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Hi In December 2005 my l4/5 disc burst and i was extrem...

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Guest

Hi

In December 2005 my l4/5 disc burst and i was extremely lucky to avoid paralysis. Thanks to company health insurance, i was operated on immediately and recovered from the operation reasonably quickly, tho it was a miserable Christmas!

I still have pain most of the time, which has restricted my social life, working life and worries me because i'd like to have children soon.

I have just got home from x-rays and another MRI scan. The surgeon has recommended that the remaining disc (what little there is of it) be removed and the bone be fused together.

Has anyone out there had this procedure? I want to make an informed decision as to whether i should put up with a restricted lifestyle, or hope that this surgery improves things. I'm only 32 but my back feels alot older! :?

[i:7a10372201]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:7a10372201]

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Hi,

    Ten days ago i had surgery for left L4/5 nerve root compression my disc was very close to bursting. I'd had leg pain and numbness for about a year and was petrified of having an op on my back but was told if i didnt have it, like you, i could've been paralysed/incontinent. Thank god i was covered by my husbands med ins. The op went well and the pain has gone more or less, consultant said it should go completely over the next week or so. Trouble is i now have pain in my right thigh at the front! Had another MRI and consultant couldn't see anything significant but he said if pain hasn't gone in 3wks then he will take me back in and look at the right L5 nerve root. I'm only 34 and have never been ill before this - i just cant believe it's happening to me, i too would love children soon. I dont know what to do,is it safe to have another op so soon? Will it be the end of the pain or will there then be something else? Im sorry i cant answer your question but wanted you to know that i do know how you feel!

    [i:ddf6a2b80c]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:ddf6a2b80c]

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Hi Lily,

    Thanks for your message. I'm really glad that your surgery has gone well, and i think that over the next few weeks the pain will lessen. It's hard to comprehend what our bodies go through when being operated on - and we always want instant results. Like you this was my first serious illness or op to deal with and i was told that it would be 6 months before everything settled down so i hope your thigh pain is just a result of the stress and invasion your body has dealt with.

    As for my decision, i have done loads of research and will be going ahead with further surgery. I'm seeing my surgeon tomorrow to tell him the good news (!!) so i'm sure he will answer any niggly doubts that i have. It was just a case of weighing up the pros and cons and all surgery has risks but i trust my surgeon 100%.

    Will keep you posted! Wishing you lots of get-well-soon wishes. Keep your chin up :ok:

    Brenna

    [i:b9c503915b]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:b9c503915b]

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Hi Brenna,

    Thanks for replying to my message. Just to let you know the pain in my left leg has gone, it's wonderful! Still got the pain coming and going in my right leg though,(thigh,calf and shin, it's weird). I have to decide next week if i want the surgeon to operate again, he would to have a look at the right L5 nerve root this time, he can't see anything definate on the mri and wants to look more closely. I think it's probably better to have the op sooner rather than later as the scar won't have healed properly yet and it will be easier to go back in. I've read about people having difficulties with scar tissue giving them pain afterwards though which i don't really want.

    To be honest i think i'm going to go ahead with it because idon't want the pain to become as bad as it used to be in my left leg!

    Sorry i'm waffling on...

    I hope you get a date for your surgery and all goes well for you. Let me know how it all goes. You've made me feel quite positive - thanks.

    Take care

    Lily

    [i:b2d2d4ef82]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:b2d2d4ef82]

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