Suggestions for Microdiscectomy Post-op?

[Campiana]

Maybe I'm too freshly off the table, maybe I'm just young and healthy, but I just had a L5-S1 microdiscectomy after 4 years of torturous pain (you guys know that pain). Anyway, my specific situation is that I had an extruded free fragment that (actually it turns out there were two) which had run off away from the disc and lodged nicely against my sciatic nerve (yeah, that pain). Instead of my body encapsulating the fugitive disc pieces it just replaced it with calcium so I basically had little bone spurs raking against my sciatic nerve.

Anyway, immediately off the table I felt perfect. As in, PERFECT. It's now a week later and I'm walking several miles a day with no pain, I'm off all my pain meRAB, I squat to pick things up, I have NOTHING to remind me of the 4 years of horror other than a slightly tender and still healing scar on my back. My ultimate goal is to return to competatively running ultramarathons and at some point complete at least one 100 mile trail race through the mountains. I know that in order to do that I need to make sure this recovery goes perfectly and slowly.

So my questions are, what are any suggestions, cautions, etc you could offer? I don't want scar tissue to build up, but I don't want to stretch too soon, and I know walking is good for me, but is there too much walking? Should I squat? Can I bend? Yes I know my surgeon said "only walking for 6 weeks", but he didn't tell me if I should squat or stretch or walk 5 miles.

Thanks so much for the advice and I really hope anyone else who can take away from my success story with surgery will find that too.

Andrea

 

[mce]

I'm really impressed, and its fantastic your in no pain..but i cant really help with what you can do, as im still on meRAB and not walking properly (my nerves were damaged), my op was last noveraber. I would ask your doctor, and be cautious as your still healing. Wishing you all the best Andrea, and go for it, totally happy to know that after 4 years of pain, your able to be "normal" again..all the best Jan

 

[SpineAZ]

I would take it easy right now and let your body heal. Although you may feel well your body is still healing. You have to have a serious discussion with your doctor about your limitations from this point forward. If he's not exactly sure what to recommend then maybe a visit with a physical therapist can help. They are often athletic themselves (past and/or present) and can tell you what to do to keep your back healthy.

Now, given all that, personally I would recommend that long distance running but pushed aside as a goal. While you probably could get back to some running, and maybe even some marathons, you have to pay special attention to your back from this point forward. If you don't, you could end up in severe pain again and possibly with long term significant spine problems. I know it's tough for those who love running, as it's often what makes the person feel good. So this is just my personal advice but certainly talk to your surgeon and/or a physical therapist to find out what is best for you in the long run.