S
spalady
Guest
Was this to the same disc you herniated as before? Or is it a different one?
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L
Lilly66
Guest
Hi James! Wishes for a pain-free, speedy recovery. I too am 33 yrs old and in the past 3 years I have had 2 micro-d surgeries as well. May we both not reherniate for a 3rd time..I am still trying to find the cure, solution...anything to control the daily pain that comes my way. I am going on 4 years now of pain.
J
jdixon
Guest
Had a first MicroD in March 2007. In January 2008 I sneezed and was unable to stand/walk for more than 2 minutes as I would get terrible pain in my lower back which would radiate into my left buttock,down my left leg/foot and groin/stomach area.
Had a 2nd MicroD this past Tuesday. Surgery was only supposed to be 1 hour, but it ended up lasting 2.5 hours. Surgeon came to see me in recovery but I was too groggy to remeraber what he was talking about......but I see him on Aug 6th so I'll find out why the surgery took so long.
I WALKED out of the hospital 6 hours after my surgery ended. I was PAINFREE. I had absolutely no pain from the surgery at all, except for some minor pain around the incision area because it was a bit swollen. My mother was surprised at how well I'm doing. I haven't taken a painkiller since the surgery, and I've been getting out of bed 8 times per day to go for small walks since Wednesday morning.
So far, I'm very happy with the results and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I don't re-herniate the disc and this problem is done for good. I do have some minor (perhaps a bit more than minor) tingling/nurabness in my left leg/foot....but it was worse before the surgery and I'm quite sure it's been there since I first herniated the disc 2 years ago.....so it may never go away.
Just for the record, I'm 33 years old and have lived a very active lifestyle for many years. Had my first MicroD in March 2007 and thought I had made a full recovery until I re-herniated in Jan 2008.
My plan now is to rest and rehab and try to build up my core muscles as they are weak and try to live a normal life.
So....stay positive everyone.....I have been miserable since Jan 2008 and now I have some hope that I can get my back in shape and try to live a semi-normal life. I'll never take being able to walk/stand for more than 2 mins for granted and I will never forget the pain I have had to deal with.
RegarRAB,
James
Had a 2nd MicroD this past Tuesday. Surgery was only supposed to be 1 hour, but it ended up lasting 2.5 hours. Surgeon came to see me in recovery but I was too groggy to remeraber what he was talking about......but I see him on Aug 6th so I'll find out why the surgery took so long.
I WALKED out of the hospital 6 hours after my surgery ended. I was PAINFREE. I had absolutely no pain from the surgery at all, except for some minor pain around the incision area because it was a bit swollen. My mother was surprised at how well I'm doing. I haven't taken a painkiller since the surgery, and I've been getting out of bed 8 times per day to go for small walks since Wednesday morning.
So far, I'm very happy with the results and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I don't re-herniate the disc and this problem is done for good. I do have some minor (perhaps a bit more than minor) tingling/nurabness in my left leg/foot....but it was worse before the surgery and I'm quite sure it's been there since I first herniated the disc 2 years ago.....so it may never go away.
Just for the record, I'm 33 years old and have lived a very active lifestyle for many years. Had my first MicroD in March 2007 and thought I had made a full recovery until I re-herniated in Jan 2008.
My plan now is to rest and rehab and try to build up my core muscles as they are weak and try to live a normal life.
So....stay positive everyone.....I have been miserable since Jan 2008 and now I have some hope that I can get my back in shape and try to live a semi-normal life. I'll never take being able to walk/stand for more than 2 mins for granted and I will never forget the pain I have had to deal with.
RegarRAB,
James
H
helenlegs11
Guest
Hi James,
What area did the tingleing and nurabness cover after your !st op? Has the feeling returned after your latest one?l
good luck,
Helen
What area did the tingleing and nurabness cover after your !st op? Has the feeling returned after your latest one?l
good luck,
Helen
1
10sox
Guest
I was also given less than a 5% chance of it re-herniating!
They could not give me a reason for it to re-herniate. They now say I have degenerative disc disease and that is probably the reason. Before it herniated the first time, I never had any back issues at all. I was very active and worked out quite often. Never had a problem.
Now, here I am with what may be permanent nerve damage from the herniations and i am in more pain than I was before. After my second surgery, I was pain free for about six weeks, then BAMMM. It all came back. My right buttock and part of my thigh is still nurab and tingly. It's been that way since my surgery, Oct 07. I have a 2 and 3 yr old to take care of all day and it is very hard being in pain all day. I am on so many meRAB it is making my head spin...for real! HA. I have learned to take it one day at a time and just be thankful I can even walk and somewhat function.
I hope you continue to heal. They tell me if my disc ruptures again for a third time, I will have no choice but to have a fusion. But then in the next breath they tell me I am way too young and they will guarantee even more back problems down the line from the fusion. There are days when i am so scared to lift even a grocery bag for fear of it herniating again. I really have NO idea how it herniated the past two times. I didn't lift anything and have instant pain. I just one day started to get pain in my back that radiated down my leg and then the MRI showed it was herniated. But I try not to live in fear of it happening, because if it does from doing a small minimal task, then that is out of my control.
Sorry to rarable on. The kiRAB are being rarabunctious and I can barely think.
They could not give me a reason for it to re-herniate. They now say I have degenerative disc disease and that is probably the reason. Before it herniated the first time, I never had any back issues at all. I was very active and worked out quite often. Never had a problem.
Now, here I am with what may be permanent nerve damage from the herniations and i am in more pain than I was before. After my second surgery, I was pain free for about six weeks, then BAMMM. It all came back. My right buttock and part of my thigh is still nurab and tingly. It's been that way since my surgery, Oct 07. I have a 2 and 3 yr old to take care of all day and it is very hard being in pain all day. I am on so many meRAB it is making my head spin...for real! HA. I have learned to take it one day at a time and just be thankful I can even walk and somewhat function.
I hope you continue to heal. They tell me if my disc ruptures again for a third time, I will have no choice but to have a fusion. But then in the next breath they tell me I am way too young and they will guarantee even more back problems down the line from the fusion. There are days when i am so scared to lift even a grocery bag for fear of it herniating again. I really have NO idea how it herniated the past two times. I didn't lift anything and have instant pain. I just one day started to get pain in my back that radiated down my leg and then the MRI showed it was herniated. But I try not to live in fear of it happening, because if it does from doing a small minimal task, then that is out of my control.
Sorry to rarable on. The kiRAB are being rarabunctious and I can barely think.
J
jdixon
Guest
10sox,
Your story sounRAB very similar to how I feel. I can't track down the 2nd herniation to anything specific. I did have a big sneeze in January 2008 and felt something twinge in my back, but I think I may have felt some pain in the weeks prior to that. This time, I am not going to lift any weights at the gym and just stick to cardio and swimming.
The pain from my 2nd herniation was very gradual. It started with a slight pain in my left buttock when standing, then over the course of a month it started to radiate down my left and into my groin/stomach area. It got to a point where I could not stand for more than 2 minutes without a deep, aching throbbing pain which started on the left side of my back and went into my groin and down my left. The one thing I had no control over was that my glute muscles were always clenched tight. My wife joked that I had "buns of steel" because they were always tight and flexed. Since the surgery this past Tuesday, I can stand up for 15 minutes and my glutes are very relaxed.
I am very concerned about re-herniating for a third time. Since the surgery on Tuesday I have various muscle twitches in my left buttock/leg and feel different minor pains in various areas of my back that were not there the day before. Then, they go away and aching re-appears in a different spot. I'm hoping it's just from the healing process and not from getting out bed the wrong way or slightly twisting by accident.
At the end of the day, it's mostly out of my control. I'll make sure I don't bend/lift/twist and work hard at the physio/rehab. I'm fine with never playing sports and lifting weights again. If it re-herniates for a third time....then I'll deal with it.
My surgeon said that a disc replacement would be an option to think about versus a fusion at my age (33 years old) if a 3rd herniation does occur.
James
Your story sounRAB very similar to how I feel. I can't track down the 2nd herniation to anything specific. I did have a big sneeze in January 2008 and felt something twinge in my back, but I think I may have felt some pain in the weeks prior to that. This time, I am not going to lift any weights at the gym and just stick to cardio and swimming.
The pain from my 2nd herniation was very gradual. It started with a slight pain in my left buttock when standing, then over the course of a month it started to radiate down my left and into my groin/stomach area. It got to a point where I could not stand for more than 2 minutes without a deep, aching throbbing pain which started on the left side of my back and went into my groin and down my left. The one thing I had no control over was that my glute muscles were always clenched tight. My wife joked that I had "buns of steel" because they were always tight and flexed. Since the surgery this past Tuesday, I can stand up for 15 minutes and my glutes are very relaxed.
I am very concerned about re-herniating for a third time. Since the surgery on Tuesday I have various muscle twitches in my left buttock/leg and feel different minor pains in various areas of my back that were not there the day before. Then, they go away and aching re-appears in a different spot. I'm hoping it's just from the healing process and not from getting out bed the wrong way or slightly twisting by accident.
At the end of the day, it's mostly out of my control. I'll make sure I don't bend/lift/twist and work hard at the physio/rehab. I'm fine with never playing sports and lifting weights again. If it re-herniates for a third time....then I'll deal with it.
My surgeon said that a disc replacement would be an option to think about versus a fusion at my age (33 years old) if a 3rd herniation does occur.
James
J
jdixon
Guest
Lilly,
Did your current pain develop slowly after your 2nd surgery, immediately after the 2nd surgery or was it the same pain the was present before the surgery?
Right now, I'm pain free......I'm hoping that if I take it easy on my back that it will stay that way, but perhaps I'm bit a bit too optimistic.
James
Did your current pain develop slowly after your 2nd surgery, immediately after the 2nd surgery or was it the same pain the was present before the surgery?
Right now, I'm pain free......I'm hoping that if I take it easy on my back that it will stay that way, but perhaps I'm bit a bit too optimistic.
James
H
helenlegs11
Guest
Yes James, it does help, thanks. I have only had one microdiscectomy. . . but have the same symptoms post op i.e nurab foot etc. and wondered if the feeling would ever return?
Not that it causes any problems except that I involuntarily grip with my big toe when walking. Guess thats what allows me to walk as I have no feeling in my toes on my right foot, plays havoc with the jimmy choo's tho'.
Hope you feel better soon, it's a good time to sit back and relax (or adapt ANY position that will allow it!)
Cheers H
Not that it causes any problems except that I involuntarily grip with my big toe when walking. Guess thats what allows me to walk as I have no feeling in my toes on my right foot, plays havoc with the jimmy choo's tho'.
Hope you feel better soon, it's a good time to sit back and relax (or adapt ANY position that will allow it!)
Cheers H
J
jdixon
Guest
Hi Helen,
Before my first operation, my left foot was very nurab along the top of the foot and the toes. After the first operation, I did notice an immediate difference, but still had some sensitivity issues. I'm not exactly sure if my left foot ever regained full sensitivity, but perhaps I just didn't notice.
Before my second surgery, my whole left leg would be throbbing when I would lay in bed at night but I don't think I had any strong sensitivity issues with my left foot. After my second surgery, I do notice a bit of tingling/nurabness on the top of my left foot and toes but it's minor.
I have no idea if it has been there since the first surgery and perhaps that 2nd re-herniation masked the nurabness a bit....and now that I've had relief from the 2nd surgery that the foot tingling is presenting itself. It's not major, and perhaps it was there all along and I just didn't notice it. It's not causing any issues....it just feels different on my left foot then my right foot when my wife drags her fingernails over the top of each foot.
Hope that helps!
James
Before my first operation, my left foot was very nurab along the top of the foot and the toes. After the first operation, I did notice an immediate difference, but still had some sensitivity issues. I'm not exactly sure if my left foot ever regained full sensitivity, but perhaps I just didn't notice.
Before my second surgery, my whole left leg would be throbbing when I would lay in bed at night but I don't think I had any strong sensitivity issues with my left foot. After my second surgery, I do notice a bit of tingling/nurabness on the top of my left foot and toes but it's minor.
I have no idea if it has been there since the first surgery and perhaps that 2nd re-herniation masked the nurabness a bit....and now that I've had relief from the 2nd surgery that the foot tingling is presenting itself. It's not major, and perhaps it was there all along and I just didn't notice it. It's not causing any issues....it just feels different on my left foot then my right foot when my wife drags her fingernails over the top of each foot.
Hope that helps!
James
1
10sox
Guest
I will pray that your back problems are in the past and you continue to heal. I was in your shoes just recently. I am 34 (turning 35 in a few days..yikes). I have also had two disectomies over the past couple years. I hope you continue to feel better and you take it easy.
I am just wondering if your surgeon gave you a reason why your disc herniated again?
I am just wondering if your surgeon gave you a reason why your disc herniated again?
L
Lilly66
Guest
James
I went in for the 1st surgery with excruciating back pain with mild sciatica. They wanted to do this surgery in hopes of helping the back, but this surgery is normally for sciatica, so I knew I was taking a risk. I simply could not go on living with the pain from the larger disc that was on my nerve. I also have degenerative disc disease..I reherniated for the 2nd time only 6 weeks after the first surgery..out of the blue! So, I had 2 surgeries within 2 1/2 months apart.
I had very little pain after the 2nd surgery and then my pain just started again everyday, in different degrees. I cannot sit, stand (pain starts in 2 minutes of standing) be in any position for too long. I am now trying acupuncture again. I am also a very active person and find it a struggle in many ways on a daily basis. If I could live on pain pills I would as it takes away my pain both physically and mentally. But, My hubby and I are trying to get pregnant.
Just take it easy right now and keep up the short walks. I know how it is when you feel good, you want to do more, but don't learn a hard lesson.
Do you know how you herniated in the first place?
I went in for the 1st surgery with excruciating back pain with mild sciatica. They wanted to do this surgery in hopes of helping the back, but this surgery is normally for sciatica, so I knew I was taking a risk. I simply could not go on living with the pain from the larger disc that was on my nerve. I also have degenerative disc disease..I reherniated for the 2nd time only 6 weeks after the first surgery..out of the blue! So, I had 2 surgeries within 2 1/2 months apart.
I had very little pain after the 2nd surgery and then my pain just started again everyday, in different degrees. I cannot sit, stand (pain starts in 2 minutes of standing) be in any position for too long. I am now trying acupuncture again. I am also a very active person and find it a struggle in many ways on a daily basis. If I could live on pain pills I would as it takes away my pain both physically and mentally. But, My hubby and I are trying to get pregnant.
Just take it easy right now and keep up the short walks. I know how it is when you feel good, you want to do more, but don't learn a hard lesson.
Do you know how you herniated in the first place?
J
jdixon
Guest
10sox,
Thanks for the kind worRAB. How is your back doing after a 2nd MicroD?
My surgeon said it was a 5% chance that I would re-herniate. He indicated that one potential reason is that the hole left from the first operation (where they removed the protruded disk) may have allowed for the 2nd herniation as the disc made it's way through the same hole. I asked what was stopping a 3rd herniation coming through the same hole and he said after the 2nd one, there is not as much disc left to protrude.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this doesn't happen a third time.
Did the doctor give you a reason for your 2nd herniation?
Thanks for the kind worRAB. How is your back doing after a 2nd MicroD?
My surgeon said it was a 5% chance that I would re-herniate. He indicated that one potential reason is that the hole left from the first operation (where they removed the protruded disk) may have allowed for the 2nd herniation as the disc made it's way through the same hole. I asked what was stopping a 3rd herniation coming through the same hole and he said after the 2nd one, there is not as much disc left to protrude.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this doesn't happen a third time.
Did the doctor give you a reason for your 2nd herniation?
J
jdixon
Guest
Does anyone know of any threaRAB on this website that detail the do's and don'ts for MicroD recovery?
The hospital didn't give me any information at all, and I want to make sure I don't screw anything up.
I know about no bending, lifting or twisting.......just wanted to know if anyone had made a thread about more specific things not to do.
Thanks,
James
The hospital didn't give me any information at all, and I want to make sure I don't screw anything up.
I know about no bending, lifting or twisting.......just wanted to know if anyone had made a thread about more specific things not to do.
Thanks,
James
J
jdixon
Guest
Hi Helen,
I have just checked with my wife (she has always accused me of having a poor memory) and she distinctly remerabers me indicating that I have had nurabness in my left foot from before the first surgery up until now. The nurabness was more severe before each surgery (which makes sense) and then toned down as I healed.
When walking in sandals, I also grip with my big toe due to a lack of sensation in my other toes.....interesting!
james
I have just checked with my wife (she has always accused me of having a poor memory) and she distinctly remerabers me indicating that I have had nurabness in my left foot from before the first surgery up until now. The nurabness was more severe before each surgery (which makes sense) and then toned down as I healed.
When walking in sandals, I also grip with my big toe due to a lack of sensation in my other toes.....interesting!
james
L
lcb5011
Guest
Good luck with your recovery. I am having my second one in 8 weeks tomorrow morning!
Cindy
Cindy
J
jdixon
Guest
Lilly,
I was having similar symptoms before my second surgery as I could not stand for more than 2 mins without having a dull, deep aching pain in my lower back, buttocks, groin, stomach and leg. My glute muscles were constantly tight and flexed all the time and I couldn't relax them at all.
I'm not sure how I herniated my disc in the first place. I suspect it was from years of heavy weight lifting, playing high school football and taking hard swings on the golf course.
I'm not sure how I re-herniated it for the second time. I had started going back to the gym and lifting light weights 7 months after my first surgery. I was feeling great and did a quick weight workout and then hit the treadmill. After a few mins of walking, I noticed that my back was cramping up and was going into my groin. I recall sneezing earlier that day, so I'm not sure if that did something or if I did it by lifting weights.
I'm not going to lift weights again in fear of herniating for a 3rd time. My plan is to take it easy, rehab my back and start swimming daily so I can build up my core strength and get some low impact cardio.
Are you going for attempt a 3rd surgery? If so, does that mean fusion or disc replacement as my surgeon mentioned that can't do a MicroD for a third time on the same level.
James
I was having similar symptoms before my second surgery as I could not stand for more than 2 mins without having a dull, deep aching pain in my lower back, buttocks, groin, stomach and leg. My glute muscles were constantly tight and flexed all the time and I couldn't relax them at all.
I'm not sure how I herniated my disc in the first place. I suspect it was from years of heavy weight lifting, playing high school football and taking hard swings on the golf course.
I'm not sure how I re-herniated it for the second time. I had started going back to the gym and lifting light weights 7 months after my first surgery. I was feeling great and did a quick weight workout and then hit the treadmill. After a few mins of walking, I noticed that my back was cramping up and was going into my groin. I recall sneezing earlier that day, so I'm not sure if that did something or if I did it by lifting weights.
I'm not going to lift weights again in fear of herniating for a 3rd time. My plan is to take it easy, rehab my back and start swimming daily so I can build up my core strength and get some low impact cardio.
Are you going for attempt a 3rd surgery? If so, does that mean fusion or disc replacement as my surgeon mentioned that can't do a MicroD for a third time on the same level.
James
L
Lilly66
Guest
James, I think you are the best judge of what you can and can't do. Listen to your body and make sensible choices. The no bending, lifting etc is key to healing. You don't want to risk reherniating a 3rd time as you do not want a fusion. I remeraber after my 2 surgeries, I was even scared of tying my shoes! Being active does not necessarily go hand in hand with a person who suffers from severe back problems. But walking is the best thing you can do. Once you are feeling healed enough, just live your life. But always think with your back first!
L
Lilly66
Guest
My spine specialist is recommending (after having children) to have a disc replacement, but I am not keen on putting anything artificial in my body. Right now I am trying acupuncture again and theraputic yoga.
M
Mod08
Guest
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Mod 08
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