Discectomy - After the Operation

Thank you..

Thank you Chiddy, how are you getting on? Are you still getting the pains in your claves?.. sorry I meant Calves...!! Morphine !!

I do hope that you are recovering well.

Best wishes x

Hi Monty2,

Glad to hear that all is well so far!!!! I will keep my finger's crossed for your full speedy recovery...

Kind regards and positive thoughts sent your way..xx

thats me home from the the op , which i had on friday, but still have pain in the left leg but not in the right anymore. quite sore , but pain killers do !
will post more soon, need to rest now !

Well done Gregdfc, I too had leg pain following the operation... still do three weeks post op but am told it is nerves/swelling etc. Hang on in there and take it easy...

Michelle 🙂

Went into hosp on Thu. but no beds for me so go put in ENT Ward. had op on friday and 8.30am. About 3pm really needed to do a pee so stood up and walked very slowly with a nurse and fainted in the toilet. so got rushed back to the bed. On Saturday the doctors came round and said they trimmed back one of the discs and took another one out. They said i could go home if i can walk up stairs, which i did. Walking ok but very slow. Pain killers are great ! My left leg is sore , but the pain in the right has gone !
Would recommend any one for this !

One thing i noticed is my posture is great now ! even taller !

well done Gregdfc. Glad you are feeling so well.
🙂

Just thought id say hi,

i've just been given my op date for the 15th May - discectomy on L5 / S1 and i won't deny that im properly scared.

You read all the stories on here but all i seem to remember is the horror stories, if i can get through the op i'll be happy.

I do have the advantage of running a Gym (great advert i know) so have access to aid recovery etc.

I wish everyone well on here, the hardest thing i find is talkin to family about it, my Mum who's running my business and is tired and worried about me, my fiancee who's tryin to hold it all together with an 11mth old boy an an 8 year old girl.

So just tryin to put a brave face on.

Good luck everyone you have my thoughts

Stu

Hi Stu

Being afraid of the unknown is natural.

My own experience of having the same op (L5/S1) was of immense relief. I had some discomfort following the procedure but it didn't compare with the pain I had before the op.

It was like being given a new lease of life, though you have to be sensible and listen to your body.

Good luck with your procedure and I am pleased to hear that you have a good support network!

Having my micro-discectomy (L5/S1) next Thursday. Fortunate enough to have Bupa, however I'm still awfully concerned! I've spoken to a few people who have had it done and read all the reports on here and that has given my some confidence, so I'm a bit happier. Hope that the disc isnt degenerating, because if it is, he says he will remove the whole thing & not just chop off the bulge & clean out the fluid. The thought of bone on bone isn't very nice.... Just can't wait to get it over & done with now.

Hi All,
Thought I would do a google for info after a discectomy and found this site. I am on day 13 after my op and am in more pain now down my leg than before.
After surgery which I had at QMC it was brilliant NO pain at all except the obvious soreness of surgery.
The last 3/4 days though the pain has started down my leg, the numbness isn't as bad as before but the pain in my bum cheek and down the back of the leg is alot worse. I have rang the hospital for advice but can't manage to get anyone to talk to. I am doing my exercises but after reading the posts on here I think I might be sitting too much.
I have found it hard as I am not supposed to bend, stretch or lift but as most people know if you feel ok then it is hard not to do these things but I am trying to be good.
Anyway now I have bored you all I will go and do some exercises.
Nicky

Hi Nicky,

Glad you found this site, because everyone on here will have experienced things that you have and so hopefully you can get some good advice.

I have had 2 microdiscectomies, so am a bit old hat myself!! 😀

Sitting for long periods will seriously aggravate and cause pain, its only recommended to sit for short periods, i.e. 20 mins or so.
You nerve has been tinkered with during surgery, and was squashed for a fair while prior to surgery, so needs time to recover.
If the leg pain gets worse or is prolonged, then see your GP. It may be that a short course of stronger painkillers is needed, then you may be ok.
I would still bring it up at reviews with your surgeon though.

I hope i have been of some assistance to you!!! 🙂

Anyhoo.....Subi, Jess, Tracey, Melza, Olli....How be you guys?

I am trotting off to physio now.
I have decided to opt for the epiduroscopy to rid my poor back of the adhesions. They are seriously interfering with my life and am getting fed up. I am still popping loads of mind bending pills every day.
I have the feeling i may have a fight on my hands, as the last review i had with the surgeon, he practically told me they wont do anything if my scan results turned out to be adhesions. I am ready for them though.....bring it on!!! 😀

Hi Nicky,

I had my operation 3 weeks ago, and I was also ok for a few days following the operation and then my leg pain increased and I was in a really bad way for a few days. My GP put me on MST and Oramorph and slowly over the past week I have improved simply by resting up and not doing too much. I am now off the Morphine and doing really well. I still get leg pain but it is much better and each day I am doing more and really starting to feel that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
I guess what I am trying to say is hang on in there. Take the pain killers offered, rest up, small amounts of exercise and most of all as every one else says listen to your body.

Wishing you all the best

Michelle 😉

Newbie

Hi everyone,
I'm three weeks post-op from a L4/L5 discectomy. I had no pain before the operation but had a "big" disc that resulted in foot drop and some bladder problems. The size of the disc, total lack of reflexes, foot drop, bladder troubles, and absence of any pain put me on the urgent list. As I started to move around more after the operation (beginning of the second week), I noticed pressure in my head and some nausea, especially if I was on my feet too long. The more I was upright, the more intense the pressure (at the back of my head and in my jaw up towards my temples) became, as well as increased nausea and dizziness. A trip to my doctor and a call to my neurosurgeon resulted in a diagnosis of CSF (cerebralspinal fluid) leak.

Has anyone else experienced this? My operation went well but my recovery is being compromised by my having to be on complete bed rest while I wait for the leak to heal (hopefully). I was wondering if any of you could recommend a website of exercises that move the spine - but that can be done in bed?

ali!!
good to hear from you...i have been thinking of you! sorry to hear things haven't improved and GOOD LUCK with the fight for the epiduroscopy. if anyone can win that one, you can!

things are still going well with me. back doing 2 dance classes and trying to get down to an acceptable size! still get an achy leg quite a lot, but it has usually gone by the morning. occasional pins and needles in my foot too, but nothing that's interfering with every day life.

to everyone who is about to have the op, or in recent recovery....good luck! stay as positive as you can and do what the physios tell you! suza1973 - i know someone else who had a csf leak and had to have complete bed rest too - maybe you should check with your GP whether you should be doing any exercises while resting?? the hospital gave me some basic ones that could be done lying down, but i'm not sure if they might aggravate the healing tear...

hope you all enjoy the long weekend!
jess xx

Hey Jess!!

Good to hear from you!
Well I saw the surgeon who i like, that was a good start!! lol
I have scar tissue wrapped around my nerve and is squeezing it, and it was already badly damaged during my last op...Muchos painos!!

The good news is, he said he doesnt want to give up on me, and is referring me to a pain specialist, who has a special interest in cases such as mine, and knows a bit about epiduroscopies.
He was shocked that i even knew about it, I printed out the research that i had made into it, and he was well impressed!!
So....nuts to the last surgeon i saw who told me that nothing can be done for me if i have adhesions....cos he is wrong wrong wrong!!!

I still might not get the procedure, its still being developed by NICE (National institute for clinical excellence), but the findings of it so far are very positive. I am quite happy to be a guinea pig lol!!
I at least walked out of there happy and with hope, i normally come out of there angry and upset!!!
And he isnt discharging me either, he said he is leaving the door open for me if i want to see him, i thought that was really cool.

So i am a very happy Ali!! 😀

Jess, its great to hear you are managing well, we do have these mishaps, but i totally believe in staying positive. I have my down times, but have a 'Its happened, I just have to deal with it and make the best of it as much as I can' attitude. If it turns out I can't have this procedure, then at least i will have tried eh?

Much love to the rest of you guys both pre and post op too, it can be a long hard slog back to recovery, but you will get there 🙂

Much Luv, Ali x

Hi Monty2,
Sorry it's taken so long to reply i'm the only1 without a computer in our house and so have to beg borrow and steal to get on one..haha
I am still doing well in my recovery, still get some pain in my calves mainly lower but after seeing the physio and report of my op this is explained due to severe nerve damage but I am VERY Thankful to have been informed that the nerve had mainly been sitting on my spinal cord and I am lucky to have any use of my bowel etc, to which Thankgod I have full use and control of, obv I feel very lucky.
I am at physio again on monday and back to my surgeon tuesday so he can give me the all clear to fly on the 11th he was informed before my op that we were going away so fingers x there is no prob, sitting on the plane i'm not looking forward to so i'll have to go walk about throughout.
I hope all is well with you and you are more comfortable and in less pain.
I will keep my fingers x for your full recovery.
Kind Regards and positive thoughts sent your way.xxx

The pain ignored!

I have been looking everywhere for answers to my op questions. I am so glad im not alone. just before christmas my leg was in agony, I have my own business so had to keep going. Then on the 30 the March after numerous attempts at trying to get someone to believe in my pain and after the hospital told me I had nothing wrong with me I was admitted to A+E. My legs and bum were numb and burning and my back had completely gone. I was rushed to Newcastle General where i was told that if I had the discectomy the worst case scenario was the loss of the use of my legs. If I didnt have the op I would eventually lose my legs, bowels and bladder, some choice! Its been 4 weeks, Thank God my bowels and bladder are in good working order, but the numbness is still there. I cant walk far but I am getting better. I am frustrated more than anything because of my business but mostly because it could have been avoided if the doctors at my hospital had taken the time to see the bulge on my disc. I am not in any pain but I am on excellent pain killers. Not morphine, though not through want of trying haha. I know that the surgeons at Newcastle General will always have my gratitude, I have been told they are the best at what they do and I couldnt have been in a better place.

Monty 2
I would just like to say plz go back to your doctor and make him listen to you. I dont think you should be in as much pain as you are. My pain post op was non existant and Im not saying that is for everyone but I am still numb and my calves wont take me for the long walks just yet but I am not in the agony I was like before my op! I hope you can get this sorted before you need a detox for the morphine!
Good luck
Joanne

Hi Joanne

I feel a bit silly really as in the last 5 days I have had a complete turn around. I am completely off ALL prescription pain killers now, detox was not pleasant but only lasted 3 days, still taking Naproxen but only as a precaution. I am very mobile, not experiencing hardly any pain at all now and feel great! I can only say that my 'relapse' following surgery was possibly down to trying to do too much too quickly and/or swelling etc.

Chiddy, glad to hear you are progressing well, bet you are really looking forward to your holiday. We are going away in first week of July and I am really looking forward to it now.

Love and best wishes to everyone...... keep smiling!

Michelle 😀

Hey Monty,

Glad to hear all is going good for you now.
I had to go through detox too, it was only just over a week, but was the longest week EVER!!! It was the most horrendous experience i have ever endured!!

I am going on holiday too at the end of next month, need a change of scenery in the blur of all the hospital/physio appointments etc....will be good to get away 🙂
Hope you enjoy your holiday too, and hope things continue to improve for you.

Luv Ali x

Hi everyone

I have not posted for a while and am sorry that I have not kept up with all your posts. I am at my whits end my disc has gone for a 3rd time.:eek: !!!! I am feeling sooooo depressed. I cant keep coping with this :(.

Fireolli. Hope you and your family are ok. Can you let me know what streching excersises you do on a dialy basis?

I had a massive prolapse on my L5/S1 and had no option but to have a discetomy as i could hardly move, so this happened on 31st Oct 2007. Same disc prolapsed again in july of last year, it was a smaller prolapse and had prolapsed into my spinal canal. Again the pain was pretty hordendious they decided to give me a nerve block. This seemed to be ok for a while, then in mid feb of this year started to get nerve disturbance in both legs on and off , the usual low back pain that stinging ache. The increase feeling of numbness in my foot and back of the leg, both my lgs going hot and cold etc.

I had a MRI scan 25th April 09 which showed that the b**** disc had gone again, roughly in the same place and into the spinal canal and is slighty bigger than before. But the weird thing is its painful but not as much as before. I am on pain killers and i am off work, my dr has signed me off for 6 weeks, I am going for another nerve block hopfully next week.

I am scared that it may go again. Can anyone say any words of wisdom to keep me going.

Best wishes to you all
Cas08

Cas08 - oh dear, you are going through a bad time!
I've gone through just the one discectomy, so am not quite in the same situation as you.
But I wish you best of luck, and I hope that the nerve block works for you.

Hi there, have only just found this forum. Has anyone any news of COLROB1 they posted on the 27th Nov 2007? They were going to see a Mr Martin Knight at the Spinal Foundation in Cheshire. I would like to know how they got on.
I had a L4/L5 Discectomy and far lateral decompression in August 2006, after the op I still had lower back pain and numbness in my left leg but managed a 380 mile walk in Spain during May 2007 (the Camino) and started skiing again in 2008. However the last couple of weeks I have been getting increased pain and numbness (it never actually went away completely just diminished) and I fear more nucleus material may have pushed through. According to COLROB1 this guy Knight can seal the annulus with a Laser to prevent this happening.
I think this may come under "the grasping at straws" heading but I definitely don't wish to return to the pre-op pain level. Any news on Mr Knights ability will be greatly received.

Thanks

Hi Cas08,

I am so sorry to hear you are going through this a 3rd time, i have been through it twice so can appreciate how frustrated you must feel, have they not considered fusion?
To have this happen a 3rd time is just devastating, i was devastated when my disc went for the 2nd time (this was 8 weeks after my first op).

I asked for fusion, but they refused, saying the risks to the discs on the other levels would be too great. Thankfully though the 2nd op rectified the 2nd prolapse and the disc is now where it should be.
Surely it should be an option for you though hun, especially with the disc having gone a 3rd time.
I am stuck with epidural adhesions now, that aint no picnic, i am too signed off work indefinetely until hopefully, some kind of treatment can be found, as my mobility is rubbish.

I hope something will be done for you hun, and swiftly,

Love Ali xxx

Hi AliH78

Thanks so much for your kind words ALiH78, and Hope you are OK:)

He did say that I could have a 2nd surgery or to try the injection again. like you I asked about a fusion and he said that it would put to much pressure on the discs above. He felt that at the moment surgery is to drastic. I am also very scared that 2nd surgery in the same place. As not sure whether it could cause more problems, more nerve damage and or more scar tissue.

Would you say that your 2nd opp was sucessful? what are epidural adhesions, what causes those? sorry to have to ask.

Luv Cas08

Hi Cas08,

I do alot of hamstring streches throughout the day but once a day i will do a big stretch session, this mainly.(al these are done in sets of 3 and for 30 seconds each time)

Lay on back bend legs and roll your legs from side to side.

Lay on back with one leg straight and the other bent, pull bent leg across you. do both sides

Lay on back with one leg straight other bent, put hands behind thigh of bent leg and pull towards you. do both legs.

lay on back with one leg straight, try and get the foot of your other leg to the shoulder of the opposite side. this is a very hard stretch and should be taken one step at a time.

stretch your calf through the day as well as this will stretch your nerve a little.

All these stretch may make your legs ache for a while after but its better to keep your nerves moving than not at all.

Hope this helps.

As for me i am doing ok. my right leg keeps giving me a bit of jip on and off but i am plodding on and hope it settles down again. the problem is if the nerve gets angry it takes a long time for it to recover:mad:

Hope everyone is good

Olli

Hey Cas08

I would say my 2nd surgery was successful, yes, as my disc is now ok and safely where it should be!!

Epidural adhesions are scar tissue caused my surgery, but not everyone gets them, there is someone else in this forum who has had 2nd time surgery and she doesn't have them.
I was just unlucky, but dont let it put you off, everyone heals differently.

Love Ali xxx

Hi AliH78 and Fireolli

Thanks guys for you replies and support. Much appriciated. 🙂

Its difficult to know how much movement to do while you are waiting for treatment. As you dont know what is safe to do and what is not. I know I am better if i keep pottering about.

Hi Fireolli, Not sure whether to start the streches yet or leave it until after the Injection, which I am hopping will be in the next 10 days. Hope your leg settles down again soon. Did you know what aggravated it?

Hi AliH78, Thanks for that, I will bare in mind the information you have given me on having a 2nd opp, but thought i would take the less invasive route first. Hope you are getting on Ok.

Take Care

Hope everyone is doing well.
Luv Cas08

Hi cas08,

Well i think it was 2 days of wall paper stripping, lots of bending and stretching.

I also haven't been to the physio for about 6 weeks and i normaly go every 3-4 weeks to sort any niggles out.

The one thing i have learnt is even when you get a few pains or pins and needles you must still do the stretching and exercises. Just ease up a bit but keep going it all helps in the long run.

I would start the stretches now and gauge what you can and cannot do, you never know it may help anyway.

Olli

Hi Fireolli

Thanks for that, without this forum, knowing that you can talk to people who really do know what is like to have the difficulies that we have all experianced, I think i would go mad 😮 so thanks for your help and advice.

I can understand that 2 days of wall papering bending and streching would aggravate your back. Take it easy though! Do you go to a private physio or are you still seeing one in the NHS? Hope you dont mind me asking?

I have printed off the exercises that you posted, so I am off to try a few streches. Take care hope your back settles soon.

AliH78 Hope you are doing Ok. Speak soon.

Hope everyone is doing well.
Luv Cas08

cas08,

NHS are sh!t, sorry but they are. I go private and she is very good. Knows what do to get things settled down.

Olli