Tips on post op for discectomy yesterday

I'm pleased your surgery is over, hopefully following a few days of discomfort (which is honestly all it will be) following your op, will allow you to appreciate what's happened to you and your original pain has gone - yeah!

I had the beehive dressings on my wound so could lie on it fine immediately - they are like a padded honey comb, did they not put these on? 

Make sure you keep your pain killer levels to the maximum - hopefully you will have anti-inflam tablets along with something like Tramadol and paracetamol, if not stronger. Don't miss any of them.

The district nurses came out for a couple of weeks to check how I was and to make sure I had meds and dressing changes. They are a great support network for you so use them, they won't mind.

I didn't get a back brace/support, my consultant got me up and around the next day and feels that having a brace wouldn't allow me to move in a 'normal' way and would therefore slow my healing process down!!! I managed great without one.

I used crutches to assist me for a little additional support, think it was a comfort thing rather than helping me to be honest. But if they help, try them!

I could also lie in a 'recovery style' position as well as on my back (with the padded dressing). If you have any spare quilts in the house lay them over and over until you have a sponge type effect, you may find that assists. Use pillows to bend and support yourself, maybe a recliner style garden chair will be more comfortable?

I used to have a memory foam mattress, but was advised to get rid if I have back problems!? This seemed strange until I took the advice and got an individual pocket sprung mattress.........it was just fantastic, not hard but not too soft, I lay great on it. Needless to say, I'm not suggesting to rush out and buy one, but having gone through what you have, think more in the long term to keep yourself correct.

Honestly, honestly, honestly, you will only be like this for a few days, it does ease off. You have just gone through it so you are going to be sore, think in the long term, and the pain you have had previously, this is stage one of your cure.

Take care x

 

It's serious isn't it, all different tales.

My consultant doesn't believe that the back support promotes natural movement!

The district nurse changed my dressing every other day to ensure the wound healed okay and there were no signs of infection.

I was advised to lie on my back - which was fine for me with the honey comb padded dressing, or in this recovery style type position - I've had back trouble for years so the pillow between the knees does keep you in line. It sounds like your team follow the McKenzie treatment structure. Look up Robin McKenzie in Google.

I was encouraged to move around as much as possible but not do anything serious, so I was up and around the following day and kept going from there.

The key is to do what feels okay for you. If something hurts, then stop immediately, if it feels okay, little and often usually helps.

Ive heard about loads of people with issues following the use of anti-infam tablets. I take Lansoprazole which are given in conjunction with them to protect your stomach plus I choose to take Milk Thistle too - have a look into these as they protect your liver from all the rubbish your putting in, again I'm not pushing you to rush out and buy, I'm just suggesting.

I already had crutches, but they helped me, not sure if they would have approved, but they took the brunt off sometimes.

Ive had back problems for years, since I was sixteen, when I bounced down some concrete stairs! I had your op in 2011 and it cured me at that time, three discs out with foot drop too. The short period of discomfort from the op was nothing to the pain I had before. It was worth it, plus I had the use of my foot back.

You're on your way to recovery, take each day as it comes and just make sure you keep your pain killer to their maximum. Do what you have been told to do, they are your team and should have a bespoke plan for you. Clearly different consultants think and work in their own way, as do the physio teams - I've been to a few and they usually contradict each other as do the consultants!?

I'm looking forward to you realising once your op pain clears that you can move properly again!

Keep smiling and thinking of the good that will come of it! :0)

 

Make sure you're okay to take Milk Thistle with your stomach issues, just to make sure you don't add to any problems.

Thats what I like about this site, everyone has something to suggest, and when it hurts, you will try most things to help!

Take care, put a post on in a week or so to say how you are getting on. X

Hi Lorraine Not really pain just when i over do it ,in fact im just home from a week n spain where i was at a wedding and i even danced the night away away (much to my partners horror as he thought i would end up being carted off on a strecher haha) but i was fine just a little stiff from using muscles i hadnt used for over a year ! I still take pain killers paracetamol and maybe the odd solphadine but thats a million times better than the oxycontin or oxynorm i had to take pre and post op.i know after the op i thought oh god what have i done the pain was horrendous i thought i would die on day 2-3 but it got better each day with plenty of rest and walking when i could.I even did a 5 k walk 2 nights ago something that i used to do maybe twice a day before i herniated the disc.You will get better i didnt think it at the time either but now im so happy i had the op my life is slowing returning at last .,even plan on going back to work in sept which i didnt see happpening either .I count myself one of the lucky ones some people cant get the op and have to live through this everyday taking pain relief that just doesnt hit the pain .all the best and take it easy its early days .x