What to do? Microdisectomy

[beipkjbf]

Hi all,

New to this board and looking for some help!

I had a Microdisectomy 1 year ago following months of severe pain and numbness in my right leg.
Whilst the pain did not get better straight after the op I am now in much less pain than I was prior to to getting the operation carried out. I am able to go to the gym regulary and while not really able to go back to playing football feel so much better than i did a year ago.

My issue is that i do still have pain in my right leg, not the same severity , but still very uncomfortable. It comes and goes however I have noticed it has started getting worse when i get out of the car or off a seat.
I returned to my surgeon last Monday following another MRI and he advises the scan does still show a small piece of the disk touching the nerve which is causing the discomfort.

He said that if I want him to re-operate he will but that it was entirely up to me. He says because of my age(31) and good health he said there would be a 60% + chance of success with the op.

The question I have is should I go ahead with the 2nd op and try to get the pain I am in resolved or on the basis that I am so much better than I was prior to my first op just live with the discomfort?
I really don't know what to do as the thought of the op not going well and being back to square one is a nightmare!!

I have spoken to my family and they are also split over what I should do!! Really wish the surgeon just told me what was going to happen rather than making me decide!

Would really appreciate your thoughts!!

Thanks in advance

Steve

 

[ueeqfutiiyuiznewt]

Why not second op, if there is a visible nerve root compression... and if conservative therapy fails...

However, not classic operation again. I suggest minimally-invasive treatment.

 

[lynn g]

Hi, Welcome

I am a long term anti-opper who has survived to tell the tell, in some cases better than those that have had ops! 60% is a terrible odds to offer, what about scar tissue? What about reoccurence? What are the other levels like? Did you see the actual MRI , did the surgeon? Did he say which disn and which nerve and where?

Discs can repair and pain can lessen, and just with time. The body is a clever thing.

 

[invitemeforcoffee.co.uk]

I agree with Cascara. I'm not opposed to surgery as such; but I would say that there is more choice than surgery vs. not surgery, and there are many different ways to consider a problem such as this. Surgeons do what surgeons do - shop around for other opinions on this. When you've truly walked the full length of the counter, then make your choice!

Good luck!

 

[emmaloo]

Hey guys,
I have just joined the forum a few weeks ago and have been in pain on and off from past 11 years (I am 32 right now).

My recent occurence is the worst one and I can't stand, sit, or lay down from past 3.5 months. A good night sleep is a dream for me now doesn't matter how many pain killers I pop.

I am researching on Microdiscectomy and Endoscopic Discectomy at this point of time after trying PT, theraflex and chiropracter.

Cascara and Icarus - Can you please suggest what kind of other things I can try and ain't you causing more damage to your other nerves with a distorted posture??

Thanks

xoxo

 

[cuddles (:]

Hi Mahuja,

I am very much in favour of having the operation if you are in severe pain. The pain I feel now is nothing to what I did pre-op. I was in so much pain I had to find the money to go private as waiting for the op on the NHS was just taking too long.

It sounds to me that you are in great pain so for me the next step would be to have the operation having tried out various other options.

Only my opinion but I can now sleep, work out, and lead a normal life albeit with some discomfort but nothing like pre op.

Hope this helps

Steve

 

[Jason Nicol]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for your support and glad to see that you are relieved of your pain to a certain extent. I think everybody can understand how it feels when you are pain free even for a single day, it's like being reborn again. I am having my own bad and good days and it gets terrible for my family when I am going thru a bad day in an excruciating pain. I am totally dependent on my husband for each and everything.

Steve can you please assist me with a few queries.

- Where did you get your microdiscectomy done and how much did it cost you? (I'll have to go private too coz i can't bear this pain anymore)

- What was your exact diagnosis as per your MRI and did you take multiple opinions regarding the treatment or just had the procedure done at the first go?

- How big was your incision and for how many days were your in hospital after the surgery?

- Did you also consult anybody about minimal invasive surgery??

Really appreciate your response.

I know you still seem to be stuck in the limbo with the re-operation but I agree with Keano that why not??

Hope you a speedy recovery.

Cheers

xoxo

 

[y n]

I had a Microdisectomy last April...and am one of the success stories although its been a long year to get where I am...normal life...with just occasional back pain and weird nerve sensations in leg...so 95% most of the time.

In Glasgow Bupa hospital. I used private health care however still saw the bills...it was about £6000...that's not including all the subsequent physio

L5S1 prolapse with nerve impingement, no 2nd opinions, couldn't continue with pain I was in, 12 pills a day, couldn't work, 2 kids under 5, op was my only way out. Was told post op that it was a fairly large prolapse

Incision is only about 1.5" , had op on Wednesday evening , was home Friday lunch time, back at work after 6 weeks. it has taken the year for the nerve to calm down, and lots of physio to try and sort out my muscles

No..tried chiropractor, physio before op....nothing helped, even the pills didn't stop the pain, only numbed it a bit

 

[Bill M.]

Hey Clare,

Thanks for the reply.

Glad to see that you are one of the success stories and really appreciate your detailed reply.

I got my MRI today and I also have similar problem as yours (moderate left posterolateral and central prolapse at L5/S1 compromising S1 nerve root). I don't have any insurance and I am waiting for a lottery to get operated

I don't want to get it done thru NHS as I think they classify open back surgeries as Microdiscectomy and I am not really comfy with that.

Best of luck, I am sure your remaining nerve sensation and back pain will also wear off.

xoxo

 

[bubberdub18]

Hi mahuja,

I have a very similar experience to Clare.
L5/S1 was causing the pain. I paid in the region of 6k and this included the operation, follow up consultations as well as treatment after the op. As I was still in pain I had an epidural injection which helped reduce nerve pain. This was all part of my 'package' as would any other treatment i may have required within a 3 month period after the op.
All my treatment was via Spire Healthcare - Spire Healthcare, UK Private hospital network, 37 Private Hospitals in England, Wales, Scotland who were superb throughout.

I was in on the Wed evening and also home on the Friday by 1pm.

Like Clare it has taken time after the op for the nerve to settle and I do still experience pain now(hence question about 2nd op) but I can't tell you how much better I feel than i did pre op.

With regards my scar, it is only a little over an inch long and barely visable so I wold not be concerned about this at all.

Please just ask if you want to know anything else. I know what a difficult time it must be for you but keep positive, you will get better!

Steve