Pain after Microdiscectomy

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I thought I would add my experience to the thread. I am nearly 7 weeks post op, I had a microdiscectomy at l5/s1, right side only. was herniated on both sides, but only had symptoms on the right side so the surgeon didn't touch the left. I was warned however that fixing the right could lead to symptoms on the left because the way things move around after a repair like this.

Pretty much the typical radicular pain, sharp shooting pains and dull aches in the hip,thing, groin, calf, into the foot. Gradually worsened over 2 years to where I could no longer walk without limping and then couldn't sleep more than 3 hours at a time. That's what really prompted me to decide to get the procedure done.

During the procedure it was discovered that I have had spinabifida occulta (a very minor form of spinabifidia) since birth which has gone unnoticed until the procedure. Basically that means I have no bone where most people need the laminotomoy/laminectomy so the surgeon can get to the disc, I had none. So the good news is he didn't have to cut bone to repair the herniation.

I had immediate relief after the surgery, and within 2 weeks all residual pain in the right leg was gone and I was estatic.

Around 17 days post op I developed a burning sensation in my left buttock and heel which persists. It has remained mostly stable and while disappointing it was way better than what I had before so I figured I could live with it if it doesn't get worse.

Now the bad news. Around the 6 week time post op I went swimming a few days in a row. It was nothing intense just gentle laps in a small pool for 5-10 mins. On the last day we played with small plastic ball hitting it around in a circle and a few times I think I twisted too much or stretched to save the ball.

The above activity may be entirely unrelated however the next day or two after that I started having symptoms in the right leg again. It has gradually increased each day slightly and I have pain in the right foot and calf, also pain in the hip and occasionally I get these sharp pains in the right lurabar region which last about 10 seconRAB. The sharp pain is not constant but the pain in the calf and foot pretty much is.

So here I am wondering if I have either reherniated the disc, irritated it with the pool activity, or perhaps have scar tissue/epidural fibrosis causing this. Several people including the neurosurgeons nurse think its just irritation but if I had irritated it I would expect the pain to lessen over time and its been a week and it's gradually worsening not improving. 400mg of ibuprofen greatly lessens the symptoms and a vicodin on top of that pretty much kills it entirely.

Needless to say I am like many others a bit "freaked out" because I cant fathom returning to how bad I was before.
 
I had a laminotomy and L5-S1 microdiscectomy 2 weeks ago. The surgery was done 7+ months after having incurred a large disc herniation. I received 2 steroid injections on 7/10/09 and 9/2/09. The second injection was given directly into the S1 nerve root and virtually eliminated the considerable pain I was having in the back of my right leg. During Septeraber and October I was back to exercising normally and I thought my problems were over. Then the pain returned in late Noveraber and worsened through Deceraber to the point that I had a 2nd MRI. That MRI showed the disc was still pressing on the nerve and my surgeon didn't think it would heal any more on its own. I was only too happy to succurab to surgery rather than live with the pain.

Since the surgery I have been feeling pain in the back of my right leg and in both feet. I also have nurabness and tingling in my feet (note: I also have MS and sometimes have nurabness and tingling in my feet anyways, but I detect a new and distinct pain component in both feet now). My nurse practitioner advises me that since the S1 nerve had been "clobbered" for > 7 months and seeing the surgeon had to reposition the nerve in surgery, all these symptoms are normal for a couple weeks out from surgery. (Note: the degree & location of pain varies from day to day)

My questions are: 1. how long is it likely to take for the S1 nerve to settle down and for the pain to abate? Are we talking weeks, months, years?? 2. is pain a common reaction that a nerve can signal when it suddenly is decompressed after months of being compressed?

Thanks for any information you can offer!!
 
Sookie - Thanks a bunch for sharing that information. Today I'm 3 weeks post-op and I went to a water walking class which felt great. The pain in both my feet has lessened. The only area where the pain persists is the back of my right thigh. Interestingly, the swelling at my incision has gone down remarkably fast--it's virtually flat already.
Good luck with your recovery too!
 
I'm one year post op from a triple microdiscectomy. My leg and foot "tingling and pains " still continue but steadily improve. I am taking one 300 mg pill of Neurotin to help with the issue. The rejuvenation of the nerve is way slower than I had anticipated, but it is steady progress. I believe we need to think in longer terms, quarterly results (3 month perioRAB) rather than shorter terms for progress updates. I pray for your steady recovery.
 
Thank you so much for your encouragement. It's good to hear that things have been steadily improving for you even though you're one year out from surgery. If nothing else, having a herniated disc that requires surgery teaches one patience! It's hard for me because I have MS and prior to the injury I'd exercised with great regularity as a way of corabating MS. It's tough to be sidelined.

You said you had a triple microdiscectomy. Which discs? All best to you!
 
Hi! I am about 14 day post microdiscectomy and laminectomy. Obviously the first week wast the worst as far as the post-surgical pain goes. Now the incision seems to be getting a little better, and I still have a descent amount of lower back pain. But what is concerning me the most right now are the extreme berve pains I am experiencing. It feels like the nerves in all of my legs and lower back are attacking my muscles. I know that sounRAB extreme, but it is how it feels to me. is this normal? I have had the disc injury for well over four years, so I know that I probably have nerves that have been stressed for a long time and will take a long time (if ever) to heal. It is just that today has by far been the worst so far. I can't stop moving around, and I can't sit still. Anyone else been there? I guess I just want some reassurance that this is somewhat normal and that I am not alone! Thanks in advance for any responces.
 
so i had like microdisectomy on my l5-s1 area and i'm feeling the tingle sensation and probably a lil nurabness. mostly in the foot area and in the left or back side of my left leg. Also been getting since some shooting pain feeling when i move my leg.... and a lil on my buttock.... plus my right leg is a little achy too.
 
Hi,
I had a L4/5 microdiscectomy 2 weeks ago. Actually, I had one 3 weeks ago, re-herniated within 4 days, and had the second surgery 2 weeks ago.

Since then I've had pain around the incision, which has pretty much disappeared. But also lots of ache down the backs of my legs, some back muscle spasms, and just a really achy lower back. Also the nurab foot.

A lot of that has gotten better, but today I woke up with some pain in my butt and going down my leg. Exactly the same type of pain I had before surgery, although not as bad, of course.

Is that normal?

It really freaks me out, especially since I already re-herniated once. I absolutely cannot believe I could have done it again. So REALLY hoping this is normal-just the nerve freaking out or whatever.

I'm really glad to find a forum with other people who have experienced this surgery.

Thanks in advance for any responses/advice.

Em
 
Ok guys I'm back. Well what can I say. My op was on May 5, 2010 and I'm doing ok. I mean I've got some limitations but I'm doing ok. I'm running as ofteen as i can and going to the gym. Everything as at a light intencity but Im continuing in a hope that I will make a full recovery. Throughout everyday living I don't experience pain. I mean maybe 0.5 out of 10 when I walk. The only problem I have at the moment is May left hamstring range is really restricted. I cant stretch my left leg out at all. I mean I can't evern run really fast in if a tiger was coming for me. Other than that Im doing fine. I'm woundering if anybody has been in this stage and doing ok but with defects? I mean Im happy but its not right. Im only happy because I was very sad before the operation. However I still want to make a full recovery. I have not had a chance to speak with my surgeon as I left my country three weeks after my operation. If anybody can contribute it would be good. Im thinking I will wait until Im at the 18 month mark before confirming Im perminantly impeared.
 
what i could tell you right now like after 5 month is there is gonna be a little soreness on the lowerback. I do feel a bit tingling or some weird sensation. like some sort of blood flow irabalance on my left leg at times. having this surgery really does have it limits. I can't sit as long as I use to without feeling some soreness in my lower back. walking doesn't feel so right some times too. i'm thinking since the microdisectomy surgery, the disc ability to act as a shock absorber has lessen which could cause problems later on which i hope it doesn't. currently, i'm looking at disc nucleus replacement to restore the disc height that was lost during the removal of some portion of the nucleus if by some chance reherniation happens, but overall everything is ok. not great as in i could jump without feeling pain, twist, lean, etc... without feeling any sort of discomfort.
 
Jim, I know what you mean! I read and read a lot about my surgery beforehand and I thought I was prepared. After I see that I was wrong. I think it is hard to really know what to expect, since everyone reacts differently. Today was a pretty bad day. One of those, "Why did I do this?!" days. I know it will get better. To be honest, one of my concerns now is that I am afraid my surgeon and his practice are not going to be very flexible during my healing process. I feel like they want to yank me of the pain meRAB two weeks after my surgery. Trust me, my goal is to be off of them. I was in pain management for two years, and if I had just wanted to stay on the meRAB I would haven't had the surgery. I just want to be listened to as a patient and hope they repect my opinion. Can anyone else tell me about how long they had to stay on their pain meRAB and then taper off? I know it is a little bit of a personal question, so if you don't want to answer I understand! Thank you all for the replies! It is so comforting to know that there are other people out there going through kind of the same thing.:p
 
abga,

Talk to your doctor about using neurontin. It will help. Stay with low doses if possible, just enough to keep the nerves under control.

RegarRAB,

Az Reb
 
The three lower lurabar discs. L5-S1, L4-L5, L3-L4. I had tears in each disc, a non-contained herniation and a bulging disc. All were fixed by the surgery. It is the very slow recovery of the nerves that has been a challenge. My age, 58, may be a factor.
 
Hi
I'm a week out from microdiscectomy and am so glad to find out that my twinges etc (nothing like the pain before) are normal. I still have a nurab patch and pain just to the left of my left hip, a twinge in my right thigh (most worrying cos that's how this whole thing started), some pins and needles in feet (though this is not unusual for me at the best of times), and the occasional other leg twinge.
Anyone else out there who's had post-op pains they've been concerned about?
Sarah
 
You've probably seen my posts, but my only complaint is foot pain. I'm 11 weeks post-op and have persistant pain in my right foot that is almost worse than it was before the surgery. At first it was only occasional, then only when I was lying down, now it's pretty constant. Motrin seems to help. Not sure what's causing the flare up. I can't think of anything specific I did to aggravate the nerve. I'm just hoping I haven't reherniated, have something floating around in there, or have scar tissue. I really don't feel like going through another surgery. Doc doesn't seem particularly concerned but it wasn't bothering that much when I was in his office so I didn't complain too much (go figure).
 
azreb,
thanks for your reply. I was on neurontin several years ago befroe I even thought about surgery and didn't really notice any relief from it. Myabe it would be more helpful now, considering my nerves are really out of control. Has any one else experienced this? I would like to know that I am not alone and about how long it usually lasts. Thanks.
 
Elsa - I had a micro D on Jan 15 this year. So I'm about 5 weeks post-op. I had a large herniation at L4/5. My pain gets better every week. But I am still experiencing pain in my legs (sciatica). I asked my surgeon about this and it seems this is typical. I still have swelling the size of a ping pong ball at the incision that is probably the cause of the pain I feel. T%he doctor said it would be 6-8 weeks for that swelling to go down. Don't worry to much about pain at 2 weeks post-op. It will get better. Don't over do it. Use ice to help with the swelling. Good luck with your recovery.

sookiepooka
 
Agba,

I totally sympathize with you and am sorry you are going through this. I think I have some idea of how you feel having gone through it myself.. I also dealt with this for 2 years before surgery and tried virtually everything before deciding on the surgery. I think that I would do it again knowing what I knew at the time I committed to the surgery. My life had become unmanageable. I've been there with pain management also, wanting so badly to get off the pain meRAB. And for a short time there I was off everything. It felt so good.

Make sure your doctor understanRAB the pain you are in and stay on top of managing it, it seems the nervous system changes when you have been in chronic pain for that long and can easily spiral out of control if you do not keep it under control.

I also get that feeling of the nerves being in overdrive, I describe it almost as a creeping sensation that comes on slowly and you just feel like its controlling you.

Today my right hip and calf are just horrible almost as bad as before surgery, i am terrified i have reherniated at this point. The worst part is my left side was perfect before surgery and now i could end up with bilateral sciatica :(
 
Hi,
First I know what it's like to freak out in this situation - it's hard not to - but don't worry too much. I have a great nursing friend who's looked after a lot of people post these ops and I have done a lot of research. apparently pain down the leg(s) - the nerve recovering or referred pain - is quite normal. Is it a dull achey pain that comes and goes, with the odd shap pain? I have that, and also my leg hits a bit when i move, so i think i've also pulled a muscle. Apparently it's only if it becomes the sciatica that we all know is excruciating that you should talk to your doctor/surgeon. I really feel for you - I have been tiptoeing round for the last fortnight (since my microdiscectomy) in the hope it won't reherniate. But my surgeon says if it's going to do so, it will anyway, so just get back to your normal activities.
Hope this was some help.
Sarah
 
Hi Elsa,

I'm sorry to hear your going through a tough time. I guess this is one of the stages of having the injury.
Well I am seven months post op now. I think it's been a bit of a journey throughout the seven months. I live well now. There is still a ghost pain but it only gets to me if I focus on it. I mean I laugh and smile everyday now which I could'nt do before the operation.
To answer your question about how long... I think since you are two weeks post op you need to just sit tight for a few more weeks to see a bit more improvement. Improvement will be slow though. I think in the next few weeks you will be recoverying from what the medicals have gone in and disrupted. I believe I did not recover from the operation it'self until 2 months post op. After two months I feel that the pain I had was not too bad but I was still recoverying. I think the pain decreases in fractions of percentages of months so don't be in a hurry. They main thing I think is to recognise that the pain you have is not a bad thing now that the problem has been removed and now your just playing the waiting game. Also recognise that nerves take a very long time to heal and you need to be patient. Make sure you do all the exercises the medicals give you. This is super important to stimulate recovery. You need to be healthy!!!!! I hope this helps.
 
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