Discectimy in 2015. Sciatica back with a vengeance
Posted , 4 users are following.
Hi
I hade surgery in September 2015 and a disc was removed. I had spent 6-7 months in agony before I got my surgery. It went well however over the past 10 weeks the sciatica has returned. I had to get driven home from work today due to the severity of my pain. My leg have way and feels numb. On gabaphentin, naproxen and co-codomol but not even hitting the pain.
Been at physio for 6 weeks she says may need surgery again. Waiting in GP returning my call. In tears due to the pain.
Should I seek medical advice given the severity of the pain and weakness in leg. I saw GP on Friday.
0 likes, 4 replies
philsno1 jackie22007
Posted
I hope your pain subsides and the need for an op does, but I think seeing a doctor is always a good idea, when you’re so much in pain, but I’m in the UK and we don’t have to pay to see a doctor here.
Hope all goes well!
jackie22007 philsno1
Posted
Thank you for your reply. I also live in UK (Scotland). Been to see GP his answer was to increase the meds but I feel this will only mask the problem. However pain so intense now I am popping the pills but really don’t want to go down this route. GP referring me to specialist back physio apparently this is the next stage before a decision can be made re a mri being done. So goodness knows how long this process will take.
So guess it’s a matter of getting on with it and trying to cope with the pain. It’s hard as I’m not sleeping well. Trying to remain positive but it’s hard when the pain is so extreme. My job involves driving, typing lengthy reports visiting service users and sitting in meetings. Hard going most days but needs must.
Here’s hoping a solution is found soon as I also care for my 4 year old grandson who god bless him wants lots of cuddles and doesn’t understand I can’t lift him.
CHICO_MARX jackie22007
Posted
What's the root cause of your sciatic pain????
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/sciatic-nerve-pain-from-the-perspective-of-many-decades-629096
Need to find that out first.
Greebo64 jackie22007
Posted
I have read a few stories on here about sciatica returning after Discectomy & laminectomy surgery , it all depends what the medical condition the lower spine has, as to what surgery is needed.. the more successful surgery for sciatica due to disc / stenosis / spondylolisthesis is when they use fusion & pedicle rods & screws to stabilise the spine to prevent further slippage, but many neuro surgeons go for the quick fix surgery & hope for the best but this can lead to the problem you now have..
I was in agony last year for 5 months, in tears with pain, I was offered a bilateral laminectomy & interlaminar + decompression for bilateral sciatica, but the consultant warned me that there was no guarantee it would get rid of my leg / back pain & it could make my pain worse, he went on to say if he was me he would not have the surgery...no prizes for guessing what I did.....yes I turned the surgery down....I found out after asking for a 2nd opinion that that particular neurosurgeon does not do the required surgery that I would need.....unbelievable that he was prepared to do surgery that he knew very well was not the correct procedure...I decided to not to go ahead with any surgery & started having Physiotherapy & also looked on google for the correct exercises for my condition , eventually I saw I big improvement & my pain was much easier to deal with, I am now 7 months on from the severe pain & although I do still have some leg pain it no where near like it was a couple of months ago & I am coping with it at the moment, I keep doing exercises first thing every morning, my worst time is when I get out of bed, but when I have done the routine the pain almost disappears , I then just have to be a little care full as to what I do through out the day...I find that the pain in my left buttock & thigh will return later in the day, so then I just sit and rest for a while & it does go away again.
hope this helps