital) Sorry to hear your half pay has ended now, i'm not far behind you on that given all the time i was off earlier in the year.

If I had money spare i'd bet on you & Ali as it is i'm going to spend my last bit on a lottery ticket.

When i win we will all have private treatment & then go on an almighty shopping spree ...... Sorry think I nodded off there & started to dream. If only

Take care xx

 

[gznfdyem]

Hi everyone!!!!

I am home now, they kicked me out on Tuesday, but have limited internet access at home or would have been on sooner. I moved house on wednesday, was interesting watching everyone shifting all my stuff and doing nothing to help ha ha!!! I have very understanding friends!!!

Well, i have some exciting news, its not definite yet but will share anyways.....

I had a call from the spinal nurse about 5 minutes ago, who asked me if i can get to the local hospital to have all my pre op swabs done next friday.
I asked her if this meant i have a date, and she said that i may possibly have it done on the 18th!!!! Yeah Baby!!!!!

Am having another spinal block on monday as welll, so things seem to be moving at LAST!!!!!!!!!!!

I am not going to get too excited tho, as these things can be taken away just as quickly as they are given!!!

Thank you all so so much for all your supportive messages, they really do bring a smile to my face

Hey Melza, how are you doing my lovely? Your op date still on?

Love to all you lovely people, from Ali xxxx

 

[Abz]

Hey Ali,

I've got my fingers crossed for you that they stick to that date.

I'm waiting to hear if my consultant is going to add some initiative dates for December & then hope if they give me a date that winter pressures don't mean it gets cancelled. Its strange ...... I used to be a glass half full person but since these problems i'm turning into a glass half empty kinda girl.

Good luck with your pre-op & keep us informed

Tracey xx

 

[raethelyn]

Well I got that phone call & yes my consultant has kindly added some initiative dates (or maybe thats something to do with all the staff involved are on double time?) So my date ........... Erm, excuse me for not jumping with joy & I apologise if I come accross as ungrateful. But I am booked in for the 20th of December. Still at least i'll be home for xmas, fingers crossed no complications
xx

 

[Trooper]

Oh poor Tracey, what an awful date, but we both know any date is better than nothing when you're desperate. And you know why your glass is half empty don't you.....because some idiot knocked it over. Life as I know it.

A date for Ali! Hooray! I guess that makes me the winner....I'll take my prize in cash thanks. I'm just waiting for a nasty bug to break out and they have to cancel. Hey Ali, if you're in Dorchester I could try and visit you, wouldn't that be strange. Or are you still booked in for the luxury trip.

Things are looking better girls.....at last!

 

[David Brown]

Things are looking up. Although I am gutted with my date like you say ....... when your desperate!!!!! At least I can start the new year knowing its behind me. (fingers crossed)

Glad to know its not just me thinking along the bug breaking out lines.

Melza I reckon the bloody idiots who knocked our glasses over had a stethoscope round their neck !!!!!

At least we are all on countdown now, soon you'll be packing ..... Earplugs essential as we heard from Ali, although i'd recommend an ipod.

Take care

 

[ksxdhhgf]

Hey all!!!!!!!

Its confirmed!....Dorchester admissions called me half an hour after my last post and i have indeed been booked in to have my op on the 18th!!! Yippeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!

Melza, Mr.H is doing my surgery after all at dorset county. I got to the point where i just didnt care WHO did my surgery....it could have been Steve Strange from Celebrity scissorhands for all i cared!!!!
Desperation got too much ha ha ha!!!!!!!!

Have cancelled my nerve block on Monday, no point now!!!!

Tracey, hope that even though your date is right on top of christmas, it doesnt get cancelled!!

Love to all you out there! xxxxx

 

[wla192t]

Hi folks, the information I'm about to share may not be connected to discectomy's but could advise people suffering financially. I was advised to apply for help with health care costs from the NHS Business Services Authority. This would help with prescription and travel costs....ho ho ho!

I have now received my 'certificate' which entitles me to help if

My sight test exceeds £81.31 (?) My glasses exceed the cost of £162.62 (?) Travel costs exceed £81.31 per week (????) and dental treatment exceeds £243.93.

I have questioned why they included Statutory Sick pay in my assessement as that has already been used up. My final sentence to them was 'if this assessment remains the same after removing the sick pay element please keep the certificate, it only gives the impression that I'm receiving help when I'm not.'

Yeah! Kick ass! A prime example of why I hate asking for help

 

[Blesiancassap]

I am now one week post op (discectomy L4/5) and thought I would post an update with my progress. Fortunately, I am another person who has a good news story following a discectomy operation.

This time last week I was hours away from my operation and absolutely dreading it. I was completely terrified. I was at the point where I was trying to think of ways that I could get out of having to actually go through it - although I also knew that to get any actual relief from the pain, the op was the right thing to do (and the only option).

The relief I felt waking up after the operation, knowing it was finished, was enormous. I did have some pain and discomfort following the operation, but I'd expected that. It was more pain at the site of the operation (and in my case also a from a 'dural tear' during the op). The first two days were the most difficult but after that, the pain reduced significantly. By the third day I could shower myself and walk with some assistance. One week later, there is still some discomfort but the pain is minimal. My sciatica has completely gone. I am careful with how I move, and make sure I get in and out of bed the right way. I am normally a very active person and it is hard for me to be so restricted in terms of activity for now, but I accept that this is how things need to be at this point in my recovery. I am able to walk short distances unaided and even though I am still feeling a bit weak and tired, I am just so glad that I am now at this point and can feel myself getting so much better each day.

To anyone who is approaching the operation and is feeling stressed/worried/concerned, I hope you find some comfort from people like myself who have been through it and have emerged post-op with good reports.

 

[ComaGrorrymef]

hi all, i am a new member to this forum and have found it very helpful (and scary) towards my own experiences. I have had back problems for about 5 yrs due to manual work, and in 2004 i had epidural injections, this didn't work and I have struggled in and out of pain for the last few years. In march this year i started to get severe sciatic pain down my left leg (probably down to a 1 year old and a 3 year old double act) i spent hundreds on physiotherapy, chiropractic etc to no avail, and in june i had nerve root injections on the nhs, this also didn't work and i have been back and forth to the specialist. In 3 and abit weeks i am in for a discectomy on L4/L5. i have mixed feelings about this understandably and would be greatful for some more feedback on recovery time. I currently work in a office so that shouldn't be a problem as long as i get up and walk around a bit . but am a bit worried about the 2 kids and family life.

thanks all. december the 3rd is my big day, i will keep posted and report on my recovery

 

[rarehuntress]

Hi All,

Well to day i have been given the go ahead to go back on the fire engines. I have been retraining for about 4 weeks now and everything seems ok. I still get back ache and some times my legs ache if i do too much. I will let you know how it all goes. I feel its time to go back and get on with things but i have to say inside i am very nervous.

To all who are going through the pain or recovery, think positive that everything will work out ok. When in recovery try and do a bit more each day, test yourself a little bit, I bet you can do more than you think.

Cheers Olli

 

[rkiqigau]

Well done Oli, your final turning point, so glad you got there in the end. It's not only a long journey to get treatment but also getting back to normal post op...or so it seems. I think patience is the key as far as post op is concerned and I'm hoping I can work on that a bit....

The input from Subi was reassuring for me (surgery next Thursday, and not a moment too soon) and made me feel a little more optimistic. Having terrible pain in my neck and shoulders though and not sure if the op will make this area better or worse. Only one way to find out I suppose.

Onward and upward