How soon should relief come after a microdiskectomy

    
      Re: How soon should relief come after a microdiskectomy
    


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Posted by CCF NEUROSURGERY MD on October 06, 1997 at 12:28:01:

In Reply to: How soon should relief come after a microdiskectomy posted by Charles Hicks on September 29, 1997 at 15:39:57:

: Dear Doctor,
   My girlfriend had a microdiskectomy 14 days ago, on the
  L5-S1 disk to relieve symptoms of impingement on the nerve roots above and
  below the herniation. She still feels no relief from the original symptomatic
  pain. Is this common to successful cases or is it likely that the surgery
  was unsuccessful? My doctor will not give any indication of the likeliness
  of failure, only saying it is too earlty to tell. He is rather distant and
  aloof. I have read that reoperation is sometimes wisely done before the
  lamina heals and I am worried that his unwillingness to admit the failure
  is complicating this problem. If my question cannot be clearly answered from
  a medical standpoint a suggestion to either wait a certain period of time
  or or seek another doctor immediately would be sufficient. Your reply is
  warmly appreciated.
                Very Best Regards,
                Charles Hicks
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Dear Charles,
The results of a routine discectomy are usually apparent immediately after
surgery.  Often the relief is profound and patients are quite thankful.
Persistent pain in the same distribution may suggest that the pathology
remains.  If your wife's pain is no better this may be the situation.  
Alternatively, there may be a different process going on causing the pain.
A repeat MRI may be a good suggestion at this point to reevaluate the
situation.  A period of observation is also reasonable this early after
surgery.  You should discuss this with your surgeon so you understand what
he or she is thinking.
Good luck.