My Micro Discectomy Diary.........

Best of luck Rob and hope all goes according to plan. 🙂

Good news Rob. As you know I lost my nerve and took myself off the list. Later I thought I really did not want to put up with the pain and medication forever and went ahead. Three weeks now and so pleased I went ahead. The aftermath of the op was nowhere as bad as I thought and already I can see improvements - not least the lack of nerve pain.

How long is the waiting list?

Angela

Thanks Angela! No idea on date yet although i have been quite lucky that i managed to get a contact in the outpatients department and she is having a word with the admissions team and asking that i be considered for any cancellations. Im nervous but know in my heart of hearts its the only option i have left available to me!

And thanks Caroline, very kind of you to offer your support and course ill keep you updated!

Take care all!

Rob x

Hi Rob,

Good news that you're now in the queue. Looks like someone else is on the list now 🙂

[url]BBC Sport - Andy Murray: Back surgery set to end Wimbledon champion's year[/url]

Hm. Interesting. I wonder how long it will be before he can get back to full training.

Rob. If you are going down the cancellation route you could go into hospital quickly. It suddenly occurred to me to make a couple of suggestions in advance.

Buy a packet of frozen peas to lie on after exercise. I use them for about 20 minutes after my two walks of the day. Do put them in a plastic carrier bag or the bed or chair will be very wet! Ice packs can also be used but many of these are uncomfortable and unless you have them already more expensive.

Buy one of those things the street cleaners use to pick up things from the floor. One of the hardest things is remembering and overcoming the urge to bend. A light plastic version does not cost much and I find it really good.

Angela

Thanks Hugh, hope your still fighting fit!

And thanks too Angela, got so much to consider about the hospital stay and recovery lol! I hadnt thought about anything to be honest lol!

Cheers guys!

Mornign team!

I have started a blog to keep a track of my progress and to keep a track of dates etc.....follow it here if at all interested!

[url]Being one of London's Finest Black Cabbies and coping (or not) with Sciatica[/url]

Theres two entries so far!

Have a great Sunday all!

Rob!

Hi,

I know I am not the most popular of people on these forums due to ancieties but I would like to say something positive to you. For sciatica, a discectomy is more or less curative. I kean, I had my op in June and sciatica was gone. I had zero surgical pain (literally). Since my muscles had atrophied recovery was bound to be protracted and complicated. If your psoture is fine, then your pain will be eliminated and surgery related discomfort will be gone within four weeks. If the sciatica goes, your life will be back to normal. I think people who have had what I had have a nuch longer and ore complicated experience of recovery since the hard work os left to do after the surgery. My surgery only removed the cause of my deformity, but the postural and muscle imbalances can take months to improve and until they do, severe disconfort is experienced. I do wish you all the best. I know you will be having the surgery where I had mine. The surgical teams at the hospital are very experienced and perform this surgery routinely. They put dissolving sutures in my incision. Apparently this is not always done at that hospital so tell your surgeon on the day of the surgery that you will perform them. Getting the staples out is hardly going to be fun. My incision was covered by a very thick bandage. It did not cause any pain but since it was so fat, it provided some reassurance. The docs can see signs of bleeding and discharge through it. My bandage was dry and on day three it was changed to a reduced size dressing before I was discharged. I was given a corset which I was unable to wear due to my postural defor ity (it actually made my movement much worse). On day one the physio may not see you. My ohysio did not see me until the next afternoon, more than 24 hours after the surgery qnd I was quite annoyed by that because you need some advice regarding movements. The physio told me it is standard practice for them to take this long. I thought this was fairly pathetic because the nurses didn't always know what surgery I just had and didn't even care if O got up or stayed in bed. I was quite surprised as to how many nurses asked me what surgery I just had. I was allowed to get up within an hour of returning to the ward and the nurse who helped me did something really stupid. I was obviously groggy. I needed to pee so I asked them to help me get up (the surgeon had written I could mobilise on the day in his notes). A nurse told me how to get up she took. Me to the toilet with my IV fluid thing, but she did not wait in the toilet or even outside. It was very dangerous as I could have fainted and within a minute I felt so light headed. I opened the door and thankfully the sister was there and she helped me back to bed. I don't think the aftercare is great down there, but you can get through it in two ways. First, ask your surgeon what you can and cannot do after surgery. Also, make sure you ask them to let you use the commode. It is much better tha walking to the toilet since your back is still a little wobbly so soon after surgery. Contrary to what others may have reported, sitting is not a problem. I actuallybsat on the commode for forty mjnutes or so at a time on day one because it was hard to pee and it took time (I found the beeping sounds and talking in the ward very distracting so I used my phone to drown out the sounds by listening to Miles Davies, but it still took time to get going). I asked the nurses if sitting so long would harm my back and theybsaid most of the patients with disc surgery use the commode and sometimes it takes time and it does bot cause any damage. The things that would not usually cause a disc prolapse are not a risk. It may be uncomfortable to sit because youbjustbhad surgery but it does not cause a recurrence. The doctors told me that a prolapse is a wear and tear problem so even if you do prolapse again it will happen over time. Be sensible but don't be afraid either.
Anyway, I am going to sleep now. Take care and I hope it all goes well.

Thanks Hope!! Appreciate the heads up!!!! Top man!!!!

I had the date for my surgery confirmed this afternoon, i was fortunate because i managed to get the email address of someone at the hospital who has helped get appointments brought forward and changed etc. I was looking at somewhere towards the summer of 2014 but with her help ive managed to get an appointment for October 14th so only about two weeks away!!

Excited but also nervous! Will keep you all up to date!!

Regards

Rob

Hi Rob,

Great news, 2 weeks will fly by! Look forward to reading you updates on your blog!

Hi Rob

So glad for you. You do not want too much time thinking about it. I am four weeks' this weekend and doing fine. You will lie in the ward after the op and wish you had gone for it before - I know I did. I too am reading your blog. I tried to join your facebook page but I guess you did not recognise my surname.

Angela

Thanks Hugh and Angela! Very kind of you both!!!

Angela, resend your request on facebook, you are correct i didn't recognise the name, DOH!!! lol

Apologies!

Bought myself a walking aid for when recovery begins in a few weeks......................:):):)

He/she is gorgeous and at least you can up your distances together gradually. What name have you given. What sort of spaniel is he/she.

Angela