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Herniated disc

Posted , 3 users are following.

Stu3599
Stu3599

I suffered a herniated disc about a year ago. I had a discectomy and laminectomy in april 2014. after being told that it had bought me  couple of years then he would need to a fusion at L5,S1. I was getting better but on the 3rd october 2014 I heriated another disc, I am waiting for an mri to see how badly it is but been told I will need the fusion (plif) now. I am only 26 and I am a British gas engineer. I have used all my sick pay up on the begining of the year. How long will it take to recover from the plif?? Will I be able to do my job after the plif?

I am sufffering more symptoms this time. last time the sciatica pain was on my right side, but this time its left and right leg and in my lower back and bum. also my left ankle and foot swell up at night times.

What does this all mean?

1 like, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • nik890
    nik890 Stu3599

    Posted

    I've had a prolapsed disc at s1 l5 twice now.  The first in August 2013 and the second time in august this year. I have degenerative discs and was told I need a fusion. I had it booked in for 6th Nov but have now cancelled as the pain is manageable on pain killers.  Both times my pain and sciatica lasted 8 weeks but I worked through it this most recent time. It's very painful when it happens but a fusion is a big deal so I won't do it until it's a last resort. My sciatica  is mostly on the left hip, bum and leg with lower back pain  but I've also had it in the right too. I'm in the prices now of getting a second opinion.  I posted on here the other day about advice for the fusion and was advised to put it off whilst the pain is manageable.  The surgeon told me I'd need 6 weeks off work and I only do a desk job. So my advice would be to go back to your consultant with a list of questions and also get a second opinion but only you know how bad your pain is and whether surgery is the right thing now or later.
  • frustrated61
    frustrated61 Stu3599

    Posted

    Hi Stu ~

    First, I'm sorry to hear you're enduring all this pain.  I also had a laminectomy in 2000 and then in an auto accident in 2004 which left me with 2 breaks in the spine and a fracture in the cervical spine.

    What I'd like to say is this.  If you can bypass any fusions for as long as possible, that would do you better rather than not.  If you aren't experiencing stenosis of the spinal foreman, you might be ablet to wait on any surgeries.  Spinal stenosis is a different story.  However, since my fusions, and I had one of the best surgeons around, it left me with debilitating injuries that I cannot ever sustain a normal kind of life.  Everything changed.  Just wanted you to look into other options first before you make that plunge and cannot reverse anything.  What else you might look into is "pain injections" by a pain management doctor.  The doctor will help with any pain control issues that are needed.

    Second, it takes approx a year for healing of a spinal fusion.  Should you have problems afterwards, it may take more than  a year.  I don't know how often you're up and down at your job, but should the fusion not go as expected, it may be a challenge for you to get up and down etc...You asked, and I'm one to share anything even if positive or negative.  I wished they had this or I was aware of this site prior to my surgeries in 2004 & 2008 but I wasn't aware of it.  Had I been and someone told me of these problems, I don't know, I think I'd see if there were other alternatives.  However, I stated my back was broken in 2 places and a fractured neck, so I doubt that the results would have changed.  I needed the fusion.  If you're experiencing pain due to the herniated disks, then perhaps, a pain management doctor is what you need.  It couldn't hurt to see one and show them your MRI and see what they have to say.  You're awfully young to have any further problems with your back.  Surgery, fusion, isn't necessarily what it's cracked up to be.  It's not an automatic fix.

    Just sayin'

    Good luck and let us know what you find out and what you've decided.

    Frustrated

    • frustrated61
      frustrated61

      Posted

      Yes, even a second opinion is what's needed.  However, a good pain management doctor can act like a second opinion.  ARe you in the UK or where?

      frustrated

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