Discectomy - After the Operation

Hi Fireolli

Glad to hear that you leg pain has gone. Glad to here that your wife and baby are doing so well as. 9 weeks is not long, does it seem that its gone quickly to you. Really sweet how the baby was responding to the music at the concert that you went to. keep us posted on the baby front.

I have continued to do the excersise that you kindly gave me and I have been going for a walk everyday. The pain in the last few weeks has gradually gone from my right leg, but somtimes I have, what I can only describe as a fuzzing ache in my left leg I dont know what thats about?? The pain however is now just constantly situated in my sacrum and coccyx and its a stinging ache 😮. so it makes it a bit uncomforable to sit or stand in one position for very long.

I am still waiting on the wonderfull NHS for my injection. I am going to try to go back to work in a couple of weeks and do a phased return. I thought it is best to try to go back and see how I do while i wait. I have been told that if the pain shifts from the leg and goes back to the back area it a good sign What do you think? I supose it could be the maybe the disc is going back, or I dont know whether that is just wishful thinking on my part.

Anyway hope every one is doing well. Ill keep you posted.

Best wishes 😀
Cas08

The lady that has had 3 prolapses on the same disc!!

Hi Carly 22

Do you mean that you have you gone back to work 3 weeks after the opp ?? were you forced to go back? Be really carefull they do sugest at least 6 weeks.

I had my opp at the same level as you back in Oct 2007 and like you it was a very large prolapse. Unfortunatly for me I had another prolapse on the same disc agin in July 2008 and then again in March of this year.

Sitting for to long will aggravate it, make sure you get up every 15 mins for a strech and a walk around. I got a chair and a desk supplied to me though the DWP, they paid two thirds and my employer paid one third. Its called a free floating chair and my dest is electronic so it moves up and down. I can stand or set it to the hight I need as I am quite tall. If you need the more deatail about the chair or the desk let me klnow.

Just be really careful, you have had a major opp I know its micro surgery but if you push it, and not allow it to heal properly it could happen again. Sorry to sound like a drama queen, I just know from experiance.

best wishes
Cas08

Hi Cas 08

Thank you for your advice. I am going to look into contacting that company tomorrow your chair sounds amazing. 3 weeks is far to early I can feel my body is not quiet ready but I am making sure I walk/stretch every 20 mins.
I have a holiday (relaxing one) as of next Monday so I will be back to resting for another 2 weeks.

I am sorry to hear about your 3 prolapses how are you doing now??have you had additional MDs?I have been worried about causing it to prolapse again. Are there any tell tell signs?I still have Sciatica although 1/4 of what it was before and back pain-it sounds silly but I cant decide if its the same back pain as before?I am finding at the end of the day I am shattered and very achy .

Can I ask do you know what caused your first prolapse?
Hope u are well
Speak soon Carly Xxxx

Hi, I am new to this site so please bear with me. My story is very similiar to those already posted on this site - and its so good to hear I am not alone. My problems commenced in November 07 pushing a shopping trolley around my local supermarket - I actually felt a "popping" in my back but didnt worry too much thinking it was a muscle! The sciatica kicked in just days later. As a police officer getting to work and doing my job was nigh on impossible and so I began my regular journey to see my GP who for some weeks didnt even examine me but pushed a variety of useless drugs at me. Boxing Day 07 I ended up in A&E having had a huge muscle spasm and not being able to get off the bathroom floor! After six weeks I finally found out I had a slipped disc!
An MRI scan in Jan 08 confirmed this - I was told to go home and rest up for 3 months and given a stack of pain relief which didnt come close to easing the pain. On the 15th Jan 08 my left leg gave way and I returned to the GP who told me to go home and get into bed! On the 16th Jan my husband literally carried me into the surgery demanding to see the doctor - my left foot had dropped, I had no feeling from my knee cap down and the pain - was - well I cant describe it! My GP sent me to hospital and I had my L4/L5 discectomy on the 18th Jan 08. I woke up completely pain free, sensation had returned, but I was left with drop foot and massive muscle wasting - so much so I literally had to learn to walk again - with the help of an amazing physio I was finally up and independant of sticks by April 08 and I found an amazing company in Hampshire who custom made my foot orthotic so I didnt have to wear a brace.
Just when life was beginning to look up - November 08 - local supermarket - back went again - same disc! This time the pain was no where near as bad and I didnt get any tingling or numbness - and my GP was quick to move. I decided to go private this time and went back to see my original consultant. We went down the physio route - didnt work, the epidural route - didnt work and so on the 13th May 09 after much agonising I decided to go for the L4/L5 revision surgery.
At this moment in time - 17 days post surgery - I wish I had not bothered. I woke up pain free except for a lot of aching in bad left leg and back, but within days my left hip stiffened up, although its not painful but effects my attempts at trying to walk. My problem is the continued leg pain. Fact is I cant make my mind up if what I am feeling is sciatica. My experience of sciatica is waves of pain which radiate down the outer side of my left calf - you can feel the pain but it doesnt leave your muscles tender and sore. I am getting very local pain in the middle of my calf muscle opposed to the outer calf. It comes intermittently in short bursts of a couple of seconds and feels like I have been stabbed in the leg, but the area around this pain is incredible tender and sore to the touch. I am still getting aching pain in my left hamstring and this feeling is definatly what I am used to. I have been so worried that I actually got my GP to check it out - she initially thought it was a DVT but a blood test has ruled this out - she is now not sure if this is nerve related or if I have something going on in my muscle.
I guess I was wondering if anyone had experienced anything similiar? Second time surgery for me has been a completely different experience - Its great not having to learn to walk again but the pain in my leg is really getting me down. My dear husband keeps reminding me its only 17 days post op and I need to let my body heal - I just feel a bit alone and this time there is no physio on hand for that extra bit of support. All I am doing is the four exercises given to me at the hospital and trying to walk as often as I can.
There - I have poured out my heart - there are 57 pages of thread here, I am sure youve heard it all before!
I would give anything to get my life back - the last two years have been ........! Just wanted to tell someone.

Hi Bonnie10

I am so sorry that you have had such a crap time you poor thing. It still makes me angry to hear that when there is a real problem with the back and the nerve pain is unimaginabley painful that we are still not taken seriously. 😡

I think your husband is right you are only 17 days post opp, I know its hard but try and be kind to yourself and be paient. The nerve takes ages to heal about 1 milimeter a day and you have had two prolaspes. Although I am no expert I think you might have nerve disturbance (damage). Doing streching excersises a few times a day are good walking is also good towards the end of the first 6 weeks, but everybody is different. Listen to your body if the excersie hurts stop doing it. Fireolli a member on here was kind and gave me some strching excersise to do they are discribed about 2 pages back, They are good. I also have a realy good book called Treat your Own Back, by Robin McKenzie. This has some good excersises and explains what the excersis does to help your back. Some members on here have continued to have some pain and discomfort after their opps and have been told that it takes a while in some cases for the to settle. If you are very concerned speak to the consultant and ask him about the discomfort that you are still in and ask if its normal etc also ask if there are any physo classes that you could attend.

like you My husband had to more or less carry me in to the doctor surgery before I was admitted. Then at A&E I colapsed twice in the waiting room with all these people staring It was sooooo humiliating. Then I started to shout that I really could not get up and could someone help me and get me a bloody trolley:mad:. They then noticed me laying on the foor!!!!! I have had 3 prolapses on the same disc this is however incredibly rare. Someone on here also I think had some problems with there hip go back about 3 to 4 pages and you can read their post.

Hope you are painfree soon. keep us posted how you are doing. Hope some of my ramblings help you.

Take Care
Cas08;)

Have a great holiday!

Hi Carly 22

Firstly have a great holiday!! Hope you continue to improve hun.

I first hurt my back in 2003. I lifted a very heavy pot and twisted at the same time to throw it over the fence, which i hasen to add was still part of our garden and not somone elses!! and I felt some thing go in my lower back. I was then plagued with a very bad back on and off until my opp in 2007. The surgeon said it had proabley had been slowly prolasping over those 4 years. If I new then what I now know, I would never have lifted that pot and I would have treated my back with more respect as you only get one.

Let me know if you want more details on the chair I have the poduct code etc. There are several back specialist office furniture companies that do them. It was the DWP (The Department of work and pensions) that helped to pay for it. You will have to have a work place assement done with them but they are brillaint and really on your side. Without my special chair and desk I could not have been able to return to that particular type of work.

I have had One MD which was on the first prolaspe back in Oct 2007. the second prolaspe was last July 2008 I had a nerve root block, which was very good, and I am currently waiting for another nerve root block. Although in the last 3 weeks my leg pain has gone and I am getting a stinging ache in my sacrum and coccyx and that was constanly there but today its hardley been there at all which is lovely. So I am hoping that the disc may have started to go back in by itself. Which I was told in 90% of cases they do.

Dont go around worrying that it might go again. It is very rare!!, just be sensiable learn to pace yourself, I am still learning that one. Take your time when doing jobs or housework etc do it in bits. I have bought myself a helping hand which is a clippy thing to pick things up instead of bending forward to pick something up. Bending repetively forward is the worst thing anyone can do alot of when you have had a prolapse disc as it can re-open up the split in the disc agian. I try not to stay sat to long or stand for to long. change your position frequently. look after you back learn to say no.

You will be shattered at the end of a day I was for quite a while not only tdo the pain killers make you tired the anehtetic that you had in the opp stays in the body for up to 6 months after the opp and can make you feel shattered.

Hope some of this info helps you. Have a great holiday:):D
keep intouch and let us know how you are doing.

take care;)
Cas08

Hi folks!

Haven't been on for a while.

Ali - you poor thing. You really don't seem to have much luck do you. Hope you are feeling better.

I am nearly 10 months post op now and improving in core strength all the time.

I have to share this with you all because only you will know what a big deal it really is for someone who has been through the op. I was at the swimming pool on wednesday with my friend who is fairly new to swimming, especially lengths of the pool venturing into the deep end. I was swimming in the laned section of the pool ( which was busier than usual due to half term) when I heard her shouting and flapping in a panic in the deep end. I could see she was in difficulty so yelled and waved my arm at the lifeguard, then I swam to her and held her up and managed to get her to the end of the pool. I am so chuffed for two reasons:
1. I helped my friend to safety
2. The really exciting thing is that I did this and despite the effort I had to put in to keep her afloat ( she was using my shoulders as a float to keep her above the water which made it very hard work for me as i could have gone under myself) I have had no after effects with my back so this proves that I am getting much stronger than I realised and that has lifted me so much.

I dont expect to be 'normal' again and accept that I will always suffer pain when i overdo the bending etc but I know that I acted on impulse when I saw her panicing and if i had stopped and thought about it I would probably have said to myself I can't do anything because my back isn't up to it.

Sorry to go on about it but like i said only you would understand.

Have a great weekend everyone

pennylane

exercises post op?

Hi Bonnie 10, Greg fdc, Carly22

Would love to know exactly what are the post op exercises you have been told to do? I listed mine above, but I don't have any leg lifts in there, and wondered if I should be doing some.

Also, does anyone know whether there are ways to reduce the risk of scar tissue binding with the nerve?

I am 18 days post op now, with various weird nerve disturbances in both legs. Desperate to get strong quickly so I can hold my 8 week old baby and look after my crazed toddler... I looked at Fireolli's exercises but felt some of them are too advanced for me right now.

Healing vibes to all...

Kate

Little set back...

Hi Cas08

Thank you for sharing your story. You have come such a long way and you sound very strong. I am so so glad that your pain has been reduced. Roll on Summer days for you sitting in the garden and sipping cocktails like all those lucky people who havent had to go thru with all this.

Thank you for ur quick reply I have arrange to have the assesment at work when I get back. Slightly worried I have had abit of a set back this weekend. I let work early on Fri as I couldnt even sit down the aching in my bak was unreal. I went home and laid flat as this seems to help the pain but when turning onto my side I felt a popping feeling and jumped out my skin at the thought this might be the disk. I stood up but felt no additional pain and on Sat I walked around for about 2 hours pretty pain free just needing the odd paracetamol.

Today I feel I have taken a step back. The pain has not really increased I am just alot slower, I think I am just so worried. My Sciatica has not come back like it was only thing is my legs feels so weak I cant really lift them high enough to tell If it is still there. I have made a promise to myself If i feel like this when I get back I am not working for a good couple of months.

Generally I am ok and feeling better than before op apart from aching stiffness in my back. So you think much to the popping feeling I had?It doesnt really help me as i have been told by my physio I have a high pain thresh hold so I may not be feeling things as I should.

I am going to try and get on with it and hope this is just a 'flare up' I cant bare the thought of this happening again!It just makes life so tough at times.
I think I am very similar to u with having to learn to pace myself. Before all this I was so constant I have never been one to sit down for two minutes and lived for the weekends...but I now know the time this may take.
Slightly annoyed at nhs though as altho they were very good with the whole op etc..When asking the physio in the ward when would be ok to go back to my job (office based) He said I should b ok 1-2 weeks and ok to drive in a week!sounds crazy now but I was starting to go by that advice.

Hope you have had a lovely weekend will keep u updated with what happens whilst I am on holiday.

Carly Xxxxxx

To Pennylane

Hi Penny lane

Thank you for sharing your story. I am so very happy for you and all your progress. you give us all faith. keep up the good work xx

Carly xx

To BONNIE10

Hi Bonnie

Have just read your post and can feel your pain through your words. I am so sorry to hear all that has happened and the extend it had to get to for them to do something!thats crazy.

I understand it must be so disheartening second time round to still be having pain still but you are so soon after surgery (I knw it feels like longer) but your repairing and you have been through so much!
I am nearly 4 weeks post first MD L5/S1 as still have lots of stiffness in my back and I cant sit for long. Sciatica has reduced but I cant lift my leg up very high at all due to weakness. But I just keep thinking its all healing and to keep going. I cant really give u too much advice as I havent been going thru this as long as u have but my advice is-as hard as it is try and keep positive.

Positive thinking has proved essential in the healing process!!

And altho two years may seem like a long time in the scale of life its tiny. Keep your spirits up-chocolate/strong g and t etc!!try and do whatever you can to keep you smiling. Thinking of u and understanding your pain Xxxxx

Numb feeling in genital area

Hi
I am new here.
The following might sound rather crude, for which I apologise, but I really need some advice.

I have had a L4/L5 discectomy and laminectomy nearly 3 weeks ago. I am rather worried, as I have had numbness in the genetalia area, which I noticed on my bed bath the morning after the op. I can still go to the loo OK ish, as I have an uncomfortable feeling of urgency building up, but do not know when I have finished. I cannot stop mid-stream as I cannot clench anymore. I cannot clench to check if I have finished emptying my bowels. I can feel the toilet tissues, but when I stop wiping, it feels as if the toilet paper is still there. I have to listen to know if I have finished urinating and use moist toilet tissue, as I can feel the cold and wet, otherwise I do not know if I am clean. I feel as if I have a big balloon stuck to my bottom (no not piles!). I am embarrassed to say that I have had an accident and cried like a baby. I am also feeling very depressed and isolated, as I do not go anywhere without spare clothes, even to the physiotherapist. I stay home and spend most of my time on the toilet, waiting.

I was wondering if anybody else has had this experience and if they know what this is and also how long will it last.

Any advice would be much appreciated. I am going to see my consultant on Wednesday for a follow-up. I am also worried about going back to work, as I work in a school and don't want to have any accidents in a class full of teenagers.

By the way, my sciatica started in 2003.

THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP OR ADVICE

Hi Joasinka

I know how embarrest you must feel. I had my Discetomy opp in Oct 2007 on L5/S1, after my opp I noticed a simmilar thing. My buttocks where completely numb and felt like they were hard and clenched all of the time and in between my legs around all the private bits. I could not feel when I had finished weeing or pooing and had to check myself, its a very weird feeling and quite alarming. For along time I was worried I would have an accident. An when I needed to go to the loo, I could not hold it like everyone does somtimes, I just had to go. Its like you have lost your ability to hold yourself properly. I never did have an accident though thank goodness.

I can say however, that its better now I have more feeling there now or though its not as normal as it was before, but its alot better and the ability to hold and push have come back. I do urge you to speak to the consultant when you see him and explain exsactly what you have said to us to him, they are used to hearing detail. When i told my consultant about this problem he said that if the numbness was not there, in that area before the opp and only occurred after the opp then in time it should lessen or go completely. But do let your consultant know its important.:)

As you get better and you work on your pelvic floor muscels this will help.
Remember your body has been really messed around with the nerves are delicate things and can take ages to heal, 1 milimeter a day.

Hope this information has helped.

Take Care
Cas08

Good work in the pool Pennylane. 🙂

Best wishes to everyone out there, and hope your pre and post-op discs are behaving themselves.

Dear Cas08

Thank you so much for a quick and detailed reply. I am sure people here would love to ask questions but are too embarrassed, but your detail was such a pleasure to read (if you know what I mean) as many people tend to hide from talking about these things. When people ask me how I am, I try to hide these details. If a female friend asks, then it is easy to explain, but when it comes to neighbours, etc, I do shy away, as I feel rather silly.

I did think that maybe it was the Ibuprofen that made me dirty myself. Last time I took these tablets, they made my stomach bad, but now, with loss of sensation too, just could not stop myself.

I have some questions for you, if you have the time: You say that you had the op in October 07, so when did the sensation go? Was it straight after the op? Also, when did it start to come back? How long did it take to feel some improvement? What is this condition called? I would like to know what it is called, as I need to tell work and others and I would rather say I have 'so and so', rather than 'numb bits' or ' numb genitals'.

Thanks again for taking the time to make me feel better.

HI all,

Just arrived back from my GP and thought I'd share his input with you.
I am 3 weeks post op and was absolutely fine for the first 2 weeks post op, however the past week has been terrible. The old symptoms have come back in a big way and I am now back on all the painkillers. So thought I thought best go and get a new supply of them all and also another medical certificate. I know GP's get a bad rep but I must say mine has been fantastic, before my op he did everythinmg he could to get me my operation and I cant thank him enough. He even said he would take me to a&e after his shift finished if I couldnt get there. Anyway back on topic he thinks theres several reasons why I am getting the pain again. Firstly is that there may be imflamation where they operated and when walking etc I am increasing the imflamation thus pressing on the nerve again. Secondly he said that there is a small chance of another prolapse and has written to my surgeon to get he to see me asap. So now im going to take it easy for a week and see how it all goes. Keeping my chin up 🙂

Hi Joasinka

I am so glad that we have this forum to talk about problems after and before the opps/treatment that we have. I wish that the NHS gave more help and advice to people about possible problems that we may encounter it would stop a lot of fear out there. But I think that they are frightened to give too much info just incasre they are sued.:eek:

I have some questions for you, if you have the time: You say that you had the op in October 07, so when did the sensation go? Was it straight after the op? Also, when did it start to come back?

It was about 6 months although I think that the improvemnets in the sensation, pushing, clenching and holding etc. It was so gradual that I did not notice anything much until it was more noticeable if you know.

I would like to know what it is called,

I think its just plain old nerve damage.

Since I have had this probelm and second time last July 2008 and then unfortunatly in March of this year on the same disc. Which i want to stress is very rare!!!! I was told that my Disc had prolasped into my spinal cannal. I was so freaked out I thought, its going to paralyse me if I have another opp. I have since done alot of reasearch on the spine and how it works and its been so fascinating :). I think if we understand how something works and what position and movements make it worse then I think we can help prevent having more problems.

I found out that the spinal cord finishes around the L1/ L2 area although that varies with different people. It then splits into a bundle of parallel nerves called the Cauda Equina or the othewise known as the horses tail. These nerves supply the bum and the grion area. So when we have surgery on the lower spine no wonder it caused problems in that area.

When you do see the consultant again ask him about the problem. Then they know and they may be able to sugest something.

Anyway hope you dont mind me sharing a few facts with you. You said you were a teacher I hope your not an English teacher you will see how bad my spelling is!!!!!!!!!!!:D

Take Care
Cas08

Hi Cas08

Don’t worry about your spelling. Hee hee. I used to be a supply teacher for 11 years, but now work as a Cover Supervisor. My subject is IT, so no need to worry.

I am so glad that you have shared your experiences, you poor thing. You have been through so much.

I am only 3 weeks post op (today) and I see my consultant tomorrow, so I suppose that I must not expect too much.

I too wish that they would tell us more before the op. I was told that I may have a bad headache due to the possibility of the surgeon going into the dura tap, but nothing about numbness. They said that if this happens I would have to be left in a darkened room for 24 hours. I was lucky, I suppose, cos this did not happen to me.

I had more physio yesterday and she noticed a swelling in my left leg. This is where I have some numbness and have had this since the start. She said that it might be nerve damage.

6 months seems a long time. How did you manage? Did you go back to work during this time? And if you did, did you have to wear nappies? I don’t fancy having an accident in school. Just imagine the kids laughing cos the teacher has pooed her pants. That is a definite NO NO for me. With covering 5 lessons a day, I deal with around 150 kids a day. I can’t just run out of the classroom to the loo!!!! Also, the loo is downstairs and I might be in a room upstairs. We never know what room we are in until the morning we turn up for work.

Don’t worry, I will attack my consultant with loads of questions. I have also kept a diary of my goings-on.

Thanks again for all your advice. Are you the only one here who has had this problem, I wonder?

To MSKSQUARED

Hi I was given four post op exercises to do which involve lying on your back and strenghthing the core muscle group.
1. lie on back with knees bent - pull in your core muscle (try to use the muscle deep in the vagina) - hold for a count of ten and then relax.
2. lie on back with knees bent - with your hands flat beside you try and bridge your back - your back will come off the floor but feet stay put.
3. lie on back with knees bent - pull in core muscles and tilt your pelvis backwards - this makes the small of your back go into the floor - hold for ten.
and finally lie on back with legs out in front of you - bring one leg at a time up towards your face keeping your heel on the bed/floor - pull in your core muscle.
I have to repeat these exercise twice a day and usually do two lots of ten repetitions.

If you are only two weeks post op I would stick with these until you get chance to speak with a physio - the last thing you want to do is put your back out again.

I get all kinds of weird sensations in my leg too - from muscle twitching to aching the weirdest thing is watching my toes jump at night when I lie down- if the muscle twitching keeps you awake try taking a glass of tonic water before bedtime - the quinine calms things down.

hope this helps - good luck with your recovery - you will get there and before you know it you will be cuddling your little ones again. Be positive x

Hi Cas08
thanks for your post - I think you may have been right about my stabbing pain being nerve damage. Since my first post the pain from this eased up quite a bit, became barely noticeable yesterday and today - no stabbing! I am hoping that I am turning the corner. My leg generally aches from the butt down but this feels more like muscle fatigue and the back of my calves are very tight - have to keep stretching off. Hip is doing a lot better now, just my hamstrings which remain tight and achy - but good news is I have got my first lot of physio booked for Friday - this girl is fab and really knows her stuff - so hopefully I have anything else going on other than immflammation she will be able to tell me. Its come around at a good time as I have my post op review with my consultant a week today. Trying hard to take your advice and remain positive x

exercises post op

Bonnie10

Thanks so much for that. They are pretty similar to what I was told to do in the hospital - I feel relieved that I'm probably not missing anything crucial right now. Although of course after the birth of my son 9 weeks ago now my pelvic floor is in pieces!! But I know, I know, need to work at it.

Anyway, I am glad to hear that things feel a bit better for you. I really sympathise with you having to deal with this twice over - that is s***.

But we just have to keep positive as you say make the best possible recovery. Take care. xxx

bladder control

Hi Joasinka

I didn't have exactly the same problem as you, but after my son was born 9 weeks ago, I have had urinary retention - problems peeing - and have had to use small catheters to make sure my bladder empties itself properly. Actually since my discectomy 3 weeks ago this problem has got much better so I think that the two things were related, and that all these problems were caused by the birth itself.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that self-catheterizing is easier than you think and might be one way to have more control over your bladder. It's really not that bad, and would make you feel more relaxed in the classroom because you could use the catheters during the breaks to reduce the likelihood of needing urgently at the wrong time.

The pooing thing is more tricky - I have the same problem of sphincter weakness, also since the birht of my baby, and that hasn't improved much yet. I guess you have to do the pelvic floor exercises as often as you can and that should help the muscle tone in the sphincter. LEt me knwo what your consultant says about that.

All the best!

K

Further Post Op Update

Hi again to all fellow pre and post op sufferers!

Further to my entries on P54 & P55, I had post 6 wk post op check from my specialist on Monday, although as mentioned in previous entry this is now wk 8 as the specialist was called away for the first appt!
I went rather dubiously to the appt with some issues around further aches and pains in left Buttock and leg thinking possibly the worst. Indeed after having the muscle spasm in wk 2 post op i felt that some of the exercises the physio had requested i do may have actually made things worse. I can understand the feelings that Chris 12 is having with a relapse and back on the pain killers in wk3.
However after explaining for the first 5 minutes of the consultation that I really felt that possibly things were going nowhere as the pains were causing speradic discomfort and I'm back on half doses of medication including anti-inflamatories etc, the specialist looked me in the eye and said 'Are things better than they were pre-op'. I must admit this stopped me in my tracks because of course they are! An obvious thought, but still enough to shock me a little. He reminded me that the operation is not a quick fix and everyone has different ways of dealing with recovery. I'm nearly 47, a little overweight and more of an armchair sportsman nowadays. My aches and pains are only my bodies way of getting back to normal after the whole set up was not right for the last 9 months or so! He did say that my 5 wk post op MRI that he arranged to have done showed that I still did have signs of swelling, but I should really now start to push myself rather than ease up when the going gets tough. At 8 weeks although still needing to be treated with respect, the actual time now is to start with more exercise, swimming etc. Indeed he praised the physio for the exercises that has got my body back almost up dead straight again after the spasm as well as the exercises for the post op disc.

After arriving home I went off for a 3 mile walk and thought of myself as being a bit of 'wuss' after thinking things were wrong, and on Tuesday drove a 340 mile round trip for business, followed by a 3 mile walk with no
bad effects. Tomorrow another 350 miles with breaks to stretch and walk every 40 minutes or so. Indeed I am pleased to say that I shall be back at work full time the week after next. Equally thru the whole process I have even lost 3/4 stone!

I just would say to all post op sufferers especially during the first 4-5 weeks or so, just answer yourself the question he asked me, and if things are not better, then the 6 wk post op check is your time to speak out. For those who it does'nt work for, i'm sorry but I do feel for you.

If anyone from Mr Nelsons team at Frenchay in Bristol reads this..... Thank you for your help, but most of all Mr Nelson himself for his sound, reassuring way of dealing with my situation. Thank you. Now I'm looking forward to seeing him again in another 6 weeks with a clear bill of health!

Now something for the boys ....On the topic of exercises, I cannot help a lot of you with what I have done exercise wise as it seems lot of ladies write on this forum! All I can say is my physio gave me some to get my body back up straight after my body went into spasm, but he said for blokes deal at first with your 'pelvic floor'.... Lie on your back, head on a low cushion and legs slightly bent at the knees and slightly apart. Now imagine a bag of ice under your 'dangly bits'. Keep the stomach musles tight and breath normaly 5-6 times. Do this 4-5 times day to get the stomach muscles stronger. This can also be done when sitting down or driving, (just dont let anyone see your face!).
Equally lie in the same position doing the same as above, but with one leg in the air, slightly raised so your shin is horizontal, then repeat with the other leg. Mini sit ups can also be attempted to, but let your body tell you in the early stages if you are ready.
I shall see my physio on friday with the fresh specialists advice and let you all know if theres anything to add.

Take care and hang on in there!

Adrian

Hi msksquared

Thanks for yor post. I remember after my last baby was born. He was 9 and a half pounds and I also had weird feelings down below. It is similar to what I am like now, but went away rather quickly, so quickly, that it didn't bother me much.

I have seen my consultant and he said that I need to see a physio about pelvic floor exercises, so I will be seeing 2 physios. He doesn't want me to go back to work just yet. He is so lovely and said that I was doing quite well, which is very reassuring, so I went away quite happy with myself. He is also referring me to a colon doctor, but I cannot remember the word he used for him.

I can also start to drive again (but, I do have an automatic). My dodgey leg will not be needed for any emergency stops. I will go for a short drive with somebody next to me first. But, still will take a change of clothing with me, just in case.

As Cas08 said, a little at a time, a millimetre a day. That's something worth thinking about when I feel down in the dumps!

Thanks again

🙁

Hey all,

I made it out of hospital on yet more pills following the fall, but because of the retaining of my wee wee, i still have the catheter.
The district nurse said it could take up to 4 to 12 weeks for the swelling and bruising to subside, not only that, but the hospital i was being 'treated' in, left me filling up for 7 hours and so my bladder is 2 and a half times the size it should be.

I am seriously depressed now, and am on anti-depressants, its not even a setback cos the NHS couldnt fix my adhesions, its just another problem to add to my list.
I still have the hope of Martin Knight from the spinal foundation fixing me up.
I have asked my GP to refer me but she wants to see if my NHS surgeon is ok with it, and i think he will, because he said he felt bad i was left in this situation.
Its the battle with my local PCT that may hinder things, because I will need them to fund any treatment i may get from him (Martin Knight).

But.....at the moment i feel like crap, in pain 24/7, peeing into a bag....all at the age of 30, and with an 8 year old daughter to look after.
Thankfully i have help from friends or i don't know what i would do.
But my daughter says she wants to do this and that, and i just can't and she is always so disappointed, so i feel worse.

Sorry guys for the negativity, but i have been trying to keep positive for so long, i am just worn down now.
I am seeing my GP regularly, she is helping me through my depression, she is wonderful.

I hope you guys are doing better than I, and i hope my next post will bring happy news :o)

Hang in there Hun!!

Hi ALiH78

I am soooo sorry that you have now more to deal with. You have been through so much already, its not fair. I can really empathise with you going through all of this and being so depressed. I know how hard it is but hang in there hun. I know its hard but Try and hang on to anyhting posative and concontrate on that, that will help you though this.

Speak soon
Luv
Cas08

Hi ALiH78

Its me again, I was just sorting through some things and came across something a friend sent me, I thought it might help you. She wrote "Concontrate on the things you CAN DO and not on what you can't". I found this really helped me. I know it easier said than done and I originally thought yerrr right, but I did try it and it did help me!

I just think when you get depressed you need a servival kit of things you collect, do, read or listen to that help you. The website I found, was also useful. Hope this helps a bit.:)

Take Care
Luv
Cas08
xx

i just logged on here to have a big old moan about my achy leg and have read ali's post and have got some serious perspective! i am so so sorry to hear how awful things have been for you ali. it just seems like when you get one thing sorted, another hurdle presents itself. it's great to hear you have lots of people around you....i think the emotional support they can offer is probably the most valuable thing...better than any little tablet the nhs might shove your way. i realise as a cyber friend my knowledge of your situation is pretty limited, but i know you can get through this because you have been through worse and come out smiling and joking and helping other people feel so much better about life (me included). i think you need a new 'gavin and stacey' style prog to help you through the tough times...any suggestions anyone??
lots of love to you all,
jess + achy right leg xx

Ali - I'm so sorry - I understand how the whole thing can certainly wear you down...
Glad you have a good support network and a decent GP to assist.
I hope there are some brighter days ahead for you very, very shortly.
🙂

Hi Ali, sorry to hear you're still having mega problems. Both Tracey and I are struggling too, I'm just having a break from constant whingeing. Never mind, I see the consultant on the 16th July...which will be another opportunity for him to dismiss my problems, for whatever reason, and for me to travel back feeling miserable as hell.

How long have we been pushing ourselves into the positive approach? Seems like years. I'm still working but really suffering with neck and shoulders, plus my now wonky back. I wish obvious back problems could be taken more seriously. I had to laugh at the bit in the newspaper where the experts are concerned people with back problems could end up having unnecessary back surgery through the use of holistic treatments. I wanted to write in and say 'no chance of that my friends, you can't even get the necessary surgery done these days!'

I have to say I'm slowly giving up hope for recovery.