It's been a year and a half since my surgery. Things are better. I'm still not 100 percent. I might not ever be. But I'm close. Ninety percent I'd guess. Still have some numbness in my foot and little toe, I guess it's nerve damage. But not dead numb like it used to be.
Currently undergoing a little setback -- good news is that they are fewer and farther between. But I did a number on myself this time. I think it is a strain or pulled muscle though, and not disc-related. I was sweeping and cleaning the kitchen, doing a bunch of bending and twisting, and then when I went for the dust pan, BAM. Ouch. Stabbing pain on the right of my spine (my "bad" side is my left). Stood up and was in excruciating pain. I've heard of people hurting their backs this way ("suddenly") but that had never been the case for me -- mine came on gradually over the course of several months.
I instantly felt pain in my upper right thigh, and, thinking it meant this was disc-related, freaked out. I have read so many accounts of people herniating the remaining disc on the other, "good" side that I was afraid this had happened. I envisioned a second microdiscectomy, followed by a disc replacement (due to no disc material left!) and then a lifetime of chronic pain and back problems -- not a life I want to ever lead. I've read the message board postings and talked to some of these poor people and it's not somewhere anyone wants to go.
I have been icing my back and taking a non-steroid anti-inflammatory and two days later feel much, much better. It still hurts. But not in the leg and I don't think it's a disc problem anymore. It feels like a strain from back all the way around my side. More reason to get that core into shape.
Which is hard, getting your core into shape. I am exercising -- swimming and walking -- but not doing any core stuff. It's hard when it's so easy to hurt yourself. Yet it's something you gotta do in order to quit hurting yourself. If this most recent mishap ever heals, I swear I will get more serious about some core work. It's gotta be done.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI am so glad to have found your blog. I was bewildered to find such little information about the recovery process of the most common type of back surgery. I found next to nothing on the internet and was only told to avoid anything that caused me pain from my surgeon. I am 22 and at 8 weeks post-op since my microdiscectomy and have recovered very well so far. No leg pain and a little numbness in my toes. It appears that walking has helped me the most and I have noticed further improvement since I started swimming and cycling in the past 2 weeks. I was also amazed at how refreshing swimming feels as I had not swam for years. My only concern is sitting down for long periods as this tends to cause stiffness and am probably a little hypersensitive to pain when seated as this was the most painful position for me when I had the disc herniation.
I would also like to get into strengthening my core but am hesitant due to my experience with physiotherapy prior to my surgery. I think I will wait a while before I get involved with that.
Your post-op experience seems to have had its ups and downs which have given me a greater understanding and awareness of what to expect. I shared your frustration with the annoying questions and confused expressions of medical staff dealing with a younger patient going for surgery. Really quite irritating as the reason people need this operation is usually because they have tried most avenues of treatment and have been recommended by a specialist to opt for surgery.
The various tips and recommendations that you have mentioned throughout your posts are very helpful and I wish you the best for a healthy future.
Thanks for making this blog.
Thanks for such a nice comment. It really is a long process. More than 1.5 years later I am still healing. I still have setbacks. Just fewer and farther in between.
ReplyDeleteI wish you a speedy recovery!
Thank you so much for your blog. It has been a great support to me. I'm only 28 yrs old and just had a discectomy in June after 10 months of physical therapy, prednisone, steroid shots, and even one visit to a osteopath. Finally I am (mostly) pain free but as you said, not normal. Everytime I start to worry or panic about my back, I come back to your blog for a little reassurance. So thank you thank you thank you for sharing your story!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad it's helped, Denise! That is a big reason why I put this out there. For you as well as for me. To remind me that I *am* so much better when I get down and doubt it.
ReplyDeleteMostly pain-free three months out is fantastic progress. Hope you're back to 99% very soon!
Hi - I wanted to thank you for this blog. I had a microdiscectomy for a 18 mm herniation at L4 L5 in October. I am 31 years old and have been suffering with this herniation for nearly 10 years. For the past two years I have had more painful days than painfree days so after trying everything I finally had the surgery (I have a 6 month old and 2.5 year old who I desperately want to be able to run, and dance, and play with).
ReplyDeleteI wish I had found your blog sooner. For some reason I was under the impression that after the initial recovery from surgery I would, for the most part, be rid of all my symptoms. For me that has not been the case, I have had several flare-ups that have sent me into a panic. It is hard to remember that I am much better (80-90%) than I was three months ago but reading your blog puts my mind at ease and helps me maintain a positive attitude. Thank you! I hope that at your two year mark you are feeling fabulous.
Thank you - Christine
Hi Christine -- Yeah, I was led to believe I would be doing back flips (pain-free ones at that!) out of the hospital after the surgery. Maybe some people do. But the fact that you're doing better does mean something. I still have flareups two years out. Just not that many. Now they are 6 months apart and not 6 days, or 6 weeks, apart. And I get better much, much faster. Remember that the sciatic nerve is huge and takes a long time to regenerate. Nerves heal at some absurdly low rate (like 1/16 inch/month) and your nerve has to regenerate and heal. Just imagine how you'll be 6 months out! Here's to a speedy recovery!
ReplyDeleteI have herniated disk an L5-S1. It is not near as bad a yours was. I tried the conservative approach for 3 years and latest MRI shows it worse. I am ready to try surgery and the neurosurgeon that workman’s comp sent me do agrees and is wanting to do a microdisectomy. Workman’s comp had another Dr Review my case and say it is not medically necessary. Had to get a lawyer. My Court date is coming up in Feb. So hopefully I will get some relieve soon.
ReplyDeleteI had a few suggestions to share with you for long term relief.
Beware of long term use of Naproxen (Alieve) I am now taking meds for an ulcer. Taking Tramodal for pain now.
Take a look at this video about disk pressure at various positions. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T-eQJnZRRk&feature=player_embedded
Lower pressure when on you back. It is even lower with legs raised. Get yourself a wedge pillow for under your legs when you sleep and sleep flat on you back with knees raised. http://www.carolwrightgifts.com/Personal-Care/Support-Mobility/Leg-Pillows/21485.cfm on $20.
Sitting at desk all day is bad for back. http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_19/b4177071221162.htm
Because of my back I switched Jobs and do mostly phone support from home now and spend 4-5 hours a day walking at a very slow .8 to 1.0 miles per hour on my Treadmill desk I built. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=200702&id=594753906&l=c8290ca322
It really helps on the back pain since mine is worse when sitting, it should help with weight loss as well. I have lost 5-6 pounds over thanksgiving and chrismas. My blood pressure is now 100/70 and my cholesterol numbers look great.
Great tips, Mike! Sounds like you are on the road to recovery. Hope it continues to get better, and quickly.
ReplyDeleteHey,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, let me say that I share in the grateful sentiments expressed in the comments about your blog. As someone who still struggles with lower back pain 10 months after a microdiskectomy at L5-S1, I definitely understand where you're coming from.
Having said that, I wanted to ask you a few questions (sorry if they had already been addressed in previous entries; you have a lot of them and I haven't had the time unfortunately to read them all, haha). Here I go:
1. Have you tried acupuncture for pain relief? As an East Asian (Korean, to be specific), it is something that I have more familiarity in compared to the average person here in the U.S. I would like to hear your input.
2. Even though my sciatica has improved significantly, I still struggle with lower back pain whenever I sit to work on my desk. As a college student, it's something I have to do even though I drad it. Have you had similar experiences with sitting? And what have you done to try relieving the pain?
3. One thing that I have come to notice more and more is the link between the mind and body. I won't go into too much detail, but I am under significant stress in my life right now (things in addition to school) and have developed real perceptions of bodily problems (other than back pain) despite negative diagnostic results from tests such as ultrasounds and CT scans. I say this because I can sense that you're weary of potentially injuring yourself again (and I definitely know what this fear is like). Have you tried any psychological exercises to try to overcome this sort of chronic worry? I've been engaging in meditation at a local Zen Buddhist Center and have had honest discussions about how I feel with family members and friends and I have seen positive results. Just wanted to throw that out there and see what you think.
Wow, that was long winded. If you get a chance to read this comment, I'd appreciate some sort of feedback. Cheers.
Thank you for sharing this post about
ReplyDeletedisc replacement surgery, Houston TX. Good job.
I came back to see if you had posted another blog entry. I'm now 2 years out of surgery. Worlds better. Not 100%, but well enough. No cartwheels for this mommy, but I can take care of my kids and that's good enough for me.
ReplyDeleteHow is your back? I'd love to hear your progress/tips/hints/whatever you have to offer. I still get very mild sciatica from time to time when I do too much (note to self- spring cleaning is overrated! Dont do it!) and have noticed it come with PMS... maybe there's not enough room in there for things to swell and get angry? Haha
Hoping you're well!
Hey tiki I am reallyu gald that i found your blog . I had l4 and l5 microdiscectomy in june 2010 and for 6 months i was very careful and did my rehab exercise almost everyday for those 6 months. Later I left every doing exercise and started playing , running .. etc . I am very happy for 1 year that i did not get any pain apart from little numbness and some minor pain here and there in my legs which goes very soon. In jan 2012 (after 1.5 years) I got disturbing pain in my back and then little pain in the legs and immediately after 1 week i took an MRI and went to my surgeon . I was happy that he said there nothing apart from the scar tissue But insisted me in doing my exercises daily :) . I took his advice and did my exercise for 2 months and then got lazy again :(. Now after 6 months its again same the same situation as it was in jan 2012 . I went to the doctor again and he said there is nothing but asking me few questions and straight leg test was negative until 90 degrees. He said that my muscles are weak and the pain is due to that . but I feel it is a nerve pain ... can this be due to a nerve damage ? is there a way we can heal nerve damage ?
ReplyDelete