Micro Discectomy

[camarenanakia]

Hi Everyone

I 1st came across this website when I was 1st told that I needed a micro discectomy and to be perfectly honest it scared the hell outta me!!

So time for happy story for those in the same position as me 2 months ago.

4 weeks ago I had the op to fix my prolapsed disc at L4/L5 and it is the best thing I've had done for a long time, yes its sore at first, think about what they do!! and yes there will be days when you will scare yourself that you've over done it and that you've buggered it up, been there got the t shirt!! but when that happens ease back for a few days.

My story is well got a prolapsed disc in febuary 2009, how who knows? but if I had a pound for every time someone suggested over doing "you know nudge nudge" I would have gone private!!

I had the op on wednesday 31st October 2009 at about 2pm I came round and my leg felt better, kinda strange almost missed it. Thursday late morning I walked for the 1st time and it was ok and by thursday night I was mobile for 30 yard walks and friday morning I was able to walk up stairs and manage a good 150 yards and was discharged. I had a week at home taking it easy and then went back to my shop where I took things VERY easy.

Gradually I've walked further until today where I managed to walk to work which is about 3/4 mile, my only complaint is that after so many months of keeping my weight of my left leg my foot aches!!

Yes my toes are still numb and my back a bit stiff but these are improving slowly. I am looking forward to being able to drive in the next week or so.

My advice is post op listen to your body if you need a lay down have one there and then but don't be afraid to walk though.

Yes be scared, in fact totally terrified might be nearer the mark but stop and think how's your quality of life now and what in 99.9% of cases it will be afterwards, yes easier said than done I thought only about the 0.1% but if by writing this your thinking about the 99.9% now then great.

I am happy I had the op, even 4 weeks on my life is better.

Best wishes to everyone thats reading this who's going to have the op and I wish you a speedy recovery.

David

 

[Remexhide]

hi Dave1973,

It was great to read your post. I have spent hours reading this forum over the last few months. Like you I have been sufffering, for about six months, from severe sciatic pain in my left leg, tried all the soft options, weeks of physio, nerve root block, accupunture, rest, walking, exercise, but it just kept getting worse. Decided to go ahead with the surgery, scheduled privately next Tuesday.

My disc is L5-S1, prolapsed / herniated, I think years of abuse culminating in stupidly carrying an old bedroom down the stairs - doh!

I was getting really down, I have three young children, have always been really active, but this summer I have felt completely useless! since making the decision to have the microdiscectomy i have been alot more positive, and reading your story has made me feel even more so. I am expecting to take six weeks out from work - my job is pretty much office based, but it's the 90 minutes commute via car and train that I suspect will be the problem.

Anyway, thanks for the positive story, good luck with your continued recovery, and I hope I will have a similar tale to tell.

 

[Pauly]

Great news, and good luck to you Essex Boy

 

[R-Jay]

Hey Cassie,

Thanks for the good wishes - I will post again, hopefully with more good news!!!

 

[TartCartRider]

Yes please do, I am really interested in the option of going private, were you insured or are you having to pay? How much roughly? Would pm this but you arent allowed them for a while as a new member.

Sending you much love and reiki xx

 

[Kati Yakatori]

Cassie,

I am fortunate enough to have private medical cover through my employer, which has made the whole process a lot faster than the NHS route - happy to share more details via PM - how can we do that??

EB x

 

[Riddler]

Can anyone answer my questions in my 29th October post regarding MICRODISCECTOMY and MICRODECOMPRESSION surgery?

Cheers

SPINELF

 

[Alanny]

Essexboy you aren't allowed to use pms till you have more posts, sorry good luck for tomorrow, speak when you get back xxx


Elfie, I haven't a clue but keep yelling, someone will answer I hope lol

 

[xxlivinaliexx]

Hi Cassie
just read through your messages re going private, if it helps I went private in May this year for an L4/L5 discectomy. I went through BMI - if you are not privatly insured, which I wasnt, they give you a quote. My surgery was quite a bit more expensive as I had a reherniation at the same level, if you are going for first time surgery discectomy then it cost about £6500, which includes a couple of nights stay, food, medication etc.
You need to get referred via your GP to see someone privatly, if you have had scans done on the nhs then all the better because you then wont have to pay for those too. A normal MRI scan costs about £500 but if you have already had surgery on your back the cost goes up to about £700 as they do a comparison scan.
Hope this helps

Bonnie10

 

[Timothy]

Thanks Bonnie, I'm afraid I am way past a disectomy now but thats given me a good idea, thanks again

 

[Slim D]

Essex Boy again,

Had my microdiscectomy at 10:30 yesterday, had a short walk around my room at 17:00, and just enjoyed a good nights sleep - the first for months! I have a little pain in the wound, but most importantly I have no sciatic pain in my leg!!! everything else seems to be working too! Spoke to the surgeon, he says there was a big piece of disc trapping the nerve, the nerve was very swollen, but he seemed happy with the result. i guess it's down to me to do the right things now.

I realise it's early days yet, probably a lot of local anathestic still doing it's stuff, but I am very pleased so far.

Thanks Cassie for the kind words,

EB

 

[Hotpot46]

Best wishes and the greatest of luck. Keep doing the exercises!

SPINELF

 

[dale_m]

Wonderful news!!! I wondered if you would be up to posting today!! You are so lucky! I am so glad for you. As Elfie says, Keep doing the exercises they will make all the difference and please keep us posted we need happy, success stories to keep us all going

I wish I had made more noise earlier the thought of a minor op is wonderful, I have been told I will have to spend six weeks flat on my back after mine

 

[RudyGal]

Essex boy again,

Not quite so chirpy today, I guess the painkillers have worn off, lots of pain today, feel like I have been kicked in the back by a horse, hospital sent me home, nothing more they need to do for me. Hoping to get some rest for a few days then I will get back with some more progress reports.

Have to say I feel a bit cast adrift now, didn't really get too much advice from the physio, just an appointment to go back in four weeks.

Really appreciate the support on here folks. I'll be back!

 

[RuneKey]

Sorry to hear the changes, hope you feel better after a good rest

 

[HeteClucturse]

Take care Essex, dont stay away too long.

Kind hopes and best wishes


SPINELF

 

[lonely_in_weidman]

Hey all,

Back again, one week after the discectomy. Have been feeling pretty good, but yesterday got my first post-op sciatic twinges in my left leg and ankle (oh no!!!), so decided maybe I was doing too much? Then last night my body decided it had enough of the 75mg diclfenac that the hospital prescribed, bad night, spare the details.

So it's back to bed for me today, see what tomorrow brings.

Good news - the wound seems to be a lot less painful now.

 

[Cherry*Blossom6]

How are you doing now Essex?, we hope you are doing OK!

best wishes and kind thoughts

SPINELF

 

[wrjhwh m]

Hi Spinelf,

Thanks for asking. It's been a pretty good week, feeling good except for a twinge going down into the back of my thigh. My long suffering wife keeps asking me how it compares to the pre-op sciatic pain, 10 being the same, 0 being no pain. It has gone down to about 3, which is good, but it hasn't gone any lower for the past few days - guess I need to be patient. Trying really hard to rest, but desperate to start doing stuff again.

So doing OK today, best wishes to everyone else suffering, recovering, waiting.

Essexboy.

 

[heba]

I'm glad to hear the good news Essex. Don't forget and don't underestimate the importance of rehabilitation excersises, ask you GP if there are any NHS or Council run 16 week rehab courses run at your local Sport Centre, the one I went on was great!

All the best


SPINELF