Post Discectomy L5- S1 Sciatica.. Nerve healing question?

H

Hopper

New member
Hello. I'm 8 days post discectomy surgery and still having some sciatica issues. As it was before surgery when I walk the symptoms increase down my right leg. Although now it is a much less type of pain. If I rest and then get up to walk, at first I feel almost pain free. Then after a half block the irritation at L5- S1 starts and slowly the symptoms increase as I walk further. I'm trying to understand the healing process of the sciatic nerve. Is the nerve just oversized right now and will it shrink with time. Or will walking always irritate it. Thanks
 
wow I was still barely moving at 8 days. It took almost a year for my nerve to really settle down, and while healing it was nothing like it was prior to surgery.
 
Hi Mel, I noticed you mentioned it took a year. Im interested in this because im 7 months post op. I feel fine in everyday life. I just have limited range of movement when walking fast due to some sort of sciatic pull when I stretch out. It not a pain its just tight. Was this like you? Did it get fully better? Thanks
 
Hi hopper. You are stilll very fresh out of surgery. When they operate on your back it is necessary to move nerves and since you already had the sciatica, it may take several months for the nerve pain to die down. When the nerves are irritated they can cause some trouble for a while. Give it time and don't push the walking; only walk as far as you comfortably can and rather than one long walk, try 2 or 3 shorter ones.

Best wishes.

Carol
 
Just to quickly add on to what Carol said, you may still have inflammation that is contributing to nerve irritation. It can take quite awhile for inflammation to go down. Check your activities to be sure you are getting adequate rest, and that you aren't trying to do too much too soon. Pamper yourself; take it easy and give your body a real chance to rest and heal.
 
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