Upcoming Laminectomy
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hello everyone. I'm a 32 year old female who is "mighty young to be having surgery" in the words of the surgeon who said that is basically my only shot because of how badly one of my discs is herniated. I have two herniations (L4-L5 1cm and L5-S1 1.5cm), two bulging discs (T11-12 and L3-L4), some bone spurs, two punches nerves (L5 and S1), bi-lateral foraminal narrowing (surprisingly worse on right side, even though my pain is and had always been worse on left side), DDD (which includes changes in my sacroiliac joints).
My pain started in late February where I ended up in the ER, then was referred to my PCP to follow up, then referred to a gastroenterologist, then finally referred to a orthopedic. I was originally only treated for L4-L5 with ESI. The first ESI seemed to really help, but was short lived and when the pain came back it was worse. On my second ESI, the increase in pain was almost unbearable, lasting one and a half weeks, had to do a prednisone pack, and was even more short lived at just over two weeks of mild relief.
This last episode started in the 26th of May, I am uninsured and was trying to put off being seen so neglected to call my neurologist until last Friday. When I called I was told I needed to be evaulated ASAP, so the following day I went to the ER where they did another MRI, ruled out an emergency (cauda equina), increased the strength of my narcotic (I was taking 5/325 Vicodin and they increased it to 5/325 Oxycodone.) I called my doctor back on Monday and followed up like I promised I would and faxed over the results from my MRI at the ER. They said I needed to be seen immediately but my neurosurgeon was on vacation so set me up with one of his partners.
I saw him yesterday and he said he doesn't think anymore ESIs will help and that the damage is pretty significant and because I am self pay is only doing one disc at a time, he decided L4-L5 from my understanding. I am scheduled to have my surgery Tuesday to avoid any further and/permenant neurological damage.
I can barely walk at this point. I can't sit, stand, walk, lay, recline, for more than a few minutes at a time without having to do something else. I am a mother, wife, and only child to my recently widowed mother (who thank God is in good health herself). The doctor has me on Norco 5/325, one to two every four to six hours, that along with Zanaflex barely touches my pain, but does sedated me enough to sleep.
I'm worried about the surgery, even more worried about the recovery. I've prayed and will continue to do so. I'm anxious that my Daddy won't be here because he could always calm me before surgery and just made me feel safe, and his prayers always brought me so much comfort. I know he will still be with me just not physically.
After my hysterectomy in 2016, I had to be kept overnight because they had trouble getting my pain under control and I'm anxious about that with this as well. What kind of medicine do they give you when you are inpatient surgery? My doctor said I couldn't do it outpatient at this facility, he didn't elaborate as to why.
Surgery scheduler said two weeks bed rest, four more weeks severely limited activity (basically everything a stay-at-homevmother and wife does), and a back brace the full six weeks.
Please tell me about your experiences with inpatient (or outpatient) laminectomy, the recovery process, your results, etc..
Thank you and God bless!
0 likes, 5 replies
CHICO_MARX meredith1985
Posted
A number of years ago, I had severe sciatica down my right leg. Chiropractor couldn't fix it; pain shots didn't work. Saw my neurosurgeon who did an MRI which was not conclusive although he did say that something was unusual about L4/L5. Did a decompressive laminectomy and found a bone spur literally "crushing" (his term) my sciatic nerve root at L4. Got rid of the spur, did the laminectomy and shaved back the calcified L5/S1 disc to make sure the nerve was completely free and non-impinged.
Same-day surgery, immediate sciatic pain relief. Took about a week for the inflamed nerve to calm down (just OTC ibuprofen). Complete recovery without any bed rest, brace or rehab. I've had three other spine surgeries (two fusions)...this was the easiest.
meredith1985 CHICO_MARX
Posted
Thank you for your reply! I'm glad it was successful. I know this surgery is necessary, but it's still scary. It does help hearing from people who have had success and good recoveries.
I go Monday to be fitted for my back brace. I'm not sure if the back brace, two weeks of bed rest, etc. is just standard with then for this type of surgery or what. I guess with my other back issues it is necessary anyways, don't want to screw anything else up while trying to heal.
CHICO_MARX meredith1985
Posted
All doctors have their own protocols. Laminectomies may be different in complex situations and require braces and rehab. I'm "Not-A-Doc" but I've had four spine surgeries (two fusions) plus a new right hip and left knee. With almost five pounds of metal in me, I'm the TSA's worst nightmare at the airport!!!
Six months after my last fusion in March of '17, I started to develop lower back pain...again. That fusion was an LLIF (lateral fusion...they go in from your side...picture...you'll see the device above my existing TLIF rails and screws). Miracle op. Cured bilateral stenosis instantly. No rehab, no brace, one night in the hospital. However, it seems that the LLIF worked TOO well!!! There was so much new bone growth from the fusion that it was starting to pinch nerve roots L2 through L4.
Again, a laminectomy to fix this problem. This one was VERY painful after 3 1/2 hours on the table. Doc said it was quite complex. That was January '18 and I had to wear a brace for a while...still do when some pain returns. I figure it will take a year to fully recover.
Lesson: You will have no idea what the outcome will be until you do it. Could be as simple as my first one or as painful as my second. You just have to take the time and do the work to recover. Most of all, have patience...it helps a lot...
Yukonjak meredith1985
Posted
I had laminectomy surgery in the exact same region a few years ago. At that time, I had simultaneous numbness down my legs (calf area), and neuropathic pains in my feet. The surgery itself was a breeze. I don't recall how long I stayed in the hospital, but it may have been just overnight. The sent me home with a back brace, and a small bandage over the incision area. I used plastic wrap taped to my back when I showered, to keep the incision dry.
THE NUMBNESS DISAPPEARED DURING THE OPERATION, AND THERE WAS SOME TEMPORARY RELIEF FROM THE PAINS IN MY FEET. however, STARTING ABOUT A MONTH AFTER SURGERY, THE NEUROATHIC PAINS HAVE RETURNED, AND ARE NOW WORSE THAN BEFORE THE SURGERY. (Sorry about the caps lock being turned on!!). Fortunately, those pains are intermittent, and so they mostly interfere with going to sleep; unlike most folks on this website, I haven't had any back pain.
The neurosurgeon tried a Medtronic spinal cord stimulator (SCS) trial to mask the neuropathic pains about a year after the original surgery. That installation was a breeze; they insert an electrode along the section of your spine where they suspect the pain signals are starting. The pains from the SCS were worse than those originating in my feet so I aborted the trial after 2 days. The trial electrode they had inserted along the spine was easily removed by the Nurse Practitioner in the Doc's office. The same neuro wanted to try a newer brand (higher frequency) of SCS last year, and I declined to try it, mostly because of the horror stories I read on this website. I realize that it's mostly folks who have had a bad experience that post on this website, rather than all the folks who have had success/relief from neurosurgical procedures. But I read enough bad reviews to conclude that even if a new SCS trial were successful, that was no guarantee that the permanent SCS installation would produce the same results as the trial. Lots of folks have had bad pains in their abdomen where they insert the permanent SCS, and you have to replace the rechargeable battery every few years, so they have to open you up again.
I don't fault the neuro for the lack of success with the laminectomy. Prior to that surgery, I had been sent to a Pain specialist who injected steroids in the vicinity of L4-L5-S1. The shots provided relief, but only temporarily. After I went to the pain Doc the third time, he advised that I needed to have the laminectomy. He commented that it had taken him much longer than usual to thread the insertion needle into the spinal area each time due to the extensive arthritis that he encountered all along my spine.
If/when I can't go to sleep due to the pains in my feet, I take a Tramadol, which is a much lower "classification" of narcotic, compared to Vicodin or Oxycontin. That med enables me to fall asleep after about 30 minutes, even though the pains are continuing.
Hope these comments are of some value to you, and that the procedure will be successful in relieving your pains.
meredith1985
Posted
Thank y'all for your replies. My nerves are back and forth today and I'm starting to doubt the surgery. My mother is paying out if pocket for it, because my husband and I just aren't able to and that stresses me out. The recovery is very stressful to even think about and I'm fearful to be put under again since I've been put under so many times. When I start to think I'm going to cancel it I'll have a massive stab type of pain over the constant pain and remember this is supposedly what I need. I'm trusting God and hopefully will go through with it. I'm praying for healing before hand. Ahhhh.