Discectomy - After the Operation

[E.T.]

Hi all
Some of you may know I've had a discectomy and I am still having problems post surgery with lumbar pain. I have been with the company over 10 years and this is the only time I have been off sick other than pre surgery when the pains got really bad...
Ive been asked by my employer that they want to see my medical records as I have been off long term sick. Anyone here got experience of this and should I give them the go ahead?

Goodlad

 

[ak907]

Hi all.

Thanks for the replies and feedback

Still a bit worried about some of the horror stories, but TBH I have no option.

Been off work for 4 weeks now. In constant agony, living on the floor, taking Gabapention, Co-Codamol and Movicaol for constipation, getting little or no sleep and my life has come to a halt. (daily routines, relationship, the lot) What have I got to lose?

I was originally told 8 weks before my op. I rang up on the off chance of a cancellation or space and was told I could have a pre-op next week. A letter arrived today from the hospital confirming that, and also comfirming the OP(surprised) It's a week next Monday.

I have mixed feelings TBH. Glad I no longer have to wait 6 more weeks for the OP(couldn't cope with that), but scared about some of the horror stories follwoing the OP.

Hopefully the OP will be a success and I will evntually make a near full recovery. I will keep you updated.

PS. At least I know what to expect post OP now (Pain, problems, etc), so it be as much of a shock.

John.

 

[coopchic]

Message for Goodlad!

I think your employer is being very unfair. A sick note should suffice, after all this is from a medical professional who knows your injury. Do you have an HR department or occupational health which you could ask to be referred to?

At the same time, if they see your MRI and notes they will see how bad things are.
You could also ask your consultant to write a letter to your employer instead of letting them have all your medical history, explaining the timescale and details of your injury, procedure done and recovery and ongoing problems. Might keep them off your back as medical records are confidential and they can't see them without your consent.

Good luck too to JRB with your op. I am so glad I had mine done. The after pains get less each week and I can see light at the end of the tunnel which I never imagined when I was lying in bed for 5 months unable to move! I'll be thinking of you on Monday!

 

[Miguelito]

Hi All,

I was diagnosed with L5/S1 prolapse around 11 years ago and pain was on and off but these past 3.5 months have been horrible for me and my family as I can't walk, sit, stand or lay down.

Got my MRI a few days ago and it confirms the same prolapse again and I am waiting for my NHS surgeon consultation now. I am pretty sure he/she is going to advise a surgery because I have tried a few sessions of physios and theraflex privately but to no avail.

Also went to see a Chiro the other day and he refused to touch me after I showed him my recent MRI (although the MRI only says "moderate" disc prolapse).

I was pretty convinced to have a surgery but looking at all of your experiences I am a bit worried and contemplating that have I exhausted all conservative treatments before taking the big leap?

So, I just wish to know a few things.
- I am in agony even when I am trying simple physio excercises, should I continue to do it or is my body giving a signal to stop??

- What other things can i try physically if my body is not ready to take it?

- Also you all reckon going to a pain management clinic would help.

I just trying to explore if i can avoid the surgery and heal my back on my own like I used to do it earlier after taking bed rest for 3-5 days.

Thanks

 

[soum]

Hello Mahuja 1906.

I am no expert but my surgeon advised to not have physio or and chiro before the op or for a good while afterwards as he believes it can make things worse.

I waited 4 months for my disc to fix itself, but the MRI showed it was too far gone and it would take a long time to heal naturally if at all. He said the body usually corrects a slipped disc in 6-8 weeks if it is going to and that they can slip so much that they are very unlikely to self heal anyway.

From my own personal experience I couldn't have waitied any longer for the pain to be over as I was at the end of my tether. Having the op was instant pain relief, but the afterpains were very unexpected. However they were not quite as bad as before the op though others on this site have said they are just as bad.
Looking back I would still have the op again and expect 2 or 3 months of a painful recovery, than potentially spend many more months in agony and unable to move.

A difficult call as you hear good and bad sides to the story. Good luck in deciding!

 

[MacguyverIT]

@ JRB

I can understand your pain and delimma as I am EXACTLY going thru the same phase as you are. I am 32 and had a very active lifestyle clubbing, friends, night outs etc. but I am also lying on floor from last 3.5 months looking the world go by from the window.

You are lucky that you got your OP date so soon from NHS.. i can't believe it, in my case I got an MRI after 3 months and I think the OP date would take another 2 months but in a way it's good I believe coz first of all I don't want to get a traditional discectomy done from NHS and secondly I am giving some more time for my disc to heal on its own (as it has in the past).

@SJJ

Thank you very much for the reply. I am just giving my spine another 2 weeks or so before I fly to India and get a MISS from there. I think nobody has experimented with an Indian surgery yet and I am ready to be the first guinea pig

 

[koeyeudsiapihreqp]

hi there
just an update on me. Had L5-S1 Discectomy some 12 weeks ago and pain in lumbar area is unbearable. Cannot do the easiests of tasks even rinsing out bath has been in extreme pain. Went to see the Consultant today and he kind of gave me the "given up" look. I am feeling most most down today. My 40th birthday 2 weeks ago, 2 small kids and their Dad cant even kick a football around. Work have been a nightmare wanting to see my medical records as I get feeling they are getting suspicious. I signed every bit of paper and they can all they want on my spnal problem.
Consultant has me down for another MRI first think 2mor morning. HAlf of me is hoping it will come up with something. This being at least someone will take notice of the pain I am in. The Discectomy I've had on my L5-S1 clearly hasnt worked for my back pain. Leg pain comes and goes but isn't really an issue. Driving still painful as is sleeping at night.
I really do not know what to do in this part of my life.

 

[Sadaf]

Unfortunately, low-back pain remains in around 30% after traditional discectomy... Hopefully your pains will go away! Let me know of your follow up MRI !

 

[WRFSLG]

I had a L5/S1 discectomy on December 16th - I had considerable pain in my right buttock, thigh, calf & foot. I couldn't do anything except lie down. My NHS doc was pretty useless just told me I prob had trapped nerve and to take some paracetamol. My Chiro said that I needed an MRI scan so I had to pay for that privately ( I received date to be assessed on NHS for end of Jan). By seeing a different doctor I managed to get appt to see consultant who told me that I needed operation but that there was at least 3 months waiting list. I just couldn't wait another 3 months for NHS but if I paid privately then I could have it done in a fortnight so needless to say that's the route I went down. I was lucky enough to be able to loan the money from my sister and it cost £5011. That covered the pre op appt and the actual operation - when I had the 6 weeks follow up check up I had to pay another £150. I do wonder if I could have waited with better pain killers but I was worried about the permanent damage it might do to the nerves in my leg. My thoughts are with you

 

[biedtuwjickioyegn]

Hi Keano
many thanks for ur reply. These are the same back pains in the lumbar area I had BEFORE the surgery. I remember asking consultant my concerns on a Discectomy after reading that they were for leg/calf/foot (SCIATICA) pains.
His reply was it is also for back pain. I am still confused today as I still read everywhere a Discectomy is NOT for Back Pains. My concerns voiced have actually become true. the Sciatica is a lot lot better but my main problem has always been my back pain.
Facet Joint Injections did not help. Epidural did not help. the Physio I am still having upto now is not helping - in fact I think I am getting worse with the physio as I struggle to do the required exercises with pain.

Today I looked at the consultant and told him what I feared has become true. I had asked him prior surgery what if the leg pain was fixed but back pain remained. His answer was "we will cross that bridge should we ever get there".
Well I now feel not only am I at that bridge but in fact have been there for a very long time. And today when I told him we were at that bridge were met with a open jaw and stare.

My other concerns are I get the feeling that as with most things nowadays we are only a name in terms of being a patient. Here to make them money. I dont see any real compassion in any of the treatments I have had since having this op. The physio has almost given up giving only 20 minutes of her time on a half hour paid appointment. Seems to have a good habit of "I'm going to get your records" and then disappearing for 15 minutes on a 30 mins session. I mean what is this all about?. It seems a money making scam to fleece my Health Insurance.

Anyway back to my back pain - I never in my hearts of hearts believed it would do me any good with my back. And I am beginning to think I was right.
I have a very good friend in India who father is a Spinal Surgeon. I had a good lengthy hours chat with him on Skype today. And he begged the question "why did he do a discectomy?" when my main problems were the unbearable back pain.

I have now emailed him my pre surgery MRI scan result and wait to see what he says. Just an opinion. Something I time and time and time again regret not having prior surgery. A second opinion.

 

[Literature Power!]

You are right. Traditional discectomy cannot address the low-back pain issue.

Ask your doctor for "sympathetic lumbar infiltration". That should address your low-back pain, if its caused by disc! Also, according to some studies, low-back pain goes trough L1 and L2 ganglion to spinal cord. So answer lies in "L1 and L2 ganglion infiltration". Ask your surgeon to try this.....

Contact me by PM if you wish.

I know a lot of people with preoperative and postoperative low-back pain who are fine today. Have faith...

All best

 

[A Girl.]

Had my POST SURGERY MRI scan today and most most worrying is that is looks no different to the pre surgery MRI. Still shows L5-S1 disc herniation.

What have I go myself into here? I dont know whether to change consultant and get a second opinion or what. Guess I should wait and here what the present consultant has to say about today's scan.

 

[Just beat it]

First see the doctor who operated you... then after that you'll see what to do next

 

[anne b]

Yes of course this is best thing to do. However yesterday he was talking about referring me to pain management.I got feeling he with done with me.

 

[nibs]

Hi,

I have been suffering from back and leg pain since May 2010. My MRI confirmed that I have L4/L5 Central Disk Herniation which is bulging more to the left then rignt so I get problem on my left leg. In October 2010 decided to have Epidural which I found it made my condition worse afterwards. I found that my back was much stiffer and in the morning I was walking like an old man (slow and holding rails to come down stairs or up stairs). Since then my walking has got difficult and always in pain. I am finding my leg pain is much worse then back pain. I have decided to have an Discectomy (June 2011) and been added to the waiting list.
What I find is if I walk even short distance I am in agony with my leg and if am carrying anything same happens(even say a glass).

I am 27 and have 2 kids, I do feel scared about the operation but I know I must go forward in order to mend myself. I hope I don't have the leg pain(pins and needles, ankle pain, buttock pain etc) after the operation.

I have read other peoples story on here and I really feel for you guys as I understand what you guys are going through.

God bless you all

 

[agollakes]

Simon -
Be very careful if your pain is BACK PAIN then a DISCECTOMY is NOT the answer. This is the mistake I was made to make by my consultant. Get a second opinion. My pains have always been back pain followed by little leg/calf pain. Consultant did not listen and made me believe disecectomy was answer. I am in bigger pain that before. Also got my second MRI thru 2 days agao........and herniated disc still showing along with some MODIC CHANGES to L5 vertabrae.
I wish I had got the opinions of 2 consultants

 

[kdanley]

Hi there Simon116

I agree with Goodlad, as it seems that a discectomy will only help those who are experiencing buttock / leg / ankle and foot pain. My consultant told me that it will not cure back pain.

I had my discectomy nearly four months ago and it did immediately reduce the excruciating pain in my leg and foot etc. I am now almost totally pain free after suffering post op pain (but the after pains were nowhere near as bad a pre op). I still have some back discomfort but that was never too bad in my case anyway.

I would say that if your back pain is much less than your leg etc, then a discectomy should help.

I only wish Goodlad had had the medical advice that I was fortunate enough to get before the operation...

 

[mstdean518]

thanks guys for your reply. i mainly suffer from buttock/leg/ankle/pins&needles so after looking at mri and speaking to consultant the best option is discectomy i was told.

 

[pkqiuarz]

~7/8 weeks post op

Thought I'd give a general update. Background info, 21yo; formerly very active/sporty, and developed sciatica symptoms which worsened exponentially over the course of a year until i decided finally to have the L5S1 discectomy. (21st April)

As of now I am feeling generally well. I do stretches and exercises multiple times a day and swim 500m every other day; I sometimes cycle. I can walk without a limp! I still, however, cannot sit for more than 15 mins without developing a pseudo-sciatic pain that resonates for an hour or so afterwards; this is obviously frustrating but I'm hoping it will improve with time. My scar site is still somewhat swollen and my back aches at times but this is to be expected at this early stage.

I cannot help feeling down sometimes, a deep sadness that my physical 'freedom' has been so incontrovertibly constrained; I'm sure others will empathise with this. But I realise that moping about will not do to help my situation and I must be grateful that the op looks at this early stage to have been a success.

 

[A J]

Now 11wks post op for L4/5 microsdiscectomy. Majority of leg pain now gone. Only pains going down backs of legs. No longer on any pain medication, was on 1800mg of Gabapentin daily. Now have date for L5/S1 microdiscectomy. Going in on Thursday 30th June with op on 1st July. Hopefully be home on Saturday. Chiropractor sorted out my neck pain and headaches. Keeping fingers crossed for improvement in current leg pain. Good luck to everyone currently having back problems.

Carol