Discectomy - After the Operation

[Haley]

This is going to sound like the craziest thing ever after everything I / we have been through, but I wondered if anyone had gone on to have children following a discectomy.
I am 39 and have two fantastic boys, but always wanted three. Will a pregnancy put too much strain on my now weaker spine and possibly give me sciatica / disc problems again?
Plus all the lifting and carrying with a newborn and toddler.
You can tell I am feeling much better to even be considering this, although I would not do anything about this for 12 months after op.

Thanks

 

[Juuls]

Hi guys and girls,

Here is my story and any information you can help me with would be appreciated.

Around 5 years ago I got a terrible pain in my right leg, whilst lying in bed. the pain eventually went away and my numb leg wore off but left me completely numb in my right buttock, my right side of my groin and right side of my saddle area....

Went see a doctor he said dont worry you trapped a nerve and it will free itself off... it never did!

A year after to the month the same pain happened again, but this time huge pain in my left leg, numb all my leg, the pain eventually wore off, and left my left thigh behind my left knee and half of my left foot numb....

I suffer with huge backpains and sciatica which did go and now returned to my right hip.

Ok went to see a new doctor and he reffered me to a neurologist, had the clinical letters copied and posted to me and the letters betwwen doctor and neurologist suggested I was making it up. Anyway got reffered to a MRI

MRI came back with central herniation too l3/l4 buldge at l4/l5 and prolapsed disc l5/s1. s1 nerve root was crushed left and right, l5 nerve root crushed right l3 nerve root pinched.

So as you can imagine i am in alot of pain.

Anyway had to go to see the neurologist and this time his attitude had changed and he seemed more serious, he basically said and word for word, "your back is knacered and you need to see a surgeon."

Right...

Went to see a surgeon, he has refused to operate on me he told me that if he does there is a good chance im coming out on a wheel chair. But on the letters to my doctors he mentions i have 3 degenerasting discs and a inpinchment to the cauda equina nerve, he also says if i excercise my back it will be come better????? Is this guy for real? But then he goes to say if I lose all bowel action I have to goto A & E straight away! Contradiction now! and then he also says on the letter I may be fit for work soon... Im in bloody agony most days....

Anyway it gets worse..

The other week i had for the first time ever a seizure, and was reffered to a neurologist and when I was there i mentioned my back, he discorvered I have swellings on my back leftand right to my spine, my left leg is weak and I have no reflexes in my left ankle and reduced sensation in my left, I have now lost my driving license because of the seizure and my HGV license too..

Just had MRI scan now on my brain 5 days ago and got to have a EEG on tuesday...

Luckly I got the neurologist to document me this information and i got a copy of it for any future DWP claims...

Oh as for DWP and the ATOS medical what a joke, They said on the paperwork my assesment lasted 55 mins - it lasted 25 mins... They said I can do all excersises, they told me not to do any exercises because of my back, they said i had a reflex in my left ankle, neurogoly have confirmed I have none! the whole sheet was lies!

Luckly for me I recorded the whole thing and had to apply for a appeal, I have a friend who is a criminal defence lawyer and he was going to represent me, so not just did we put in a appeal, we applied to the courts to take ATOS to court for corruption and we were going to file a claim against the nurse who did the medical too for falsifying legal documents... They say you can use tapes in court! if you shout loud enough they will listen.. Anyway 3 weeks after making appeal they returned that the case has been turned to my favour and I was entitled to ESA, but was put in the work related group. I started to send more threatining paperwork into DWP and they put me on support group with days after....

So as it stands
im on ESA Support group
im building evidence to claim DLA
i have had a seizure
i have a knackered back
Surgeon refuses to operate
And docotre thought I was a lier....

anyone else had a similar experinence?

 

[vorenhutz]

Crikey!

Hi and welcome!

...yep sadly many of us have similar experiences, welcome to the world of ..ummm... well no idea what to call it lol errr..... Cassie's World! lol.

I am so sorry, but you seem like a fighter, sending you lots of positive good wishes,

Cassie xxxxx

 

[dombro]

Thankyou...

I am still unsure if i want the operation or not too i really dont know!

 

[Mohawk]

Subplay, that sounds like anyone's worst nightmare! Not sure why you still are uncertain about surgery and naturally only you can make that choice. I know if it was me, I would have had surgery a very very long time ago!

A brief description of my situation- I have had back problems for over 37 years. I damaged a disc (L4/L5) when I was about 17, had sciatic problems down my leg for a long time and had a couple of cortisone and epidural injections. Eventually my sciatica improved and went away. I have led an extremely active life as an athlete and after getting through my sciatica was a long distance runner and covered over 50,000 km in a 15 year period.

After many injuries and more surgery (for shoulders, archilles tendon, knees etc) I turned to cycling. While the sciatica went away, the lower back problems have always been there and in my case it has been a case of managing it the best I can with physio, chiropractic, stretching and regular massage. My spine is very straight, whereas the normal spine has a s- shape. This tends to lead to problems with the back.

Fast forward to April this year, I was in a 24 hour cycle event and put myself in a situation where I placed too much pressure on my back each time I did my turn (I was in a team). A week later I was getting pain in my right buttock area ( which I have had for 3 years or so anyway) but this was different. It was a stabbing pain and became worse. I tried physio and chiro to no effect. I had an MRI scan which showed a prolapsed L2/L3 disc. This is quite rare (only 5-10% of people have a prolapse this high up). I was given options by my sports specialist (doctor) and took the conservative options first. This involved cortisone tablets (prednisolone) but did not have any effect. After a week I decided to have a cortisone injection. This also did not work, so I was referred to a neurosurgeon. He said the location that I had my prolapse often caused excruciating pain. I said 'I know!' He asked me if I wanted to go away and think about surgery, I said no, I don't want to think about it, I want it done.' I considered that I had no other option as walking, standing and sleeping were painful.Keeping in mind that I saw the surgeon only 16 days ago.

I had surgery the following week (24th June 1011)The procedure was a L2/L3 far right lateral microdiscectomy. I was in hospital for 3 days. It is now day 10 post surgery. I do exercises each day and I walk 1 km twice a day. The pain has been reduced by 70% and I anticipate that over time the damaged nerve will continue to improve. Sleeping is a problem but if I took my pain relief before I went to bed I'm sure this will help me rather than wake up at 1 am when it's too late and then take it. I have been trying not to use pain relief but in hindsight it's better for me to take the medication (Endone which is Oxycodone hydrochloride, and Diazepam) before I go to bed so I have a chance of getting some sleep.

From the time I experienced the nerve pain in my buttock to the time I had surgery was 7 weeks. I believe 6 weeks is the minimum time that surgeons would consider operating as they would look at conservative options first. Unless of course one has Cauda Equina Syndrome which requires immediate surgery. A senior physio friend of mine said that she would never consider surgery for her back but she has not experienced the pain I had. No-one has experienced your pain Subplay.

I'm glad I had the surgery and considered it was the only thing I could do. Had I waited a long time (i.e. longer than 6-12 months) there was chance that there would be permanent nerve damage. My right quad muscle before surgery was weaker due to the L2 nerve problem.After surgery there was an immediate improvement! I have read and read and read so much on the internet on medical sites about prolapsed discs and while most people (about 90%) improve without surgery, some don't and my distinct impression from reading all of the findings was that if you leave it too long, the chances of making a full recovery are significantly less.

So Subplay I hope you can find a resolution to your situation. If you aren't happy, get yet another professional opinion and use all of the information to make an informed choice on what you feel is best for you. I would like to know how what you decide to do!!

 

[shaloola]

Well I am holding out as long as I can for the right operation and it will hopefully be minimally invasive and not a cut and bolt.

Do your research, investigate everything, explore all options, talk to everyone!

Make sure you totally understand what the surgeon is going to do, what the implications will be afterwards, will you be able to walk or run or jog or bend or lift? Will all the pain go? If not how much, when, why?

it is amazing how many operations are called successful but still the patient is in agony afterwards, but just thought to be 'safer'!

 

[Megan B]

Thanks for your response, the only problem i have is the neurosurgeon will not operate on me so I do not have a option, its a grin and bear situation.... My sciatica is slowly getting worse and I have had nerve damge for over 5 years now so chances are there knackered..

My doctor too seems a little useless, i go complaining about pains i have and because its not in the text book saying i should have those pains he does nothing about..

Thanks everyone all info is helpful too me
I know its a horrible thing to say but its nice to talk to people who are suffering with similar problems.

 

[Comdarram]

Cascara is correct, it is essential to do all of the research and in my own case I spent many hours doing this before seeing the neurosurgeon. Cascara also said that it is amazing how many operations are called successful but patients are still in agony afterwards. I'm sure it's a natural part of the healing process to experience pain after the surgery, and apart from at the site of the surgery, but at the location of the original problem. While I haven't been in agony, I was still quite uncomfortable at certain times, especially sleeping.

The physio who saw me after the surgery said that my nerve was damaged and inflamed before the surgery and surgery itself would have inflamed it more. So it's to be expected that there will be pain after surgery. In every other type of surgery I have had for other conditions (injuries) there has been a period after surgery where it has been painful.

And of course not all surgery is successful. Each situation is different.And you are right Subplay it is good to speak to others who have been in similar predicaments. I am guessing that there are reasons why you can't see another neurosurgeon. From my own experience in the past, I will always seek out those surgeons with extremely good credentials, which also includes personal skills. Someone who is empathetic, patient and is prepared to sit down with you and spend time explaining all of your options.

My own approach has been to be very thorough, be informed, be fit before surgery (which also contributed to my problem as I push my body well and truly beyond its limits!) and post surgery be religious in doing the exercises set by the physio and walking each day.

Keep persisting Subplay, ask all the questions and if you aren't happy, try different solutions and don't accept that there is nothing you can do. That is just an incredible amount of time you have put up with the pain and it must be hard to be positive. But I think it's important to hold onto the tiniest thread of hope or smallest ray of sun shine and keep going until you have exhausted all options.

 

[I love Gerard Butler]

Hi Hanza, welcome,

I now have many friends with back pain and some have opted for surgery. Yes, obviously pain is to be expected post op, but my comment was more that for some of my friends their operation was classified a success but they are still in absolute pain years after or worse, one has to be catheterised due to lost of bladder control, fine pre-op) another can only walk bent over on crutches for short periods (could walk fine pre-op), one is now in a wheelchair, ( could walk with pain before) after a fusion when their body rejected the bolts and screws and rods..

Surgery can have unexpected results. Surgey can also have predicted results that the surgeon does not advertise unless asked!

 

[new2sk8ing]

that last comment is quite scary, but quite true too....

I know 2 people who have had a back operation too and its funny, he is on a cathetier if thats how you spell it he had disc fusion, and she is on crutches too. How ironic?

Looking at my evidence and my constant pain im in whilst walking, would I be entitled to anything like DLA as I can walk a metre without being in pain?

Im currently on ESA Support group?

But im not surviving very well on ESA but im too ill to work, just soooo much pain and getting worse by the day..

 

[Allary]

Subplay is right of course, surgery can have unexpected results and it's always sad reading about people whose surgery has not resulted in an improvement. Particularly as those like myself who have suffered the intense pain that comes from having a prolapsed disc and just want to be pain free as soon as possible!

I really do sincerely hope that there will be a positive outcome foy you Subplay and will check back here to see if there has been any change to your situation.

 

[katejones007]

There doesn't seem to be many positive parts to this thread so i thought i would give my two bits. I had my l5/s1 discectomy 8 weeks ago and wished i had done it earlier after having two years of pain and tramadol haze. Pain all gone now and i feel like a new person. Numbness not gone in my other leg but i can live with that. Nerves grow back about 1mm a day so going take a while. The odds are good. Get it done if you are living with constant pain. My quality of life before was 10% now it's about 80%. Going to get that extra 20% when i win the lottery or write some really good tunes.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Hi all, what a wonderful thread, although it has taken me about 4 hours to read all the posts from 2008! Please forgive me in advance for my lack of terminology - after suffering for around 6 months with sciatica and back pain i have received my mri results today which show a prolapsed/herniated disc in L5 and a tear in L4. My questions are where do i go from here the results were given to me by a gp the results suggested an surgical procedure, my gp says I have to go through triage? which i think is physio first - I have already had minipulation from a chiro which seemed to make it worse! Have thought of going to pay for a private consultant - how do I go about finding a good one? Someone on here suggested it's best to get a consultant that also works in nhs to speed things up? Who determines which op I have? I hope all this makes sense as i am a bit overwhelmed by all that I have read this evening. Many thanks in advance.

 

[? Marilyn ? ?]

If I was in your situation I would be heading straight to a neurosurgeon. Neuro surgeons see our type of injury every day. In my case I saw a GP who was essentially specialising in sports injuries. He referred me to a neurosurgeon, who he highly recommended. I had the surgery (24th June) and was very happy with the surgeon. I have had several operations in the past for other problems and I always try and do my research to see who is the best or highly regarded surgeon. I saw a physio straight after surgery (he works in consultation with my surgeon) and I commenced exercises 2 days post-op. My surgery was worse than the standard prolapse as it was at L2/L3 and a far lateral discectomy was required. This procedure is more complex. Very happy I had it done, as it was a large prolapse. So far, so good (23 days post op). Good luck!!

 

[Fitzsy]

Hi guys,

Hope everybody is well. I had my spinal surgey done and out of hospital as well. I am finding moving at the moment difficult. Morninga are very hard as the lower back is very stiff. I am still having trouble with left leg pins and needles etc. The worst is the sharp pain the left buttock. I know now that the disc which was touching the left nerve is no longer there. Yeappy! I know in 6 weeks when I see the consultant he may confirm how long it my take to recover fully.

Can anybody tell me please after having what I have had done how long it will take the nerve problem to go away?

and why is buttock pain still there after surgery? (it feels like nerve been squashed in buttock, i'm sure you people will understand what i'm talking about)

Hope to hear from you soon guys!

 

[wbeymuwfigaihmerv]

Hello everyone and Simon166!

I had my discectomy in early March this year and I experienced the same pains and aches after the op as I had done before but they were nowhere near as severe - like a duller pain really. As far as I know and have experienced this is normal as the nerve has to get back to normal after the trauma of being trapped by the disc.

I still have some numbness in my foot and toes and get a stiff back type ache, but back to living a normal life really. Been told not to exercise until September or October and that it will take a year to get back to my original strength. I do feel brittle but can't complain! I have just got back from a holiday abroad, which I never dreamt I would be able to do 4 weeks ago as there is so much sitting down at airports etc, but it was fine!

My experience of discectomy has been 100% positive and I can't believe how well I am now, when only 4 months ago I felt like my life was over.

Hope your recovery continues too!

 

[cuddles (:]

I'm awake and in hospital with tubes coming out of me and I can't sleep so thought I'd update on my back.

I went for the recommended cortisone injections in my back a few weeks ago and god knows why but I was actually crippled after. Worst pain I've ever felt.

I had new extreme sciatic pain that worsened by day. I couldn't straighten up or lay down or sit down or walk and no word of a lie at the end it took only one hour and fifty mins of heavily drugged sleep before I'd wake up screaming in pain.

I finally said yes to the surgeon doing a discetomy decompression and it was yesterday. I couldn't even lay straight on the bed as the guy was trying to start the general anaesthesia and my last memories are of him gently stroking my face promising me I'd feel better.

I went to theatre at around half ten / eleven am and was back in my bed around half four. I know it's early days but that horrible relentless burning slicing sciatic pain is mostly gone!! The only thing I can really feel is the surgical site and that is quite painful but I have a painkiller button here that I'm pressing with merry abandon! Today I started physio and walking. They taught me how not to twist, how to get out of bed without bending my back etc.

I know I'm drugged to the eyeballs and that I will find things hurt more when it's all died down. I know too that I'm more likely to need surgery in the future having had this and that my disc might prolapse again.

BUT right now I'm so thrilled I can't sleep. I'm so excited and relieved that I'm laying here beaming. I'm not in pain!! I'M NOT IN ANY PAIN

 

[Shion]

I did want to ask about peoples experiences of getting back into walking and moving around.

I am now home and although I'm happy to walk about here and do my exercises indoors, albeit a bit gingerly, I feel quite scared at the thought of going outside tomorrow by myself. I know the physio says listen to your own body but I'm better with a guideline! A ten minute stroll? Twenty mins?

If anyone could share what they did on their immediate return home I'd appreciate it, thank you x

 

[saraapple16]

Hello Jodenise

I totally know how you are feeling!
When I came out of hospital, it took me about 4 weeks to feel strong enough to go out and about. You are lucky, as I wasn't given any physio or advice at all. Only had a follow up with the surgeon after 3 months.

I am now 5 months post op and still feel brittle but lead a normal life. I don't lift / carry etc as I feel very weak but this is also psychological too I think.

Just take it easy - best to listen to your body and take it slow for a while rather than damage your back again and be in the old agony.

Good luck!

 

[agollakes]

I was wondering if anyone knew what the success rates are for disectomy on patients with scoliosis? My Cobb's angle is 26 degrees, and I have an S bend. The disc that herniated is between L4-L5, to the right. I'm in pain every day, all the time. The pain was centered in the lower back to the right, with pain shooting up my back and down my leg, but it's spreading to the other side, and I'm also getting a strange burning sensation on the soles of my feet.

Has anyone else experienced this sensation, because it's starting to scare me. Is it indicative of something else that's wrong? I'm going to try to book appointments with a few neurosurgeons (for different opinions) tomorrow and will hopefully get an appointment in a few weeks. I've had an MRI which told me what was wrong, but my doctor just said to continue with physiotherapy, which isn't helping.

I herniated the disc 8 months ago and it hasn't improved at all. I only found out it was a hernia about two months ago, but I've been doing physiotherapy (and even tried a chiropractor - what a bust!! irritated the nerve in my leg and left with with tingling and numbness) since it happened.
I've been given tramadol for the pain, but i know that you can become addicted to it really easily so i haven't been taking it.

I'd really appreciate any advice you guys could give me