Discectomy - After the Operation

[weareeBrema]

Just thought I would give a little update too, especially after reading the last couple of threads. Hey, Nico, I have been following your threads and great news you are starting to feel on the mend. I do feel for you though with your little one, but you can make up for the lifting when you are able to. I am lucky that my son is 14, I would hate to have to pick him up, he is taller than me!! I am still in early stages of healing but like you, it seems to be getting slightly better each day. I truly believe that feeling positive is a way forward to faster healing, even if pain is present. ( I read that having a positive mind heals quicker) One thing I did not mention in my first thread was that just before I had my epidural, which made my condition worse, my boyfriend of 5 years decided to cheat, blaming it all on my meds and condition. I was at my lowest point at the time as the pain was so great. I promptly moved out, back to my moms with my son and that was my point of becoing saner, along with the op. I realised how miserable I had been and think pain is hightened when down. Life is getting better and better and I have become my old self again, it's great!!!
The one thing I have noticed is that my wound is healing quickly, sitting down is easier, my back is easing each day, though I must say, my pain has increased in my legs. My 'good' leg, the one with the lesser sciatic pain, is much worse! As the day progresses, the pain is worsening, though I do believe this is completely normal.
It has not stopped me from trying to be 'normal' and I am trying to take a walk each day, increasing the length. However, I must admit, I am not sitting and resting as much as I should, I put that down to my medication though, I am still a little 'twitchy' from it. I hope to reduce it soon.
I have my first appointment with the physio on the 16th and an appointment with my occupational health doctor to try and make a date to start back work.
By the way, can anyone say when I should realistically start to drive again.
All in all, in myself, I feel wonderful. I can honestly say, and have spoken to many who state the same, having the operation was the best thing that happened to me, and at the right time. I know it will be a hard slog, ie, 1 step forward and possibly at times, 2 steps back, but it is worth it just for a quality of life. So here is to how I feel and hope you all do too, be positive, it will all fall gradually into place

 

[aqeppuqwibzilgens]

Good to hear things have turned a corner for you Nico Sounds good and I'm sure it won't be long before you're picking up your son again!
Good to hear you're coming on too Franki. You've been through a real ordeal, what a beast but sounds like you are so much better off without him. Also totally agree about a postive mindset, that's made such a difference with me - its why I posted on here to start with.
Not sure about anyone else but I started driving again about three weeks after my op. I got the go-ahead from the physio first. Just short trips first and built them up gradually. A month after the op we went to France.
I had good news too My physio is chuffed to bits with my progress, my pilates teacher says I can join her flatwork class and don't need one to one sessions because I'm doing so well!! Pride comes before a fall I know and I have been a bit stiff this weekend - and why was that?? Because I didn't do all my exercises and stretches because we had visitors
Onwards and upwards!!

 

[Nash]

Today, I am feeling great again. I have had some pain in my hip-bones when I have done a little too much this week - like bathing my little boy and putting him to bed - the bending over was a bit too soon for me I think but generally I have been doing really well. Religious physio, lots of lying down, and not too much time spent doing work on my pc. I have had a tiny bit of a sciatica reminder every now and again, but this has gone as soon as I have got up to move around.
My scar is very scary - and I have had to get my wife to re-dress the wound for me and she was nearly sick when she saw the 13 staples sticking out of a very wobbly line down my lower back!

Franki - I was so sorry to hear your news. I hope you are doing ok. It is hard to stay positive when you are going through a break-up. But you sound like a brilliant and strong person and I hope that everything works out well for you. A good friend once told me that if you need another person to make you happy in your life then you never will be. Loving yourself and enjoying life being single will do you good, and when you are ready to meet people again you will find that you will have become a very attractive person indeed. As to your pain and recovery - never miss your personal physio sessions - 3 times a day doing precisely what you have been told - and spend some quiet time lying down and willing yourself better. I know you will find it hard sometimes to be positive, but you must try. You are a beautiful person and you will recover 100%. Remind yourself that you are important and that you are an excellent human being every day. There will always be a bit of pain because that is what makes us human - we are fragile.

Pippic - I have already driven a short distance - just to collect my boy from nursery and I will be driving to work next week - but again this is a very small distance. I have out-patient physio on Monday so I will ask them if I should drive, even though I feel well enough anyway. I am glad to hear that you are progressing so well - keep up the good work!

 

[SF kid]

Good progress all round..... was thinking, perhaps we should post the exercises we've got from our physios to find out if we're all doing the same or if there's anything any of us are missing?? might be a good resource for other post-discectomy people??

Any thoughts anyone?

 

[rescue member]

Hi,

The ones I was given were great - physios went through them with me a few times before and after surgery. Hope they're useful: http://www.oxfordclinic.org.uk/services/physical-therapies/physiotherapy.php (scroll down)

Olly.

 

[lovincupcakez]

Thanks for this Olly, it was useful to check through these exercises.

I have been doing exercises of this nature from a few weeks after my op last year, then progressing to regular daily walks and a fairly energetic keep fit class once a week, plus latterly 3 times a week 7-mile cycle circuit by about 10 months post op.

Trouble is some back pain has returned (not as severe as the acute sciatica that prefaced my procedure) and I'm not sure what to do about it.

Have seen an osteo a couple of times and am walking again steadily, but still in pain when turning over in bed (which is similar to the pain I felt post-op when turning in bed). Am just worried that the whole thing will start up again, I guess and I don't want to go through it a second time...

Praps another scan is called for to make sure nothing has shifted.

Thanks

JJ

 

[soelsuiyivliyuemd]

Looks like some of these exercises are very similar to mine. I will scan and post a copy of mine over the weekend.

 

[no1advice]

Thanks for that link Olly. Its actually really good to see that you're doing exactly the same exercises as everyone else.
Also had one other exercise straight after surgery where you lie on your side with your knees bent. Slowly straighten out the top leg (the leg you had sciatica in), keeping that knee resting on the lower knee (so you are not actually carrying any weight in the thighs) Then bend it back and repeat a few times. I also flexed my foot when I was doing this too, to increase the stretch.

Now I'm doing a lot more pilates exercises too and yes JJ I've found pilates has really started to strengthen all around my abs, hips and bum. I know a lot of people who have been helped by pilates so its worth a go. But I would go back to your doc if the pain is back, just in case.

Got signed off by my consultant today, although he's happy to see me again if I need him He reminded me that after two months my nerve is still healing - apparently it heals at 1mm a day - which is why the muscle is still tight and a bit tingly sometimes down my left leg, but all sensation is back in my left foot which is fab. My back still get very stiff when I lie down for any time, have to do a few pelvic tilts to unlock it all again. When I get up it takes a bit for everything to unlock, but every week its getting better.
no horseriding for six months, but at least I will be able to ride again but lots and lots of walking and swimming

So glad to hear everyone's doing so well too.

 

[Just Call Me G]

Nico

Your account has been helpful to me. I have a L4 L5 herniated disk. I have had three weeks of very bad pain and told it was not a disk problem by GP and physio. Pain now gone but have had a week of numbness and 'dropped foot' has proved it is a disk issue. I can only walk 200 yards and feel like a 70 year old (am 44). I am 4 weeks into this following an injury, i have had teh sciatica fot a week.

Despite no medical insurance I saw a neurosurgeon privately this weekend and he has agreed to carry out discectomy and scan on NHS quickly. I have a scan this week and op the week after. He is so certain of his diagnosis that he is of the view that the scan is simply a formality. I think I am very lucky.

By the time I have the operation I will have had the sciatica for two and a half weeks, with significant loss of power to leg and lost function. All I can do is hobble about.

To be honest I am scared to death. I have read and heard horror stories. I am up for the discectomy but am not going to allow fusion of the vertebra. Your account seems positive, which is the key to having an op of this type.

I have a living to earn a familty to support and the thought of going through life like this leaves me cold. To make matters worse I am on gardening leave and will have to push back my start date for my new job.

All in all not good and I have to say I am at a low but determined to fight back. At the end of the day there are a whole lot of peopkle out there with worse.

 

[shane_dagurl]

I have just joined the forum and thought I might be able to add a fairly positive story. I have had two discectomies - L4/5 and cervical 6/7 (I think). The lumbar operation was in 1990 when I was 33 years old. My disc had prolapsed and then burst so that fragments of the disc material were floating around the spinal column, I had lost the use of my left leg almost completely after about a week of the leg jumping around all over the place of its own accord. I was warned about the possibility of being left incontinent, double incontinent or even paraplegic, but when things seem so bad it is difficult to imagine it getting much worse. I was walking again within a few days but it took about 3 months for the pain to subside and for me to feel able to go back to work and be confident that my back was not about to break in two. In the ensuing 18 years I have had back pain to some degree most days but I rarely take pain killers. I was told to take life easy but at 33 years old, I was too young to "retire". Being broadly sensible and stopping when I had had enough, I have landscaped two gardens, carried more than I should have done and crawled around on the floor more than I did when I was younger. On this particular day I have quite severe pain and I am taking Naproxen and Paracetamol, but I am keeping as active as possible and the pain will no doubt subside soon and I'll get back to full speed again. I have found that keeping a positive attitude and a sense of humour is an essential part of living with a "bad back" and it keeps those around me from dismissing me as a miserable old so-and-so. The day before the operation I asked the surgeon if I would be able to play the piano afterwards and he said I would have no problem at all - which was great because I couldn't play the piano before hand. I was surprised he walked into that one - he must have heard it a million times. Joking reflected my nervousness as much as anything, but we had a laugh and I was able to rest that night. Having any operation is scary and especially when they are fiddling about with things like the spine, but there is real hope of getting on with life afterwards - not quite the same as before perhaps but loads better than the alternative. Best wishes to all who are recovering and to those preparing for the operation.

 

[Zamie Ziro]

Hello All, I have just joined this forum and am wishing it had occurred to me sooner to find one. I had a discectomy for a herniated disk L4-L5 2 months ago. I really thought no one would ever really understand the pain and anxiety the whole process would cause until read this whole thread! Nico, I can relate to you completely from the waking up covered in urine after the op, to the feeling completely distressed.

My condition went ignored for almost 5 months. GP kept sending me to A&e who just kept changing my painkillers and sending me home. Until one doctor took pity on me and made calls there and then to have me seen by an osteopath. At that very appointment I was given an epidural of steroids - which did nothing for me- and sent for an MRI. When those results were returned I was sent to see a surgeon straight away but unfortunately he decided to try a nerve root block. The joy of feeling no pain lasted 2 months and then I couldnt walk again. After much nagging and finally a very emotional letter to my surgeon he decided to push me in for surgery (only a whole 15 months of pain later!).

So anyway... post op... at first I felt like my back was going to snap if i tried to move but slowly movement became easier. I have been doing the exercises i was given at hospital but as yet no physio because they got arsey with me for having to cancel an appointment!!! Even though the reason was because the nurse savaged my stitches on removal and re-opened my wound and caused an infection! ANYHOO! I have seen surgeon for check up and he has told me that I dont need physio as I seem alot better and to just go swimming... As I know no better does anyone think I should insist on the physio? As I really dont feel that I can use my back and my posture and the way I sit and walk has all changed since I had to accomodate for trying to move with no pain! I have also been told that for the inside to heal it will take another 3 months (not the 6 weeks I was initially told) so not to sit on low chairs, sit for a long time, lift anythng etc etc was anyone else told this?

Finally! As I feel I may be boring you all with this mini novel of my back (i think the excitement of finding more people like myself has taken over).... does anyone else have pain in their hip and buttock area? Mine has come on slowly since the op and I was worried that i may have re-slipped the disk but my surgeon thinks its from the muscle strip from the surgery that just needs to heal?

Appologies again for the long post and nice to meet you all!

 

[Joe & Sarah]

I have now been given a firm date for the discectomy operation next monday. This is a big help as I am due to start a new job and cant until this is sorted. I am hobbling about and cant control my right leg. Thankfully I havent got some of the frightening symptoms described by some of the people posting, but am really worried I will be stuck like this.

To tell you the truth I am scared but thankful I am having the operation so soon. I think the hard part is the not knowing or waiting.

I would like to highlight 'breathworks' who you can google. These guys provide practical help for back pain and run courses in dealing with it. Also the author Jon Kabat-Zinn's 'whereever you go there you are' and 'full catastrophe living' are great.

Fingers crossed.................................................................

 

[Catherine H]

Hi, i have just joined the forum,and thought i,d spend 10mins or so to tell you my experience with back pain etc.. Mine started 4yrs ago after my employer got me working on my hands and knees, but i,ll cut a long story short, after 6 months of intense pain in my lower back, i still could,nt work as i worked in a factory, and the work was uncomfortable for me. Anyway after 7 mths off work they sacked me. In the meantime i was going from doctor to doctor, then eventually they sent me on a weeks physhio (but with no difference in my condition). Then the physio said i needed a MRI scan, which i had, then they said yr results will take 6-8weeks, I heard nothing for 3months, I phoned them and i was told they had lost them.(which took another 3-4 months) By this time i was getting worse much worse... Then a year and a half later i got a appointment through to see a nurosurgeon. The day arrived and he said you need a operation, but please bare in mind by this time i was losing control of my bowels (if you know wot i mean ). I had told him all this and said to him, you wont make me wait another year will you?. That was in sept 2006. I got the surgery date for 17th feb 2008 but they cancelled. Then i got another one through for 09 march 2008, I did go in hospital and had the operation 10th march 08, i was told they had operated on L4 L5 L3 L4 which was obviously worse than i thought. They let me out the next morning (after been on morphine and drip twice all night). I had 16 staples which i cant deny was painful especially getting in and out of bed, but it did get easier.... Now after 8-9weeks i,m much worse, if i stand or walk to 5 metres my left leg really gives me some gipp(very hurtful and discomfort), my right leg i get shooting pains. If i stand for 5 minutes or bend over to far my back still hurts,then i start to walk like a duck.(which b4 my op i was never like that) I feel as though my social life is well and truely over i,m 46 and feel like 96. i cant do housework cook wash or iron, i also have put 2 stone on so that don,t help..Ive been to see my surgeon a little earlier and he just says i,m not healed,but surely i cant be worse like i am. I,d love information off anyone who is going through the same( pain etc being worse after op)SORRY IN ADVANCE, BUT THOUGHT I,D SHARE MY EXPERIENCE....

 

[Bakearomierie]

Hi Sandy,

So, so sorry to hear you are having such a tough time. Fear makes things worse, not moving makes things worse. Please try to find a good phyiso who is pilates based. Its the best thing you can do for your back. You must move your back, if you don't you will seize up and scar tissue will form and you will end up so much worse than even before. So sorry to hear you needed so much operated on, but now you must stay flexible and strong. Check out google for pilates teachers, remedial teachers in your area. its so worth it.
I haven't been online as since my op we have moved to France to start a new life. I'm mountain biking and walking every day, but if I don't do my exercises then everything starts to stiffen up. Now i know i need to expand my exercises and keep moving onwards and upwards. All I know is I won't be a victim of back pain for the rest of my life and its getting better every week. My motto is to have flexible back but strong supporting muscles.
Good luck. Its not an easy path, I've sobbed and raged and demanded why me, just after an op on one disc, but things are getting better every week. Good luck

 

[B P]

Hi All,
I have a bilateral bulging disc at L5/S1. For the last 6 months i have had a lot of leg pain but was able to carry on working as a fire fighter. In March after coiming back from my honeymoon both my legs went into total spasm. I was sent to A&E but they just sent me home with some pain killers. I have gone through the process of seeing doctors and having tests but nothing was done until i got an MRI. After having the scan the pian got worse and i can hardly walk cannot sit down and have been on the floor for 8 weeks, i even eat laying on the floor.

I saw a pain doctor last week and because i am finding it hard to pee she said that i should have surgery ASAP. I am now seeing a sugeon on friday and am very worried. I have read some of the stories on this post and as a 33 year old man i do not want to end up in a worse state than i am already in.

Is there anyone who can give me some advice or make me feel better about what is going on.

 

[sugar cube]

Guys

I am so sorry to hear about your suffering. Hang on in there. I have today just got out of hospital. L4 L5 herniated idsk and discectomy.

Off morphine yesterday. The result was instant. No Sciatica full finction back like magic. I am lucky. The post op pain is nothing compared with what I thought it would be or what I had before. The physio starts now.

The neurosurgical unit I have just got out of was filled with people much worse than me, many requiring brian surgery. Compared with these poor souls this was just rewiring a plug.

I have found 'breathworks' meditations great for pain and would reccomend you google them. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

The main thing I think is to not get depressed and keep believing - it is so important.

There seems to be an emerging picture here, namely that GPS keep fobbing people off when they need MRI scans and surgery. I dont think people understand how depressing this is. This is what we pay our taxes for. You have a right to request an MRI scan.

Rod

Hope this positive spin helps you if you are down. Keep going.

 

[boo7]

Another newcomer here!

I got back pain last summer and was told it was nothing by the GP. By September I had a crampy feeling in my right buttock and by Christmas the pain was travelling down my leg. Now, I get sharp pains where my bottom meets the top of my right leg if I walk or stand for longer than a few minutes. I also have pain down my right leg when lying on my back, and I struggle to roll over in bed. My leg pain goes down to my foot. I get no pain sitting down.

As I'm a police officer, I am no longer able to do my job and am desk-bound. My GP finally referred me in March but I have heard nothing from the NHS since. I went to the police convalescence home for a fortnight and had physio and pilates twice a day with no improvement. My physio there pestered my work and they kindly paid for an MRI scan which shows I have a large prolapse at L4/5.

I went to see a private consultant today (again paid for by work) who looked at the scans and immediately said I need a discectomy. He said it would cost about £5k private and I could have it done within 6 weeks. On the NHS I could be looking at next year. I don't have private medical insurance and it looks like I'm going to just have to sit it out. Literally.

I take codiene and diclofenac with no result. I was prescribed tramadol but they made me ill. I don't know what else to try. I bought a TENS machine but it barely distracts me from my bottom and leg pain. My physios have discharged me and said there is nothing more they can do for me. I can't exercise, swim, do the ironing or even cook properly.

I am 28 years old and feeling increadingly despondent.

 

[Xtreme Poetess]

I had a muscle spasm in my back that was so bad it led to nerve damage and permanent pain and numbness in my left leg. It is also causing other problems with my spine. I was a mechanic/machinist most of my life and had the injury during 4 years of hauling heavy food items. I can't even be reliable enough for any real job. Please take care of yourself and listen to your body more that what other people say. it's your life. Good Luck and God Bless RJ

 

[Pompal 09.]

Don't feel to bad I'm having very similar problems it's been 3 years now after an operation and I'm having problems in other areas of my back. I can't work either at least for anything gainful. RJ

 

[trent.]

Hi

Read your post. I did exactly as you did and saw consultant privately. The consultant I saw agreed to send me fast through the NHS - I was dead lucky.This was due in part to me having a dropped foot. My friend like you was told he would be charged. He got his boss to plit it it cost £7,5k he paid half his boss paid half.

I think you have three options. 1 symptoms reported get worse,like dropped foot or incontinence which will move you immediately up nhs list. 2 go privately and take out a loan. From what i know the sooner you have the op the higher your chances of recovery. I pay my taxes and am disgusted that someone in an essential service is not getting sorted now, why else do we pay tax.3 wait for a year on nhs.my own personal opinion is 2 if you can afford itbut this is a subjective view. there is a lot of stuff on discectomys on the internet.

The latter course runs the risk of you getting down - watch out for that.

Yoga might help if you are intterested i can reccomend a book.this condition cansort itself on its own sometimes.

rod