microdiscectomy experiences, please

[Handsley]

Hey, friends.  If you've had a microdiscectomy, can you relate your experiences, please.  Tips on how to recover, what I should expect.  I'm going for it after a year of doing everything to heal up this herniation.  The sciatica is unbearable and the doc thought he could not cure it completely, but at least get the disc off the nerve a bit.  Thanks for anyone who can contribute.

 

[Chubette]

I didn't have a microdiscectomy however, I did an Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.  I was in such misery before the surgery that I felt anything was worth a try, so I went ahead with the surgery.  At first it helped immensely but within a couple of months the pain returned and actually got worse as my arms were affected.  We are all different though in how we recover and my surgery was really not the same as a microdiscectomy.  It sounds as though you are in a lot of pain so in your case it might be just what you need.  Hope this helps a little!  As far as the recovery the best thing you can do is follow your surgeons instructions.

 

[Handsley]

I thought I would follow up with my own topic since I am 9 days post-op now and may help others who are considering this operation in the future.  

I've had back pain for over 10 years.  I work in a field where I sit a lot without breaks.   There's also a lot of degenerative arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in my family tree.  The docs think my issues are mostly genetic.  I never had an accident or trauma to my back where the pain started abruptly.  It's just been a slow downward slide.  I'm in my early 50s which is kind of young for this to be so severe so I'll go with genetics as the main factor.

About a year ago, it started getting very severe, lumbar pain plus sciatica down my left leg.  I went to a physiatrist who would give Tramadol only and did therapy and did everything they told me to to do.  I got an MRI and learned I had 2 herniated discs.  I walked, I lost 20 pounds, bought every kind of pillow, back lotions, essential oils.  I was killing my stomach with Aleve and Excedrin.  Still did not help so I went to a pain doc and got prescriptions for Tramadol and hydro and got 3 steroid injections in about 8 months which only helped for 4-5 weeks each and then slowly I would continue to get worse and worse.    The sciatica was so bad that I would not be able to sleep because when I would turn in bed, it would stir up the pain.  Also the sciatica was now in both legs and I was having a hard time walking upright and some days walking at all.  I moved downstairs and slept on the recliner for months.  Getting to work was a nightmare.  I had constant heating pads/ice packs going on and off all day at work.  And I'm only describing this because I think this microdiscectomy is for people who have no other option and have tried all other options because spine surgery is not something to take lightly.  The pain doc referred me to a surgeon who they got good results from with their other patients.  I did some checking around and determined that his practice is a pretty good one with a good reputation.  I think one of the keys is finding a good surgeon.

Be prepared to be off for at least 2 weeks from work and during this time you cannot bend, lift or twist.  Your sitting will be restricted to an hour to two hours per day and you will need a lot of help so line it up ahead of time so that you are not tempted to overdo it.  the surgery itself was outpatient which could mean up to 23 hours in the hospital. Mine was scheduled for 7:30 a.m. and I was home by about 3 p.m.  You will need a ride to and from the hospital and bring a pillow to sit on on the way home because every bump will hurt.

The incision itself is only a few inches long and there is a lot of incision pain afterward that requires oxycodone and hydrocodone afterwards.  Ice packs are very helpful on that incision afterward.  I thought the pain was the worst 2 days post-op.  That is when it seemed to peak and has gotten steadily better each day after.  The procedure itself is to cut away a bit of the herniatied disc that is protruding out and impinging the nerve.  They told me to not expect to feel better right away.  However, immediately after the operation, my right leg was perfect, no pain at all.  The left leg was actually more painful than it was before.  It's taken 9 days post-op for that to feel better at all.  Today I finally feel like I turned the corner on the left leg and it is feeling better.  If I can get both legs better, that will be nothing short of a miracle for me. 

I've talked to some people who have had their pain return.  The rate of reherniating the disc is pretty high so it can just protrude again in the future and impinge the nerve again so you end up in the same boat.  I am pretty dedicated to healing as much as I can and I'm going to take off as much work as I possibly can to give myself the time I need to heal.  They told me to be extremely careful for 6 weeks and so far my plan is to take off work for at least 3 weeks.  I've also talked to people where this procedure has helped them tremendously and their pain never returned.  I have an uncle who had it done in the '80s and except for one short period of pain from lifting something heavy, his pain has not returned.  

I am hoping that this works for me at least for a few years.  My goal is just to have the sciatica relieved in my legs.  The discs will be herniated and continue to be and there's nothing I can do about that.  The surgeon only worked on the worst disc.  They felt by looking at the MRI that this is the one that was impinging the nerves the most.

Hopefully this helps anyone who is contemplating getting this done to make the decision.  I was at a point where I very much felt cornered to do it and that I had no quality of life and going through the pain of trying this was my last resort.  So far I'm glad I did. 

 

[FlyingSquirrel]

I think you are very brave for going ahead with your surgery.  I truly hope that you are finding it easier each and every day.  It sounds like you did a very thorough job of preparing everything before the surgery.  

I have cervical disc disease at C 5-7 and am not a candidate for surgery.  I have facet rhizotomys every year, since they finally found the source of my pain to be in my facets. My major complaint is headaches, which I have a serious one right now.

I am happy that you decided to go ahead and get your surgery and I really hope that it cures your sciatica in your legs.  Please continue to take it easy so you can heal properly.  I will say a prayer for you and please keep us informed of your progress.  Be well.

 

[Handsley]

@FlyingSquirrel, do the injections help you?  I can sympathize.  I have trigeminal neuralgia, too, in my face which caused terrible headaches and in my younger days prior to menopause, severe migraines.  A low dose of gabapentin every day has basically cured the neuralgia so I feel so lucky there, that something works.  To be on the roller coaster and not be able to have a definite fix like you are, I am very sorry for that.  I always say I could have accomplished so much more in my life had I not been a sufferer of headaches from the age of 9 to 42.  So much time missed from work and school hanging out in a dark, quiet room suffering.  If there's anything this last year has taught me is how chronic pain affects every aspect of your life.  On the days when my pain is low, every single thing is different.  On the days when it's high, just getting through the day and getting to sleep is the only goal I can have.  That's very depressing.  I wish you the best

 

[Handsley]

Just to give a follow-up to this thread, I am now  4 months postop and doing really well.  But haha, the joke's on me as I am now addicted to just about everything.  Coming to the realization that I don't have the back pain I once did and have no excuse for all the pain meds has been pretty tough.  I know you've all been through this and am going through this again now and have a date picked out and am amassing all I need to detox at home.   I've done it before so I know what I'm in for.  A topic for another thread.  D-day is Oct. 16.  

 

[Andy Monroe]

Just to give a follow-up to this thread, I am now  4 months postop and doing really well.  But haha, the joke's on me as I am now addicted to just about everything.  Coming to the realization that I don't have the back pain I once did and have no excuse for all the pain meds has been pretty tough.  I know you've all been through this and am going through this again now and have a date picked out and am amassing all I need to detox at home.   I've done it before so I know what I'm in for.  A topic for another thread.  D-day is Oct. 16.  

@Handsley, I don't recall reading how this went for you.  Did do you postpone the D-Day invasion (detox) or stock up on the transition materials and begin the invasion?

 

[Handsley]

Did not postpone d-day, stocked up and took off 3 days off work and kratom & xanaxed out of it.  A friend is holding the goods as I cannot be trusted with  them, but still need for pain relief.  The kratom's some real help but does taste like ass.  I crashed up the house on a bad day and put a big hole in the wall, but that was the worst of it.  Well, that and crying on the floor wanting to die without the opiates.  That's just some truth for you right there.  On the plus side, I am getting more work done and for today, I won't leave my son with an OD'd mommy.