I have just returned from seeing my sergon re my L4/5 discectomy on first of may.
He asked me when I 'BROCK MY BACK' !!!!!!!!!!!!!
It seems higher up there is evidence that I have brocken it!!!!!! he showed me on the scan where the vervibray is a triangle, rather than rectangle other than telling me and asking when I did it he went back to discusing my discectomy.
I think I was a little shocked !!! Did not ask anything!
Anyone know if its a problem ?????
I, and I'm sure, other HP members too, are aslo shocked Lizzy! But mainly at your Surgeon's uncaring and unenlightening atitude towards you and your care!!
You ask, is it problem? I say Yes!! I would ask you to seriously and urgently consider a getting a 2nd opinion!! Find a world class Spinal Trauma Surgeon and ask him/her, please!!
If the broken level is 'unresolved' and is 'unstable' it certainly will not not help matters!!
I have just returned from seeing my sergon re my L4/5 discectomy on first of may.
He asked me when I 'BROCK MY BACK' !!!!!!!!!!!!!
It seems higher up there is evidence that I have brocken it!!!!!! he showed me on the scan where the vervibray is a triangle, rather than rectangle other than telling me and asking when I did it he went back to discusing my discectomy.
I think I was a little shocked !!! Did not ask anything!
Anyone know if its a problem ?????
Oh dear, that is quite a shock!! I know cos it happened to me too. But thankfully it was Mr Martin Knight that told me and discussed the fracture and pointed out on the xrays where it was and how it affected my whole body stance and the way my vertebrae react on top of one another causing a lot of compression and degeneration as none of the vertebrae were straight anymore. . Luckily I was 15 when it happened and so I had a lot of growth left that helped mend the fracture. Mine was a compression fracture from when a horse landed on my shoulder and I was then bed rested for around 4 months, not because of the fracture, (it was never even xrayed till 30 years later lol by MK), but because I got dizzy and sick when I stood up after the accident lol!
Your surgeon is the best person to discuss this with, and soon, before the operation. Research him and ring his secretary and speak to her about how you feel.
I was offered a disectomy like you from the first surgeon I saw, I said no as he said it wouldn't stop the chronic back pain I have had all my life. Be sure that yours will. Disectomies usually only help leg pain.
Hopefully you have got over the shock, do you have any idea when it happened? Were you aware? Was it treated?
I think I know when I did it, about 6 years ago, but having had imobilising lower back spasms in the past the level of pain did not sugest to me a major prob, I did see my doc the next day, he sugested I went to a chiropractor and gave me pain relife, I was not working at the time so a chiropractor was not an option.
I am going ahead with my disectomy as the leg symtoms I have are very disabling and have has some momentery 'tingling' in sadle area (Only for a few mins after over doing it)
Its taken since november to get this opperation, I can not make more than a day or two at a time at work and am nearly out of sick pay!!!!
My plan is to get lower back delt with first then start asking about upper back!
What I don't know is what probs a disk bulge at this level can cause ??? I 'feel it' sometimes, but like neck ach after you have slept funny rather than disabling pain
Any one with any info ??? sorry if I'm sounding a little stressed !
3wks back in work. Straight into lates and commute. First 2 weeks were tough. This week started to level out. Got fitted for a custom chair & support for the car. I got measured and they cut it to my shape with added lumbar support. Genius idea!! Costly though.
Still have pain here and there mostly on the left side which is the opposite to the surgery. Hard to find the balance between work, rest and exercise.
New goggles, swim hat and even invested in a bicycle with a little side for the young fella!!
Well done Ricky - keep up the good work - carefully!!
Lizzy - so sorry to hear of your problems. Please can you read my post (no 69) here on another thread. Do please get your diet sorted before anything gets any worse.
I am going ahead with my disectomy as the leg symtoms I have are very disabling and have has some momentery 'tingling' in sadle area (Only for a few mins after over doing it)
What I don't know is what probs a disk bulge at this level can cause ??? I 'feel it' sometimes, but like neck ach after you have slept funny rather than disabling pain
Any one with any info ??? sorry if I'm sounding a little stressed !
You need not appologise to us lizzyH, we fully understand why you are stressed!!
The L4/5 level disc is regarded as a sciatic level and could well cause severe groin, bottock, thigh, shin and foot pains and their related muscle spasms. If you experience 'none' of these symptoms, then you need to urgently ask the Surgeon more questions!
Here's to wishing you the very best for your discectomy and the fondest hope for your full recovery Lizzy!!
We will all still be here for you, when come home!
Sorry, I think I have been a little unclear, I have all the L4/5 symptoms, which is why I am having opp next week, it is the uper back disk bulge and previous broken vertibra that I know nothing of ?????????? That is where the 'mild' symtoms I discribed are.
Nice to have you back Lizzie, thanks so much for popping in, I always wonder how people get on, how they are etc, hopefully the soreness will improve, now don't overdo things, be gentle on yourself and keep us all updated please
I have been on to let pep know how I am doing but by the time I have read some posts I have fallen asleep again ! lol
Well how did it go ???
I came around to my back spazimzing !!! (sorry about spelling) I was at that moment worried to say the least. It took me ten mins to get them to lower the head end of the bed, they were just giving my more drugs, I ended up shouting before they did as I asked, I was then ok.
At some point I may have a little more of a winge about the way hospitals look after you.
Each day I seem to improve, its hard as for half hour I feel like a normal person, then its nap time again ! Back and legs feel fine when stood up, but I start feeling very dizzy and tird after half hour. I also seem to get a numb big toe after a bit !
Things are not as good when I try to relax, my back spazims when I first lay down and sometimes when I try to turn over.
The spazims worrie me BUT each day I am improving
See you all soon liz
3wks back in work. Straight into lates and commute. First 2 weeks were tough. This week started to level out. Got fitted for a custom chair & support for the car. I got measured and they cut it to my shape with added lumbar support. Genius idea!! Costly though.
Still have pain here and there mostly on the left side which is the opposite to the surgery. Hard to find the balance between work, rest and exercise.
New goggles, swim hat and even invested in a bicycle with a little side for the young fella!!
Hope things are still improving for you both. Ricky, when I read your post with '9 hours with no break' I had a strong need to shout at you, your follow on post made me smile as it said everything I was thinking. It is so easy to give advice and yet so hard to take it!
I am day 8 post op and just re-read the posts to reasure my self that ups and downs are normal. I am a little confused.com. The advice re-recovery is a little confusing, I was told to do a three way rotation; 20-30 mins standing, bed AND sitting. The physio said the sitting was needed to strech (I can't remember what needed streching). As the sitting was suppost to be on a firm chair with lumber support, which I don't have I have not done this, also that this seems to be the opposit to advice others have been given.
Also, I was told to walk a mile a day, but, should it be 1 mile for the first two weeks then build up, or should I be trying to make it further now I am improving
Hi Lizzy, Great that your improving and aware of the 2 steps forward one step back scenario at times.
The one thing i'll say is each person will say there own thing.. doctor, nurse surgeon etc. Walk this per day etc. Any walking is good, Do what you can manage and don't over do it. Trust your body before what your ''Supposed'' to do each day. I started walking around the house, then up the lane then 500 paces then 1/2mile 2 miles 3miles and finally 4 miles. I now find 3 miles is just right for me. Exercise and not over doing it. Finding the balance comes with time. But go easy.
Today I had the final fitting for a custom work chair and car seat also. I could have sat on the chair in the shop all day long is was so comfy and supportive.
As for the seated 8-9hr days working - thats life, thats how i pay my way and support my family. All i can do is sit right on a decent chair and keep going..
Its been a bad week. I really dont know why. I guess its been bad enough to post again.
My major issue is lower back pain to the left of the surgery. This was a new pain I felt when I woke up from surgery and has bothered me ever since. When I say pain, I mean 8/10 pain.I am back on some serious meds.
My GP made this rather interesting observation that after your suffer a prolapsed disc everyone advises you to work on your core strength, only for the surgeon to then drive straight through that core to fix the disc...all that work undone...catch 22.
The sciatica has almost gone...and I guess thats what the operation is all about. However backs arent that simple. My pain was 50/50 back sciatica at the point of surgery or even 60/40 - the back pain hasnt gone at all, indeed its getting worse. (Major compensation over 4 years I have been told - now trying to sort itself out)
My observations are as such approaching 3 months post op:
1.This operation will help your sciatica but not your back pain.
2.Take everything slowly.
3 .You really dont need to walk miles on end post op...just gentle walks.
4. Listen to your body.
5. Prepare for a nice life-long scar luckily you cant see it
Ricky glad you are getting a nice chair - no chance of that in my job - I think my cards are marked.
Sorry to hear that Doog. Its a tricky road. I'm putting a happy face on it at the minute - it is very tough going and the realization that its a life long issue makes you look at things differently. Its a mental challenge to accept that. Keep positive which is very hard to do with the pain you seem to be enduring constantly. Its the head that bears the brunt of it really..
My surgeon made it very clear to me that he could only eliminate the sciatia and do nothing at all for the back pain.
As for the chair. I'm paying for that myself. Its going to hurt for the next 3 months financially but i've no choice in the matter.
I am so sorry to see that you guys are still suffering!
I know it's still early days yet, but keep records of your improvements, and any degenerations, and make sure your Surgeons know about them!
Your Surgeon Ricky, saying he can fix one problem, but not the other one, is (in my humble opinion)not acceptable!! If he can't fix you, he/she sould refer you to a 'Top Surgeon' who can!! Don't let him/her fob you off, as i'm sure you want bigger improvements!
Doog, the point made by your GP, shows that the destruction of balance, strength and power in the core muscles, particularly the 'fascias' during surgery, is no secret, but its relevance for patient's long term outcome, is still not being explained prior to surgery!
Each day is an improvement. I have to hold on to that.
Frustration of clear advice from medical people is so very frustrating! My Sergon told me to return to work 2 weeks after opp. GP seems to have less idea than my kids about right / wrong thing to do and will write anything I want on fit note!
Physio yesterday gave me very careful exersises and told to lisen to body. But when I asked about swimming got a not for 6 to 12 weeks ! anyone know why that would be? GP could see no reason when I asked him !
I could not see myself being ready to return after two weeks! That would have been 2 days ago !!! I still need regular lye down time each day ! I have next week booked off as a weeks hol, then I will be back to it!! I am scared !
wow return to work after 2 weeks!! That's insane! I was 8wks and even then it was a struggle. I'm 5 weeks back and its only this week i'm feeling normal again.
The no swimming is based on the scar and swimming pools are breeding grounds for infection. I was told the same.
For what its worth, the first 6wks are vital in recovery to take it easy and not over do it. If work is going to be an issue then take the time now.
RickyC is right about the infection issue, this is particularly the case after standard 'open back' spine surgery, micro-procedures and fusions.
The other point to bear in mind is that as a procedure, standard spine operations create a lot of 'collateral damage' which has to heal 'slowly' to fully recover. When you do eventually go back to the pool, don't swim at first! Try gentle walking and stretching exercises first! You can find information about these techniques on 'hydro-therapy' web sites! Perhaps the resident HP Therapists can guide you further on this program.
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other than telling me and asking when I did it he went back to discusing my discectomy.
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