butt pain after microdiscetomy surgery

[gritch]

Had microdiscectomy L 4/5 on 08/13/09.  Surgery went well.  Was up walking shortly after surgery.  There was an immediate relief to my back pain.  Have experienced some problems with my left leg that wasn't experiencing before surgery - numb, pins & needles, walk with a gate - seems to be getting better, however, the butt pain is killing me? What should I do now.  Called my surgeons office, spoke with nurse, seemed to care less-pain getting worse-follow-up appointment not until four more days!!!  any advise?

[lastyles]

After discectomy, I went back to work about 1.5-2 months later...I'm an Executive Chef, and, you know, the demand on your feet is plentiful...I'm what you would call an "over achiever", and I totally over achieved alright...it took less than a year to go under the knife again for the fusion..it's very important to take it easy after a discectomy...I recommend mentioning the foot drop problem to your Doc..hopefully the steroids will relieve the pressure on the nerve, and you'll gain mobility back in your foot..if your Doc brushes it off, I would personally seek another Doc..Foot drop is serious, and shouldn't be taken lightly, or brushed off..I was quite surprised to hear your doc did not discuss that with you...good luck, and please keep me posted..if I don't respond for a couple of days, don't worry..I am very busy, and don't get a chance to check my computer stuff daily..I check every couple of days..good luck, and I hope you feel better...

[gritch]

I, also, had a discectomy done due to a severe herniation in lower L4/L5.  You stated that you went back to work too soon-what time frame are you speaking of?  The butt pain is as bad, if not worse than, the original pain I was having in my lower back.  For now I am taking pain mediciation to cope with the pain.  No, my doctor has not spoken with me about any of the things you have educated me about.  I have not spoken with him since right before my surgery that a.m. in the operating room.  His nurse PT followed-up with me after surgery and was the one to release me to come home from hospital.  Can;t wait until Monday a.m. to call his office again.  With it being the weekend, I am in limbo!!!!  The foot drop thing is exactly what is  going on.  Did your little test and can just barely get my toes off the floor on my left foot.  Same as you, the right foot is fine.  I, for sure, do not want to have a fusion-I have heard from others what a night-mare that procedure is.  I had already decided to play it safe and use a cane.  The risk of falling is too great and I'd hate to damage what good has already been done.  I haven't worked since the end of May and my time from work that I have available to remain off work and not lose my job is getting real close.  My health is my most important concern, will just have to see how things go.  Can't wait to try the steroid pack.  This pain is really a "pain in the butt."   I so appreciate your time and info.  Will let you kow how things go.  Good night.

[lastyles]

One more thing gritch..DON'T OVER DO IT!!  You don't want a FUSION!!

[lastyles]

I had a discectomy done in 2000..I had a severe herniation in lower level (L4/L5)..the discectomy helped, but I went back to work too soon, over did it, and ended up having to get it fused...It ended up, bone on bone, so they fused it...I had the same symptoms as you, with the pain in my butt after surgery..it was so bad, I could hardly take it..my doc put me on a 5 day dose pack of steroids, and boy o boy did it work...it sounds to me like you definitely have the foot drop thing going on...foot drop develops from the nerve being pinched in your back, cutting off the mobility in the lower leg and foot...I had it so bad, that I was tripping, and falling alot...the classic test to do to see if you have foot drop is to stand up against a wall, feet, legs, butt, back, shoulders touching the wall...once flush against the wall raise the front of your feet, keeping your heels on the ground...try to get the front of your feet as high as you can, keeping your heels on the ground...My doc did this test with me, and my right foot went up, but the left stayed on the floor..he told me that my case of foot drop was the worst he had ever seen...fortunately, after the fusion, it came back, and now It's back 100%...some people aren't so fortunate...it does however take time to come back..some cases up to a year...you have to be patient...I really think you have the symptoms of foot drop..has your doc mentioned this to you/and or explained it?...the tingling is from nerve pinching...that nerve is super pissed off, hence the pain and tingling...make sure you mention to your doc the oral steroids..if I were a betting woman, I bet that would relieve your pain, and reduce the swelling of the nerve...please keep me posted, and good luck with it...if you don't have one already, I suggest using a cane to walk around with..I used one, and it helped me so much..especially with the foot drop...keep me posted..

[gritch]

Thanks for the response.  I'm not sure what you mean by foot drop, but I do have problem with my left foot and leg  that I did not have before surgery, being that I walk feeling as if I'm dragging my left foot-this has gotten a little better.  Also, I have little to no feeling in my big toe and a tingling feeling from my knee down through my foot.  Kinda feels like my foot isn't connected to my body.  Have very little movement or ability to flex my ankle.    There have been a couple of times as I've been walking that I have fallen forward from lack of control of my foot and almost fallen.  The great thing is that there is NO pain in my back!!!!   Contacted the answering service for my Dr. this a.m. and still no response.  More than one nerve of mine is "pissed off"  HA!!!!  How long ago did you have your surgery?  

[gritch]

Thanks for the response.  I'm not sure what you mean by foot drop, but I do have problem with my left foot and leg  that I did not have before surgery, being that I walk feeling as if I'm dragging my left foot-this has gotten a little better.  Also, I have little to no feeling in my big toe and a tingling feeling from my knee down through my foot.  Kinda feels like my foot isn't connected to my body.  Have very little movement or ability to flex my ankle.    There have been a couple of times as I've been walking that I have fallen forward from lack of control of my foot and almost fallen.  The great thing is that there is NO pain in my back!!!!   Contacted the answering service for my Dr. this a.m. and still no response.  More than one nerve of mine is "pissed off"  HA!!!!  How long ago did you have your surgery?  

[lastyles]

Peekawho is right..you probably need a dose pack of steroids..I had the same problem after my discectomy..they put me on a dose pack, and after the first pill, the pain in my butt and down my leg went away..hang in there..my surgeon explained it this way..."the reason you are experiencing that pain, is because the nerve that has been pressed on by the disc for so long, is extremely "pissed off" and needs time to cool down.."  it did finally cool down, with the help of the steroids...Yes, be firm with the office...good luck..did you have foot drop?..if so, how severe?..and has it improved?

[peekawho]

You may need oral steroids.  I had to have at least 2 courses of them to quell nerve irritation post micro-D.    

Be firm and persistent with the office.  

The good news is that eventually, the nerves will quiet back down.  I had 8 good years after my microD. (L5-S1)