When to return to work after Discectomy/Decompression?

[Pompal 09.]

Hi all,

Here's my story!

37yr old female, had a nasty fall onto my lower back last January in the ice (down steps in work) the first 2 weeks were agonsiing but it gradually settled down. Within another month I slowly developed back pain again, sciatica, tingling & numbness in my left leg & outside of my foot. Eventually, I began to get numbness in my crotch & genitals. Visited GP who referred me to a PT at the local hospital (I now know that this is a symptom of Cauda equina!). Eventually saw PT after about 6 weeks who referred me for MRI (another 8 week wait).

All this time I struggled on working full time, popping painkillers & Diclofenac, looking after the home, hubby & 2 kids, thought I'd go mad with the leg symptoms etc

Had MRI 11th NOV which showed large disc protrusion as L5/S1 complete loss of visualised canal, impinging on S1 nerve on both sides (more on the right) although most symptoms were down left.

Within 3 weeks I was being operated on - Discectomy & Decompression surgery - all went well but woke up after op with completely dead left leg & foot. Consultant said it was to be expected as nerve was covered in scar tissue and required a fair bit of cleaning up & flushing?

Its 5 weeks now since the op and the wound has healed nicely but the numbness in the leg & foot is still there. Its much improved, now its just the outer calf, the sole of my foot and the last 2 toes that are tingly & numb alog with a largish patch of my outer thigh. My calf muscle is really tight and needs stretching all the time.

I've been having physiotherapy and acupuncture in the calf whcih has seemed to help a little but I feel Ive plateaued off now - no real improvement over the past week - the weather hasnt helped with being able to get out walking but I have started in the past few days.

I also get odd, nervy type pains now and again in the back around the op site and in my hip and sometimes pain in the calf. I'm due to see my consultant again next week but work have now started making noises baout me returning to work when my paper runs out at 6 weeks post op. I work in a factory as an engineer and can be up on the roof one minute and down at the river the next. I am partly office based too but not sure if I should be spending all my time sitting?

I just dont know what to do about returning or approaching my GP about another sick paper (dont know if they'll accept that) - I'm afraid of returning and not coping ( I havent driven yet), I'm not really sure whether I should be pushing myself more.

What is the usual time for returning to work? would I be better off jumping in and returning or could I make myself worse? How can I help myself to get the feeling and strength back in my leg. Am I expecting too much too soon?

lots of questions I know but I'd love to hear of others experiences x thanks x

 

[mooki3babiiyonkerz]

Sorry, I am in a rush so I have not read whole post, only most important parts.

Usually, in my country, return to work is in aprox. 2-3 months.

Be aware that the disc (or better said outer part of disc called anulus) needs around 3 months to heal. So, I advise you to wait at least 3 months.

Regards

 

[Coriolanus]

Thanks

I have since seen my consultant and he has suggested that, due to the continuing numbness and nerve pain that I am seen at clinic again in 6 weeks and remain off work until then. I am starting a 6 week intensive physiotherapy course now so he feels that co-incides well with this.

 

[Roadrunnermike]

hi i have the same problem L5-S1 herniated disc i problems with numbness when urinating and had a emergency mri scan thanks to my gp the nuro surgeon ruled out caudia equina and told me if it was i would have had surgery that night im really suprised if thats what you had surgery was not done right away as the longer the nerves are being compressed the more long term damage will could be done,anyway since being diagnosed i was on the ward within 2 days for the op and it was cancelled due to a emergency coming in,since then iv been given 2 more dates each one cancelled,now told they dont know when i will get the surgery,i work as a paramedic and been told i will be of work for about 3 mths after the op which will be a microdiscectomy,as you was a long time before you got your op im sure thats why your recovery is taking longer but what ever you do stay of work till your 100% as fit as you can be,this will be my second disc op the last one was 10yrs ago and it was a sucsess up until now,im told its the same disc,what ever you do dont go back till your ready your young and the last thing you need is a bad back,it will get a lot better and you will return to a normal life style but as long as you take it easy,i wish you well x

 

[Dien]

Thanks for all your replies

I'm about 3 weeks into the physio course - its 4 mornings a week - we do 40 mins warm up (simple games, circuits etc) then 2 x 40 minute gym sessions - everyone has a personal program to follow of core strengthening exercises and walking on the treadmill (progressively getting harder incline & pace) and cycling, again increasing the resistance on the bike. We then have 40 mins hydrotherapy which is games, relays, running through the water etc

I'm up about 6k on the bike in 15 mins and 20 mins of walking as fast as I can on 6% incline on the treadmill, however the past 2 days have been really painful - I havent taken any painkillers for about 5 weeks as I was pain free but the nerve pain in the buttock & leg have returned again. My calf feels tight & painful - physio says its not muscular but neural and its the result of me really working my leg again.

They dont seem too concerned and have said to rest a bit then build up slowly again but I'm panicking that I've damaged something or reherniated the disc? Like I say, they just say that the nerve was 'grotty' and needed a lot of cleaning up and its just the result of exercise on the nerve.

Does anyone have experience of recurring pain after exercise? I'mk so frustrated as I was doing so well and was pain free...gutted now

 

[Constance Wallace]

keep exercising, but take care. write down in a journal how you are effected by the pain and where it starts from, also any specific incidents
or strange things going on.

There is a danger that there is still some residual impingements of some kind that may not yet have been found. so take care

Best wishes


SPINELF