Broken Disc Surgery Question

[xmelax35]

Hi Everyone. I have a questionf or anyone who knows. I am going to have surgery quite soon for my herniated/broken disc. I wondered how long if anyone has had this, how long is recovery? I mean how long for pain? WIll I feel great right away and be able to do normal things? Now, a relative who thinks they are the only one with pain and mostly lies, so I don't know whether to believe them or not said our grandfather had the surgery and was up literally dancing right after surgery that day.  Can I expect to feel great right away and so forth with absolutely no pain at all? I am just wanting to know what to expect.  Since I was told that I have high expections of this surgery, that I will be completely pain free and not have to take medications for the back issue after surgery. I have to take something for my daily migraines/symptoms which is unrelated to this, but for my back, since I was told that I expected I wouldn't have to have any pain meds.

Please be Honest with me! Please be honest no matter what about the pain issue.  Like I said my relative lies an awful lot, so I don't know whether to believe or not. So if there is pain, I would like to know. I don't want to believe there is not and there will be. But if there is not, then I will know that there will not. Hope that make sense.

[xmelax35]

Thank you!!!! That is the kind of help I was asking for!  I do appreciate you sharing your experience! :) :) It is good to hear all the different kinds and different stuff people are going through. As I know that everyones will be different. I know that from the Chiari Surgery, that everyone had different outcomes and different types of pain and such. Thank you again frankie_rush!

[frankie_rush]

I had surgery for a hernaiated disc along with my decompression surgery.  Mine went fine, I don't have any pain except some stiffness and that can be from the fusion.  But it has been 9 months since surgery and I am doing good.

[xmelax35]

p.s. I don't want an opinion on how I will feel after surgery, as everyone is different and no one could ever know if I will be pain free or have pain (no one can predict that). I wanted to know WHAT OTHER PEOPLE FELT after THEIR surgery.

[xmelax35]

I Honestly do not know what kind of Information I am supposed to provide for a response. I just wanted to know who had the surgery and what their pain was like after surgery.  I AM NOT GOING TO USE A TENS UNIT!! I have used one and it was USELESS! I still have it packed away and never want to see that piece of crap again.  It didn't work on my back and didn't work on my neck/head only to make that pain worse.  I am having LUMBAR Disc Surgery. I have a BROKEN disc and there is a fragment laying on a nerve in a different part (it moved away from the disc).  I have had physical therapy in the past and it only made my head worse (it is a totally different problem) and I was down for 3 days after each session. I want this surgery because I do not want to live with this pain for the rest of my life.  I have had PT/OT for my back and head I have lived with back painf or  quite awhile. It must have been herniated for awhile, but it just recently at the end of last year broke off.  Things i do have made the pain much worse - daily activities and even walking, as I tried walking to keep up and hope it helped (I love taking walks). Only I would be in so much pain.  

I fall and my leg is week and so much more. I am having this surgery to FEEL BETTER. I do not want ot be in pain from head to foot, as I said, I have another issue unrelated to this.  I want to be able to do more than I am now.  I have a goal to feel better by my 44th Birthday (that is just a time I picked).  I want to be able to go to concerts and football games and fishing and so much more again.  I am tired of the pain. I have this pressure that has been in my lower back for so long too that feels like there is a Fist back there and it is horrible, I can't stand it.  I am NOT going to waste my time again and go through all that stuff that DOES NOT work. That stuff doesnt work for everyone. It might for some. Evidently some people heal from this and feel better and never have to have surgery. I don't know, does a broken disc eventually grow back? Does that piece just go back to that spot and wedge back in??  I still have bad LEG pain really bad. I have trouble sleeping and I have a great bed.  We have a very nice Serta bed we paid a lot of money for.

[caregiver222]

You have not provided sufficient information for a response. MRI result, poreferably from a 3t MRI are essential for an informed opinion. In general, unless you have gone through a program of physical therapy, use of transdermal lidocaine, and use of a TENS device should a laminectomy should not be considered. It is a last, last resort. Have it done at a facility that does a lot of them. Often the pain develops again after a year or so. Pain is usually, but not always relieved. You still must avoid heavy lifting for the rest of your life. The procedure is simple and they release you from the hospital after only two or three days. Often the procedure must be repeated in a few years.