Microdiscectomy Surgery Tomorrow

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Thanks Linda. Speedy recovery to you too.
By the way, my discectomy is on L4/5. Forgot to add that. They also just called and changed the surgery time from 1:30 to 3:30. Way to long to go without food!

SP
 
Getting out of bed just fine. A little slower in the morning to be careful, but no pain. Sitting in a chair get rough after an extended time. I try to sit ni more than an hour before getting up and walking. sometimes I forget which is because the pain and soreness are getting much better. So far do good!! Good luck with the doctor and the new problem. Let us know how it goes! Keep you in my prayer and keep strong!

SP
 
Glad to hear everything is going well. You will feel that nawing nerve pain from time to time, which is what i get, apparently it's the nerves trying to regenerate, at least thats what the sergeon told me, as i too had a huge herniation. I wish you the best of health and recovery!!!
Jodi
 
Hey toolittle and Bebuckle,
Thanks for your posts. The pain in the low back has almost gone away. Barely feel that pain anymore. Just feel the swelling that is left at the incision, more uncorfortable than anything. I still have a little swelling at the incision site. I am kind of surprised that I still have swelling but the nurses assure me it is par for the course. Even though my procedure was minimally invasive I have to remeraber it was still major work. I have kind of hit a wall with the pain down the leg though. Which is annoying through the day, but pretty bad a night. I have not had much of a change in that area in two weeks. That sucks! It probably has gotten better but I am alot more active now. Life just doesn't slow down when I need it to! HA! I am currently on 5mg of hydrocodone a couple times a day. I'll take two at night and the morning when the tightness in the leg is worse. I expect that it will get better in the up coming weeks. Still healing. I am still happy with the results thus far. Even though I still have some pain, I am still better than before my surgery and I expect that I will continue to progress. Hang in there guys. At less than a month post-opt you should be feeling pain but it will get better. Don't over do it. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions!!

Sookiepooka
 
sookiepooka.
I am happy to hear that your surgery is successful. I like to ask you two questions.
1)If you can tell how long you have L4/5 herniation and what are your symptoms before the surgery? Did you have leg pain only or also have back pain.
2)You said you got minimally invasive surgery, how big the incision did you get ? Did surgeon remove a small part of bone spurs during the surgery ?
.I also face to do surgery but I am still hesitant , so I like to know these information.

Thanks!
 
Day 6 post-op. The past two days have been a bit difficult. Lots of sleep even when I don't want to sleep. Can't seem to stay awake. The leg and butt aching is somewhat unbearable. I was a bit scared because the leg/butt pains are similiar and a bit stonger than what I was experienceing before surgery. However, the the huge electric stinger pain at the spine at the L4/5 location is gone. Just a band of low aching pain across the bottom of my low back and out to the hips. Still have moderae swelling in the low back. I saw the nurse this morning as a follow up to surgery. She took of the steri strips cleaned the incision and put on ae gauze pad. I expained my symtoms as described aboved. She made feel so very comfotable with where I am at. Apparently the things I'm feeling are typical, especially the legs/butt aching (nerve pain). She said it may take a few weeks for the nerves to heal and the pain will get less and less over time. Because I still have considerable swelling, it is aggravating the nerves as well. She told me to use ice to reduce the swelling. They also are prescribing some muscle relaxers and sterioRAB to help with the swelling. Sometimes it gets worse before it gets better. Only being 6 days post-op, I need to remeraber that this was a major surgery and it will take time to heal. Of coarse I want it now. Boy I can be stubborn! HA!:jester: Oh I made it arund the entire block walking yesterday!!! I was exhausted but what an accomplishment for me. So far so good. Just don't over do it right? Thanks for all your support on this board. It is hard to get the right support from others who have never experienced this before.
Gatefully yours,
SookiePooka
 
Looks like things are a go this morning! Heading off to the hospital. A bit nervous but jammed out to some good ole music from way back when to help. My wife has been taken great care of me. I can't wait to wake up and have this leg and butt pain gone. I know that is a bit optomistic but I am keeping my attitude in check for good things. I have had enough of feeling like "poor me". Time to move forward. An attitude adjustment was definitely in order. Good luck next week CeeCee. Please keep us updated on your progress.
SP
 
Efang
Answers to your questions:
1) I have had the back problem for about two years but with no legs pain, just severe back pain. My primary DR. would not let me have an MRI and siad it was only muscle spasms (Yaeh right!) However in July of 09 while picking up something heavy everything got worse. The back pain was really bad, and the nerve pain radiated down my leg in to my ankle. I was somewhat used to dealing with the back pain but the leg pain sucked! I also had a bit of nurabness along the arch of my foot into the big toe. After an MRI in Noveraber and conservative treatments not working I decided to see a neurosurgeon for help.
2) The incision was 22MM, less than an inch. The procedure requires the dr. to drill a hole thru the bone to get to the area of the herniation. I suppose any bone spurs could be removed depending on the location.

So far I am feeling that this was a success. I am getting more active and still have a bit of pain. But it is better than before surgery now. My pain is due to the swelling at the incision location. It is like I have a golf ball in my back. It does not feel as bad as it sounRAB though. The recovery was actually quite a bit easier than I thought it would be when it comes to the pain I though I would have. I am glad I had the surgery. I wish you luck with your decision. Look at youtube. They have some good video representations of this surgery. You can ask me any questions you like. I will answer with honesty as I recieved much honest support from this forum. Look forward to hearing freom you soon. PS I see the dr for a follow up on WED.

Sookiepooka
 
I'm having a bit of trouble tapering down on the meRAB. I guess I need to do it a bit slower. I'm gonna cut down to 5mg of Lortab's this weekend a couple times a day. I've already tried it to see what my body would handle after 8 months of pain killers at higher doses. I had the typical detox symptoms. Feel like the flu except worse. I guess I'll have to be a bit sick no matter what. If I taper slowly will the sickness be less??
On a good note the pain is getting better and better every day. Even when I tried to reduce meRAB a early, the pain was there but not excrutiating. Just some moderate tightness below my butt and some slight sciatica.
 
Alright. They just rescheduled me for tomorrow at the last minute. So a good dry run. A trauma/emergency case came in, so the doc had to help someone else worse off. I've waited many months for this surgery. So one more day I can do! At least I'm not the guy who needed the emergency trauma unit. My prayers go out to that person. So we will try again tomorrow at 10:30.
 
Hey Joe,
I am 37. I have had a back problems for the past 2.5 years. I also have denegerative discs at S1/L5, L4/L5, and L4/L3. Each time my back would go out. It would take more time to heal and it would happen sooner each time. My primary care would just treat it as muscle strain each time. I think I already had a small herniation but because I had no radiation pain down the legs, traditional or conservative methoRAB were used. It July of 09 I was lifting my riding lawnmower over 6" to get it out of the garage. That is when the severe herniation occured and the legs pain and nurabness in the foot started. The procedures they documented on the surgical report are: 1. minimally invasive left L4-L5 hemilaminectomy microsurgical discectomy and foraminotomy. 2. fluoroscopy. Don't know if that answers you question though. The staff at the office have been great and extrememly responsive to any of my requests. I also had a 2-level fusion in 2006. That was successful as well. I remeber waking up from that surgery and the arm pain being gone!! What a relief. You know I think some people are more prone to disc problems for whatever reason. We must continue to strengthen the muscles around those area prone to injury. We must stretch more than others and be monitored or directed correctly for those exercises. Otherwise, if your like me, you over do it. It is crazy to think that your an idiot for trying to stengthen yourself and be healthy. But I get it. If I get hurt I think it is my own damn fault and I deserved it. Well my thinking is not so good. And really that is so far from the truth for people like us! We can only do the best we can with what we got, no more, no less, Joe. Our conversations, though on message board have been a great strength to me, and perhaps may have helped others (ya never know).
Megan - what is the mane of your therapy? It sounRAB like the results after only 2 sessions are well above the norm for other therapies. Keep after it. Imagine the results after extended therapy sessions! Keep us posted and keep working hard.

SookiePooka
 
Hi sookie,
How did surgery go?
Hope all went well, and you are out of pain!!!!!!
Get some rest, and a little walking. Feel good!
Jodi
 
I'm back! Surgery was Fridy at 12:30. I was home that day at 5:30. I woke up in recovery in exreme pain and tears. A bunch of shots and some time and the nurses got the pain under control. The surgery was about an hour and a half. When they stopped giving me shots for pain, they put me in another private room to get oral pain meRAB, a sandwich (Yummy!), a coke, and to get dress. Of coarse I was required to pee in order to get out of there, which was not a problem. I noticed my leg pain was GONE and my left foot wasn't nurab anymore. Finally!!!! My low back and butt were horrible though. But I knew that things were already better, and the pain is just different. More like being hit in the back with a baseball bat repeatedly.
First night, not much sleep. I was able to walk arouind the house a little, You know to the bathroom and such. Wow, I was standing straight! I would sleep for 30 minutes at a time, then wake. I made sure to take my meRAB every four hours. It did not take the pain away, but made it halfway manageable for just laying there. My wife promised me that I would wake her everytime I needed to get up. Which I did willingly. There is no room for stubborness now.
The next day I was exhausted, but made sure to get up a walk a little as instructed. I can hardely believe that I can walk. Fantastic!!!:D I remained in managed pain and tiredness for most of the day. However, my wife bought some no rinse shampoo and body wash to clean me up. She washed me a massaged my head, legs and feet. This was the most relaxed I felt since I woke up. And the feeling remained for a good hour. After surgery I recommend that you have this done no matter what!!!!!! It was the best medicine I could get.
Lat night I only woke up once to use the bathroom. But because I slept in one position and missed a pain pill dose due to sleeping. I awoke a bit freaked out. I tryed to move slowly to get up and use the bathroom and heard/felt something pop in the low back. Scared:confused:! I also felt everything. After waking up my wife for help and support. I was fine. Just things moving around a bit. Took a pain pill, used the bathroom and went back to bed and watch some TV. I feel pretty dam good this morning considering it has been less than 48 hours after surgery. I do have pain in my low back but it is the type to be expected. My neck muscle are messed up. I don't think they supported my neck correctly during the procedure. I had a fusion done on my neck in 2006 and I think they aggravated it a good bit. Anyway, that's how it is for me currently. I belive so far it wasa successful surgery. I know just don't over do it. I won't! You all have taught me well. And I thank you. Sorry for writting so much. I guess I have alot stuck in my head and need to get it out. I'll update more later. Boy I am tired.

With Graditude,
SookiePooka
 
Hi sookiepooka,

Any updates now that you are a few months out?

I am 6 weeks post-op and feel better than before the surgery but there's not much of a difference. The only noticeable change is that I can get in/out of the car without severe pain. It still bothers me while I walk and such but not like before. It doesn't seem to be progressing though, but I am hopeful.
 
Hey Dback,
Thanks for the follow up question. Things are going very well. Like you said. there is no severe pain in my low back anymore. I would of given anything to get rid of that before the surgery. The only symptoms I still notice are:
1. Sciatica (dull and mild) in left calf, thru the heel, and into midle/bottom of foot. I have had this symptom for a long time. Mostly when lying down. Probably since April. Don't know how to get rid of it. Tried stretching regularly but no real change. It is tolerable and sometimes I'll take some motrin. More of a incovenience so I'm not doing anything about right now until (if ever) it get worse. Talk to the doctor bout it. He said do PT. Hence the stretching I mentioned.
2. I can do everything I used to before getting injured!!!! Yay! I get a little sore the next day and have to take it easy. I guess I may overdo it from time to time. For example, I love to fish. I regularly throw a cast net to get bait. Only once have I decided not to do that because I was to sore and did not want to hurt myself. I stand up for hours with out pain while fishing. (I love Florida).

Still glad to be on the other end of this thing for now. Good luck in your recovery Dback. Take your time and go slow for now. Heal slow and listen to the doc's advice. Oh, I noticed a bit of a plateau at 4-6 months that frustrated the hell out of me. But it all works out how it is supposed to.

Take care,
SP
 
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