Facet Joint Rhizotomy

sorry alih78 not sure what that is have you spoken to your gp about it?

i just need to know how i'll be after my discectomy im having it on tuesday and how long it takes to get back to normal, ive already been told ill still suffer with chronic back pain due to ddd but would like some input on how long it takes for pain to go from legs and weakness/numbness.

thanks.

Hi Yogi,

The pain/numbness/tingling in the legs should be immediately relieved after surgery. You can get twinges during your recovery period but try not to worry as you can still have a little residual pain from when the nerve was pinched and it will need to get used to not being squished any more lol
My problems are unfortunate, i sadly wasnt in the majority where the surgery works, i'm just unlucky. As long as you do everything you are told, you'll be fine. Make sure your physio is properly trained in spinal physio. Mine wasnt post op and i used to come out in bits where i got pulled around and whatnot!
Also, be aware of any side effects coming off your painkillers. Don't stop them by yourself, do it with the assistance of your GP who can taper any doses to help you come off them smoothly. I wasnt informed of this when i was 2nd time post op and ended up addicted to morphine!

Finally, DON'T push yourself, no matter how good you may feel, the recovery process is gradual, and you could very well reach a reasonable level of fitness if you do it right. I've known people on here who have had the op and are back teaching aerobics and horse riding! 🙂

I suffer from DDD too, i've not spoken to my GP about the rhizotomy because he just keeps telling me he isnt the expert, the surgeons are, so i'm currently trying to get referred via my physio department.
Its a drag for sure, my L4/5 disc is bulging after having been put back twice and my L3,4 and 5 facet joints have moderate arthritis. So if i can get that procedure, i think i might get a bit better with pain control. So here goes! Haha!!

If you want to ask anything, just holla k? 😎

hi alih78

thanks for that advice, my consultant did say there's a chance of reherniation due to the size of the prolapse l4/5 l5/s1 but have bulging discs at l3/4 also, and a lot of wear and tear, as for painkillers i know it will be probably hard to stop right away as ive been taking them for 18 months now there not doing any good anyway im in terrible pain today at the point that i want to cut myself in half sounds drastic but im sure you can apreciate what i mean, if my back pain stays the same i will still need them anyway especially when i go back to work:confused:

alih78 i really hope you get the information you need, just to ask what was your back pain like after the surgery.

I wont lie to you, its rough the first time getting out of bed post op. the physio's will have you up and about asap after your op.Its hard going at first but it's far better than lying still.
The chronic back pain i think, is a matter for your local pain management service. Your GP canand should refer you if you have long standing problems which evidenty you do. They are great at chopping and changing meds via your GP (So he/she knows what to prescribe once you are under the pain management team) In the meantime, obviously your GP will help.
GP's are hard pushed because of the risks of addiction, dependence etc and they are reluctant to prescribe strong painkillers. With DDD though and chronic pain, you may well need stronger painkillers and your GP may not want to prescribe them without the pain management team's say~so. I've had this exact problem today as my pain nurse is off sick and there is no replacement so i've had to get shirty with my GP today lol!
If you really are struggling with your pain and you dont feel heard by your involved health professionals, shout louder! I cant stress that point enough, sadly due to the mickey mouse "bad back" benefit cheats and opiate painkiller dependant people going from surgery to surgery under different names to get painkillers such as morphine for non existent problems and they just want to get high, that we, the genuine patients, are treated much less the same.
Sad but true, but if you do indeed shout loud enough, you'll get heard 😉

my gp has been very good with my painkillers ive had all sorts, the oramorph made my acid reflux a lot worse the only tabs i can tolerate are tramadol 50mg and codeine 30mg plus paracetamol with them i have amitripyline at night not that there doing any good, im just gonna wait and see how my back is after op to see whats the best way forward ill ask on tuesday where i go from here with my back pain, can i just ask did you ever suffer neck pain on the same side as prolapse not sure whether its connected or its just stiff due to being tense with the pain in legs and back. thanks

just to ask alih78

what are you taking now for your pain, have you had your follow ups, i suppose im not going to know what kind of pain relief ill need till the discectomy is done.

Hi mate,

I'm on fentanyl 12mcg patches, tramadol 50's caps, pregabalin for neuropathy and paracetamol. I used to poo poo paracetamol but its actually a really great base for other painkillers to work on top of. I find i get some relief from 2 trams and 2 paracetamol...I let myself believe they would help and they do. I've begun some gentle core strengthening moves this week with not much extra pain and any i do, the trams and paracetamol are helping. A little tip, separate paracetamol and codeine phosphate tablets will be much more effective than co-codamol as a mixed tablet. Heat is great, hot water bottle or heat packs i use a lot too with good effect.
I dont get pain in my neck, i never have done.....only lumbar region and right leg.

As for post op pain relief, when you come round after ur op, you will more than likely be hooked up to a PCA pump (Patient Controlled Analgaesia) where you press a little button every 3 minutes and the pump will release therapeutic amounts of morphine to keep you comfortable. Its important to let the staff know if you are in more discomfort than what should be reasonable....Dont be a soldier! Whinge if need be!
Anything after that will be discussed with you by a specialist pain nurse, always be honest. I have been made out to be putting on all my problemsin the past because no-one has x ray goggles and can see bad backs, health professionals included. Never let them fob you off and get stroppy if they try. Its your back, and you know best. You may well have a great local service but mine is complicated and i've had to fight for things like oramorph and fentanyl even though i have very well documented back problems for 7 years. It took me 4 trips to my surgery, 2 trips to A&E, and a few shirty phone calls to get better adequate pain relief just this past few weeks. They say not to get verbal against them but when they are practically accusing me of being a junkie going round from gp to gp trying to aquire narcotics....when there isnt a shred of evidence to suggest that i did do this (i didnt ever do that)......I was very insulted, made a massive noise in my GP surgery and even though i had to push them again this week, i got my way finally...! They no longer treat me like a druggie any more i'm pleased to say!

I think people with bad backs get the hardest ride because its invisible, people grit their teeth and get on with it because they have no other choice, life cant stop. I live on my own so if i dont go shopping, i starve etc etc!

Please dont be frightened by my story and list of issues i've had, i'm only pointing them out so if any of the same is tried with you, then you know better and can challenge anything that may come up.

Hope ur not getting too nervous or anxious, that wont help your pain at all...The surgery is done all the time and the majority of people have positive outcomes....I sincerely hope that you are one of those 🙂