Help possible surgery!!!!

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ventcrew

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Hello Everyone,
Well this is a first for us. My husband 46 yrs old has been having pain in his leg. After numerous appt. and test to rule out blod clot and injury the doc said "I think its your back and sent him for an MRI. Below is the MRI impression:

Two level disc herniations, at L3-L4 and L4-L5 with markedly severe spinal stenosis at L4-L5 due to large disc herniation, particularly in the left paramedian location, producing compression of the thecal sac and the left L5 nerve root in the lateral recess.

The doctor called him with the results and said he feels he neeRAB surgery and set him up for an appt. on April 27 to let him know his options. Anyone out there who knows what he is up against, what kind of surgeries are there what about recovery time???? He is an electrician at a school. He only has 10 more years till retirement. Any insight into all this will be greatly appreciated.

Thank You
ventcrew:angel:
 
Hi,
If he winRAB up needing surgery, as once any nerve roots are compressed they want to free them as soon as they can to prevent permanent damage, he would prob wind up getting a discectomy or microdiscetomy. You can google it, it's only a 2" incision, and they take a small area of the lamina away and put a small hole in the back of the vertabrae and go in with a microscope to cut away the damaged disc protruding and shave down the inside of the vertebrae to give more room for the sciatic nerve. You're only in the hospital for a day, (sometimes same day surgery), for 3 months after the surgery there's no bending, lifting or twisting to allow the disc to heal, walking is good to increase blood flow to help in healing time. I had it done to my L3-4, and L4-5.
 
I had similar MRI results but mine were L4/L5 and L5/S1. In Septeraber 2005, they tried the laminectomy. Mine was done on an outpatient basis. I didn't have to wear a back brace or anything afterward. That recovery was surprisingly a breeze. A month after the surgery when I thought I was doing great, I took a major set back. The discs had a "blow out". I proceeded to have epidural steroid injection that did nothing. They tried PT. After 3 visits, I refused to go again because it caused even more pain. I got to the point I couldn't walk to the bathroom without being in tears from the pain. I tried everything I could before I would agree to another surgery

I ended up having a fusion for those discs. Instead of using cadaver bone or bone from my hip, we opted to give artificial discs a try.

I have a high tolerance for pain. I wore a back brace from February until the end of May. I only had to use my walker for about 10 days. Recovery pain wise, had its ups and downs. The biggest mistake one can make (and I made it) is do NOT over do it when having an "up" time. I felt good so I cleaned, did laundry etc. I developed alot of scar tissue early on. I then had physical therapy from June til mid August.

Unfortunately for me (this won't apply to your husband), I was having headaches and shoulder pain. I asked what he did to my back to cause this. Come to find out, I had 3 severely ruptured discs in my neck that required immediate surgery. Soooo here I go again, trying to get over the fun nerve pain from nerves in my back and leg waking up to having neck surgery and going through all of that.

Anyway, back on the subject......I was in the hospital for 6 days. We had issues with my blood pressure from the pain meRAB then pneumonia. I think if I hadn't had these fun complications, I would have gone home after 3 or 4 days. As soon as I was able to walk around with a walker to satisfy them I could make it ok at home, they released me.

I had short term disability insurance through work. I used the whole six months for my back. Everyone is different BUT don't let your husband over do it because he neeRAB to be at work. You don't want it to create long term effects that he will regret.

I don't regret the surgery one bit. Over a 3 year period, I did have nerve pain flare ups but luckily they only lasted 2 or 3 days then would stop. I had occasional back aches. I happily lived through this because I could walk pain free again!

I know several people who have a completely normal, pain free life after lurabar fusion. One of my frienRAB husbanRAB is now a police officer. I watched him go through the whole back issue and never thought in a million years I would see him strong enough to go through the police academy and become an officer.

Good Luck to your husband, I hope the best for him!!!
 
Thank you both so much for replying! It helps to ease the worries, and to get an idea of what to expect. His appt. is Monday April 27, so Tuesday I will post what his options are to get advice from all you who have been there.

Thanks again.

ventcrew:angel:
 
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