Four months post-op -does sciatica last forever?

[jeffengland81]

Hi all,

I am over four months post-op now microdiscectomy. I would say about 80 per cent of my pain has gone now - it's been a real struggle actually and some days I wondered if I would ever actually get better, but I guess time is the only real healer.

I am back at work now working as a journalist (which involves lots of sitting! Not good. But I have got round it by using a kneeling chair and saddle stool and lots of standing-up breaks) I am still left with residual sciatica which travels round all over my right leg and sometimes my left. It's more annoying than massively painful - but still can be uncomfortable.

Just wondering if this sciatica will last forever??! I am doing everything I can in terms of physio - doing the core training until I am almost exhausted some days! I don't tend to get much back pain - just leg pain.

I have played tennis a couple of times. No massive problems - just my right leg muscles tighten up massively the next day which is uncomfortable. Think I will stick to the swimming for the moment.

Driving is the worst thing! I did a 14 hour day on Monday (had to cover two big court cases) and had to do a lot of driving! Really put me out and I have called in sick today with back pain (first time in six weeks since starting back at work!). I think it's more that my back just neeRAB a rest though. I would love to be able to drive one day and not be in pain!!


I am thankful that I had the op (L5 S1), but looking back I don't think it's a magic wand. It's more a spring board to getting you back to a more pain-free life. Whether I will ever be completely pain-free, who knows! I pray that it will come one day! But actually looking back at the past two years since this whole nightmare started, I am feeling a lot better and more positive! It's made me appreciate things in life a lot more, that's for sure!

Anyway just wondered if anyone who had microdiscectomy actually has become free of sciatica? I really hate that word sciatica lol!

Cheers

Jeff

 

[MAXNJ]

hi sorry to hear you are still struggling. I dont have answers, but rather questions about how the leg pain started for you. I was dxed with ddd,L5-S1, not long ago, and sure enuf now I feel slight twinges in my legs. Is it bound to get worse, or do the inflamatory meRAB and stretching actually help. Im a piano player for a living, so I sit for long stretches too playing onstage for musicals and in night clubs. As of now the pains from the lurabar DDD (and Cervical) pass quickly. If you ever see a piano player changing his position a lot , its me!

 

[paranormal2]

evry person is different, I had horrible sciatical for 8 months, it finally faded away slowly. It's really great that you use the kneeling chair,most people don't understand that in a sitting position, you are crunching the nerve, I used the kneeling chair for a month and I know it was a huge part of the pain going away. I drive for a living so i have no choice in that, but i stretch every morning now, no matter what, that's how i start my day, and it's done wonders. good luck, hope you get relief

 

[ms_west]

Hi Jeff!

It sounRAB like you have come a long way. Unfortunately sciatica pain takes a long time and maybe even years to recover from. The key is how long it was flared up before surgery and how much moving/manipulation they had to do during surgery itself. I believe I read somewhere that the nerves heal at a 1/8 of an inch a year. ???

Swimming is really the best thing you can do. I agree Tennis is a bit much for you at this stage because of the quick stop and start.

Take care and congratulations on being back to work.