Herniated Disk Surgery

[CyCrazy]

To both Stewo and CyCrazy: this is what worries me - partial relief. I'm a runner and a cyclist and I want to resume once I recover. I'm missing RAGBRAI for the first time in 11 years because of this. It bums me out that you guys have it come back occasionally.

Mine really only flares up a couple of times a year now. I could be doing something as simple as picking something off the floor and bam there goes my back. But most of the time if I don't over exert myself I am usually fine.

 

[NobodyBeatsCy]

I had a lumbar laminectomy on my L4/L5 10 years ago. It was done as an outpatient surgery, and I was at home that night. First week was pretty rough, you need to learn how to walk, lay in bed, stand up from a sitting position, etc while causing minimal movement in your back. Second week was much easier. I seem to remember that I went back to work sometime during the 3rd week since I have a desk job.

Before the surgery, I had 9 months of extreme pain so bad I couldn't stand for more than 5 minutes at a time. I wasted most of that time with the "help" of a chiropractor who did nothing for me except take my money and prolong the pain by convincing me surgery was a terrible option.

On occasion, I still experience some pain, especially if I overdo heavy lifting. I still am able to jog/run and do high-impact sports, but my back always reminds me that it is not 100%. I would say that it is probably at 80-90%. I still have minor numnbess and occasionally very minor pain in my legs. I have gotten used to it and never notice it until I stop to think about it. Overall, getting surgery was a good decision and I would do it again. It changed my life from extreme pain to being active again.

My surgery was done by a neurosurgon. At that time, they seemed to be more advanced at performing a less-invasive surgery than many orthopedic surgeons. Also, keep in mind that this is not just a joint issue, but also a nerve issue. Since it's been 10 years since my surgery, I don't know if there currently much difference between the procedures performed by orthopedic and neurosurgeons. It may be worth a consultation with a neurosurgon as well to find out if they have different procedures or advantages.

Thanks That sums up my thoughts about Physical Therapy as well, but to be fair, I had not had my MRI done until after that, and didn't know the true extent of the problem.

Thanks for sharing

 

[harty83]

I had a ruptured disc between L5-S1. For a couple of years I thought I just had a bad back--I would get bad spasms once a year or so, would go to the chiro and doctor, treat with some muscle relaxers, etc. Then one day I woke up and the pain was different...not confined to my back. Pain shooting down my leg and even in my left...you know. I got an MRI and the doc told me that usually he recommends therapy but I didn't have a choice--I needed surgery ASAP it was so bad. Went home with pain killers and valium for two days. Still hurt, but with the valium I didn't care . I woke up after surgery and it was already better. Recovery from surgery was only a couple weeks, but had a lifting restriction for 2 or 3 months, and it probably took that amount of time to get any kind of endurance back. A couple of years later I am exercising as hard as ever. I still have residual pain in the mornings sometimes, but I wouldn't second guess having the surgery for an instant. Incidentally my brother has a problem with the same disc and left side. Weird.