Microdiscectomy Recovery - Pain after 4 weeks
Posted , 8 users are following.
I am a 33 year old male and I had suffereed with on and off severe sciatic pain for 6 months. After conservative treatment did not solve this issue, I electred to have a microdiscectomy done my a neurosurgeon at my L5/S1 disc. Prior to the surgery my pain was aroun a 7-8. Pain when staning or walking too long was my major issue. The pain was mainly on the left of my back thigh and back of my calf.
Immediately after my microdiscectomy my pain level dropped to a 2, oddly enough I had pain in my left foot, which I was told was common after the surgery. I am 4 weeks out and I am having similar pain but much less in intesnity in my thigh, low back soreness and foot pain. Its about a 4 out of ten.
I am scared I my have reherniated my disc. I have gone back to work part time (office job) and started physical therapy last weel. I am hoping the pain is just inflammation or scar tissue. I am taking ibprofen and nuerotin right now.
Anyone have any experience with this? I don't know what to expect at all! Any and all advice/feedback is much apprecaited! Thank you so much in advance!
0 likes, 8 replies
edwin30394 ChrisT11
Posted
ChrisT11 edwin30394
Posted
I have been told that inflammation/nerve pain is common after the procedure as the nerve has to heal. Have also been told scar tissue can cause these types of pain and PT will address that.
I am still on nerve meds
James_Andrews ChrisT11
Posted
maureen_65564 ChrisT11
Posted
I'm at such a loss as to what to do,my surgeon is 4 hrs away and won't answer his calls!
I have all sorts of pain and on a scale of 10 this usually stays at a 10.
Dr told me to take aleve, can you believe that.
How did you ever come out?
I'm thinking these surgeries are a money shaker more than a true help!
Mimilynn ChrisT11
Posted
Chris,
I am a 24 y/o female, had a microdisectomy a month and a half ago. I had herniated my L5-S1 disc in January 2014, and was approaching the three year sciatica anniversary. I had been through the entire list of noninvasive options.
Post-op had no immediate relief. I was immediately placed on steroids. 1 and 1/2 weeks later was in such intense pain that I landed in the ER. Prescribed another round of steroids. Pain seemed to stop on the side of my right calf but remained at least a 4 at "good" moments behind my calf and in my buttocks. Surgeon said it was entirely normal but put me on neurotin - which had no impact.
The pain has since recurred in my calf and ankle 1 and 1/2 month post-op. MRI showed no reherniation (though the doc left parts of the herniated disc hanging out nearby but not "compressing" the nerve). Tramidol at best knocks me down from a 7-8 to a 6-7. Getting a second opinion before I go in for steroid injection.
I am very frustrated. I know that it takes time for the nerve to recover and my surgeon consistently tells me that due to the length of time my nerve was compressed, I may not recover at all. I wonder why I put myself through surgery if there was not going to be pain relief.
While I regret that you are in pain - it is comforting to know I am not alone in this battle.
ChrisT11 Mimilynn
Posted
Mimilynn,
Its awhile since my post, thanks for replying to it! I am really sorry to hear about your battle with Sciatia and your L5-S1 disc hernation. I completely understand your frustration having dealt with the pain from this and eventually going through with the microdisectomy.
I went through noninvasive treatment options for 8 months after my hernation. At first they seemed to help and at one point I was almost pain free but then it started to get worse again which got me to the microdesectomy. Since my initial post which was 10 months ago I have seen alot of changes. My pain hovered around a 4 for 2 more months. I was told my nerve had been compressed for awhile so this is in line with what to expect. Then it decreased to a 2 for a few months. Now I am in this cycle. I will have almost no pain for a few weeks, then I'll get sciatic pain in my buttock and thigh for a few weeks that fluctuates, sometimes getting bad enough where its at a 6. I did have an MRI, no recurrent herniation and scar tissue was visible. So I am being told these flare ups are from positional inflammation and the scar tissue. They want me to continue to be active and work through the flare up pains when I get them. They seem to suggest this kind of cyclic pain could persiste for awhile longer.
So I am frustrated but also I am thankful I can at least be active again, just not like pre injury yet. Somedays I am positive about the future of this issue and other days I am depressed about it, pretty much matches however my pain level is.
I really regret to hear you are in pain and I am really sorry you are going through this battle. You definitely aren't alone, many people I have found out have the same issues we are dealing with. In your case I hope your pain improves. Have you every considered getting a second opinion on treatment?
bonnie27798 Mimilynn
Posted
The same applies to me.
Regret going under knife.
It's been 4 years since surgery.
The pain still goes on.
Guest ChrisT11
Posted
Hi Chris, I had the same op L5/S1.I went back to work until 12 months later it got that bad I ended up having a revisional op.All was well for about 2 weeks doing physio then all pain started to come back.I saw doctors, specialist had another mri.I saw a professor who was a neurosurgeon for a second opinion and he said in his opinion if I had any more ops I would probably be in a wheelchair. I was diagnosed with ddd and they said it was probably scar tissue. But it got that bad I had to finish work as a hgv driver.Now I spend most of my time in bed.All pain clinic say is that I have had everything and if they had a magic wand they would fix it.I now suffer with cronic pain every day and the more I try to walk on it the worse it gets.I get pain like 11 out of 10 then have to lay down on my right side.I am taking 9x 300mg gabbapentin, 8 x tramadol 50mg,3x50mg diclofenac and 2 x 30mg zomorph. I now wish I had not had surgery at al in the first place. So I am sorry it is not what you wanted to hear but that is my story so good look and I hope you don't go down the same path as me.Sorry for the long drawn out answer.Dean.