Discectomy - After the Operation

[Tahoeguy]

I'm so glad your employer is sticking by you, during this difficult physical and financial period, they are one in a million.

I am very, very sorry to hear that your Consultant has deemed your back to be sub-standard and non responsive to his 'crappy surgery', but I am not at all suprised, this common diagnosis is the refuge of the 'clueless'.

He is now proposing loads of conserative treatments of 'dubious efficacy' and these should have been given to you pre-operatively.

Just one last thing Andrew, be carefull of what drugs they offer you as they 'all to often' increase blood preasure and cholestorol levels, which you can't afford if your mobility is becoming limited.

Best of luck


SPINELF

 

[wild bill]

It sounds to me that you are experiencing post operative muscle spasms.
These could be caused by the post op inballance of the spine.
The more exercises you do, the worse it will probably become, because the muscles are resisting your movement in order to protect your spine.
Whether this is due to a genuine problem or simply a reaction to you op will need futher investigation.

Have a word with your GP and ask him to explain the benefits of low level muscle relaxants such as 'Amitriptyline' and see if you think it is OK.
I found them very good at low dosage (20-30mg) in allowing me to start physical rehabilitation, it's all going well.

Best wishes

SPINELF

 

[coral]

Did you check out the sites I posted to you last time?
They will be usefull to you, as they explain about Minimally invasive endoscopic optons that offer the possibility of surgical treatment after being diagnosed with 'failed back surgery'

See what you think? Let me know!

Best wishes

Check out these minimally invasive endoscopic spine procedures in the US:
www.bonati.com
www.laserspine.com
www.microspine.com

Happy reading.


SPINELF

 

[Caveat Lector]

Sadly, I am not as shocked at your Consultants refusal to give you an MRI as I should be, The dupicaty and protectionism that I found during my search the for funding for my surgery was truly shocking.

I would love to hear from you about your Consultation with your Ortho.
I hope it went well!

SPINELF

 

[Pompal 09.]

I am very similar to u!!I had microdiscectomy on L5/S1 9 weeks ago this wed..I have the pulling feeling!its very tight almost like the spine is locking. I had this in the bottom of my back originally now its crept up. I cant do many exercises at the moment to relieve it but I think its just away like SPINE ELF has suggested of protecting itself whilst repairing.
Lots of physio and swimming when your ready I am sure the spine will loosen up. Good luck with the recovery. keep strong xxx

 

[LRonCupboard]

Spinelf
I see my ortho surgeon tomorrow & i'll let you know what he has to say.

I'm quite angry right now with the rheumatologist that I saw last week. Although he was very good in ordering the MRI's he appears to be lacking a little when it comes to reading the results.
I've managed to get my mitts on a copy of the report. My brain is indeed clear other than a little mucosal thickening within right maxillary sinus.
However, my neck scan doesn't mention arthritis (although this was picked up in febuary by xray) what it does say is
'Evidence of degeneration of C5/C6 moderate rt paracentral disc protrusion at this level which is producing some narrowing of the spinal canal with anterior impingement of cervical cord noted'

whilst my lumbar spine reads
'There is degeneration of L4/L5 disc associated with chronic vertebral end plate changes. This is a large right paracentral disc protrusion at this level producing narrowing of the spinal canal & compression of the thecal sac & also impingement of the right exiting nerve at this level'

I feel this should make for a very interesting meeting.

Will post again when I know what his plans are

Tracey x

 

[hzqhyspy]

Hi Bonnie

After alot of research into my neurosurgeon I have decided to stick with him and possibly have the fusion in a few weeks if my pain stays the same. So I do not really have any news on Mr Knight I am afraid. Altho I did look into his type of procedures and they have many brilliant outcomes. specially in America where they have been using laser surgery for years now.

May I ask how your pain is now??do you still have Sciatica?

Carly xxx

 

[cap d]

Hurrah!!
My referral to the spinal foundation has finally been given the go ahead!!!

Now its battle with my local primary care trust, they have cut back on funding within the health services from the last annual government budget.

 

[fa fas]

Hi folks,

Me again. I am now 2.5 weeks post-surgery (open discectomy) and am now feeling absolutely great. NO leg pain, NO sciatic pain and NO lower back pain (mind you, I haven't hiked a hill,yet).

So, how has recovery been?

As you can see from my above quoted post, pain at first with stiffness. So much stiffness, in fact, that I was ambulanced back into hospital a week after the op with horrendously painful (we're talking me shouting "LEVEL BLOODY 10, LEVEL BLOODY 10) when being asked "does it hurt" and I have a high pain threshold!! A night in hospital with more morphine and lots of valium to relax muscles did the trick. The verdict was that, as I had been sent home with the instructions "small 10 mins walks round house per day" but NO other physicaly therapy instruction I had simply seized up. It's strange that some Drs on here give exercises (which I mentioned to my surgeon) but he said absolutely not.

Perhaps that's why, at 2.5 weeks, I am feeling back to normal!! My movements are all pre-sciatica (haven't tried to touch my toes yet), I am off swimming next week and intend to get on my bike again once I've done a couple of pilates sessions.

So, all in all, despite my initial fears and reservations about someone mucking about with my spine, the decision to go for surgery was very much the best one, for me.

Good luck and gentle hugs to all those pre- and post-op. It's worth it.

MoorfNZ

 

[iloveu21222]

Ali
Good news regarding your referal
Hope all goes well with the PCT

Tracey x
(Have sent a messge to your email)

 

[Aristo]

Hi All,

My wife Andrea gave birth to a baby boy this morning (2 weeks early). James Matthew Deller 7lb 4oz. Both mother and baby doing well. I am totaly knackered and i think i will sleep for a week.

Cheers Olli.

 

[ndtzyren]

CONGRATULATIONS olli and wife! such exciting news and a lovely end to a positive post-op year for you.

i am just back from an amazingly relaxing holiday to mauritius. survived two 12 hour flights with lots of walking around. so much is possible post op. i have also just started a 2 week 'boot camp' at a local gym because i got so fed up with being a post-op pie who is too afraid to do stuff in case of injury. i did 2 hours of exercise last night, including a circuits session and an hour of toning work. can barely walk today, but it's a whole other kind of pain to this time last year....really sore muscles, but no hint of nerve pain. so please stay positive....you never know what you might achieve 11 months down the line.

i'm off to read all the other posts from the last couple of weeks now! just had to comment on olli's first!

take care all xx

 

[mnkypprs]

Hello all! As the subject says, had an opp as a 'medical emergency' about 8 weeks ago, although I have suffered with repeated sciatica and crippling pain for about 2.5 years previous. Long story short, got taken in to A+E as couldn't get off the floor! MRI and 3 days later, snip snip, micro discectomy! Now, in the words of the consultant 'don't worry about it prolapsing again as most of the inner part of your disc is in the bin' Seems the more the chopped the more came out...was home ay after opp, moving was quite sore but not excruciating, night time though, bad! Couldn't get comfortable in nay position and found the only thing i could do that was OK was to keep moving, especially during the day. 4 days after it felt good, had been for a walk, no problem, next day, agony! Felt like somebody was crushing my spine every step I took. I had called the consultant and told them the symptoms but they didn't seem concerned so I just put up with it. From that point on progress has been very slow, bending is still an issue, can't put my socks on or shoes without the aid of a massive shoe horn and still get pain across the top of the hips and into the abs. The follow up MRI looked to me anyway, to show that part of the disc towards the back was almost non existent yet towards the front, was about half the height it should be! I've been told that my recovery may well take 'longer than expected' and that my long term prognosis is 'fine' not exactly encouraging! I'm not sure how long to leave it before I should start asking some more searching questions as to what next, I don't want to be like this for the rest of my days as I have to young boys who need a good duffing up and a ball kicked about a bit, which is the furthest thing from my mind at the moment. Has anybody else on here had similar symptoms or could offer any words of wisdom as to how to cope and get on with it? Any experiences shared would be welcomed so I know I'm not going mad! Thanks

 

[Hanz K]

Hi folks

Feeling pretty low today - eight weeks post discectomy and although my leg pains are a lot better now, the last two weeks I've had increasing pain and tight pulling/stiffness right up my spine. It goes way above the incision site and doesn't feel muscular. I think that it might be tethering of the dural nerve due to scarring, and I'm really worried that it is just going to get worse and worse. Not sure what to do - my doctor (who is a nightmare) was very dismissive about it and also muttered something about scarring but didn't really explain. My physio also doesn't seem to have much of a clue. I keep trying to stretch it by humping my back (eg cat stretch) but doesn't seem to be improving, and today I have all sorts of funny extra pains in my hips, legs, buttocks.

I saw you were having something similar, Carly22 - what did your doc say? And did any of the other post-op people have this problem? Did it get better?

Moorfnz - great to hear that you are doing so well! Keep it up, but don't overdo things!

Fireolly - Congratulations! Our littlest one is 12 weeks now and it feels like years since he was born - you have to enjoy every day as they change so so quickly.

Msksquared

 

[Neodstome]

Hi Msksquared

Reading your post I feel the words coming out my mouth as you explain how your feeling. The fact we both having a stiff spine at the same point post op (altho painful) is quiet promising as it may just be a stage we need to go through. I havent been to the doc about it yet as I truly think its the spine reacting to us not bending/moving as we normally do for the last few weeks.
I find it causes my whole back to ache and makes me rather tired, I brought a lumber support pillow for when in the sitting position that gives relief. also ice I find loosens my back or wheat packs are great.

I hope this is slightly comforting to you. I will keep you updated with any news I have regarding our stiffness.

Carly xx

 

[Pompal 09.]

Dear Carly 22

Thanks for your message. It does really help not to feel completely alone! I am probably over-reacting and panicking a bit unnecessarily. It doesn't help that my doctor is so hard to talk to... I want to change but I live in Germany and I am struggling to work the system.

Anyway, let me know how you go along and thanks for the tips about dealing with it. Maybe you are right about the lack of movement thing, and I liked Spinelf's theory about muscle spasms too, but I don't think I can get anyone to prescribe me anything for that although I will try again...

Take care and hope all in pain feel better soon

msksquared x

 

[Mike Hunt]

Hi Spinelf
Had a look at your sites, could be another option. Do you know if they do this type of procedure via the nhs because going private is not an option at the moment. My next appointment with my consultant is not till Oct 30th so maybe I'll make an appointment with GP, see what he has to say.
At the moment just taking it day by day, some days better than others.

Speak soon

Cheers

Andrew

 

[Amy Miller]

Fireolli

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE BIRTH OF YOUR SON!!!

Ali


Good luck with your referal.


Hope everyone is doing well. I am in good shape and approaching one year post op. Exercise classes are going well and i can now do a small amount of jogging to some of the sets of music which we use in our class without feeling any pain or discomfort. It has taken much longer than I expected to get to this stage but I am not complaining because I know some of you have struggled more than me.

Keep doing those exercises and stetches folks!

Luv pennylane

 

[awolppkq]

Congratulations Fireolli

Good to hear the news re your referral Ali. Fingers crossed for you.

Best wishes to everyone out there in your recoveries.

 

[kiks for jokes]

Hey all,

Firstly, a big congratulations to Olli and Mrs Olli on the safe arrival of baby Olli!!! Wonderful news

Secondly, I am writing this from my hospital bed as i took another tumble down the stairs on tuesday and made the already unbearable pain even more unbearable.
My affected leg gave way and i went headfirst, it was awful in the ambulance, every bump in the road had me howling so much that the paramedics had to pull over to give me more morphine.

I am here until at least tuesday when i will be reviwed by the spinal team.
I have been on strict bed rest, but may be up with the physio's later.

I am a bit of a Calamity Jane at the mo!!

Anyhoo, I hope the rest of you guys are having as good a day as you possibly can,

Luv Ali