im booked in to have a discectomy in a couple of weeks. i cant seem to find anything about after care, i.e. can i get up the stairs and back down, what i can do or not do for 1st 48 hrs, my surgeon seems to be a bit vague, maybe he was having a bad day, but that doesnt give me mych confidence about the surgery. can anyone point me in the right direction plz
Hi Clarkey
I am 5 days post op on my second discectomy. I had my first one on 1st April on my L4/L5 on the right hand side. My second one was on my L5/S1 on the left hand side. Post op they will check your wound, that you don't feel any nausea and can recognise and pass urine. I got home the day after my op. You are encouraged to move around, not sit for too long at any one time and start simple physiotherapy exercises 2-3 times per day. Don't do any twisting or lifting anything. I feel so much better now that I've had my second disc done. The only thing I notice that around 3 days post op I get slight dizziness when first lying down and then again when I sit up but that passes. Hope your op goes well and that you have a good recovery.
Carol
date
have u had your surgery yet? how are u? i am 5 days post op and had the best day yet- was released same day and had a 3 1/2 hour drive home, i thought i felt great but didnt realize how much pain med was still in system. they gave me gravol but i still felt nauseus around windy lake, the nauseas didnt let up until yeasterday late. ive decreased to tylenol 3 2 of them twice daily and still taking flexeril helps with muscles (my neurologist said if it wasnt the largest l4 l5 herniation she had seen (microdiscectomy) it was secong largest. they had to move more muscle than normal she said.
so heres my pre discectomy planning tips,
- cook and freeze a bunch of meals / and/ or have people arranged to do this
-buy a water bottle with a straw and leak proof top so u can have a drink without sitting up leave it on the bed beside u so u dont have to roll or reach to get it
-we put a kitchen table beside my bed to hold onto when getting up log roll style-also put one in front of toilet to make it easier your home toilet will be much shorter than one at hospital
-make sure your bowel movements are under control i was having a problem from pain meds and didnt go for a few days, stool softeners prior to and after surgery speak to your dr or pharmasict about this
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I have a 17 month old son so all care has been turned to my mom and mother in law thank god for them, i helped them by packing bags for my son that should cover him for abojut 5 days told them to wash and return use and return so its a quick grab if hes going to their house, had no dirty laundry or dishes and cleaned and organized whole house
this was hard i had severe leg and foot pain but i made each day for a room and did it
severe pain feb 27 2010, sciatic since sept 2009, on and ooff "blowouts" since 2006
saw surgeon july 26 2011 surgery aug 10 2011- post surgery numbness in right foot in bottom of foot hope this goes away
im trying to keep spirits up but my husband passed away in a tragic truck accident may 29th 2011 he never got to see me feel better, hes not here to help, hes just not here anymore and its terribly hard to do this without him.