Is leg pain after microdiskectomy normal?

Four days ago I had a lumbar microdiskectomy on L4-5. I had been suffering from severe sciatic pain since March and my surgeon decided that I needed the surgery. Of course everyone I came in contact with after the decision was made to have surgery said "Oh, I had that and I just needed and aspirin and I was fine. I had no more pain and I was back doin active things immediately."

My surgery was successful and I was doing fine with all the sciatic pain, numbness and tingling gone...until today.  It seems to have come back. It is not as painful as it was before but I can definitely feel it and it is really causing me a great amount of stress. I did a bit more today than I have done since the surgery. Today was the first day I rode in a car and I did a bit more around the house than I have been doing.

My question is: Is leg pain AFTER surgery normal or is it a sign that the disc has been reherniated? I have been following the plan exactly. I haven't picked up anything too heavy. I squat with my legs and thighs. I use a gripper to pick things up off the floor. I am walking and trying to get rest but today it just suddenly seemed to reappear. I am so scared I don't know what to do. I really hope someone can give me some answers. I don't want to have to go back into surgery and I can't live with that kind of pain.

Any response will be welcome. Thank you in advance.

[Prem Pillay, MD]

Its best that you talk to your surgeon.
In some people the symptoms you have described are due to some nerve root inflammation that does subside with time. A short course of steroids can help. Others may need a nerve root block.

[Pearl_Drummer]

I had that procedure done twice at L4/5 and L5/S1 in 2005. I never experienced ANY nerve pain. Also, and this is just a layman talking, but once the nuclius is removed, how can a disc "re-buldge?
Just my 2 cents. (oh and for your "aspirin friends"...BS!!! I hurt like hell!)
mike

[nuggetone]

I had lower lumber discectomy L5 and a wk afterwards y leg started hurting really bad.  They gave me steroids and  it stopped the problem.  They said I had inflammation.  I also took soma, lorcet and Hydrocodone after surgery.  The lorcet made me sick.  The hydros kept me awake so I still take somas cause I have dengerative disc disease.  I am okay when I am sitting  but to lay for 7-8 hrs at night I wake up still hurting but in my hips.  I do feel better.  But they are going to do another MRI at first of yr.  Aspirin, come on.......get you some real relief.  Just call your Dr. and speak to the nurse.  They dont have a problem calling me in what I need.  There is no sense in living life in pain.  

[nuggetone]

So how is the pain?  I am awful.  I am making an appt tomorrow with nuerosurgeon.  I cant take this night time pain anymore.  It is getting worse.  The leg pain is okay but it is the back pain.  Have you had nerve root block?  What do they do?  Does an nuerosurgeon do this since he is experience with the nerves.  They say you dont waont an ortho to do it.  Did you get any meds to help?  Let me know whats up

[chronicpain7years]

nO A anESTESTHIOLOGIST DOES THE NERVE BLOCKS USUSALLY IN A PAIN CLINIC. i GOFOR THOSE AND THEY HELP A BIT FOR A SHORT WHILE BUT THE PAIN ALWAYS COMES BACK. I HAD A L5S1 DISKECOTOMY AND FUSION. I SILL HAVE CHRONIC PAIN IN BACK AND RIGHT LEG. THEY SAID I HAD NERVE DAMAGE FROM IT BEING COMPRESSED FOR SO LONG. I WAITED OVER 5 YEARS TO HAVE THIS DONE. HAD 3 CONSULTS AND EVEN HAD SURGERY SCHEDULED BACK IN 2003 BUT CHICKENED OUT. HAD IT IN 1-8-2007.  I WAS IN HOUSE REHAB FOR 2 WEEKS AFTER AND STILL HAD TO HAVE HOME HELP AND COULDNT WALK WITHOUT A WALKER. I HAD A TERRIBLE TIME WITH IT. SOUNDS LIKE YOU GUYS DID GREAT!!! I WISH YOU WELL!