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Microdiscectomy surgery worked like a dream for me !! I ...

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Microdiscectomy surgery worked like a dream for me !! I am 26 years old and started with back pain in April 2005, and was initially diagnosed with sciatica. This was 7 weeks before my wedding. Not ideal at all, I was in vast amounts of pain, particularly down my right leg. I was left with a limp and unable to do any walking, standing or sitting for any amount of time. During my honeymoon the pain became even more intense and I ended up in hospital in San Francisco. They did the usual leg raise tests and diagnosed a slipped disc. made it back to the UK, and after a visit to the hospital and my GP was reffered to a consultant neurologist. The wait on the NHS was silly, so we paid to get a private consultation. He sent me for an MRI scan which showed prolapsed L5 S1. Told I needed micro diskectomy, but the waiting list was 6 months. After waiting 3 months and being in horrendous amounts of pain (not to mention the psychological effects of having no life!!) we decided to take out a loan and get it done privately. Had the op on November 7th, and it is the best money I have ever spent in my life. The pain in my leg was gone straight away. I was off pain killers completely within two weeks of surgery. I feel on top of the world. After surgery the main issue you will have is sitting down. You are walking the day after the operation, but sitting takes a little more time. There is some numbness in my right foot, but nothing major, and this is expecetd to calm down in a few months. It's three weeks since the op......I am now walking for 2 hours or more each day, swimming, driving and doing small bits at the gym. Do not be scared about having this operation.

[i:dae4fffd49]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:dae4fffd49]

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  • NickParkin
    NickParkin Guest

    Posted

    It was very interesting reading this yesterday; as I had been down to visit my specialist in London. I live in Solihull, West Midlands so obviously the QE or the Private hospital in Solihull as mentioned above would have been the better option, but I am lucky as a family relative works down in London so I have been very well looked after. I like most of you above have a L5 S1 Disc bulge, which has caused moderate to excruciating pain for a little under a year now. I have had three Cordal epidurals this year to date, July, September & November. Through early November I suffered a new relapse and ended up screaming the doctors surgery down. I was on 40ml of Oramopth and 25mg or Amatriptaline + Paracetamol 4-5 times a day. Basically I am full of drugs and desperate to get off all these drugs and just have my life back to normal.

     

    I am now awaiting a call back from my Doctors to see if I can get in, I have a few questions if someone can help me?

     

    How long will I be realistically out for?

     

    How long will I stay in Hospital?

     

    Is it worth having it done?

     

    Any issues post op?

     

    Many Thanks

     

    Nick

    • Craigo14
      Craigo14 NickParkin

      Posted

      Hi Nick

      First of all most of us can relate to what you're going through.

      I was admitted to private health care and had my disectomy L5 S1 five weeks ago this Tuesday.

      I'm now getting on with daily activitys driving socialising getting on with uni work but all in moderation. I still need to rest up. I go back to work in a couple of weeks. I'm starting Pilates and swimming next week.

      I was in hospital for only a night

      Well my surgeon told me I will be 80/90% back to my old self (before the disc problems) I found these percentages very high and all I wished for when I was going through a bad bout of pain was to be fit and healthy again. I can't wait to start playing football again which I haven't played in 2 years due to the problem. (Can start Physical activity 6 months)

      It's been plane sailing no major problems post op. But I've recently had a dull ache in my lower back but think that's just beacuse I didn't do much for the first three weeks. And now I'm up and about (I may be doing to much)

      If the pain doesn't come back I will be extremely happy. I was willing to give anything a chance when I was in agony.

      Hope this information helps smile

    • anglosaxon1
      anglosaxon1 NickParkin

      Posted

      Hello Nick (hi Craig I'm pleased you're doing so much; be careful though)

      How long will I be realistically out for?

      The magic number is 6, yes 6 weeks, not 4 weeks, 5 weeks. Its 6 weeks! My physio put me straight yesterday.

      How long will I stay in Hospital?

      Definitely stay in 1-2 nights. You need monitoring after the anesthetic for blood pressure, oxygen levels  and there is a minimum risk of a clot. So any after affects you are in the right place to get fixed. Also you get waited on hand and foot by lovely nurses, so it’s a no brainer, really.

      Is it worth having it done?

       For 90% of patients yes, your pain relief will almost be immediate

      Any issues post op?

      Yourself is the biggest problem. The patient needs to be patient. My physio said working under the pain, don’t use the pain as a guide. The consultant has done his job, don’t mess it up!

  • laura47146
    laura47146 Guest

    Posted

    Can you tell me exactly how long it took you to fully recover?! If u have or had any problems please

  • Chris8894
    Chris8894 Guest

    Posted

    I had a Micro-discectomy on my L4-L5 5 weeks ago. I am 21 and had been suffering for 10months and after 8 1/2 hadnt even gotten an MRI through the NHS due ot my age. So i went private and within 6 weeks was being operated on. I had a Neurosurgeon, definitely a good move! I would try not to worry about the operation as its is swift and alleviates the pain very quickly. Sciatica and immobility is worse than anything! 

    My only concern now is whether ill ever quite be the same again? Can anyone that has had similar to me confirm whether or not i will be able to be able to go hard in the gym or play sports and not have to be scared to death that the pain is going to come back. Previous to injury i was training 2 hours a day with weights (preparing for bodybuilding and powerlifting competitions), an hour of dynamic and resistance cardio 5 times a week, 20km of cycling 5 times a week and training in Krav maga 3 times a week. So i was very active. Ive now been totally sedentary for 6 months and have never been more depressed. Can someone please tell me i will be able to train again. 

    • Craigo14
      Craigo14 Chris8894

      Posted

      Hi Chris. Hope you're well.

      I'm now 16 months post surgery. And I'm back into the swing of things the surgery has worked wonders for me im 27 and had massive problems with my back since the age of 18 so I'm so relived I haven't had any pain in well over a year (the odd numb leg)

      I'm back in the gym but not overdoing it, I'm also playing football again and back on my mountain bike and haven't had any problems as of yet. (Touch wood) I'm not too sure about the heavy weight powerlifting etc. You're best going speaking to your Physio. I went through strengthening my core before I started anything. Hope this helps smile

  • allison46917
    allison46917 Guest

    Posted

    Hi just wondering how much it was to have your microdiscectomy only thinking of going private myself as had pain for the last 3months n fed up with it n want my life back
    • anglosaxon1
      anglosaxon1 allison46917

      Posted

      I paid about £6,700, I negotiated down from £7,800 (Cardiff).   

      This also included 3 nights and a few physio sessions. Best £7k ever spent. Just over a year on and all good.

    • Enna1
      Enna1 anglosaxon1

      Posted

      I have heard that Liverpool pain clinic re ommend Cardiff and as I have this lot for many many years all they did for me is give my partner a leaflet on caring for a patient which is not what we wanted to hear.and he still wrs there.disgusting
  • jo1979
    jo1979 Guest

    Posted

    Hi all

    I have have the op ( microdictomy) 4 weeks ago.. It's the best thing I have done. I was in pain for ten months prior. And really nervous about the op.. I had the op on a Monday was let out home on the Tuesday. Walked about a mile Tuesday evening.

    3 small walks on the weds. On the Thursday I walked about 10 miles. Which I did everyday for next 2 weeks..

    Just been away on holiday. Didn't do any walking. And now my back feels tight. So back to walking tomo 😜😜😜 I know everyone heals different but please stay positive. And walk walk walk if you can. It won't heal watching the tv. I will let you know if my walking over the next few days loosen my back

    • Enna1
      Enna1 jo1979

      Posted

      Mmm you can say I have suffered 15 years and the manner in which the NHS has conducted itself is dreadful

      Do be careful about walking too much I blame walking too far for my decompression not working which was 7thousand pounds down the drain

      I really was chuffed to have my back done but....it should have been straightforward. Unless of course the fact that my op wasnt through insurance.

      So back to square one....I wish patient would publish consultants with a good track record!!!

  • Enna1
    Enna1 Guest

    Posted

    Would love to hear who and where you had your op. I have heard so many negative feedbacks with regard to s1/l5

    I have the two above 2 as well but everyone tells me no one will do a 3 level.(ifell downstairs 30 years ago) and the pain is. Real bad and not happy about the medication I am taking

    I am hopefully going back to the uk to live but had bad management there. . Came to spain and its true what they say " once in pain management there's nothing else to be done". But I will take the chance akthough the consuktsin in Spain has said to go back to him but any op will be dangerous.

  • jo1979
    jo1979 Guest

    Posted

    Hi

    You are right there should be a list that we can check

    About how good each doctors results are.

    I do feel for anyone that's been going through it. But I done some research about my doctor befor the op.. And I must of spoke to about 10 people that had the same op. And most comments were great..

    What I have found on forums about 85%

    Of the people who comment gave negative feed back. And the people who feel good again don't bother to leave feed back

    • charlotte42196
      charlotte42196 jo1979

      Posted

      Just to update you all. I'm nearly two years post op. Get the off twinge in my left leg for about ten minutes then it stops. I still couldn't recommend this to anyone enough. I had chronic pain before. Now I can walk for miles with my little girl. I was also pregnant whilst I had the op and didn't have a clue ! My daughter is nearly one and a half and I don't think id of been able to have a natural birth without the operation!

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