POST LUMBAR DISECTOMY

[msjazz]

49 YR OLD CAUCASION FEMALE, 5'5' 135 lb. have had lower back pain off and on 15 yrs. relieved by adjustment of osteopath usually every 4-6 months. did not follow exercise directions. reoccured May 6 2003, was not relieved after adjustment , severe pain only relieved by lying down. Internal med Dr. ordered MRI showing mild disc space L4-5 & L5-S1 with mild loss of signal consistant with decreased water content degeneration of disc.Large central disc herniation present L4-L5 encroaching significantly on anterior thecal sac resulting in mild compromise of lower neural foramina bilaterally.had microdisectomy in Memphis May 29 as outpatient.Resumed job after 2 wks mainly riding to see respiratory patients. Started P/therapy JUNE 16, mostly pelvic raises, semi lunges with turning arms to left and right, alt arm & knee press. My concern is am I doing to much too fast. back o. k., but knees beginning to hurt from stooping to pick up things, back sore higher than surgery from exercises. Also concerned about reading i would have permanent weakness at that disc, and is there anyway to solve the water loss in discs. Some neuro sites had stricter post op directions with lifting no more than 10lbs. for 1 yr. I also wonder about shoe heel hgts as I did wear 1-3" heels daily (flats only since herniation).I would like to strengthen back and not have this again. thanks for suggestions.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

Would be very careful about overdoing it so soon postoperatively. We see a number of patients who run into trouble when they overdo it in rehab or forget about their surgery and lift something too heavy.  Use common sense in everything that you do and gradually get back to your routine after your docs clear you. General rule of thumb is to lift nothing heavier than a gallon of milk for the first 6 weeks after surgery.  And again, very gradually you can lift heavier things.  As for the water loss, not something to worry about.  THe medical term is disc dessication which is drying of the disc due to normal age related changes. No treatment, just a part of getting older.  As for the permanent weakness, that is a possibility depending on the degree and length of time the nerve was being pushed on by the disc.  Would not focus on that.  Instead, do the best you can now  and just observe how much function comes back over the next few months with light stretching and PT. SOunds like you are in the health care profession, be careful with lifting patients.  Make sure you have help. Best of luck.

[mmrldodds]

A related discussion, lumbar disectomy was started.

[bren830]

I had surgury about 6 weeks ago, I am having trouble walking (which is impossible to do without my walker) and my posture is very bad. It seems that my neurosurgeon is more focused on my medication than the way I am actually feeling. My last appointment he did not even seen to be to intrested in the way I looked but as I said more in my medication.
Let me specify that the first two weeks after surgery I was doing great walking around on my own with no assistance getting dressed on my own and so on...., normal life RIGHT.
I woke up one morning within the beginning of my third week and my posture was beginning to get worse by the hour. Day to day I was getting worse and I was beginning to have very bad spasms, which put me back into the hospital twice.
My Neurosurgeon put me on Baclofen to control my spasms, which has worked wonderfully, but my walking ability seems to not be getting any better. I have a hard time geting out of bed in the morning just from being so stiff, I let my legs off the bed gently and one wrong move sends me screaming.
Standing on my own my posture is horrible and I feel very weak.
I am hoping that my neurosurgeon in my next appointment which will be very soon will be focused on my concerns.
I thought about getting accupuncture and I went to see the doctor and he told me that he thought I could possibly have an infection or some sort of complication, in any case I am at at point of which I do not know what to do any more. I lay on my couch most of the day getting up from time to time and walking around to loosen up. I do however keep a heating pad on my back most of the day it seems to help keep me loose, if that makes any sense.
Any comments would be appreciated.