post microdiscectomy leg pain

Question

My 20 year old daughter had L5-S1 microdiscectomy 6 weeks ago, she is a competetive college volleyball player, she was recovering well, I believe at 5 weeks she may have over done it, and the preoperative buttocks and leg pain have returned. is this common. She is frightened, and is questioning the sucess of her surgery; she sees her surgeon this week for a follow up.

This discussion is related to leg pain after microdiscectomy.

cahaden · Answer

I had bi lateral micro on 9/25/13 for a broad based 11mm herniation. I will be 6 weeks next week . Just started on my third medrol pack. Everything will be going fine and then either neuropathy in feet will flare or siatic and leg pain. I can tell I am better but just wish this would all resolve soon! See the dr on Friday for 6 week check and I am going to ask when I can have an MRI. I started PT on week 2 and am also going to my local indoor pool doing walking and aqua core exercise. I walk a lot outdoors to prevent scar tissue formation. Hope I have not reherniated.
I think by far my worst pain has been in my hips they get so stiff I have trouble walking. 
Best wishes to you on your recovery! My email is ***@**** if you ever want to compare notes! Ha

philipa211 · Answer

I had my surgery 5 days ago microdiscectomy l4 l5. I had it on Monday October 28th 2013. I felt great relief after the surgery.. Now 4 days later  i am starting to feel pain the the left buttock area. I am not sure what is triggering it. I had stopped the Percocet and cyclobenzaprene 3 days after the surgery. I started taking it again this Sunday morning seems to have started working. I have done limited walking since the surgery 15 minutes every day. Have not twisted, bent or picked up anything. If any one has any ideas what this could be I would appreciate any feed back

Smithio · Answer

Hi Neil, I know it's a long time since your post, but I'm in exactly the same predicament. How are things now? What have you done? Thanks tony

libertarian79 · Answer

Neil, I was reading your post and I thought you were telling my story.  I had microdisc removal L4-5 on Apr. 20.  I’m 29 y/o.  This is my third day back to work.  I've had off and on pain since the surgery.  Today I walked a good 45 mins and started feeling pain in my heel.

My back feel stiff in the morning and it takes a lot for me to get up.  I was off work six weeks.  It was the best six weeks of my life.  I loved staying home (beside the point).  It was hard getting the energy/motivation to go back to work.  I was also worried about coming back because I sit at a desk ALL DAY.  I try and get up and walk around every hour.  But I’ve noticed, since Tuesday (first day back), that the old pain is returning.  I try and sit straight, not stay seated for too long, but I can only do so much without ditching work behind.

Meds:  It’s been a roller-coaster of a ride.  My REAL pain (leg/butt) first started in Dec. 07.  Since then I’ve been up and down on the narcotics.  My peak was 120mg ocizzy a day.  I was maxing my daily dose come time for surgery so I had to deal with my tolerance to narcs and the pain from the surgery.  Now I am down to 10mg in the morn and occasional 20mg in eve (mostly 10mg).  I’ve got 15mg oxycodone for breakthrough.  Past three days I’ve taken one at noon and one around 5 p.m. for pain management.  I was on 600mg of Lyrica a day, now down to 150mg.  I don’t want to go down the same road I’ve been down before.  I want to be off narcs 100%.  BUT, I don't want to be in pain.  I've got a wife and three-year-old who need me straight.  Besides, society makes me feel guilty taking narcos.  I have to explain myself to family/friends.  Do I take it, don't I?  It's depressing.

Docs out there...how long should someone need pain meds following a microdiscectomy?  Should I press to get off the long acting and shoot for a breakthrough only?  How do you know if you injured yourself during recovery?  Scar tissue, herniation, etc.?

Thanks for the posts.

neil_t · Answer

had microdiscectomy (bilateral L5/S1 with removal of sequestrated large fragments) in dec08, felt great for bout 8 weeks, no pain, good movement, then suddenly the old damn sciatic pain began to rear its ugly head again...now 5 and a bit months on, im basically having to deal with daily pain, i tolerate pain quite well and though its a vast improvement over my pre-surgery pain, its still literally a total pain in the arse!!! and has basically ruined many aspects of my life, the majority of the sports i used to love are out the question and have been unable to work since as sitting for more than 20 minutes or so causes a load of stiffness and pain, im back on daily painkillers (diclofenac/nsaid and tramadol when real bad) i assume by the reading i have done that this is probably scar tissue formation still compressing the nerve route to some degree, i guess its unlikely to be re-herniation as i was told my original herniation was so large, i virtually have no disc left to re-herniate and also i have occasional ok(ish) days, and doubt this would be the case if re-herniated?

So where from here 37 and screwed!!...2nd surgery?...don't like that idea, surely that can only cause more scar tissue, apparently some surgeons view is; yes it can do, but it may also reform in a better orientation giving less pain...risky if you ask me, could certainly also re-form in a worse orientation!! came accross this interesting artice if it is indeed scar tissue causing problems:

http://bjr (DOT) birjournals.org/cgi/content/full/77/922/885        

(replace (DOT) in above URl with a real one, i was unsure if i was allowed to post links?) 

Aside from the only other thing i've noticed is i seem to have a little instability down there, if i lie on my belly and hang my head and the upper part of my torso off the end of the bed, i feel quite a stretch on the lower back and after a few moments i get a small 'clunk' sensation and it seam to somewhat relieve my pain marginally, i understand the discectomy, at least the normal preformed method which i and most have, can give some instability issues as it removes some bone to gain access to the disc (think if i was going to do it again i'd try to have full non-invasive pin hole/endoscopic surgery), 

Guess thats about all for now, regards, neil (pissed-off, sore and unable to see the tunnel let alone a damn light!!)

Jenn0428 · Answer

Thanks.  I need luck.  Your right, it does make you feel 90.... and I do think that I am going to get more opinions.  I have also dealt with this for a little over 6 years... and the more time that goes by with out it being fixed, the worse it's getting.  I can't even feel my legs, and I can't even tell when I have to use the restroom.  This is horrible.  I feel bad that I can't be the mom that I want to be with my kids or the wife that I want to be for my husband.  But I do the best that I can, and they support me in everything.  Thanks for writting back!

ken123456789 · Answer

Hi Jen, i am so sorry to here about all of your pain. I have dealt with pain for 6 years but nothing like yours. I did not have a disc removal, O had micro D and the recovery is a few weeks.... I can totally relate, I am 36 and WAY to young to be dealing with this. Mentally it is debilitating and physically it makes you feel 90... I would suggest getting a few opinions from an orthopedic surgeon, and one from a neruo surgeon...

Good luck!

Jenn0428 · Answer

I'm so glad to hear that you are feeling better.  I on the other hand need to have my L3-4 and L4-5 taken care of.  My neurosurgen is talking about doing an eXtream Lateral Interbody Fusion.  I'm scared. I'm on so many medications and my goal is to have less than half of the pain that I am in now.  I'm on moriphine, vicoden es, neurotens, and naproxen's.  I also have a hard time getting out of bed.  I wake up stiff and I wake up through out the night screaming and crying due to the nerve pain.  It feels like someone is ripping my skin off from my buttocks down to my knees and on the front of my theighs.  I have tried injections, physical therapy, everything else that my doctors had asked of me to do and nothing seems to help, actually it makes it worse.  I'm 30 years old and I'm too young to have all of this pain and problems.  How many weeks of recovery is there is the disc removal??

oscarabbie · Answer

Hello, soory to hear about the pain returning, this can happen, it is most common for the disc to herniate, however the good news is that if it caught soon the surgoens can and will go in again before any major damage.
However, the initial surgery can result in scar tissue forming around the wound site and causing similar pain to the disc herniation. This is more problematic to fix. the sureon will need another MRI scan to get to the bottom of this. I'll pray for you and your daughter and hopefully things will turn out right.

ken123456789 · Answer

Thanks for the response. I never knew 20% re herniated in the first 3 weeks. I do not think that is the case with me. I truly believe my nerve root is irritated and is going to take time to heal. Fortunately this weekend it feels a little better. I have been able to get out of the house for 2-3 hour and then come home and rest... going to the doc on wed for my post surgery follow up. I am preying I continue to feel better. I think the key is to take it was and not push I...


Where is your pain? Mine is in my buttock/ upper hip...

Wyoming08 · Answer

Ken, I just had a microdisectomy on Oct 2nd. I have been feeling fine and then this morning, I woke up with radiating pain down my hip and left leg. This is the same thing I experienced Pre Surgery. I am not sure if it is normal or not, but I do know that 1 in 5 people reherniate their disk with in the first three weeks after surgery. You may want to contact your doctor. Best wishes on your recovery.

ken123456789 · Answer

Hello, I was reading everyone’s replies and loved the site so I joined.

I have had a herniated disk (L5 S-1) for years. I have tried physical therapy, injections, decompressions, and finally agreed to a microdiscectomy. Prior to surgery I had severe back pain and stiffness, and leg pain radiating down my leg. Post surgery I felt great. My doctor advised me to walk 30-60 minutes a day. I did, even pushed it to 90 the first few days then I started to experience, minor calf burning so I gradually scaled it back. I am now 11 days post surgery and I am having difficulty when I walk. The pain is better than it was, the stiffness in my back is better, but I am still having leg and calf burning. Around the house I am okay but once I walk the pain begins at the top of my buttocks and down to my calf.  Lying down I get sporadic pains in my calf.  I was wondering is this normal, how long does it last, what can I do for it? The walking will help with scare tissue, should I stop the 30 minute walks? Pres surgery I was on Celebrex, for inflammation (works great) post surgery, the doctor prescribed Percocet. I was off all meds for a while and now I need them again, I was wondering what should I be taking?

PaulMD · Answer

Hi.

This is really a prime moment for your daughter and I'm sorry to hear that she's experiencing this pain.  The recovery from surgery varies from one person to another and it depends in how fast the body heals.  In her condition, she may indeed have over done some activities leading to this return of the pain.  From the surgery also, there can be risk of some damaged nerves and tissues that can likewise give rise to pain.  I agree that you take this back to her doctor to have the progress of recovery checked.  For now, I suggest that she takes things slowly and avoid stress to the area as much as possible.

Regards and God bless.