L4/L5 Central Disk Herniation What Should I Do?

Hi James,

You have pretty much the same as me! Pain down my leg too! I haven't got a back brace yet my bulge/herniation is quite big! I am 20 years old and hardly any medication works for me! So I am hopefully going ahead with the surgery as it will cure it, whereas pain relief won't! 

Also if you're on nerve pain killers for the rest of your life...what happens if/when your body becomes immune to it! Then you are stuck but obviously it is up to you! Have you spoken to a surgeon! The risks are very low though!  

Hi James, I was faced with the same, a massive herniation at L4/5 just over two months ago. I had experienced a great deal of discomfort, muscle spasms in the glutes, iliopsoas muscles and awful pain radiating down my right leg. Every morning both feet were curled up with the pain and stiffness. I had the surgery but beforehand I made sure that the surgeon was good and had no pending law suits against him. The next day I went home and I accompanied my father to walk the dog that evening. I did not need the heavy duty painkillers I was given, just some paracetamol and a few muscle relaxants the first week. It is now 7 weeks on and am back at work a few hours a day. I can walk, swim, sit without pain or stiffness and my life has been transformed. I am extremely grateful that I had the surgery and am doing my best to ensure I keep on getting better. I was in a very similar state of mind to you but I then discovered via Facebook a number of friends who had had the surgery or also knew of other people who had had success stories. We hear too many negative things as people who get better quickly just get on with their lives and do not say much about it, but I wish I could have read success stories on here too! 

Hey Nicola

Ive got to speal to the doctors later next week and see what they say. Just a little worried about the outcome and heard alot of bad things. But I guess thats just normal to worry.

James

Sounds like you are in pretty much identical situation to myself right now.

I was offered a choice to go see Orthopedic or Neuro surgeons.  I chose neuro as I don't have any bony involvement according to my MRI.

All the damage seems to be purely soft tissue, nerve and disc,  so felt that Neurosurgeons would be better/more understanding of my position. 

Pretty much a total acceptance that surgery followed up by physio, is really the only option open to me now to repair the sizeable prolapse I have. 

I'm on slow release fentanyl patches now for pain control and although I still find some things painful or uncomfortable,  the patches have made my life so much better. I'm actually living again!

Just awaiting my appointment to see the consultant now to discuss microdiscectomy surgery.

Hope you find answers soon too. 

Stu

When the surgeon says "keyhole" surgery, what does he mean exactly - old-fashioned discectomy, micro-discectomy (both are open surgery, cut through muscles and leave long incisions) or an endoscopic disctectomy (c.1 cm insertion point + sticking plaster only). There is a real difference, especially in recovery time afterwards.

Hi James, 

I too have a prolapsed disc at L4/5.

Prior to this I was an extremely fit 43yr old.

Last year after 2 failed (and very painful nerve blocks) I had a microdiscectomy.

The pins and needles in my left buttock, leg and foot immediately disappeared and I went skiing (in my back brace) 2 months later.

Unfortunately, there has been a further prolapse in May of this year resulting in excruciating pain in the hips, buttocks, legs and feet but the intermittent shooting pains up and down the spine are horrific making even walking difficult. I have again had a failed nerve block so am awaiting surgery in 3wks time. There are risks but they are small - go for it!