Sciatica pain starting 3 weeks after discectomy...

[She did WHAT !]

Hello everyone,
I am a 41 yo airport fireman, 6'2 ft, 14 st.
I had l4/l5 discectomy 25 days ago, because I suffered from lower back pain that quickly was replaced by a persistant almost daily sciatica for almost 4 months.
Standing, walking, swimming wasn't a big issue, however sitting down was a bit awkward, and I could certainly not lift anything heavy, run, jump.
My employer's policy is not to grant any of us "light duties", so I have been unable to attend work since the 19th of November 2009 as a result.
A large bulging disc at l4/l5 level appeared to be the cause of it.
After trying various different unsuccessful therapies including a lumbar epidural injection, I was left without other option than the surgery one.
I religiously followed post operation dos and donts, I was able to walk quite early after the surgery.
The sciatica pain was gone the minute I woke up in hospital. The lower back pain, the stiffness around the scar area eased up day after day.
I increased my walking routine every day, and made good and promising progressed, everything was going smoothly, although the sciatica pain reappeared lightly after 2 weeks now and again during the night or the day, intermittently.
But 3 days ago every changed.
A couple of minutes after I got up in the morning the pain appeared in my left buttocks lightly, to increase gradually to a very very sharp deep pain I have NEVER experienced before after 15mn, forcing me to retreat to the lying down position where I am totally pain free....
Since then, it is the exact same scenario happening every single time I get up
I abandonned all my daily walking because it is simply impossible to achieve as the pain builds up to an unbearable point...
I take anti inflammatory and paracetamol tablets, I apply ice on the area 3 times a day since, but there isn't a slightest sign of any improvement. I haven't bend, lift, twist or even sit down since the operation, I thought the sciatica pain was gone for good, unfortunately it is back and it is many times stronger than ever before....
I am so worried and distraught.
If there is any of you that could give me some answers to the disappointing set back I am enduring, please do.
Many thanks.

 

[Chappy21]

I have the exact problem and when I asked my surgeon he told me that probably it is little arthritis and after disectomy surgery we can never be the same..... I am really disappointed from the results and I wish the surgeon told me this before I had the surgery. I hope the sciatica pains in the morning will get little better.

 

[EmokittyOMG]

Now my doctor is telling me I probably have arthritis, (haven't had a x-ray or MRI lately).
So I wonder if surgery would be of help to me. I've been going to accpuncture, seems it has worked for some people. Was told I needed 4-5 treatments at $80 a shot (that includes some massage work).

 

[SK8R]

Hi all,
I am now back to work since yesterday!!!
My set back was due to a lot of scar tissues with some touching the sciatica nerve which is part of the healing process.
I remained patient, and am pain free 7 weeks now, with a lot of help and advices from my physio who set up amongst other things a pilates program for me, I also had an exercise program in the pool, then I managed to start walking progressilvely, then I added cycling to the routine, and eventually cross training over the last 2 weeks + the physio squats and dead lifts.
So lads be patient and get the right guidelines and advices.
Best of luck to all, keep the faith !!!

 

[italianpoptart]

Just read a book on acupunture and it talks about trigger points, (chiros know about this) they are points where the muscle fibers are tight due to injury or illness. these points must be treated. I don't think the MD's are aware of this, maybe the massage techs know.

for example if you have pain in arm, hands or fingers then it can be from a trigger point in the shoulder area. You can treat the arm etc. but until you treat the trigger point you will always have pain.