Newbie about to have a disc removed :-(

[Theresa P]

Hello everyone!

Been reading through various posts and I am now very worried about having this operation!!!
Been having pain for a while, 1st back pain, then very bad sciatica - can't sit down . Saw a neurosurgeon (Tim Buxton) on Thursday, he arranged an MRI for yesterday & I went back to see him this morning (amazing how quick when you're paying!) and it wasnt good news, L5/S1 is badly prolapsed. He basically said that the chances of it self repairing are very small and the other option is to remove it... he gave me all the positive speil about his 98% success rate, etc - which I have absolutely no reason to disbelieve. What is encouraging for me is the fact that he has has 2 discs out himself! However to say that I'm s**ting myself is an understatement!!

Colin.

 

[TheExdomain]

Hiya Colin and welcome,
I am sorry you are going through this....It's not surprising you are worried and afraid.
But it does sound like you are in very good hands.

You'll find support here.

Take care and the very best of luck for your op.

 

[Turlboroth]

Hi Colin,

I had the same operation last September for a very large prolapse & can honestly say it's the best thing I could've done! I think you tend to see more bad stories than successes for anything medical on the internet. I frightened myself to death before my op! There are a lot of good post-op tips over on the 'discectomy-after the op' posting. Hope everything goes well for you!

 

[letterstoheather]

Hi both,

Thanks for the positive replies. Been on the 'discectomy... after the opearation' thread, some really encouraging posts on there, especially Northern Monkey recently, but also some horror stories.... How people cope with years of sciatica I don't know, had it for about three weeks and its ruining my life - no sitting & no sleeping ! Guess my pain threshold is..... not very high!

Colin.

 

[awarylyclick]

Hi

I am 16 days post op discectomy and decompression and can honestly say I'm totally chuffed with the outcome!!! Sciatic pain has reduced 99%, can sleep pretty much through the night now.

I can understand that it is a nerve wracking decision but I tried extensive physio for a year with no improvement, had a nerve root block and after 2 years went under the knife. The worst pain has been having the staples removed (three were put in bent - probably whilst the surgeons were discussing what to have for dinner and not paying attention).

Hope it goes well for you!

D x

 

[rkiqigau]

hi colin best of luck with it your in thr right not thing to be worried about at all

 

[Eornot]

Thanks to everyone for your kind words of encouragement, I've decided that I will be going ahead with it.

 

[Jimmy Jones]

Good luck Colin.

I too am someone who has found great relief from my sciatic pain post-op. I was VERY worried before the operation but I am glad I went through with it. (Must say I did have some thoughts about trying to chicken out while waiting to go into the operating theatre!) I too worried myself silly leading up to having the procedure. I am glad to report it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be. To wake up without that hideous leg pain was truly wonderful.

 

[Madrid Chica]

Nah, I think you get totally fed up when something is constant, sometimes I wished I could unzip myself out of my body and walk way.

Keep smiling.

 

[Steven Q. Urkel]

Hi everyone,

Feeling a bit down tonight & havings second thoughts again! What a dilema!! I can do virtually nothing (you all know the score) so can't go on like this, but am I jumping the gun a bit as its only been a month??? Will manipulation repair the problem??? Ohhh, my head is totally in the shed!! Despite all the words of encouragement and good news from this forum and friends who have had to go through with it, I'm SO worried about the operation - unfortunately I'm a 'glass half empty' type person who nearly always looks on the dark side
Apologies for my patheticness

 

[yadi yadi yadi]

I don’t see any “patheticness” I see anxiety and fear of the unknown and there is nothing pathetic about that.

It isn’t an easy decision when you don’t know what the outcome is going to be.

All you know is how you feel now.

Only you can make the decision but whatever, we’re here and no need to apologise for how you’re feeling.

 

[kld726]

Thanks for your support!

Well, my osteopath called at my house yesterday to have a look at my MRI images studied them for five minutes and gave me his views. I said that I have Bupa cover, the details & track record of the neurosurgeon and he told me that having the operation is best option. This really reassured me as we all know how osteopaths/chiropractors/physios usually prefer to try and fix people via their manipulative techniques, so when I heard this from him it really made my mind up. I asked him what chance I would have of being 'repaired' over a three month period by him and the answer I got was, "less than a 25% chance of getting you 80% better", nuff said!
The neurosurgeon phoned me back earlier this evening for my decision so I told him I will be going ahead, I asked him how he would be doing the op via key hole and basically he said that if the disc is not degenerating then he will just be removing the "bleb", however if it degenerating at all, he'll be removing the disc to ensure it doesn’t happen again! So, I'm in under the knife a week Thursday at 7am!
Boy am I glad we took out the family Bupa policy and getting it done quickly! My osteopath said that the reason that people who still often suffer from mild 'sciatica' after the operation is because during the time they've had to wait for the op the disc has rubbed the nerve and caused a bit of damage, he suggested as I'm getting it done so soon after the sciatica started that I should have virtually no 'sciatica' at all, which is also a relief!
Just hope it all goes well now! Surgeon did say that he expects me to have a page of questions for him, so that’s good!
Wish me luck, I'll let you all know how it goes & give you all updates!

Colin.

 

[The Illuminating Ghost]

Good to luck to you.

 

[SassyMs]

Hi Colin

Glad to see you have now made your decision to go ahead and soon. I'll be sending you some Reiki for it and also to calm your fears. Now try visualising that glass has half full ...........

Best wishes
Moonfairy
x

 

[spaacqcina]

Well, time has come! Under the knife in the morning, just hoping it all goes to plan.

 

[XpanD]

Best of luck Colin.Thomas. Hope all goes well for you.

 

[Toasted Tomatoes]

Hope you're back on your feet in no time and pain free.

 

[Dycca Mae]

Hi everyone, well I'm home! Had the op last Thursday morning, apparently all went well & to plan with no problems. Fortunately the disc was healthy so it was not removed completely, just the bit sticking out! Sciatica has now gone completely, still got the crazy feeling in the ball of my foot and some mild pins & needles, but the surgeon told me that this is normal and should go away after a few weeks. Had gas to knock me out so my needle phobia wasn't a problem .
Pain in Thursday night/Friday was quite considerable, but having nnever had an operation of any description before I had no idea what to expect. Physotherapist had me walking on Friday, was okay. Went for another short walk in the afternoon with one of the nurses, not the most pleasent stroll I must say but apparently it has to be done - followed by 30 minutes lying on my stomach. Felt a bit depressed/upset and sorry for myself - pain and the future going through my mind but c'est la vie! Saturday and then today, the pain is getting gradually less, walking is now okay, stairs are no problem & how lovely was it to sit on the toilet last night without hideous leg pain during & after!!!.
Regime is now quite strict for the next ten days, walk/sit for 20 mins max, then lye on my front for 20 minutes seems to be the order of the day, otherwise its bed rest. Got some basic excercises to do whilst I'm lying down (on my back & front) to strengthen the muscles at the base but thats no problem nad straight forward.
So, all in all, it would seem that its gone well, I just hope that after this six weeks I can start to get my lfe back in order, then by the time our holiday to Majorca comes in September I'm going to be really getting there.
Thanks everyone for your kind words prior to the op, it was reassuring and I'm very grateful. Please feel free to ask any questions if needed.
Cheers, Colin.

 

[JackHoleJaike]

Glad it's been done and you are recovering.
Be proud for going ahead with it, hopefully in a few weeks you will look back and say it's the best thing you could have done.

 

[Tsunami Dhimani]

Hi Colin

Hope you are still doing well. I had my L5S1 op on 13 May, after about 3-4 weeks of agony and then an emergency op because of rapidly increasing leg weakness and suspected bladder problems etc. Terrifying.

I would love to know what exercises you have been told to do post op? I haven't yet been referred for physio and may not be for some weeks. But as I have an 8-week old baby and a toddler I really really need to get my back and pelvic strength back as well as I can. Any tips would be really appreciated. I posted my list of basic exercises from the hospital on the post op forum.

Best wishes

Kate