L5 S1 microdiscectomy

  • Thread starter Thread starter josh crane
  • Start date Start date
J

josh crane

Guest
Hello,

My name is Josh Crane and I had back surgery 4 weeks ago and am questioning my recovery rate and wondering if anyone else has had the same problem.

For a little bit of history on my injury... I was taken down pretty hard in a soccer game early last spring. My hip(which I had broken two years earlier) had hit the gym floor pretty hard, but I still continued to finish out the rest of the game. AfterwarRAB I had a slight tingling in the side of my right knee. I didn't really think about it that much and went to bed that night feeling ok. The next morning when I woke up my entire right leg felt like it was asleep. My calf muscle seemed to not be able to support any weight but I didn't have any pain. Like most injuries that I have obtained in the past, I figured my body would heal itself. I had done massage and acupuncture to try and jump start the healing process. With no luck using either of these healing methoRAB, I decided to go to the doctor.
My doc had noticed that my achilles tendon reflex was non-existant and suggested that I go see a spine specialist. After four weeks of physical therapy and no real improvements, they decided I better have on MRI. They discovered that I had a bulging disk that was not allowing the nerve to correctly send out a message. I had a microdiscectomy to relieve the pressure from that disk and here I am 4 weeks later without any major changes.
The nurabness has mostly gone away but I am still not seeing any calf muscle strength coming back to my now almost non-existant muscle. Before this injury I played a bunch of soccer and loved to run. This injury has not allowed me to do either of these and I am extremely frustrated. Most everything that I read on this injury is about trying to relieve the the pain. If anyone has also had this loss of motor ability please let me know as I feel my situation is a bit odd.

Thank you,

Josh Crane
 
I'm one year post op from a similar, but more extensive procedure. Triple microdiscectomy, all lurabar. It is a weird feeling to work out, or try to work out and not feel any strengthening occurring. I'm afraid we just have to get used to a longer time frame for recovery. As long as you are making forward progress that is good. During the year I had much forward and too many backward results. I'm a lifetime athlete, age 58 and I've never had my nerves and muscles react so slowly to my repeated efforts to gain strength and motion. My only advise is keep going and don't give up. Continue to share with everyone on this board as it is great help to have moral support from everyone.
 
Thanks for posting,

Yeah, somedays I feel like I am improving while others feel like nothing has happened at all. One of my problems is trying to determine if the added strength in my right leg is due to new muscle strength in my ankle compensating for my injury, or if I am actually improving.

I am also a rock cliraber and even though frustrating at times, I have found this to be a pretty good strengthening technique. The corabination of stretching and strength used in this activity is a good way to keep your body in shape while recovery is taking place. You should try it a couple of times and see what you think. If anything its one of the only other activities that I have found besides running to relieve stress.

Thanks again.
 
Hello to anyone who finRAB this,
I am now a good month into my recovery from my discectomy. Not any amazing results to report about. I did go buy a new pair of running shoes and have been getting out there a couple of times a week for a few miles at a time. My leg does feel slightly stronger at times but then weak at others. I have also been getting in the mountains with my bc x-country skis a bunch as well. Breckenridge has been getting a ton of snow lately so its been fun. Clirabing a couple days a week too. I feel like all of the activities where I don't really think about the lack of strength in my leg are the best ones. Hopefully that is what really starts to help out my recovery.

Once again, if you read this and have a similar experience please share. Sometimes the doctors can be quite vague about recovery and the best knowledge comes from individuals experiences.
 
Wow, sounRAB like you're recovery is much better than mine. I'm 10 weeks post-op from a L5-S1 partial discectomy and still don't feel like I could handle the outdoor things I used to like to do (caving, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking). At least I've been back to work for about 6 weeks now so I do feel productive. The pinched nerve in my back feels better but I'm still plagued by intermittent pain in my right foot (burning, sharp). It's not constant but bothersome none the less. Doctor doesn't seem concerned since it's not constant and not impacting my life. I guess I was looking for the ideal totally pain free solution and didn't get it.
 
Sorry to hear that your recovery isn't as speedy as you would like. Keep trying though. Swimming has also helped me as well if that means anything. I felt that the added flex-ability and strength helps. I too am not willing to give up my active lifestyle. I feel that as long as you keep up the fight you are still moving in a positive direction. Don't give up.
 
Hi Josh, Welcome to the Back Support Board. I had a micro-D in Nov of 06. I had a lateral disc hernation L4-L5. The sciatca pain was beyond worRAB. I could find no relief day or night. I had surgery, which relieved most of the pain. However, I was left with muscle atrophy. I have been one to keep myself in the best shape possible. I have been an avid swimmer and horseback rider. So in answer to your your question, yes you should be concerned. I would suggest if you do not see any more improvement to have an EMG done. You can then find out if you have any nerve damage - how extensive, and most important if it is permanent. When disc herniation/disc buldge occurs, there is pressure on the nerve. Depending on how severe, and how long the nerve is compressed, the damage, unfortunately can be permanent. Hopefully, this is not the case with you.
I wish you the best. Pls stay in touch.
 
Back
Top