Discectomy - After the Operation

Hi Fireolli,

Thanks, I'll ask around and see if I can info on any good ones in my area. I think you are probably right with the whole NHS thing!

Tried the streches you said, was sore but felt a good sore if you know what i mean. Did not realy understand the last stretch though copied below. Can you make it any clearer, remember I am on a lot of pain killing drugs so 😀 maybe thats why I am abit muddled.

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.:confused:

Thanks
Cas08

cas08,

Ok, we will stretch the right leg

Lay on your back. have left leg straight. bring the other leg up and rest your foot on your knee. put your left hand on your right ankle and your right hand on your right knee. slowly pull your right knee to your left shoulder.

you may only be able to pull a little way at first but you will get better.

Hope this helps

Olli.

P.s. If you live anywhere near Wigan you might want to look up the Physio at total fitness, she is the one i see and she is A***

Thanks Fireolli

Will print that off and try it.

Hope your leg is a better and has settled down now.

Take care
Cas08

Its coming up for 3wks. After op. I have one disc out and one shaved back. I did had pain in my legs, after the op and still do but not as sore. Sometime pin and needles in the toes and calf. So Last week my doctor phoned the surgeon 'side kick' and they were worried that it could have been nerve damage. (Im only 18 !! (at college training to be sport coach ) because I had no ankle reflex. But now they think it was swelling. Got a letter for my '8' week appoinment. Its ............ 6th Dec 09 !! thats not 8 weeks thats 32wks ! So I phoned up but that is right, thats the next one. And they said if i had any problems phone up. NHS Tayside for you !
But the good news was I got my physio letter through, this thursday.
Can someone tell me what that is about , what they do ?
Also Im going to back to college next week against Doctor and Surgeon orders,they don' want me to go back until next term. but I have lots to catch up on. Don't worry I won't do any sports but I will just watch. Hopefully starting swimming soon, need to keep my self fit ! lol.

thanks

Hey Greg,

32 weeks??? That is an absolute bloody joke!!!
A 6-8 week follow up is routine for all spinal ops!!!

Its good that you are going to start physio, they teach exercises to stretch the nerve and build core strength.
Your physio can advise when its ok to go back to college and what other execises you can or can't do, just take it easy!!

Luv Ali xx 🙂

Hi everyone, well I'm home! Had the op last Thursday morning, apparently all went well & to plan with no problems. Fortunately the disc was healthy so it was not removed completely, just the bit sticking out! Sciatica has now gone completely, still got the crazy feeling in the ball of my foot and some mild pins & needles, but the surgeon told me that this is normal and should go away after a few weeks. Had gas to knock me out so my needle phobia wasn't a problem :).
Pain Thursday night/Friday was quite considerable, but having never had an operation of any description before I had no idea what to expect. Physotherapist had me walking on Friday, was okay. Went for another short walk in the afternoon with one of the nurses, not the most pleasent stroll I must say but apparently it has to be done - followed by 30 minutes lying on my stomach. Felt a bit depressed/upset and sorry for myself - pain and the future going through my mind but c'est la vie! Saturday, Sunday and now today, the pain is getting gradually less, walking is now okay, stairs are no problem & how lovely was it to sit on the toilet last night without hideous leg pain during & after!!!:D.
Regime is now quite strict for the next ten days, walk/sit for 20 mins max, then lye on my front for 20 minutes seems to be the order of the day, otherwise its bed rest. Got some basic excercises to do whilst I'm lying down (on my back & front) to strengthen the muscles at the base but thats no problem and straight forward.
So, all in all, it would seem that its gone well, I just hope that after this six weeks I can start to get my life back in order, then by the time our holiday to Majorca comes in September I'm going to be really getting there.
Please feel free to ask any questions if needed.
Cheers, Colin.

Hi all, first post but have been reading alot of what has been written on here, i really do sympathise with those of you who are suffering. I am now 24 hours post op (l4/l5) and sciatic pain has gone, the incision in the back is painful but this is normal according to the surgeon. He said the needle tore a small part of the membrane and therefore I have had to bed rest for 24 hours. I will be attempting to walk later today so will let everyone know how this goes.

For those of you not getting anywhere with your GP you have to be persistant beyond belief, I must of been to see him 10 times in the space of a month before he finally wrote a letter and told me to take it to a and e. At first they tried to fob me off with painkillers etc. I had been taking tramadol (max dose) co codemol (max dose) diazepan (3 times a day) they finally agreed to send me for a scan and gave me a depositary of diclofenac (think thats how it spelt) I was in observation for two days and once the surgeon had seen my mri results he agreed to operate, 5 days later and this is the stage that Im at now. I only wish I had pushed my GP harder for an emergency referal (a little tip, if you say you find it difficult to pass water or bowel movement you will get the op you want) I know this is wrong exagerating the problems but its the only way they will take you seriously. Only us lot posting on this board know how unbearable the pain is and even loved ones sometimes cant understand why you are literally crying in pain. Anyway ill keep you posted on my recovery, as im a personal trainer it is going to be difficult for me to return to work soon but i am hoping that as im reasonably fit this may aid my recovery. All the best to those of you still waiting for your scans and ops

Chris

Hi everyone!
Some of you won't know me but I was here last year. Had a bi-lateral discectomy in July on L4/L5 privately.
Well best thing I ever did with regards to my back.
I haven't taken a single pain killer since the two a day in the hospital for two days following the surgery. Strength and mobility have returned to practically normal and the spine is returning to normal lordosis. I can workout, walk, run, play golf and enjoy life again.
I have only experienced a mild pins and needles in one foot when I have sat awkwardly - a good reminder to maintain good posture - and visited a physio for a good massage only recently for the first time since the op.
I wish everyone the best and keep up the core exercises!
Jayboy

Thanks for posting that JayBoy, very reassuring for me and the many others like me I'm sure. The long term situation is something which has been concerning me quite considerably. Glad your all fine & dandy! 🙂

jayboy!!
great to hear from you! your posts were really inspirational to me pre-op when things were awful. it's so good to hear your recovery continues to go well...sounds very similar to mine. i am now 9 months post-op, back doing dance classes and lots of walking. still a bit stiff and get the occasional ache and pins and needles in the 'bad' leg, but feeling much happier, healthier and still so glad i had the op.

good luck to all the new(ish) post-oppers....remember to do what you're told! and come off the painkillers as slowly as you possibly can!

lots of love,
jess xx

ps...just a warning - i tried the 'can't pee' thing (it was true) at a&e and it was fobbed off as a side effect of amitryptaline (still can't spell it) and as being due to the discomfort of sitting on the toilet!

Hi Everyone!

Just a quick update on my progress. I am nearly 11 months post op and things are great. I am back to full time teaching exercise and doing 17 classes a week. I sprint, run, jump and and really do what I want. I have the occasional ache and and stiff in the lower back sometimes but put this down to the amount of exercise I do.

To all you new post-oppers I would recommend that you take things slowly(I know that's hard!), do the stretches(carefully!) and exercises given to you and try to rebuild your core strength with pilates. I am a pilates teacher and would be more than happy to list some exercises if anyone would like them.

Gregdfc, Be careful returning to college so soon, sitting can be a problem too!!
Colin. Well done on surviving the op! Take it steady and you should be ok for your holiday!

cas08 so sorry you are facing a 3rd op. Keeping everything moving is the best option, stretching will be very hard for you with a prolapsed disc so be careful and dont worry if it's too hard and painful.

Ali. Any news on your adhesions etc?

Take care all and i wish happy and speedy recoveries to all.
Much love
Fitbird
xxxxxxxxx

chris12

Hi Chris12.
I would def agreee that as a personal trainer your body will be strong and will help your recovery. Your only problem will be being patient! I was desperate to get back to teaching and had to fight with myself to wait until 8 weeks(surgeon's reccomendation) before i started again even though I felt I could much earlier.

Try and enjoy the rest your body deserves and needs it!!
Take care
Fitbird
xxxx

Wow, great to see such positive stuff... I am now 5 weeks post op L4/L5 discectomy and am progressing well. Had my first Physio appointment yesterday which was all of a 10 minute chat and he then said I was doing so well there was no need to go back unless I felt it necessary. Stated he would keep my notes open for 6 weeks and if he hadnt heard anything by then he would discharge me. I rarely get any pain now, doing loads of walking, (not enough stretching.... note to self, must do more!) but pretty much back to normal. Got follow up appointment 28th of May and hoping to be able to go back to work on 1st June.

Its easy to forget just how much pain and misery this problem causes, it has been a real eye opener for me as I have been lucky in that prior to this I had never needed an operation before or experienced symptoms that affected my quality of life so severely. Surgery was described to me on many occasions by medical staff as a 'last resort' yet so many of us having had the surgery have been given our lives back.. makes you wonder doesn't it?

Best wishes... Michelle 😉

Hope!!!

Hi Fitbird!!

Good to hear from you, I am still suffering i'm afraid, but have hope in the shape of a pain specialist, he may be able to help.

But if he can't, I have been in touch with the Spinal Foundation, and Martin Knight, the leading surgeon, and he said he can help me, I am going to my GP to get referred there.

The Epiduroscopy, the procedure that the Spinal Foundation used to use to remove adhesions, they don't use anymore as it is ineffective, so they do something else which i will hopefully find out what very soon!!
I am really chuffed, because I have 2 referrals to specialists now, after that other divvy doctor telling me that nothing can be doen and i am stuck like this for the rest of my life. Poo to him!!!! 😀

Fitbird, I am really pleased to hear that you are pretty most back to how you were. Brilliant news honey!!
I hope to be back that way myself one day!! I am still staying positive, it really helps to keep going and not wallow, thats not good!!!

Love and best wishes to the rest of you guys, pre and post op, keep smiling 🙂

For all the facebookers out there, there is a fan page for the Spinal Foundation, Click this link....

And for all you who aren't into social networking, the website for the Spinal Foundation is....

The website is very detailed and has loads of info about all kinds of back problems, hope it helps 🙂

Me again!!!

I have been making enquiries today and have made an appointment for an acupuncture session tomorrow!!!
Never had it before, but have heard many praises sung about it on here, so thought i'd give it a go!!!
Neeeeeedles!!! Eeeeeeeeeeeek!!!!!!!!! 😮

Just a quick update on my progress. I am nearly 11 months post op and things are great. I am back to full time teaching exercise and doing 17 classes a week. I sprint, run, jump and and really do what I want. I have the occasional ache and and stiff in the lower back sometimes but put this down to the amount of exercise I do.

To all you new post-oppers I would recommend that you take things slowly(I know that's hard!), do the stretches(carefully!) and exercises given to you and try to rebuild your core strength with pilates. I am a pilates teacher and would be more than happy to list some exercises if anyone would like them.

Gregdfc, Be careful returning to college so soon, sitting can be a problem too!!
Colin. Well done on surviving the op! Take it steady and you should be ok for your holiday!

cas08 so sorry you are facing a 3rd op. Keeping everything moving is the best option, stretching will be very hard for you with a prolapsed disc so be careful and dont worry if it's too hard and painful.

Ali. Any news on your adhesions etc?

Take care all and i wish happy and speedy recoveries to all.
Much love
Fitbird
xxxxxxxxx

Hi Fitbird,

I would be grateful if you could list some stretching excercises, suitable for my current situation - 1 week post op, then increaseing to when I can do much more.

As everyone can probably tell, I was absolutely pooing myself at the thought of the op, so yep, to say I 'survived' it was probably the correct term!! :027:

Everyone's postings on here are so encouraging, however I feel for those who havent had it as easy & been so successful :dft006:

Cheers, Colin.

Acupuncture!

Hey all,

Went for my first acupuncture session today, it wasn't as bad as i thought it was going to be!!
They put 3 pins in me, one in my wrist, tummy and foot, it felt a bit tingly, but didn't hurt.
I am booked in for next week, then a session every fortnight and then every month.

Olli....How many sessions did you have until you felt a difference with your pain levels?

I hope you guys are all ok, and having a (relatively) pain free day 🙂

Stinging ache

Hi Alih78

How are you. I tried accupuncuture a while a go before I had my opp. I found it really good.:) So I hope it works for you.

Wanted to ask a question to you Alih78 and to any other fellow suffers on here.

• Are people after there opps, like a year down the line still suffering with nerve pain?? if so are you taking anything for it and what is the you are taking??
• Has anyone had the sensation of a horrible intense stinging ache that is in the lower back and radiates into the coccyxs??

Hope everyone is doing well
Best wishes
Cas08

Hi,

cas08, I still get a bit of pain if i do too much which seems to be most days at the moment. I do have a damaged nerve in my right leg so it can be a bit painful sometimes. I just take codien some nights.

Ailh78, It was about 4-5 sessions before there was a big difference. It was like it all happened after a session about a month after i started. I now get it every 4 weeks to settle everything down.

Had some the other day which helped but it has been busy at work and i have done a few training sessions this week with some running so i am feeling it a bit today.

I will be ok, the stretching eases everything off

Olli

This is my first posting, however thank you to you all who have put their experiences in writing as they have been very well 'received'!

I had a micro-discectomy 6 weeks ago after starting with problems exercising / walking early last year.

Post op was such a relief, no sciatica, no pains, just a little sore around the wound. Would recommend the op after the months of discomfort suffered.

However 2 weeks to the day post op my torso bent in the evening and I started slanting to the left. Walking and movement started to be affected again and I started to experiece pains, aches and twinges in the left buttock and top off the leg (original problem was all right side). I managed to see the specialist, his post op nurse, and 2 physio's who have all said that this was a back muscle spasm and the physiotherapy should sort this out.

Nearly 3 weeks on, the physio exercise have straightened me back up a little, however the pains are still a problem, to the point off being back on half doses of the painkillers that I originally had.

The specialist see's me this week for the 6 week post op check, however he did get another MRI done yesterday, just to put his (and my) mind at ease. My problem is that I really struggled to get up off the board after the MRI. Stairs and slopes still are a problem too.

Has anyone else suffered these type of problems post op or may I be in for a shock at the meeting this week?

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Many Thanks

Hi Ade, I am 6 months post op and suffered the same problem a couple of months ago. At first I had a muscle spasm that hurt like hell but when that eased off I really thought that was the end of it. I now have a wonky hip which will sort of straighten after exercise but then drifts out again. It hurts more, probably because I am out of line and putting too much pressure on other parts of my back. Will be seeing the consultant soonish I hope and find out what can be done to fix me up again.

I'm relieved it isn't that painful and I can still work, but anything beyond work is just impossible. It's really strange because doctors were very impressed with my recovery and the suppleness of my back after surgery. Let us know what the verdict is with you so I can be prepared, I have a horrible feeling they'll say they can't do any more for me though.

Hello everyone, couldn't resist popping in for a minute, hows it all going folks? Did the acupuncture work Ali? I'm still waiting for surgery on upper back...ho hum!

Love to all

Melza

Hi everyone. I am now 1 week post op (L4/l5) and all things considered its going ok. The only real problem I am experiencing is sciatic pain when trying to sit/lie down. The sciatic pain feels different to before the operation and is somewhat stronger but then dissapears after a minute or too. Has anyone got any ideas about what this could be? Apart from that things are ok, ive cut back on taking the full dosage of all painkillers, diazipan and diclofenac. Walking three times a day for 10 minutes and performing pelvic tilts 4 times a day.

If anyone could give me any advice on what im doing and if I can do anything else to help that would be great.

The surgeon mentioned that I also have a prolapsed disk at l5/s1 but didnt operate on it as it was not compressing the nerve, so i am wondering what can be done to avoid this disc becoming worse? Once again any help would be appreciated.

Thanks and good luck to you all recovering

Hi,

Im 3weeks coming up for 4 weeks since op. Still got really bad pin and needles and when I lay on my side the pain really bad. Can't stand for too long either.
Went to physio and they said to to 3 5mins walk a day and then build it up slowly. Still can't do swimming :(.
Going back to college today but only for watching (Im a sport student). Hopefully get on ok.

This is my 3rd prolapse on the same disc in 19 months!!

Hi everyone

Does anyone know how much the Injection is?? or how I can find out how much it would be and to get the nerve block done privately.

I am so angry 😡 listen to this.

I had a discectomy on my L5/S1 end of Oct 2007 after serveral months of the most horrendious pain that i have ever experianced and then ending up in hospital for a week. Then In july of 2008 It happened again at the same level, again the pain was horrendious. This time they decicded on a nerve block rather than surgery. Then I start having problems again in mid feb 2009 they gave me another MRI scan towards the end of April to find that the disc had gone yet again. I have oppted for another nerve block which the consultant said he could get done quite qickly. i am now off work yet again waiting for this injection.

Ive phoned up the receptionist just to find out about a possible date, she was a bit funny with me and then said did I know that there was a 5 Month wating list, I asked her what I could do and she just said " nothing youll have to just wait". I told her that I could not wait that long. I then phoned the consultant and told him. I dont think that he was awhare that there was that sort of wating list. I did say that If I have to wait that long i stand a good chance of loosing my job and have now left it with him to chase.

I am soooooo p****d off dont they realise that we are real people with lives to lead. They send us home with pain killers and very little infomation and we just have to wait for them to get ther act togther. They dont take back problems seriously and yet the problem can change your life dramatically. When this sort of thing happens your life seems to be on hold. One of the consultants said to me, people with back problems need to try and stay at work for as long as possible or they get depressed and can loose their jobs. Yeh I thought that becacuse we are sent home to cope with pain on our own and told to wait some rediculious amount of time for some treatment, all the time the nerve damage is getting worse. 😮

Rant over

Hope everyone else is doing OK!
Thanks for listening
Cas08

The surgeon mentioned that I also have a prolapsed disk at l5/s1 but didnt operate on it as it was not compressing the nerve, so i am wondering what can be done to avoid this disc becoming worse? Once again any help would be appreciated.

Hi chris12. Same as you, I had discectomy on L4/5, but also have disc prolpase at L5/S1 (and just for good measure, L2/3..) I have found that a good physio program is a good way to try and make sure that you are doing the right exercises, stretches, strengthening etc to help try and avoid further disc problems. Also being careful about how you lift things, and taking care about how, and for how long, you sit. I figure any attempts at prevention are worthwhile.

Cas08 sorry to hear of the problems you are having. I just hope that there will be some answers for you soon. I am not surprised you are angry. I would be too. So frustrating. 😡

Hi Melza, and thank you for your reply, glad to hear of someone with something similar, but not glad to hear you have if you know what I mean!
My 'wonky' back seems very similar to yours, better somedays than others which causes some backaches.
My major concern are these pains in the left hip & thigh which I shall report back on after Wednesday.
I cannot though carry much more than a small shopping bag in weight, or a tray with a plate of food on without the pains increasing, equally if i cut back on pain killers or first thing in the morning it seems much worse. I shall keep you advised.

Cas08, very sorry to hear of your story. I did see about some 8 - 10 pages back one guy advised sufferers to use a weakening bladder control story to gain prompt attention. I dont neccessarily condone this, but when I went for my pre-op I was told that my op had been postponed for 3 weeks due to an emergency. However when asked had any circumstances changed, which they had, as in the previous week, I had lost total control over my bladder twice, the op did take place 3 days later. As I said, I dont codone 'fibbing' but keep an eye on this as an issue of worsening condition. Many others have written about this subject being taken as a priority condition.
As for costs of nerve root blocks mine was NHS, but had no effect, indeed seemed to be the start of a worsening in condition.

Indeed has anyone during nerve root block had to have the needle changed 3 times as it has bent? The 'injector' said I had very strong back muscles causing the needles to bend. When another 'injector' took over he said that they were bending as they were trying to get to the right spot!
I was'nt totally convinced when he said 'hope that ok as thats about as close as we can get' at the end of the session either!

Chins up fellow sufferers!

Ade

Cas08, you have voiced my feelings about treatment for back problems...apparently back problems cost the country millions you know, and here we are begging for treatment! I would love to write to an MP, assuming I haven't just paid for him to go on a long holiday, and get these problems recognised. Are there enough consultants I wonder.

I wrote to the Southampton consultant and asked him to review my scan results as he told me the the cervical spine problems are inoperable. Only one procedure has been agreed but wonder whether its worth going under the knife again if it won't make that much difference to the pain. I also requested he take on all of my spine rather than me getting a referral to another hospital to deal with problems in my lumbar spine. Apparently getting an appointment sent through but that was a week ago, not even confirmation of proposed surgery agreed on April 2nd. I really believed this could all be cured and forgotten about but now not so sure....its all so frustrating and depressing! Back problems are about to celebrate their second anniversary, do I celebrate? We have no choice but to play the waiting game...but I wish we did.

Chins up folks!

Hi Subi, Ade-Wsm and Melza

Thanks for answering my ranting moment. Just somtimes you need to let off steam with people who really do know what its like. I often wander how a good dose of a prolapse pain on some of these people, that make it difficult for us to get tretment, would fair. I think the long waiting lists would become shorter. They are putting money and budgets before peoples health and its not right. Sorry I needed another rant obviously not got it out of my system yet.:eek:

Hi Subi, you mentioned that you have another prolapse on L5/S1a and L2/L3 does that give you any pain or other problems. how do you manage at work with sitting??

Hi Chris12 What about you, you still have the prolapse on the L5/S1, did they say anything about what might happen with that, are you getting any problems with it?

Hi Melza I am sorry that you are still having problems. Are you in a lot of pain? Have you still got problems with your lower back as well as the upper part. How are you coping?

Speak soon
Luv to you all
Caso08

Hi Ade-Wsm

I have not experainced what you mentioned ealier on your post, On your torso becomming bent that must have been a bit alarmimg. It was good that you had another MRI scan done so quickly. Good luck 🙂 with the results your seeing him this week I think you said. let us know how you get on.

Best wishes
Cas08