Discectomy - After the Operation

[ranting_woman]

jayboy!!
great to hear from you! your posts were really inspirational to me pre-op when things were awful. it's so good to hear your recovery continues to go well...sounds very similar to mine. i am now 9 months post-op, back doing dance classes and lots of walking. still a bit stiff and get the occasional ache and pins and needles in the 'bad' leg, but feeling much happier, healthier and still so glad i had the op.

good luck to all the new(ish) post-oppers....remember to do what you're told! and come off the painkillers as slowly as you possibly can!

lots of love,
jess xx

ps...just a warning - i tried the 'can't pee' thing (it was true) at a&e and it was fobbed off as a side effect of amitryptaline (still can't spell it) and as being due to the discomfort of sitting on the toilet!

 

[Wajahat A]

Just a quick update on my progress. I am nearly 11 months post op and things are great. I am back to full time teaching exercise and doing 17 classes a week. I sprint, run, jump and and really do what I want. I have the occasional ache and and stiff in the lower back sometimes but put this down to the amount of exercise I do.

To all you new post-oppers I would recommend that you take things slowly(I know that's hard!), do the stretches(carefully!) and exercises given to you and try to rebuild your core strength with pilates. I am a pilates teacher and would be more than happy to list some exercises if anyone would like them.

Gregdfc, Be careful returning to college so soon, sitting can be a problem too!!
Colin. Well done on surviving the op! Take it steady and you should be ok for your holiday!

cas08 so sorry you are facing a 3rd op. Keeping everything moving is the best option, stretching will be very hard for you with a prolapsed disc so be careful and dont worry if it's too hard and painful.

Ali. Any news on your adhesions etc?

Take care all and i wish happy and speedy recoveries to all.
Much love
Fitbird
xxxxxxxxx

 

[Timothy]

Hi Chris12.
I would def agreee that as a personal trainer your body will be strong and will help your recovery. Your only problem will be being patient! I was desperate to get back to teaching and had to fight with myself to wait until 8 weeks(surgeon's reccomendation) before i started again even though I felt I could much earlier.

Try and enjoy the rest your body deserves and needs it!!
Take care
Fitbird
xxxx

 

[Good gone girl]

Wow, great to see such positive stuff... I am now 5 weeks post op L4/L5 discectomy and am progressing well. Had my first Physio appointment yesterday which was all of a 10 minute chat and he then said I was doing so well there was no need to go back unless I felt it necessary. Stated he would keep my notes open for 6 weeks and if he hadnt heard anything by then he would discharge me. I rarely get any pain now, doing loads of walking, (not enough stretching.... note to self, must do more!) but pretty much back to normal. Got follow up appointment 28th of May and hoping to be able to go back to work on 1st June.

Its easy to forget just how much pain and misery this problem causes, it has been a real eye opener for me as I have been lucky in that prior to this I had never needed an operation before or experienced symptoms that affected my quality of life so severely. Surgery was described to me on many occasions by medical staff as a 'last resort' yet so many of us having had the surgery have been given our lives back.. makes you wonder doesn't it?

Best wishes... Michelle

 

[bmlpnunc]

Hi Fitbird!!

Good to hear from you, I am still suffering i'm afraid, but have hope in the shape of a pain specialist, he may be able to help.

But if he can't, I have been in touch with the Spinal Foundation, and Martin Knight, the leading surgeon, and he said he can help me, I am going to my GP to get referred there.

The Epiduroscopy, the procedure that the Spinal Foundation used to use to remove adhesions, they don't use anymore as it is ineffective, so they do something else which i will hopefully find out what very soon!!
I am really chuffed, because I have 2 referrals to specialists now, after that other divvy doctor telling me that nothing can be doen and i am stuck like this for the rest of my life. Poo to him!!!!

Fitbird, I am really pleased to hear that you are pretty most back to how you were. Brilliant news honey!!
I hope to be back that way myself one day!! I am still staying positive, it really helps to keep going and not wallow, thats not good!!!

Love and best wishes to the rest of you guys, pre and post op, keep smiling


For all the facebookers out there, there is a fan page for the Spinal Foundation, Click this link....
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/The-Spinal-Foundation/53790769709?ref=nf


And for all you who aren't into social networking, the website for the Spinal Foundation is....
www.spinal-foundation.org

The website is very detailed and has loads of info about all kinds of back problems, hope it helps

 

[tripageous]

I have been making enquiries today and have made an appointment for an acupuncture session tomorrow!!!
Never had it before, but have heard many praises sung about it on here, so thought i'd give it a go!!!
Neeeeeedles!!! Eeeeeeeeeeeek!!!!!!!!!

 

[mkb80]

Hi Fitbird,

I would be grateful if you could list some stretching excercises, suitable for my current situation - 1 week post op, then increaseing to when I can do much more.

As everyone can probably tell, I was absolutely pooing myself at the thought of the op, so yep, to say I 'survived' it was probably the correct term!!

Everyone's postings on here are so encouraging, however I feel for those who havent had it as easy & been so successful

Cheers, Colin.

 

[Connchardo]

Hey all,

Went for my first acupuncture session today, it wasn't as bad as i thought it was going to be!!
They put 3 pins in me, one in my wrist, tummy and foot, it felt a bit tingly, but didn't hurt.
I am booked in for next week, then a session every fortnight and then every month.

Olli....How many sessions did you have until you felt a difference with your pain levels?

I hope you guys are all ok, and having a (relatively) pain free day

 

[duck]

Hi Alih78

How are you. I tried accupuncuture a while a go before I had my opp. I found it really good. So I hope it works for you.

Wanted to ask a question to you Alih78 and to any other fellow suffers on here.
Are people after there opps, like a year down the line still suffering with nerve pain?? if so are you taking anything for it and what is the you are taking??Has anyone had the sensation of a horrible intense stinging ache that is in the lower back and radiates into the coccyxs??Hope everyone is doing well
Best wishes
Cas08

 

[emanuel1983]

Hi,

cas08, I still get a bit of pain if i do too much which seems to be most days at the moment. I do have a damaged nerve in my right leg so it can be a bit painful sometimes. I just take codien some nights.

Ailh78, It was about 4-5 sessions before there was a big difference. It was like it all happened after a session about a month after i started. I now get it every 4 weeks to settle everything down.

Had some the other day which helped but it has been busy at work and i have done a few training sessions this week with some running so i am feeling it a bit today.

I will be ok, the stretching eases everything off

Olli

 

[DrLove]

This is my first posting, however thank you to you all who have put their experiences in writing as they have been very well 'received'!

I had a micro-discectomy 6 weeks ago after starting with problems exercising / walking early last year.

Post op was such a relief, no sciatica, no pains, just a little sore around the wound. Would recommend the op after the months of discomfort suffered.

However 2 weeks to the day post op my torso bent in the evening and I started slanting to the left. Walking and movement started to be affected again and I started to experiece pains, aches and twinges in the left buttock and top off the leg (original problem was all right side). I managed to see the specialist, his post op nurse, and 2 physio's who have all said that this was a back muscle spasm and the physiotherapy should sort this out.

Nearly 3 weeks on, the physio exercise have straightened me back up a little, however the pains are still a problem, to the point off being back on half doses of the painkillers that I originally had.

The specialist see's me this week for the 6 week post op check, however he did get another MRI done yesterday, just to put his (and my) mind at ease. My problem is that I really struggled to get up off the board after the MRI. Stairs and slopes still are a problem too.

Has anyone else suffered these type of problems post op or may I be in for a shock at the meeting this week?

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Many Thanks

 

[Pompal 09.]

Hi Ade, I am 6 months post op and suffered the same problem a couple of months ago. At first I had a muscle spasm that hurt like hell but when that eased off I really thought that was the end of it. I now have a wonky hip which will sort of straighten after exercise but then drifts out again. It hurts more, probably because I am out of line and putting too much pressure on other parts of my back. Will be seeing the consultant soonish I hope and find out what can be done to fix me up again.

I'm relieved it isn't that painful and I can still work, but anything beyond work is just impossible. It's really strange because doctors were very impressed with my recovery and the suppleness of my back after surgery. Let us know what the verdict is with you so I can be prepared, I have a horrible feeling they'll say they can't do any more for me though.

Hello everyone, couldn't resist popping in for a minute, hows it all going folks? Did the acupuncture work Ali? I'm still waiting for surgery on upper back...ho hum!

Love to all

Melza

 

[my_lady_warrior]

Hi everyone. I am now 1 week post op (L4/l5) and all things considered its going ok. The only real problem I am experiencing is sciatic pain when trying to sit/lie down. The sciatic pain feels different to before the operation and is somewhat stronger but then dissapears after a minute or too. Has anyone got any ideas about what this could be? Apart from that things are ok, ive cut back on taking the full dosage of all painkillers, diazipan and diclofenac. Walking three times a day for 10 minutes and performing pelvic tilts 4 times a day.

If anyone could give me any advice on what im doing and if I can do anything else to help that would be great.

The surgeon mentioned that I also have a prolapsed disk at l5/s1 but didnt operate on it as it was not compressing the nerve, so i am wondering what can be done to avoid this disc becoming worse? Once again any help would be appreciated.

Thanks and good luck to you all recovering

 

[Value.addedRevelations]

Hi,

Im 3weeks coming up for 4 weeks since op. Still got really bad pin and needles and when I lay on my side the pain really bad. Can't stand for too long either.
Went to physio and they said to to 3 5mins walk a day and then build it up slowly. Still can't do swimming .
Going back to college today but only for watching (Im a sport student). Hopefully get on ok.

 

[?Miss Inquisitive?]

Hi everyone

Does anyone know how much the Injection is?? or how I can find out how much it would be and to get the nerve block done privately.

I am so angry listen to this.

I had a discectomy on my L5/S1 end of Oct 2007 after serveral months of the most horrendious pain that i have ever experianced and then ending up in hospital for a week. Then In july of 2008 It happened again at the same level, again the pain was horrendious. This time they decicded on a nerve block rather than surgery. Then I start having problems again in mid feb 2009 they gave me another MRI scan towards the end of April to find that the disc had gone yet again. I have oppted for another nerve block which the consultant said he could get done quite qickly. i am now off work yet again waiting for this injection.

Ive phoned up the receptionist just to find out about a possible date, she was a bit funny with me and then said did I know that there was a 5 Month wating list, I asked her what I could do and she just said " nothing youll have to just wait". I told her that I could not wait that long. I then phoned the consultant and told him. I dont think that he was awhare that there was that sort of wating list. I did say that If I have to wait that long i stand a good chance of loosing my job and have now left it with him to chase.

I am soooooo p****d off dont they realise that we are real people with lives to lead. They send us home with pain killers and very little infomation and we just have to wait for them to get ther act togther. They dont take back problems seriously and yet the problem can change your life dramatically. When this sort of thing happens your life seems to be on hold. One of the consultants said to me, people with back problems need to try and stay at work for as long as possible or they get depressed and can loose their jobs. Yeh I thought that becacuse we are sent home to cope with pain on our own and told to wait some rediculious amount of time for some treatment, all the time the nerve damage is getting worse.

Rant over

Hope everyone else is doing OK!
Thanks for listening
Cas08

 

[Tee Tee]

Hi chris12. Same as you, I had discectomy on L4/5, but also have disc prolpase at L5/S1 (and just for good measure, L2/3..) I have found that a good physio program is a good way to try and make sure that you are doing the right exercises, stretches, strengthening etc to help try and avoid further disc problems. Also being careful about how you lift things, and taking care about how, and for how long, you sit. I figure any attempts at prevention are worthwhile.

 

[Happeh Gurl C:]

Cas08 sorry to hear of the problems you are having. I just hope that there will be some answers for you soon. I am not surprised you are angry. I would be too. So frustrating.

 

[Lovely Anderson <3]

Hi Melza, and thank you for your reply, glad to hear of someone with something similar, but not glad to hear you have if you know what I mean!
My 'wonky' back seems very similar to yours, better somedays than others which causes some backaches.
My major concern are these pains in the left hip & thigh which I shall report back on after Wednesday.
I cannot though carry much more than a small shopping bag in weight, or a tray with a plate of food on without the pains increasing, equally if i cut back on pain killers or first thing in the morning it seems much worse. I shall keep you advised.

Cas08, very sorry to hear of your story. I did see about some 8 - 10 pages back one guy advised sufferers to use a weakening bladder control story to gain prompt attention. I dont neccessarily condone this, but when I went for my pre-op I was told that my op had been postponed for 3 weeks due to an emergency. However when asked had any circumstances changed, which they had, as in the previous week, I had lost total control over my bladder twice, the op did take place 3 days later. As I said, I dont codone 'fibbing' but keep an eye on this as an issue of worsening condition. Many others have written about this subject being taken as a priority condition.
As for costs of nerve root blocks mine was NHS, but had no effect, indeed seemed to be the start of a worsening in condition.

Indeed has anyone during nerve root block had to have the needle changed 3 times as it has bent? The 'injector' said I had very strong back muscles causing the needles to bend. When another 'injector' took over he said that they were bending as they were trying to get to the right spot!
I was'nt totally convinced when he said 'hope that ok as thats about as close as we can get' at the end of the session either!

Chins up fellow sufferers!

Ade

 

[BornToPee]

Cas08, you have voiced my feelings about treatment for back problems...apparently back problems cost the country millions you know, and here we are begging for treatment! I would love to write to an MP, assuming I haven't just paid for him to go on a long holiday, and get these problems recognised. Are there enough consultants I wonder.

I wrote to the Southampton consultant and asked him to review my scan results as he told me the the cervical spine problems are inoperable. Only one procedure has been agreed but wonder whether its worth going under the knife again if it won't make that much difference to the pain. I also requested he take on all of my spine rather than me getting a referral to another hospital to deal with problems in my lumbar spine. Apparently getting an appointment sent through but that was a week ago, not even confirmation of proposed surgery agreed on April 2nd. I really believed this could all be cured and forgotten about but now not so sure....its all so frustrating and depressing! Back problems are about to celebrate their second anniversary, do I celebrate? We have no choice but to play the waiting game...but I wish we did.

Chins up folks!

 

[Sea Cucumber]

Hi Subi, Ade-Wsm and Melza

Thanks for answering my ranting moment. Just somtimes you need to let off steam with people who really do know what its like. I often wander how a good dose of a prolapse pain on some of these people, that make it difficult for us to get tretment, would fair. I think the long waiting lists would become shorter. They are putting money and budgets before peoples health and its not right. Sorry I needed another rant obviously not got it out of my system yet.

Hi Subi, you mentioned that you have another prolapse on L5/S1a and L2/L3 does that give you any pain or other problems. how do you manage at work with sitting??

Hi Chris12 What about you, you still have the prolapse on the L5/S1, did they say anything about what might happen with that, are you getting any problems with it?

Hi Melza I am sorry that you are still having problems. Are you in a lot of pain? Have you still got problems with your lower back as well as the upper part. How are you coping?

Speak soon
Luv to you all
Caso08