Discectomy - After the Operation

[Leaha F]

please don't give up!!!!!

last year my aunt was told her back problems (chronic sciatica, drop foot) were inoperable and the pain could only be managed by (useless) drugs. she was discharged by physio, had to take early retirement from work and was struggling with basic household tasks. BUT...when i saw her last weekend she said the pain was under control, she was more active and actually really enjoying her retirement. she had managed a 2 hour car journey and you honestly would not have known there was anything wrong. unfortunately she wasn't hiding a magic wand in her handbag that i can pass on to everyone, but i really think that it does prove that even when things seem hopeless, they can get better. and often for no apparent reason. so please don't give up hope...

lots of love xx

 

[run and tell that homeboy]

Hi Ali

I am so sorry to hear what you are going through.
I do hope that you get your meeting with Martin Knight and that he can offer you some help. I can understand why you are feeling so down.

Everyone on here feels for you because your posts have been so regular and you are always trying to offer help to newbies. We all feel like we know you and wish we could do something to get your life back to some sort of quality again.

I know you don't feel very positive at the moment but you must try to get that back. The longer you feel down the harder it will be to climb back.

Thinking of you and wishing you well

pennylane x

 

[Nibej]

Hey all,

Thank you so so much for your kind and lovely posts, I have started anti-depressants and see my GP regularly and am going to have some counselling hopefully within the next few weeks.

I have spoken again to the Spinal foundation and they said a surgeon's referral will be a stronger factor in getting PCT funding approved, so i phoned his office and spoke with his secretary and he is back on Monday and she will discuss it with him then.

I was really touched by your posts, and Jess and Subi and all those needing a laugh (Inc.myself!), watch youtube vids of 'Michael McIntyre', He is mad and hilarious!
I am seeing him live in October, me and a few mates, will be great!
I am also a big fan of 'Chris Rock',check him out too, he is really funny!
I am looking forward to the 3rd series of Gavin and Stacey, its on later this year, its also on BBC3 every Monday, i never get bored of watching it!

Thanks again everyone, although I have a long way to go, your posts have put a smile on my face and thats a really good start eh?

Love and hugs to you all xxxx

 

[ian s]

I have had an L5 S1 discectomy on 29th April 2009 which seems to have been a success apart from the left leg sciatic pain which the surgeon warned me may remain for the rest of my life.
As I am only five weeks into my recovery, I am very happy that I am not feeling any sciatic pain when standing still.
My operation was done by a surgeon in Pemassageplanetorough who also does private consultations as well.
I am looking to hear from anyone who has had this operation and am interested in hopefully helping others from the good and bad experiences I have encountered from problems with my back since 1995.

 

[ffrr]

hi all, this is my first post and iam having l4/l5 discectomy on wednesday, could anyone tell me what to expect when i wake ,how long will it be before i can get out of bed, will the numbness and weakness in my left leg and foot go, also going back to the op itself could anyone put my mind at rest iam terrified of having a tube down my throat and this could be the deal breaker because my fear of choking is so strong also would they make me have a catherter which again i will not have ,iam panicking over everything help!!!!

 

[DowVivuiao]

Well I have just completed my first week back at work which was great. I managed to drive to my appointments and the office without any pain at all and have been off all drugs completely now for the best part of 3 weeks. I went to my first Pilates session on Tuesday, the teacher immediately identifying that I stand slightly leaning to the right, I need to work to correct this and she also started me on some core stability breathing exercises which to be honest I havent had time to do as yet.

So for me, now nearly 9 weeks post op, life is pretty much back to normal. I am still very concious of my back and very paranoid about hurting myself but on the whole the op has given me my life back - one thing learnt though, never take your health for granted.

For those of you post op experiencing leg/buttock pains, I too had this for a good number of weeks into my recovery - still get the occasional twinge. My consultant told me it may never go completely, but each week that passes it seems to happen less and less - so hang on in there guys, keep active and most of all stay positive.

Ali, so sorry to hear things are not so good for you, sending you best wishes and I do really hope thinks start to look up for you soon.

My first grandchild is due in 9 days, and the best bit is that thanks to the operation I am now going to be able to really enjoy being a granny!

Keep smiling guys

Michelle

 

[jalgePoomma]

good luck with your op bmw1! remember there are 100s of these done in the uk every week and according to my consultant, they are one of the easiest operations out there.

everyone on here has had different experiences, but have generally found the op itself to be relatively stress-free. i had no idea about the tube down the throat thing til i woke up with a very sore throat. it all happened while under the general anaesthetic.

at my hospital they had me up on my feet almost immediately. i was still on a pca morphine drip overnight, but they had me up and using a comode straight away. i was threatened with a catheter if i couldn't pee normally. let's just say that helped the flow...!

the horrendous sciatic pain was gone when i woke up, but i have had occasional (manageable) twinges ever since the op (10 months ago now), as well as pins and needles and some weakness. the pins and needles weren't there for the first few days but appeared once i was home from hospital. all very scary at the time, but just the nerve coming to terms with all the trauma - see my older posts for all the details!

we all seem to have had such different outcomes from this op. so much seems to depend on how long we had been suffering before hand, as well as hundreds of other factors.

please let us know how you get on!!
jess xx

ps...ali - i too have michael m tickets for october!! i'm not going to watch his new tv prog cos i don't want to hear all his stories before the live show. can't wait!! and although it's more serious, i really recommend the box sets of 'lost' for total escapism. big hug x

 

[Wakteathe]

Hi bmw1

Firstly dont be nervious and don't panick, if you are in alot of pain now it will be so much less after opp. You will not know anything about the thing that they put down your throat as they do it after you've gone under. They only thing you will notice is a bit of a sore throat for a day and you might wake up to the plastic tube buy your side as they tend to leave it there after use. I wondered what it was and then someone told me. So dont worrie about chocking.

You will proably be in for a 2 to 3 days after the opp and the next day they will get you up so you can have a walk. I did have to have a catheter for ones day as I sooo needed to pee after the opp (due to the bags of liquid that they put through you), but i could not for some reason some people have that problem and others dont, but it was fine and the relivef of being able to pee was great!! if you know what I mean.

The information I was given after my opp was not to pick up anything heaver than 7kg, not do any sudden twisting or bending. you really do have to take it easy and i mean easy for about 6 to 8 weeks or longer depending on your job. I was told to start doing core stability exercises after 6 weeks which have been brilliant for me, but you do need to keep them up or some form of suitable exercise for good. Ask your Dr or the physio department at the hospital. I am afraid you do need to ask questions as they will not offer the information to you, that unfortunataly is how the NHS works.

I had a disectomy on my L5/S1 back in Oct of 2007, my scar is only at the most 2inches long and looks very neat also if you are on alot of strong pain killers that will make you horribly constipated. Make sure they give you laxatives and that you can go to the loo both ways after, before you leave hospital as it can cause problems. Sorry to be so blunt!!!!!!

This was my first ever time in hospital, my first opp and I remember being absoultey terriffied, so I do understand how you feel. BUT TRY NOT TO WORRIE. Let us know how you get on.

Hope this puts your mind at rest abit
best wishes Cas08

 

[Wiejechuiem]

Hi Jess

you online now the green light is on!! How are you doing

Cas08
x

 

[Seema]

Hi dalep 115

Glad you opp went well and you are recovering ok.

I had a discetomy opp done in Oct 2007. It was a very large prolpase on the L5/S1. Unfortunatly the same disc went again in the July of last yr 2008 rhis time they gave me a nerve block, which worked well. But then it went again in March of this year. It is very rare for the disc to go twice let alone 3 times.

I am waiting for a nerve block at the moment. But over the last month the pain has subsided form my leg and I have been suffering with a stinging achey pain in sacrum and coyyxs which makes it hard to sit or stand for to long. I have reduced my pain killers, but i think this pain is nerve pain that i have which is harder to manage. I am doing streching excersies (that Firolli gave me another member on this forum, check his posts if you want to read about them . They are about 3-4 pages back) twice a day and going for a walk and I think all of this is helping.

I think excersie is so important and I think that you have to have it as part of your daily routine for life.

So glad you are doing well.
Keep us posted
Best wishes
Cas08

 

[fzesguaeishisneys]

Hi ALiH 78

I love Michael McIntyre. He is so funny one of the best comedians around. We have got his Alive and laughing Dvd. I have whatched it many times ans still find it great.

Hope you have a great time when you see him in October!!

Hope you are feeling a bit better today.

Luv
Cas08
x

 

[jlgypfmn]

Hi bmw1

Firstly, best of luck with your op. Hopefully you will feel a lot better after the operation. I think we have all felt the trepidation you feel now, before the operation. I know I was terrified. But I am very glad I went through the procedure. It has definitely improved my quality of life.

how long will it be before i can get out of bed,

I think most people seem to be up on the same day, for me it was a few days longer as there were a few complications, but generally it seems to be on the day of the op.

will the numbness and weakness in my left leg and foot go,

Hopefully yes The nerve pain certainly went on the same day as the op for me. The weakness has taken some time to improve on but is now getting a lot better.

iam terrified of having a tube down my throat

I didn't even register this before or after the op. It all happens while you are 'under'. I had a slightly sore throat but didn't think too much of it. I wouldn't have had a clue what was going on - you are not aware of any of it while you are having the op itself.

would they make me have a catheter

Seems to vary. Sometimes yes, sometimes no...

Cas08 has also given some excellent advice.
Again, best of luck and hope it all goes well for you.

 

[Aly C]

Hey all,

I see there is a bit of fear about the anaesthetic when the newbies have their op's.

Guys, honestly, once you are under anaesthetic, you know absolutely nothing about the op until when you wake up. This will be in the recovery room, the only thing you feel, is as the others said, a slight sore throat and uncomfortableness in your lumbar region.
You will be attached to a PCA (patient controlled analgesia) which is a morphine pump with a button you can press every 3 minutes, it really does help with pain control, and makes you feel comfortable.
You won't be transferred back to the ward until your pain (If really bad) is controlled.

As for getting out of bed, different hospitals vary. My hospital had me out of bed the next day.
After the op, they taught me bed exercises.
You will not be discharged until you can pee, poop and walk in that order!! (I had a little chuckle typing that!)

I am a bit of a veteran, along with a couple of others here, i have had more than one op. There is no need to worry, the nurses will go through everything with you before your procedure and can alleviate any worries you have.

I really hope this can help you, any other worries, just ask


As for me, I am having a very amused afternoon watching only fools and horses re-runs on sky+, i got it (The sky+) to alleviate my boredom!

Subi....If you dont have only fools and horses in Oz, check it out on youtube!

Love n hugs from Ali xxxx


P.S. Jess, Michael M's show was on TV on friday night and i turned it over, i wanted to watch it so bad but like you, don't want to hear his funniness till october!!!

 

[npetmusaiscipcech]

Evening Cas08,

Hope you are well.
I always say that there is always someone worse off than me in the world although I always feel sorry for myself like I suppose others do as well.
My condition of health is not bad at all.
I must admit I feel a bit bad now having read yours and other peoples accounts of the lumbar discectomy problems.
I do hope your problem is eventually resolved with the nerve block which you hopefully wont have to wait too long for.
My problems started because I never used to warm up or cool down before and after exercising as well as not letting injuries heal properly.
I am doing physiotherapy exercises twice a day and go for numerous short walks daily. I will look up the info. 3-4 pages back as I am sure they will come in very handy.
Do you know what caused the original disc prolapse? Hope you dont mind me asking.
Again, i hpe you dont have to wait too long for the nerve block.

Take care

Dalep115

 

[Sharlene Arlene]

Hi Guys

I find myself typing on here again, only this time I need some help myself. I am soo scared, I am arranging to go back to work next week to a desk based job. I have a good chair and desk, I have been off work for about 7 weeks after my disc prolapsed again. Some off you know this already form my other posts. I have to go and see the occupational theropist at work she is nice and I have seen her before, also I am seeing my Doctor this week, to ask for his advice.

The thing is, the pain in the right leg thats now gone its just a bit achie and feels abit weired somtimes. The pain just seems to be in my lower back it aches or has a stinging ache in the saccrum and the coxxys and this is not all of the time. I am down to have a nerve block injection but there is a waiting list of 5 months. As I feel better than I did I want to try to go back to work and I know that they will let me do a phased return over a few weeks.

But I am soo worried What if sitting agraviates it and I have to go off work again?? What if I cant do it and i loose my job.I am soo worried. I am now feeling horribly sick and ill, at going back to work next week, and the thought of not being able too do my job and maybe loosing it. I know shoud not be playing the WHAT IF GAME. but I realy am worried.

I have no one to talk to thats why i am posting this. Please can somone give me some words of wisdom!!!

Very depressed
and tearful
Cas08

 

[RagGoluooe]

Hi Cas08

Sorry you are having a bad day. I am constantly getting the what ifs, so I know very well how you feel.

But it sounds like you need to breathe deeply and try not to worry so much. It's very good that you have an OT at work who can maybe support you. And you have a decent desk and chair so that should help to minimise the stress on your back. Combine that with a rigorous regime of getting up and moving/stretching every 30 minutes. And you could maybe get an exercise ball for the office - I have one and it's a constant talking point and fun thing for colleagues too.

Hopefully being at work will also help by making you focus on other stuff - I am sure I am overthinking about my health because of being at home all the time, and not having to work at the moment. So I am sure it is the right thing to try to go back if you feel well enough. Just make sure you don't try to overdo it in terms of hours - phased is definitely the way to return.

Hope you feel a bit better soon. Cyberhugs!

 

[PooLay]

Hi Folks

My turn to ask for words of wisdom! Had my discectomy 4 weeks ago, and the leg pain was pretty much gone a few days afterwards although I still had lots of numb bits and other strangenesses in my legs. But since this weekend the pain has started to creep back again. Should I be worried? It's not excruciating, more of a dull ache, but I am concerned that it is getting worse not better.

Does it mean I have injured myself again, or is it normal to have increased pain after a few weeks? And when the nerve is pained like this, is it better to try to stretch and challenge it, or to rest it?

Answers on a virtual postcard, please...

 

[PJams]

oh cas08 your message sounded so familiar because that was me back in november!! i used to get the stinging in my coxyx if i sat for too long, particularly in the car and i really noticed it after going back to work. i have a desk based job too and in spite of my new super-chair, i still got sore and achy from sitting, even just for 20 mins. i got braver as time went on and was more able to get up in the middle of meetings (still do!) and just smile politely at all the people who stared at me as if i was mad.

my advice would definitely be to not be afraid to speak up...if you are starting to feel achy, or even anxious about getting achy, then don't be afraid to say that you need to go home or to lie down or whatever. i also do a lot of driving and it took me a while, but now i am not slow to say when i think a drive will be too much for me. for a while i had a reminder set on my work email, that flashed at me every 20 mins to remind me to get up and move around. it was incredibly annoying so i had to turn it off, but i definitely recommend that if you can tolerate it. also, if your work is anything like mine with draconian absence management proceedings, involving scary letters and threats, then please, please don't worry. you can only do what you can do. take care of yourself and speak up when it hurts. stay as active as you can and remember you have been through so much worse and things are going to get better.
let us know how you get on!!
take care,
Jxx

 

[Smart Guy]

Hi msksquared,

I am also just over 4 weeks post op and had similar problem to you that started about week 2 post op, i had the same pains as before the operation and although not as bad it was still worrying. Around the same time I came off painkillers which was the wrong thing to do. You must keep taking anti imflamatories at least as you need a certain amount in the blood to keep the imflammation down. I visited my GP a week ago to tell him about the pains I was getting, he told me to take it easier for a week, dont stretch and let everything settle down aswell as taking a higher dose of diclofenac and diazepam (allows the muscles to relax whilst resting) I followed this advice and am pleased to report that I feel much better and now taking diazaepam once a day and diclofenac twice a day. Bear in mind that the nerve has been trapped for a long time and although the pressure has been relieved it will take time for it to recover and the relapses are normal. Ive also read that the nerve is sprayed with cortisone during the op so this will wear off after a short while.

Hope some of that helps

Hi Cas08

reading your post I totally sympathise with your fear about going back to work, the important thing to remember is that your health comes first and if your in too much pain then dont suffer in silence. Talk to your OT and explain the situation clearly so that there are no suprises to them if the worst happens and you have to have more time off. The other posters make great points about keeping active and it sounds like you have your chair sorted which is great. I myself am self employed and anxious to get back to my job as currently savings only are my only form of money but hey guess thats what there for. Stay strong and think positive

Chris

 

[Mistress Mayhem]

Well hello everyone it has been about 8 weeks since I last posted anything, the nerve root block worked for the entire 8 weeks lol.
I am now back to normal (how insane is it that I now think of crippling pain as normal?!).
Fortunately for me I managed to sweet talk my consultants secretary into getting me a quick appoinment with him. I saw him yesterday and he has recommended that I have surgery now. I'm quite relieved but also totally freaked at the same time.
I just started a new job, got the offer the week after my NRB. Don't know what to do for the best, should I get the op over with now or wait a few more months until I've been in the job longer?

Luckily my new boss is incredible and is actually suffering from a bulging disc in his cervical spine so is totally understanding. I haven't seem him today so will sit down and have a long chat with him to see what he thinks about the situation.
My Mam ever the nurse has told me it is a no brainer and should have the surgery no matter what. Will she pay my mortgage if I'm let go? lol

I am on the waiting list already and could be in as soon as 4th August, unless something crops up.

Any advice or opinion is always gratefully recieved, hope everyone is doing well,
Scissorhands xxx