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 Noveraber 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 lurabar 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 builRAB 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.
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 Noveraber 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 lurabar 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 builRAB 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.