Hi,
I have been posting on this forum for a while now. I am going to have this sugery to increase my mobility, but I am scared and worry about the possible complications, no matter how rare (they obviously happen to some people).
I am writing here to ask some of the people who had successful discectomies whether their doctor discussed the possibilitg of a csf leak. It is considered rare, but I want to know why is it rare. If we know why, we would be reassured. Does the procedure limit access to the dura (the bit that can cause the csf leak). If we know why complications are rare, we would be much better off because we would also know what they do to prevent anything like that from having. Now I know many people here will say I need to ask this from the surgeon but notball NHS surgeons are as helpful. They do not always answer all the queries. My surgeon makes it sound as if I am paranoid - either I should have the surgey or not. What's woth all the questions? I know discectomies are geberally safe but I am going in reluctantly wih the hope that I will be well enough in six/seven weeks to share and enjoy the experience of my wife giving birth to our first child. She wants me to be there, and though I cannot promise her anything, I was hoping the worst wpuld be over by then. Unexpected complications can result in more treatment, more surgeries and more pain than I am in now. One hopes that the surgeons know what they are doing, but obviously mistakes can be made. Csf leaks can be horrendous so people who have had discectomies can enlighten readers here as to what heir surgeons told them about this risk and whether heybwere told what was done to prevent it. Can the leak occur after the surgery has been performed?
Please do write in.
hi yes it can but so can a lot of things happen it's just the risk that we all have to take
clare x
Hi Ckare,
Thanks for the answer. Is there anyhing that the doctors recommend you avoid to prevebt the csf leak from occurring after the surgery? If they are removing a large prilapse they must get awfully close to the dura so how come this complication is rare. Shouldn't this be a bigger problem?
To Hopehasgone
I have had a discectomy and fusion with no CSF leak. However I did have to have a lumbar puncture about five years ago and did have a CSF leak. It is not that bad. You get a bad headache if you sit up for a few days. If it lasts longer than a few days they can seal the leak. A CSF leak is not a big dealin the scheme of things. I am not sure who is trying to scare you or why or whether you are just looking for a reason to not have the discectomy. The thing is it is upto you whether you have the discectomy. Of course if you go looking you will find examples of where things haven't worked out, including me. What you need to ask yourself is can you manage as you are? If the answer is yes then why have surgery. If you can't manage and you have tried all other avenues ie root blocks etc then perhaps you should have surgery. I can understand you surgeons annoyance if you keep asking questions about what can go wrong instead of focusing on what they are trying to do, which is essentially heal you. They have to tell you the risks involved and then you have to go away and decide, your surgeon is not twisting your arm.
Sorry if I sound harsh but iam not going to sit here and say yes do it or no don't as that only leaves me open to you saying - but you said. This is kind of what you are doing to your surgeon and like I said they are there to help not to make you worse. So yes it doesn't always work and you might need more surgery, or guess what you might be completely better!!
Wend
Hi Wend,
Tha k you for your answer. I have decided I will have it but I am scared as well. On the day I will get confidence. After it's done I will have to deal with it, but before you always have worries because the life I knew is gone and this may just seal that. It is my last hope and if it fails not only can I be left with worse problems, there will be no goin back. Can I continue the way I am? I can't work or stand/walk for long. I am not always in pain but I feel discomfort and I am always aware of the problem. The surgeon has indicated that they want to do the operation to increase function, so obviously I need to atay aware of that. The main thing is that I fear I may lose the little ability I have to walk and that is a big deal because my wife is expectin our first child soon (next month), and I am wanted the worst to be over by the time the baby was born, byt recovery may be long and I have to be so strong. Life had been relatively easy for me. This seems like an insurmoubtable pressure. Anyway, I understand what you are saying. I mainly write here to deal with my qnxiety. Sorry if I sound like a broken record. I just can't see me being my old self again and this sokution sounds to good to be true. Who knows, it mau work. I guess by this time next week I may have a better idea.
Hi Ckare,
Thanks for the answer. Is there anyhing that the doctors recommend you avoid to prevebt the csf leak from occurring after the surgery? If they are removing a large prilapse they must get awfully close to the dura so how come this complication is rare. Shouldn't this be a bigger problem?
No. Becasue it is very rare.
What avoids problems is the skill of the surgeon. It doesn't happen often because the surgeons ARE skilled.
i think it doesn't matter about a surgeon being brill or bad mistakes can happen either way.
you will be fine try and not to worry the chances of it happening are low so try and stay calm,
i have not blamed my surgeon for me re-herniating twice after my ops, or if i had a leak all i would say it's the chance we take, and it's rare.
clare xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi Clare,
The day draws nearer. I am still inable to think about anything else. My wife is pregnant. What will happen to her? Will O ever leave the hospital and return home? Will I actually recover or get worse? Is the discectomy going to be one of those things I will have to file under 'worst mistake of my life'. I am not really happy about any of the options I have. Living like this is not fun, but I have learned to limit what I do and live with the curve. On a daily basis there is little pain. It only happens with activity. If I have the surgery, maybe I will be left with more pain and if that happens I may become even less active than I am. It is always a hard choice. Most people have this surgery because of excruciating leg pain. I never had that. My riht hip is tight, and I have a list. When I walk in thisbodd posture my lower back hurts and all the joints and muslces compensating get fatigued, but if I limit activity there is hardly any pain. Now, the scan does show a very large central prolapsed disc at the l4/l5 level. When I told my surgeon there was not much pain he just looked at me and said that cannot be true due to my posture. This is what I find weird. Shouldn't I be in excruciating pain? I mean, my main symptom is the list. I don't like it and it has reduced my mobility, but is it worth he risk?
I am going to have surgery, but my fear is te outcome will either be satisfactory or a disaster. If I get better, of course, it will be satisfactory. If it does not help, I can't help but envisage further or increased disability and I am not sure how I will cope with that.
Anyway, I think I will have it and hope I get better over time because in theory it makes sense. If theu remove part of the problem disc and reduce pressure, it should make some kind of positive difference, and if that happens, as I recover I may be able to realign and prevent strain on my lower back. I know this is not for back pain. I don't have generalised back pain, but the strain of walking in the scolitic posture causes the problem to the muscles and joints around my lower back. If everything loosens up etc, I am sure I will realign but my choice is to wait for it to happen naturally or let a surgeon do it. I don't even know what I want, but I know I am safe and comfortable in my house, with my wife and family. What if the surgery makes me worse or doesn't helpm i am overthinking because I have a lot to lose. My independence and my livelihood. I may never walk again and that scares me too. At least now I can hobble about without much pain. It is a horrible decision to make.