Microdiscetomy L5-S1

[Beema79]

Hey, I'm 28 years old, I had discectomy when I was 18 for a slipped and ruptured disc between L4 and L5, would you believe that only 10 years later, I have acquired the same injury between L5 and S1.   I've had 2 epidurals, the second one worked for 1 week, but somewhere in the last week I have prolapsed the disc further, giving me sciatic pain all the way down my leg, as opposed to it just being in my buttock.  I'm a little scared, as it appears I will need a microdiscectomy to stop my pain, what is the recovery time?  I'm currently a performer (dancer/singer/actor) and need to know how long I will be out of action for, and when can I start dancing again?  Any thoughts?  Advice?

Cheers


This discussion is related to Recovery from L5-S1 Microdiscectomy.

[Tron74]

Hi there Teacher.
After reading your message l thought l would contact you, hopefully you can give me some advise on the recovery.
Your post is 2006 you will now know how successful it was.
I am 5 week post surgery the first 2 weeks tender from the op. I expected this. The third/forth week feel almost normal (pain free). The operation was for leftside sciatica decompression with decetomy.
Worry to me is that l started have pain in right buttock, now it travelling down to front on shin. Whilst walking the leg gives way. I struggle to walk upstairs because right leg has no strength.
In your experience is this just part of the recovery or do I need to call surgeon?

[john119]

Hi all, ive been reading these comments after doing a google search for recovery time from a microdisectomy. Im a male of 32  and ive just had the operation to remove a herniated disc (a week ago 27th april) i was in agony for 5 mnths and tried everything to cure it. The pain was down my right leg, foot and ankle and was a searing, burning pain that sometimes i felt as though someone could cut my leg off to rid myself of it.First it was a chiropractor who said i was on the pathway to surgery the first time i saw him, then i had physio, first at my doctors surgery then some more physio at a pain management clinic, then i had epidural steroid injections. None of these things worked and finally i had the op. The op went fine and the surgeon did a fantastic job, he also said he had to remove some bone(not sure why).  At the minute im a not in half as much pain but i did think i would feel better than this. Im currently experiencing pain in the same places albeit not as aggressive, also getting pain in the left leg but this kind of pain im getting now feels muscular. All through the 5mnths and even now im taking Co-Codamol, Tramadol and Diclofenec (anti inflam). I've lost my house and my dog because i couldnt keep up with the rent (ive gone down to half pay) and now i have to go back to live with my parents (in a flat which wont allow pets). Ive been through allsorts of emotions throughout this and sympathise with anybody going through it. I wanted to know if anybody has been through this process, will it get better?, what exercises can i do if any? are these post surgery pains normal?..thanks  :-)

[naomi125]

Hi, I'm 25yrs old and I had an L4 -L5 microdiscectomy on the 1st July 2009. I still think I am worse now than what I was before the surgery, but the surgery had to be done because after 5months of PT the bulge was not going anywhere. Healing is slow and sometimes so depressing when you have to relay on family to do basically everything for you. The main thing is I am slowly getting better. It's the little things that I notice, like getting longer through the day before I have to lie down and actually being able to pick things off the floor. I am still on 1500mg of neurontin and panadine forte when needed and Tramadol on standby for when I have a bad day. I hope I can give someone hope that the pain will ease and although it is slow, you will improve :D

[HAPPYCHICK17]

im having my oporation on my back for L5/S5 protrution on mon 21st dec 09 when in hospitol do we stay in and what is recovery like do we need to have help moving around and roughly how long is recovery ? thanks for help Linda XX

[dr_simran]

Hello Dear,
The results of revision microdiscectomy are not consistant and the success rate cannot be predicted.You should go in for conservative treatment,physiotherapy and back extension exercises.Cold and hot massage may also help.Transcutaneous electricalnerve stimulation serves to relieve stiffness, improve mobility, and relieve pain .Although the conservative treatment is slow ,it is effective.
Best