Microdiscectomy and leg pain

[Adept Ali]

I had a microdiscectomy about a week ago on my L5/S1 and while it is hard to completely tell ,since I am still sore, and not moving as easily as I was prior to the surgery it feels as though my leg pain is still present. This was my first surgery, I am 23 and was really hoping this would be the end all for me. Is this normal? Should I be more patient? What works as far as recovery goes?

[ShutterBug64]

Not sure how all of this works, so I'll right out the results from my second MRI report
    Mild loss of disk hieght & disk signal is present L4-5 & L5-S1. Mild diffuse annula disk bulges are present atthis level. No focal disk herniation is present. Last MRI did have thherniations here.
   Moderate loss of disk hieght and signal is present at L5-S1. Moderate to marked type 1 end plate changes are present at L5-S1. No focal disk heriation is evident. (Last MRI did Have heriation here as well). Mild facet osteoarthritis is present on the left at L5-S1.
No destructive lesion seen, No paraspinal mass identified.
Opinion: Mulitilevel degenerative disk disease, moderate at L5-S1 and mild L3-4 and L4-5. Mild left L5-S1 facet osteoarthritis.
This all mean what! I have know idea accept that I'm having a harder time walking every day. My Doctor say's everything is great and there's absolotly no need for intervention like surgery. What are my options at this point. My last MRI two years prior had three heriated disk involved so I have to ask whats going on. It was pain all the way down my left leg until four months ago and now after hurting my back my right thiegh is numb all the time I stuck a fork in it because someone didn't beleave me that it was that numb. It gets cold chills in the skin then it burns and I like to cut it all off when this happens it's so creapy. Suicide is a welcome event but I have a 12 year old that relies on me to a great deal considering he lives with a neglectful mother. I'd like to get a second opinion but in Barrie Ontario Ca. we're like 30 thousand people short on Doctors right now thanks to our Government spending Thanks for any help on these matters James A Thomson C/O ***@****

[angiedfrog]

I had a microdiscectomy on my L4-5 in July 01 and I had a fall. Six weeks later I had the exact same surgery on the same disc.. I have a transitional vertebre and I was in agony... Finally after another four years of torture I had my spine fused praying for a miracle.  I had one of the best back surgeons in the country perform the surgery, Dr. Rick Sasso.  This man developed artificial discs.  He told me that because the artificail discs were new technology, it would be possible to need the artificial discs replaced over and over again... So I was fused. After the surgery I still have back pain so I went to a chronic pain management doctor...  I was on Methadone for over a year and my doctor suggested that I try Suboxone as a method of pain management... It has worked great..I  would like to know, however if this med causes hair loss. I am a 42 year old female and I have been through the ringer with meds.. I have been on almost every type of narcotic there is at one time or another and I am not an addict.. I was narcotic dependant for a long time and I have had so many facet blocks it isn' t funny... this stuff works.. I'm just concerned with what it may be doing to my body..  Any suggestions?

[PBJM]

For those that have had the procedure or are familiar with it, what is the timeline for getting back to all that I did before this injury such as going back to work, sitting, working out, etc?  Are there any excercises recommended or not recommended after this type of injury and surgery like pilates, stretching?  I am very anxious to get back at it but dont want to risk any setbacks after having gone through this pain for so long.  The doctor has been very vague on the subject and am hoping that at my follow-up he will perscribe PT.

[wooddy05]

definitly give the nerves sometime to rejuvinate themselves 4-6 weeks. after all of the soreness from the surgery is gone try therapy to strengthen the legs and lower back,hydrotherapy works well.providing all of the stenosis was removed you should not have much leg pain at all.

[PBJM]

I too had the same procedure for the same disc (L5-S1) exactly two weeks ago today and have the same issue/concern.  I am 33, healthy and in good shape.  Prior to the surgery I had the same symptoms (for about 10 months) as most with pain in the glute, down the leg, no reflex in the achilles and numbness in the foot.  It seems to be getting better everyday though still have areas of pain in the glute/leg/foot depending on the day.  However, I have been told by a lot of people who have had back surgery to ease pain on nerves that it is not unussual for the pain to take months to go away depending on how aggravated the nerve was/is.  I would wait the 4-6 weeks, do everything they told you (log roll, light stretches, avoid a lot of sitting/lifting over 5lbs, etc.) and stay positive.  Really, what else can you do for now.  

[hophead]

I also had a microdiscectomy to L5-S1 on 8/29/07.  The pain prior to surgery was excrutiating, Cramping pain in my right glut with severe, shooting pain down my right leg.  I had the numbness to my lateral leg, and on my last 3 toes, with no achilles reflex present on my right lower leg.  After surgery, the pain was not as extreme. For the first 2 weeks after surgery, I was having that "restless" leg sensation to my right leg, cramping (Charlie horse!) It would wake me up at night, stretching the extremity relieved the cramping. Every day seems better, although I still have some numbness to my right foot and leg.  I agree with mammaw2oo3, I'm glad I had the surgery, and I wouldn't wish the type of pain I had prior to surgery on anyone.  Good luck with your recovery.

[mammaw2oo3]

I had the same operation almost 6 weeks ago.  Pre surgery the pain in my leg was horrendous and got worse daily.  Post op the pain is almost gone.  I have not yet returned to work, and am nervous about doing so.  But I am glad I had the operation.  

[cornucopia]

I had the exact same operation on the same disc. I have the same pain symptoms that you are describing also. The pain in my leg never seems to go away, and I now have arthritis in my lower back.
  I hope things work out better for you,
good luck,
Eric

[Stephen Ryu, MD]

It depends. How long did you have pain for? Why did you ahve pain? Why did you have surgery?

If you had a few months of pain from a large herniated disc, then relief after a microdiscectomy can be instantaneous to taking a few weeks. It can sometimes not go away completely either but is less. It could also have recurred - just in the post-op period. Microdiscectomy is a very successful operation in most cases- hopefully, you will get better.

I would probably wait it out a bit until your followup. If the pain is as bad or worse, then a new MRI is warranted at some time.

Taking it very easy for a week and then light duty for a month is the usual prescription as well as
'let comfort be your guide'.