Microdiscectomy

[browneyes1]

Hi I'm new to this forum but thought I would share my experiences of having surgery for a prolapsed disc.L4/L5 I lifted something heavy in August 2008 and found myself in excrutiating pain for the next 8 months. I read all the info on my condition and was convinced I would gradually improve I tried lumber injections chiro, physio, eating ginger for pain and anything else I could get my hands on plus painkillers nothing worked.I read lots of forums about surgery and it frightend me to say the least.However I plucked up courage and money and saw a spinal specialist and had surgery 9 weeks ago I was up and walking within 2 hours went to the loo no problem, went home next day and never looked back excuse the pun I am left with slight numbness on top of foot about 2" dia and sometimes get very very faint pins & needles in foot but hardly notice it sometimes get the odd sensation round ankle but I know its early days. I walk really well just as I did before with my dog. I would have had this done before if I could have found some positive feedback so I thought I would write this it may help extingish some peoples fears of an operation and just to say things are not as bad as they sometimes appear.

 

[Alwaysknows]

That sound fantastic!

What treatment type did you have? and which spine unit did you have it done in?

Best wishes

SPINELF

 

[Sera]

Hi all,

Likewise I found it very hard to find something positive about having a discectomy but due to the extreme pain I was in constantly I decided to go ahead with the op.

I had my op nearly two weeks ago and whilst I appreciate it is early days I am absolutely over the moon. I woke from my op with no pain, a bit lightheaded with low blood pressure the first day but up and walking that day. Things have improved day by day. I stopped taking my painkillers almost immediately (and believe me prior to the op I was heavily medicated) the only one remaining is the lowest dose of fentanyl and that is only because it needs to be reduced gradually. I am increasing my exercise but being careful with no lifting (oh looking on the bright side, no housework for 6 weeks!). Occasionally I get muscle cramp and ache but only mildly and certainly not worth worrying about. My best friend also had this op a couple of months ago and is also doing extremely well.

 

[weekcuoeiffikkemp]

Microdiscectomy? is that the same as 'minimally invasive discography' ?

I would be interested to learn more about the details of this procedure as I do not think that my local NHS trust use this procedure, it sounds great!!


Best regards

SPINELF.

 

[enroute]

Hi spinelf

To be completely honest I dont know if its the same operation (and I come from a medical background!). All I know is I have a tiny incision scar (about 1 1/2 inches) and things are progressing well. The hospital infact were worried I was too well!! (figure that!) and that because I had so little pain I would be tempted to do too much too soon. I am trying hard to do as Im told, but I dont make a very good patient. Now three weeks post op and physio started in ernest last week.

Hope you have a really positive outcome to your problems. I am SO glad I had the surgery - you read so many horror stories and whilst I am not completely pain free now (just niggles if I do too much) compared to pre surgery its minimal and I havent resorted to any painkillers (even off the patches now).

I am due to return to work in the next month or so, so keep everything crossed x

 

[iqaezwub]

Can you tell us more? What patches do you use? Are they for pain? And where was the incision?

 

[caveman]

Hiya,

Very small incision over L4/L5 (now healed nicely) - doesnt everyone have a very small incision???

My spinal specialist physio suggested pain relief prior to the opp - she suggested Fentanyl patches. Unfortunately, apparently, they cost a lot of money on the NHS so some GPs unwilling to prescribe them. They do also, again apparently, have habit forming qualities so care needs to be taken but for me they were a god send and helped me with my extreme pain. You have to withdraw from them slowly (I did it over a week by going down a dose) but have been off them completely for 2 weeks now with no apparent side effects. Hope this helps, though Im no expert, but I can say they did help me immensely. Think sometimes GPs dont always take the pain of sciatica very seriously.

Sarsy x

 

[Glithiarth]

Thanks Sarsy, I have heard of up to 8inch scars below the bellybutton if done anterior. Will investigate the patches

 

[UtteliaVeitty]

Can you please inform me who did your microdiscectomy and where? NHS funded?

 

[Superior Jeans]

The Cardiff spine unit does not offer micro surgery of this kind, I would like to see if I could get an out of area referral.

1) were you awake during the procedure?

2) how long did it take you to restart walking agin?

3)What hospital did have the procedure in Sarsy?

By the way, standard NHS spinal decomprssion procedures require a 2 - 4 inch incision, sometime larger, thats why yours sounds great!

Can't wait to hear from you

Regards

SPINELF