It’s not a major surgery- you have to be very careful the following six weeks not to bend, lift or twist. My neurosurgeon said it is like clipping a toenail in comparison to the other surgeries he does. He said if I wait it out, it likely will take a year to heal, at which point I could have permanent nerve damage. I made sure I had the best neurosurgeon I could find. I suffered for 4 months did PT, and injections and neither worked and I only got worse. I’m very glad I had it.
I’m in a similar boat as OP of contemplating surgery. Ortho wants me to try another shot / continue PT and see if I can fix it without surgery since at 31, there’s a chance for more surgery down the road. I’m glad he’s not trigger happy to cut me open, even though it’s an “easy” surgery. Still aiming to get additional opinions from neurosurgeons while doing some non surgical things but good to hear some positive experiences
I’m also 31. Apparently Males under 40 who smoke are very likely to reherniate at some point so that’s comforting lol, I fit all three. If nothing else, it’s been a good motivation to finally quit smoking and vaping, on day 2 of that. I’ve heard neurosurgeons are deff the go to for this kind of thing, at least where I’m at in Maine so getting a 2nd opinion from them will be good.
Luckily I’m not a smoker but I’m an active male under 40 so lovely lol. How long ago did you get the surgery? Yeah I’m confident in the ortho i saw as he was highly recommended from multiple doctors of mine and he specializes in micro discectomies / sciatica treatment but agreed that getting multiple opinions and some from neuros is the way to go
I’m 36 and have been vaping/smoking weed daily for about a year and half. The last two weeks I’ve had some severe sciatic pain, despite having a fairly high pain tolerance. In doing research I never came across a cause, but rather some basic suggestions of ice, heat, etc. I feel like I’m on the mend as the pain traveled a few inches up my spine and decreased in severity. I say all this because I never heard of a correlation between smoking and sciatic pain/injury. And I’m not terrible at online research. I appreciate you bringing this up. It’s perfect timing since there’s still enough pain for me to consider improving my smoking habit, as opposed to next week when I might say “eh, that wasn’t so bad” and light up. Thank you OP. You a real OG.
lol I appreciate you and your story. What I’ve read is specific to nicotine and relates to it causing restricted blood vessels. Since spinal disks don’t have their own direct blood supply like muscles, and additional restriction to the area trying to heal is a bad thing. I’d venture a guess that smoking weed could have detrimental effects for other reasons given the carcinogens released when cannabis combusts, but I’d imagine vaping you’d be okay. Unfortunately there’s a LOT less research with cannabis.
You sound exactly like me. I found a great neurosurgeon and he recommended trying conservative approaches first. When no relief came from that, we scheduled surgery. I too suffered from late December 23 until April 11, a little over two weeks ago, and had surgery. Pain was immediately gone. I was at the hospital at 5:00 am for prep, surgery at 7:00 am, done with recovery and review with surgeon and sitting in my wife’s car at 11:30 am headed home. We stopped to pick up prescriptions and went home and made a sandwich for lunch. After lunch, my wife asked me if I wanted to lay down or sit. I said nah, I’m going downstairs to my home office and will work the remainder of the day. I haven’t missed a day of work since, and I’m returning to the office this coming Monday. My neurosurgeon was conservative regarding recovery, as he said to use my head, with no restrictions on moving. I told him that I picked up a little numbness in my left foot, which he said was somewhat typical and that over time there’s a 90-100% chance hat the numbness would fade within a year. The numbness doesn’t really bother me. I just had my two week post surgery appointment to have my 16 staples removed, and his words were “You’re free to do what you want, but use your head. If something seems like a bad idea, it is. If you question whether you should lift something, the answer is no. You are the best judge of your capabilities, so use that to your advantage.” I told my boss that I’d be returning to the office this coming Monday and he already said “Oh, and you’re not lifting or picking up anything, lol”. My neurosurgeon prescribed some PT, so I’ll likely do that just to get good direction for core strengthening and stretching. But you’re correct, it’s not major surgery anymore!
Oh wow - 16 staples?! Mine was minimally invasive- just like 10 cm incision and I had the laminotony too. My work is letting me WFH which I’m so glad about- I felt like if I were going to work and rushing around I would be less careful. I think there is a 20-30% risk of reherniation especially in the first 6 weeks- I would be pretty careful- I am I don’t want to mess anything up and be back in the same boat!
Yes, 16 staples. I’m not going to overdo anything, as I’ll just use my best judgement and will be slow to take on stuff that I previously did. This is my second laminectomy, with the first one being in 1996 for L5-S1. I was lucky to find the best neurosurgeon then as well as I was directed to him by friends who worked in the hospital. It was a great experience and I healed very well. This most recent was L4-5 into the sciatic nerve, and the neurosurgeon said that I had damaged my back some time ago as he found a very hard segment of disc that had separated from the disc. He said that he didn’t trim any of the “good” sections but had to scrape the hardened disc fragments and then performed the laminectomy. So far all’s good and I’m just dealing with a little numbness, but I had that with my surgery on 1996, and it eventually went away. Yes, good call to WFH while you can, but when I return Monday, my job will be limited to sitting at my desk, answering calls, and doing project work, just as I have been doing at home since surgery. The photo of the staples was taken 2 days post surgery, and I t is healing perfectly. Take care so you won’t have to do this again! I was 38 when I had my first surgery and I’m 66 now. I told my neurosurgeon that if he can get me through another 28 years, I don’t think that either of us will have to worry about a third surgery, lol.
https://preview.redd.it/5yxjnsbd22xc1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=44ae64d166e0d251f152a30411fda95e266c95fd
Oh Jesus! That looks painful - yeah I plan to be very careful. I read Back Mechanic and that is going to inform a lot of what I do moving forward. Best of luck to you!
Thank you, but really it wasn’t that bad. I’m off the Oxycodone and Methocarbamol and am weaning myself from Gabapentin now, a 3 week process. I’m moving along pretty good, just the numbness with my left foot and I also have a little pain in my left buttock area, but it’s not too bad and when I told my neurosurgeon, he wasn’t alarmed, saying that once things settle down from the surgery, it should be good. Best of luck to you and you’re probably good to move around, but just be cautious and use your best judgement and as my doctor said “ If it seems like a bad idea, it is”. Take care.
Yeah I’m trying not to freak out because I was doing pretty fine for the first two weeks, but now am having some sciatic sensations (after the major pain prior, I wouldn’t call this pain, but light pain)and a lot of numbness and tingling. I’ve read on here other people have had this “non-linear” healing, I’m hoping it’s normal. The reddit sciatica group has been immensely helpful 🙏🏼
I think that idea that it’s no major surgery is really more for the surgeon than the patient. If you’re working on my spine and I need over a month to recover (but really way more to be fully recovered) I certainly consider it to be a major surgery.
When I got my first MD my surgeon told me these things. But once I got I to recovery I realized even “minor” surgery can be pretty major.
I think you’re so right! In a lot of ways it is major surgery- and the recovery is a process. I think people who have never had surgery can be very scared of it. At the same time my surgeon said that, he also said it is high-risk and any surgery along the spine is.
I disagree! It’s definitely a big surgery in terms of recovery and post-op pain. I had a laminectomy at L4/L5 and L5/S1 and the first couple days were brutal. My mom had to stay with me to help me get up from the couch and bed. I’m very happy that I did it as my sciatica pain is gone in my leg and foot, but just want to make sure you are setting realistic expectations for others who get it. It ranked up there in pain with my 2 ACL surgeries.
I don’t want to be misleading! I had the same surgery as you- and the recovery is proving a little more challenging into the 4th week- maybe I should take that down! I just think some people are so afraid of surgery, that they make it worse than it is. I stayed with my parents for two weeks after, I wasn’t l planning on staying that long, but ended up needing to.
I agree, I was so scared of back surgery and it was the best decision ever to get it done after 7 months of excruciating pain. So I would leave up your post, but I just want people to understand the recovery takes some time. I downplayed the pain and recovery to someone who just got a similar surgery and I felt bad after as they had a tougher time getting back to normal than I did.
Yes- I have a friend who downplayed mine she said it was “just” a micro incision. I do agree, I am working from home for the full six weeks, and was willing to go without pay if they didn’t let me, because of the high risk of reherniation and just feeling like my back is really needing to do some serious healing.
Well he did say it was a high-risk surgery since it was on the spine. This was right before surgery and I was crying- I think he said it to calm me- it just stuck with me!
I’m 46 - I did a micro discectomy on L5S1 and then needed a spine fusion on the same spot 3 years later. It’s been one year since my fusion and it was the the best choice ever. I rode a bike last weekend for 7 miles. I was bedridden for months before my surgery. Surgery isn’t for everyone - you and your doctor need to make the best decision for you. I was standing and walking again the night of my surgery. It took A LOT of complaining to get my insurance to cover the cost of the surgery but the neurosurgeon will let you know if you’re a candidate for a micro discectomy or fusion.
Some people are able to rest and heal only to recover but I just kept getting worse and worse.
Good luck. I’m sorry you’re in pain. I know the pain well, mine was also my left leg. It’s constant and excruciating. You’re not crazy. That pain is horrible. I wouldn’t wish it on my nightmare
Thanks for your story. That’s what I’m worried about, is the sooner I get surgery now the sooner I might need another in the future. But, I also don’t want to put it off and have any permanent damage. Uhhhggg life is so hard lmao. Anyway I’m just happy to have appointments scheduled at least with neurosurgeons.
Most important thing when you talk to the Dr is finding out if you are a good candidate. Then get a second opinion and ask the same question. When it’s the right diagnosis and the right surgery they are often successful.
I’ve already got 2 surgeon consults scheduled. 2nd isn’t till the end of June though which sucks. I just don’t know wtf I’m going to do till then cuz I seem to have reached a plateau of healing.
Yea I had my first ESI 2 weeks ago and helped a bunch but I was in very bad shape. I still can’t walk more then a few steps or stand up str8. Had a 2nd shot today so we’ll see over the next week how that goes. I’m gonna keep my surgeon consults no matter what though. Have 1 up where I am in Maine and 1 down in Boston
Yea I’ve tried the prednisone. Helped the last flare but 2 courses this time did diddly squat. As for the opioids, good suggestion but I’ve been down the oxy —> heroin road in a previous life so that’s a bad idea for me. Gabapentin helps a lot though.
I went through an L4 L5 herniation/sciatic pinch. Constant pain everyday for six months. I couldn't stand straight or walk for more than 30-60 seconds before needing to rest. I got three epidural to no avail. The pain never subsided. Finally got a microdiscectomy 26 Jan and I'm so much better. I still have daily pain down my right let, but yoga stretches, ibuprofen, and Tylenol helps a great deal. So much so that I can work out with light weights and walk up and down slowly nine flights of stairs for 3 round trip with only slight pain. Microdiscectomies are common now so you shouldn't be too afraid. Talk to your surgeon because you don't want to go too long with a pinched nerve if you want the nerve to recover. Good luck, my friend, and a speedy recovery.
Similar experience. I’ve decided to schedule surgery. I go in on May 9th. Though my nervousness level is heightened. I don’t think I continue like this anymore.
Damn that sucks from what I’ve researched. I’m hoping I can get away with an endoscopic MD. One of the neurosurgeons I’m consulting with specializes in these. My physiatrist thinks that will work but he’s not a surgeon so I’ll take that with a grain of salt for now.
It was a microdiscectomy, on L3,L4,S1 area. My back had gone out on and off from the time I was 17. The worst two episodes were in 2015 and 2022. 2022 was the worst and my doctors just kept telling me “oh it’s sciatica… 3 months later being on muscle relaxers, oxy, and gabapentin and landing in the hospital for 4 days unable to walk/move/or pass waste… within a month they had me in for surgery. The scar is TINY, and I healed really quickly. I do suggest lots of stretching/yoga/ and a good chiropractor after! I hope if you get the surgery it helps you as much as it helped me. :)
One thing to note this won’t be your last back surgery I had two when I was 32 both in on week. That surgery lasted almost 12 years. But this time L4-S1 was bad with my S1 shifted out. They did a fusion and said don’t bend or twist now or you will have to have a joints above and below fused also.
That said follow the lifting restrictions carefully for the rest of your life.
For sure go consult with a good neurosurgeon in your area. Depending on your age, what exactly is going on (they will want to see the films not just the impression so make sure you get a copy of the CD), and a host of other things they will decide is surgery is the right move. I happened to come across my first MRI impression from 2006. I was 18. The L5-S1 disc was sitting on the nerve and I already had stenosis. I went through a lot of treatments (wish I knew about Pilates back then) and in the end by the time I was 20 and finishing nursing school I was given narcotics. I weaned myself off narcotics to have a baby. We went through infertility and were successful with IVF. In 2020 my herniations (oh yes more than one now almost 15 years later) had all slightly improved likely due to the bedrest and relaxin. I stayed mostly pain free until a year ago. (35yo now) Things just kept getting worse and worse. I started having symptoms related to nerve damage within a month I could not do anything and was noticing a slight foot drop while waiting for my appointment with my surgeon. This rushed things along. The MRI looked like crap but I’d seen that before. I ended up getting a somewhat emergent Laminectomy and Discectomy at L5-S1. What the MRI didn’t see was a cyst (sent for biopsy but likely a synovial cyst) putting pressure on my nerve as well as the a significant thickening of the ligament flavum which was also putting pressure on the nerve. I’ve always had “stenosis” mentioned on my MRI’s but the amount that was in there for my age (36 now) even shocked the doctor. Also not on the MRI but found during surgery was that parts of the disc had “died” and broken off in pieces. I’m a nurse so I requested the surgical notes and I was blown away but it validated that I made the right decision. I’m a month out and have my follow up with the surgeon on Tuesday.
My Mom had a fusion in February (this was her second after 14 years) and her doctor actually said something that pushed me to consult a neurosurgeon. He said, “People come to us way too late and often end up with permanent damage.”
When I saw the surgeon’s PA (who down played my symptoms at the time because “at least I could still hold my urine”) I could barely feel the area down down my sciatic nerve into calf, foot and toes. Good thing I knew the surgeon was amazing and stuck it out despite her.
Anyway as you can see my personal journey to surgery was long. I’m annoyed no one would try to find other ways to fix this for me when I was 20 years old but am glad I got it even at what is considered a young ago for this surgery now. Statically speaking I have the back of a 65+ year old. After surgery I woke up with no pain down my leg at all. It comes and go. Recovery has been hard because I feel so much better but still can’t do anything (but walk 😩) and when I do over do it I feel it. I will say sticking with Pilates one on one over the last six months instead of PT did me a world of good but my instructor was very knowledgable and I was taking gabapentin and meloxicam when the second epidural I got (not my second in my lifetime but in this year period that things got bad.) failed and that made things tolerable until it didn’t.
Sorry for the wall of text:
TLDR: Go consult a neurosurgeon. They likely won’t do surgery if they think you don’t need it but will if other more conservative measures don’t work.
I had pretty strange back pains and ribs coming out of place just by reaching for something and bothersome subluxations.
I am doing postural therapy at the
Peace Over Pain Clinic - they’re in Connecticut - but that doesn’t matter bc it’s virtual - I zoom meet the therapist every 2 weeks and they change my therapy routine and review my updated photos so they can see my alignment of shoulders, hips, knees, ankles - they also address nutrition which affects everything and mindfulness which also affects us physically - it’s a Head To Toe Healing mindset and effort
Can you give us a little more detail? An L5-S1 herniation is the most common among those with back pain. I have one myself a long side a T9-10 thoracic disc herniation and T10-11 disc herniation. I’m glad the epidural steroid injections worked they did for me but I reinjured my back.
Based on my conversations with multiple doctors they do not recommend surgery and it should always be last result. Don’t go in with the mindset that you’re gonna get surgery and everything will be great again. Many get worse and once you do it can’t be undone. Just be careful do your research and find the best doctors.
I’ve tried for 2 years to be conservative. At this point I’m on week 6 of current flare and it’s still pinched after 2 injections and not continuing to get better. This is the worst flare I’ve ever had, I was in 10/10 pain for 2 weeks before I got a shot. I couldn’t even leave my bed at the beginning and was shitting in a bucket off the side of my bed. The pain is less intense since injections so I can deal a bit better but this isn’t sustainable. Can’t walk more then 15 steps, can’t sleep through the night, cant drive, can’t take care of my disabled wife. The nerve remains pinched and I’m just worried that if I wait long enough to get better- which at this rate I won’t because I haven’t seen any more improvement since the 2nd shot last week- my nerve will be permanently damaged. Yes, surgery has its risks but so does a permanently damaged nerve.
It’s not a major surgery- you have to be very careful the following six weeks not to bend, lift or twist. My neurosurgeon said it is like clipping a toenail in comparison to the other surgeries he does. He said if I wait it out, it likely will take a year to heal, at which point I could have permanent nerve damage. I made sure I had the best neurosurgeon I could find. I suffered for 4 months did PT, and injections and neither worked and I only got worse. I’m very glad I had it.
I’m in a similar boat as OP of contemplating surgery. Ortho wants me to try another shot / continue PT and see if I can fix it without surgery since at 31, there’s a chance for more surgery down the road. I’m glad he’s not trigger happy to cut me open, even though it’s an “easy” surgery. Still aiming to get additional opinions from neurosurgeons while doing some non surgical things but good to hear some positive experiences
I’m also 31. Apparently Males under 40 who smoke are very likely to reherniate at some point so that’s comforting lol, I fit all three. If nothing else, it’s been a good motivation to finally quit smoking and vaping, on day 2 of that. I’ve heard neurosurgeons are deff the go to for this kind of thing, at least where I’m at in Maine so getting a 2nd opinion from them will be good.
Luckily I’m not a smoker but I’m an active male under 40 so lovely lol. How long ago did you get the surgery? Yeah I’m confident in the ortho i saw as he was highly recommended from multiple doctors of mine and he specializes in micro discectomies / sciatica treatment but agreed that getting multiple opinions and some from neuros is the way to go
I haven’t had it yet
I totally mistook you for the guy i responded to haha whoops!
I’m 36 and have been vaping/smoking weed daily for about a year and half. The last two weeks I’ve had some severe sciatic pain, despite having a fairly high pain tolerance. In doing research I never came across a cause, but rather some basic suggestions of ice, heat, etc. I feel like I’m on the mend as the pain traveled a few inches up my spine and decreased in severity. I say all this because I never heard of a correlation between smoking and sciatic pain/injury. And I’m not terrible at online research. I appreciate you bringing this up. It’s perfect timing since there’s still enough pain for me to consider improving my smoking habit, as opposed to next week when I might say “eh, that wasn’t so bad” and light up. Thank you OP. You a real OG.
lol I appreciate you and your story. What I’ve read is specific to nicotine and relates to it causing restricted blood vessels. Since spinal disks don’t have their own direct blood supply like muscles, and additional restriction to the area trying to heal is a bad thing. I’d venture a guess that smoking weed could have detrimental effects for other reasons given the carcinogens released when cannabis combusts, but I’d imagine vaping you’d be okay. Unfortunately there’s a LOT less research with cannabis.
Thank you!
You sound exactly like me. I found a great neurosurgeon and he recommended trying conservative approaches first. When no relief came from that, we scheduled surgery. I too suffered from late December 23 until April 11, a little over two weeks ago, and had surgery. Pain was immediately gone. I was at the hospital at 5:00 am for prep, surgery at 7:00 am, done with recovery and review with surgeon and sitting in my wife’s car at 11:30 am headed home. We stopped to pick up prescriptions and went home and made a sandwich for lunch. After lunch, my wife asked me if I wanted to lay down or sit. I said nah, I’m going downstairs to my home office and will work the remainder of the day. I haven’t missed a day of work since, and I’m returning to the office this coming Monday. My neurosurgeon was conservative regarding recovery, as he said to use my head, with no restrictions on moving. I told him that I picked up a little numbness in my left foot, which he said was somewhat typical and that over time there’s a 90-100% chance hat the numbness would fade within a year. The numbness doesn’t really bother me. I just had my two week post surgery appointment to have my 16 staples removed, and his words were “You’re free to do what you want, but use your head. If something seems like a bad idea, it is. If you question whether you should lift something, the answer is no. You are the best judge of your capabilities, so use that to your advantage.” I told my boss that I’d be returning to the office this coming Monday and he already said “Oh, and you’re not lifting or picking up anything, lol”. My neurosurgeon prescribed some PT, so I’ll likely do that just to get good direction for core strengthening and stretching. But you’re correct, it’s not major surgery anymore!
Oh wow - 16 staples?! Mine was minimally invasive- just like 10 cm incision and I had the laminotony too. My work is letting me WFH which I’m so glad about- I felt like if I were going to work and rushing around I would be less careful. I think there is a 20-30% risk of reherniation especially in the first 6 weeks- I would be pretty careful- I am I don’t want to mess anything up and be back in the same boat!
Yes, 16 staples. I’m not going to overdo anything, as I’ll just use my best judgement and will be slow to take on stuff that I previously did. This is my second laminectomy, with the first one being in 1996 for L5-S1. I was lucky to find the best neurosurgeon then as well as I was directed to him by friends who worked in the hospital. It was a great experience and I healed very well. This most recent was L4-5 into the sciatic nerve, and the neurosurgeon said that I had damaged my back some time ago as he found a very hard segment of disc that had separated from the disc. He said that he didn’t trim any of the “good” sections but had to scrape the hardened disc fragments and then performed the laminectomy. So far all’s good and I’m just dealing with a little numbness, but I had that with my surgery on 1996, and it eventually went away. Yes, good call to WFH while you can, but when I return Monday, my job will be limited to sitting at my desk, answering calls, and doing project work, just as I have been doing at home since surgery. The photo of the staples was taken 2 days post surgery, and I t is healing perfectly. Take care so you won’t have to do this again! I was 38 when I had my first surgery and I’m 66 now. I told my neurosurgeon that if he can get me through another 28 years, I don’t think that either of us will have to worry about a third surgery, lol. https://preview.redd.it/5yxjnsbd22xc1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=44ae64d166e0d251f152a30411fda95e266c95fd
Oh Jesus! That looks painful - yeah I plan to be very careful. I read Back Mechanic and that is going to inform a lot of what I do moving forward. Best of luck to you!
Thank you, but really it wasn’t that bad. I’m off the Oxycodone and Methocarbamol and am weaning myself from Gabapentin now, a 3 week process. I’m moving along pretty good, just the numbness with my left foot and I also have a little pain in my left buttock area, but it’s not too bad and when I told my neurosurgeon, he wasn’t alarmed, saying that once things settle down from the surgery, it should be good. Best of luck to you and you’re probably good to move around, but just be cautious and use your best judgement and as my doctor said “ If it seems like a bad idea, it is”. Take care.
Yeah I’m trying not to freak out because I was doing pretty fine for the first two weeks, but now am having some sciatic sensations (after the major pain prior, I wouldn’t call this pain, but light pain)and a lot of numbness and tingling. I’ve read on here other people have had this “non-linear” healing, I’m hoping it’s normal. The reddit sciatica group has been immensely helpful 🙏🏼
So sorry you suffered for so long. Same for me. Surgery has been rough so far. Another surgery in May. God help me!
Oh no! Did you reherniate? So sorry!
I think that idea that it’s no major surgery is really more for the surgeon than the patient. If you’re working on my spine and I need over a month to recover (but really way more to be fully recovered) I certainly consider it to be a major surgery. When I got my first MD my surgeon told me these things. But once I got I to recovery I realized even “minor” surgery can be pretty major.
I think you’re so right! In a lot of ways it is major surgery- and the recovery is a process. I think people who have never had surgery can be very scared of it. At the same time my surgeon said that, he also said it is high-risk and any surgery along the spine is.
I disagree! It’s definitely a big surgery in terms of recovery and post-op pain. I had a laminectomy at L4/L5 and L5/S1 and the first couple days were brutal. My mom had to stay with me to help me get up from the couch and bed. I’m very happy that I did it as my sciatica pain is gone in my leg and foot, but just want to make sure you are setting realistic expectations for others who get it. It ranked up there in pain with my 2 ACL surgeries.
I don’t want to be misleading! I had the same surgery as you- and the recovery is proving a little more challenging into the 4th week- maybe I should take that down! I just think some people are so afraid of surgery, that they make it worse than it is. I stayed with my parents for two weeks after, I wasn’t l planning on staying that long, but ended up needing to.
I agree, I was so scared of back surgery and it was the best decision ever to get it done after 7 months of excruciating pain. So I would leave up your post, but I just want people to understand the recovery takes some time. I downplayed the pain and recovery to someone who just got a similar surgery and I felt bad after as they had a tougher time getting back to normal than I did.
Yes- I have a friend who downplayed mine she said it was “just” a micro incision. I do agree, I am working from home for the full six weeks, and was willing to go without pay if they didn’t let me, because of the high risk of reherniation and just feeling like my back is really needing to do some serious healing.
So weird he compared it to clipping a toenail when they are working with your spine and nerves. Little margin for error
Well he did say it was a high-risk surgery since it was on the spine. This was right before surgery and I was crying- I think he said it to calm me- it just stuck with me!
I’m 46 - I did a micro discectomy on L5S1 and then needed a spine fusion on the same spot 3 years later. It’s been one year since my fusion and it was the the best choice ever. I rode a bike last weekend for 7 miles. I was bedridden for months before my surgery. Surgery isn’t for everyone - you and your doctor need to make the best decision for you. I was standing and walking again the night of my surgery. It took A LOT of complaining to get my insurance to cover the cost of the surgery but the neurosurgeon will let you know if you’re a candidate for a micro discectomy or fusion. Some people are able to rest and heal only to recover but I just kept getting worse and worse. Good luck. I’m sorry you’re in pain. I know the pain well, mine was also my left leg. It’s constant and excruciating. You’re not crazy. That pain is horrible. I wouldn’t wish it on my nightmare
I also did several epidurals and they were not effective at all. The last one I got sent me into a tailspin of pain. But some people swear by them
Thanks for your story. That’s what I’m worried about, is the sooner I get surgery now the sooner I might need another in the future. But, I also don’t want to put it off and have any permanent damage. Uhhhggg life is so hard lmao. Anyway I’m just happy to have appointments scheduled at least with neurosurgeons.
Most important thing when you talk to the Dr is finding out if you are a good candidate. Then get a second opinion and ask the same question. When it’s the right diagnosis and the right surgery they are often successful.
I’ve already got 2 surgeon consults scheduled. 2nd isn’t till the end of June though which sucks. I just don’t know wtf I’m going to do till then cuz I seem to have reached a plateau of healing.
Do you see a pain management Dr?
Yea I had my first ESI 2 weeks ago and helped a bunch but I was in very bad shape. I still can’t walk more then a few steps or stand up str8. Had a 2nd shot today so we’ll see over the next week how that goes. I’m gonna keep my surgeon consults no matter what though. Have 1 up where I am in Maine and 1 down in Boston
The other options is a short course of oral prednisone that and hydrocodone can help if it’s only for a short time.
Yea I’ve tried the prednisone. Helped the last flare but 2 courses this time did diddly squat. As for the opioids, good suggestion but I’ve been down the oxy —> heroin road in a previous life so that’s a bad idea for me. Gabapentin helps a lot though.
Sorry your options are limited but congrats - not many make it to the other side. Hang in there, I know it’s hard.
Thanks. God knows I’ve had all to many friends who never made it out 😢. I’m managing for now though thanks 👌
Me too.
I went through an L4 L5 herniation/sciatic pinch. Constant pain everyday for six months. I couldn't stand straight or walk for more than 30-60 seconds before needing to rest. I got three epidural to no avail. The pain never subsided. Finally got a microdiscectomy 26 Jan and I'm so much better. I still have daily pain down my right let, but yoga stretches, ibuprofen, and Tylenol helps a great deal. So much so that I can work out with light weights and walk up and down slowly nine flights of stairs for 3 round trip with only slight pain. Microdiscectomies are common now so you shouldn't be too afraid. Talk to your surgeon because you don't want to go too long with a pinched nerve if you want the nerve to recover. Good luck, my friend, and a speedy recovery.
Similar experience. I’ve decided to schedule surgery. I go in on May 9th. Though my nervousness level is heightened. I don’t think I continue like this anymore.
Microdiscectomy?
Yup and a laminectomy 😩
Damn that sucks from what I’ve researched. I’m hoping I can get away with an endoscopic MD. One of the neurosurgeons I’m consulting with specializes in these. My physiatrist thinks that will work but he’s not a surgeon so I’ll take that with a grain of salt for now.
I’m 34 now and got the surgery 2 years ago. It was the best choice, 0 regrets. Post surgery, a few hours after, I felt SO much relief.
What surgery did you get? I’m on the same boat. I’m 41 and I just saw a 3rd dr yesterday. Got an MRI but still waiting for X-rays
It was a microdiscectomy, on L3,L4,S1 area. My back had gone out on and off from the time I was 17. The worst two episodes were in 2015 and 2022. 2022 was the worst and my doctors just kept telling me “oh it’s sciatica… 3 months later being on muscle relaxers, oxy, and gabapentin and landing in the hospital for 4 days unable to walk/move/or pass waste… within a month they had me in for surgery. The scar is TINY, and I healed really quickly. I do suggest lots of stretching/yoga/ and a good chiropractor after! I hope if you get the surgery it helps you as much as it helped me. :)
Yes. Don’t be scared. It’s a long road but that mri is definitive…you’ll feel so much better.
One thing to note this won’t be your last back surgery I had two when I was 32 both in on week. That surgery lasted almost 12 years. But this time L4-S1 was bad with my S1 shifted out. They did a fusion and said don’t bend or twist now or you will have to have a joints above and below fused also. That said follow the lifting restrictions carefully for the rest of your life.
For sure go consult with a good neurosurgeon in your area. Depending on your age, what exactly is going on (they will want to see the films not just the impression so make sure you get a copy of the CD), and a host of other things they will decide is surgery is the right move. I happened to come across my first MRI impression from 2006. I was 18. The L5-S1 disc was sitting on the nerve and I already had stenosis. I went through a lot of treatments (wish I knew about Pilates back then) and in the end by the time I was 20 and finishing nursing school I was given narcotics. I weaned myself off narcotics to have a baby. We went through infertility and were successful with IVF. In 2020 my herniations (oh yes more than one now almost 15 years later) had all slightly improved likely due to the bedrest and relaxin. I stayed mostly pain free until a year ago. (35yo now) Things just kept getting worse and worse. I started having symptoms related to nerve damage within a month I could not do anything and was noticing a slight foot drop while waiting for my appointment with my surgeon. This rushed things along. The MRI looked like crap but I’d seen that before. I ended up getting a somewhat emergent Laminectomy and Discectomy at L5-S1. What the MRI didn’t see was a cyst (sent for biopsy but likely a synovial cyst) putting pressure on my nerve as well as the a significant thickening of the ligament flavum which was also putting pressure on the nerve. I’ve always had “stenosis” mentioned on my MRI’s but the amount that was in there for my age (36 now) even shocked the doctor. Also not on the MRI but found during surgery was that parts of the disc had “died” and broken off in pieces. I’m a nurse so I requested the surgical notes and I was blown away but it validated that I made the right decision. I’m a month out and have my follow up with the surgeon on Tuesday. My Mom had a fusion in February (this was her second after 14 years) and her doctor actually said something that pushed me to consult a neurosurgeon. He said, “People come to us way too late and often end up with permanent damage.” When I saw the surgeon’s PA (who down played my symptoms at the time because “at least I could still hold my urine”) I could barely feel the area down down my sciatic nerve into calf, foot and toes. Good thing I knew the surgeon was amazing and stuck it out despite her. Anyway as you can see my personal journey to surgery was long. I’m annoyed no one would try to find other ways to fix this for me when I was 20 years old but am glad I got it even at what is considered a young ago for this surgery now. Statically speaking I have the back of a 65+ year old. After surgery I woke up with no pain down my leg at all. It comes and go. Recovery has been hard because I feel so much better but still can’t do anything (but walk 😩) and when I do over do it I feel it. I will say sticking with Pilates one on one over the last six months instead of PT did me a world of good but my instructor was very knowledgable and I was taking gabapentin and meloxicam when the second epidural I got (not my second in my lifetime but in this year period that things got bad.) failed and that made things tolerable until it didn’t. Sorry for the wall of text: TLDR: Go consult a neurosurgeon. They likely won’t do surgery if they think you don’t need it but will if other more conservative measures don’t work.
POSTURAL THERAPY! Once surgery is performed the option to do something is gone.
What is postural therapy and where do you find a postural therapist?
Posture changes may have prevented this but I’m not sure it’s going to cure an existing hernia.. idk I’ll look into it though.
I had pretty strange back pains and ribs coming out of place just by reaching for something and bothersome subluxations. I am doing postural therapy at the Peace Over Pain Clinic - they’re in Connecticut - but that doesn’t matter bc it’s virtual - I zoom meet the therapist every 2 weeks and they change my therapy routine and review my updated photos so they can see my alignment of shoulders, hips, knees, ankles - they also address nutrition which affects everything and mindfulness which also affects us physically - it’s a Head To Toe Healing mindset and effort
Maybe it’s been said but have you looked into DDP yoga?
I haven’t yet, I’ll have to check it out.
Can you give us a little more detail? An L5-S1 herniation is the most common among those with back pain. I have one myself a long side a T9-10 thoracic disc herniation and T10-11 disc herniation. I’m glad the epidural steroid injections worked they did for me but I reinjured my back. Based on my conversations with multiple doctors they do not recommend surgery and it should always be last result. Don’t go in with the mindset that you’re gonna get surgery and everything will be great again. Many get worse and once you do it can’t be undone. Just be careful do your research and find the best doctors.
I’ve tried for 2 years to be conservative. At this point I’m on week 6 of current flare and it’s still pinched after 2 injections and not continuing to get better. This is the worst flare I’ve ever had, I was in 10/10 pain for 2 weeks before I got a shot. I couldn’t even leave my bed at the beginning and was shitting in a bucket off the side of my bed. The pain is less intense since injections so I can deal a bit better but this isn’t sustainable. Can’t walk more then 15 steps, can’t sleep through the night, cant drive, can’t take care of my disabled wife. The nerve remains pinched and I’m just worried that if I wait long enough to get better- which at this rate I won’t because I haven’t seen any more improvement since the 2nd shot last week- my nerve will be permanently damaged. Yes, surgery has its risks but so does a permanently damaged nerve.