Is a discectomy the right choice?

[ebkteach]

I've gotten two different medical opinions about what will help my lower back pain.  One doc said a discectomy would relieve both leg and lower back pain.  Another said it would help leg pain, but not back pain.  Currently, leg pain is not a huge issue (it was before an SI injection).  I have numbness in left leg/foot along with intermittent pins and needles in the right leg/foot. I have significant pain in lower back (at the tailbone), pelvic area and hips.  Symptoms get worse when sitting or standing for more than 15 min.  In addition, the pain has had a huge impact my quality of life: I can no longer exercise, complete necessary household tasks or do my job without pain.  I should note that I've tried all of the standard nonsurgical treatments with no measurable relief.  Thanks for any advice.

[missywv]

Have you tried the nerve block or caudal injections?  I have a herniated disc at the L4/L5 with lower back, hips, and SI pain plus left leg weakness and numbness.   They tried a nerve block, which initially irritated the nerve in my leg, but really helped the inflammation and pain in my lower back.   I have tried every option available to help my leg weakness/numbness/pain and am scheduled for a minimally invasive discectomy and laminectomy with disc decompression on December 15th.  Since it is minimally invasive using microsurgery, there won't be any scar tissue and healing time is much shorter than the discectomy where they cut open.    If your lower back pain is caused by inflammation and irritation of the nerves, additional injections or a discectomy may very well help.  Question your doctors or pain clinic to explain why one thinks the discectomy would help your lower back when one doesn't think it would help.  How long has it been since you started treatments?  It has been 2 1/2 years for me, but just seven months since this last bad flare-up.  I am finally resorting to the discectomy to avoid a fusion and pray this helps.

[fairylady77]

surgery will ONLY relieve leg/foot problems. there is a saying "once a bad back, always a bad back".......i can tell you my experience. 2 years ago, i ruptured L5-S1. did NOT have surgery!  the leg pain finally eased up and ive started having less back pain as each day/month passes. however, if i overdo it, or do something that i shouldnt....both the leg and back pain is horrendous...but after a few days...sometimes up to a week....i begin to feel better again. however....i have never had pelvic pain or as far as the hips..it was more towards the back area.  
the same goes for my husband.....he ruptured his first disc back in 1988...had surgery....twice. ruptured another disc in 2004....did NOT have surgery.....he found that the end result was the same.....no leg pain....but flare ups when he overdoes things.....

one drawback to surgery...#1...most likely will end up with scar tissue...and ive heard that that can get so bad that surgery would be needed to cut out the scar tissue. #2...you increase your chance of getting arthritis in your back.

no one can tell you whether or not to have the surgery done...thats a personal choice. however...i feel that letting you know that surgery cannot alleviate the back pain may help you better understand the surgery. it is intended to relieve the leg pain..not the back pain.