Microdiscectomy back surgery questions..

[Dr. Evil]

Anyone here ever have microdiscectomy surgery on their lower back? I have a herniated L5/S1 disc that has been bothering me for a couple years now. It is pinching the nerve and sending pain down through my rearend and into the back of my leg. My pain meds and anti-inflamatories take the edge off, but they are starting to lose their punch, as I have been on them for a long time. My questions are;

1. Was the surgery successful, is your pain gone?
2. How long before you were able to at least walk, stand and sit without too much discomfort? I own my own business and can't be away long.
3. How long for a complete recovery?
4. Would you recommend the surgery?
5. Any other treatments that have been tried and proven to work? I've tried physical therepy, it made the pain worse.

I am having a hard time deciding whether to do it or not.

Thank you for your input.

[IowaHunter]

I have the same issue but different discs. One doctor was pushing for the discectomy and his partner said, "Let's try physical therapy."

I went in and had a ESI (epidural steroid injection) that has removed the pain for the past 15 months. I was essentially immoble prior to the ESI.

Still can't play golf though - used to play 2x/week.

It's actually what got me into archery.

[Dr. Evil]

I had two injections already, can't have any more. The first lasted about 6 months, the second did nothing, so that has already been tried. Sorry, I should have mentioned that in my first thread.

[Ryno]

I have a 5mm herniation t11/t12, mid back. I am going to avoid surgery at all cost. Have you tried traction or inversion table. I have a friend at work that has had times were he could not walk due to the low back pain and he has been pain free for 3-4 weeks after acupuncture.

[Flash]

Best thing I EVER did. Pain is gone. Felt like I could do ANYTHING two days later. Back on machinery in two weeks. Two years ago from last Halloween and feel great. Just got finished breaking ice in the decoys and walking alot in the marsh.... PAIN FREE! Fondren Group in Houston.... Dr. David Wimberly. He's a hunter too.

[IowaHunter]

Best thing I EVER did. Pain is gone. Felt like I could do ANYTHING two days later. Back on machinery in two weeks. Two years ago from last Halloween and feel great. Just got finished breaking ice in the decoys and walking alot in the marsh.... PAIN FREE! Fondren Group in Houston.... Dr. David Wimberly. He's a hunter too.

Did you do the discectomy? It wasn't clear. I run from surgery at most costs.

[Flash]

Did you do the discectomy? It wasn't clear. I run from surgery at most costs.

Yessir. Physical therapy for many weeks at first. Traction was no help. Did the epidural injection. Worked for bout 3 days. Discectomy was the way to go for me.

[Dr. Evil]

Flash, may I asked how old you are and which disc caused your problem?

thanks

[Flash]

L5 S1... 33 years old now. Low back issues since high school football.

[Dr. Evil]

ttt

[TexasRed]

Shots have been good for me so far. I only got them about a month ago. I keep hearing great things from several sources about acupuncture. I have also heard good things about the surgery but it will definitely be my last resort. My bottom three discs are bulging.

[Osceola]

I have had therapy,shots,traction and acupuncture with little success.Finally had a discectomy removing 2 disc.L5/L4 AND L4/L3.No trouble since then.

[BTLowry]

I had two injections already, can't have any more. The first lasted about 6 months, the second did nothing, so that has already been tried. Sorry, I should have mentioned that in my first thread.

Why can't you have any more?
I work in a pain clinic and we do ESIs in a series of 3, 2 weeks between injections IF THE PATIENT NEEDS THEM

Microdisectomy is alot less invasive so the recovrery time is shorter, co-worker had one and I think he came back to work in 2-3 weeks. Don't know what you do but if it is low stress on your back you might not have as long of a recovery. I think he wore a brace for several weeks after he returned to work

I am guessing you have already had a discogram to determine that the disc is indeed what is causing your pain

To answer some of your other questions
Co-worker is pain free
He went home the same day
As far as recommending the surgery I would exhaust all other options before surgery but would not be as reluctant to have a micro as a complete discectomy/ fusion

[txstringbender]

Anyone here ever have microdiscectomy surgery on their lower back? I have a herniated L5/S1 disc that has been bothering me for a couple years now. It is pinching the nerve and sending pain down through my rearend and into the back of my leg. My pain meds and anti-inflamatories take the edge off, but they are starting to lose their punch, as I have been on them for a long time. My questions are;

1. Was the surgery successful, is your pain gone?
2. How long before you were able to at least walk, stand and sit without too much discomfort? I own my own business and can't be away long.
3. How long for a complete recovery?
4. Would you recommend the surgery?
5. Any other treatments that have been tried and proven to work? I've tried physical therepy, it made the pain worse.

I am having a hard time deciding whether to do it or not.

Thank you for your input.

I had the same issues as you have. I had the Microdiscectomy on my lower back and felt instant relief. My surgery was an outpatient surgery. I went in at 7 am and was back in my living room by 12 noon. Pretty fast, I know. I had the surgery Feb. 2009. I still have some minor irritation but as I have been told, it is probably from perminant nerve damage that may never go away or may get better over time. It is not debillitating. I was back to work in 2 1/2 weeks, and in my opinion have been just fine. I do limit myself to really hard lifting though. So to answer your questions:

1. Was the surgery successful, is your pain gone? Yes
2. How long before you were able to at least walk, stand and sit without too much discomfort? I own my own business and can't be away long. Immediately. There was discomfort from the small cut but nothing bad (I didn't take pain pills)
3. How long for a complete recovery? Back to work in 2 1/2 weeks
4. Would you recommend the surgery? Yes, I would do it again. But I couldn't walk before the surgey. I just drug my left leg around.
5. Any other treatments that have been tried and proven to work? I've tried physical therepy, it made the pain worse. Did not try anything else. My dad was doing the shots and they were useless.

Hope this helps. Good luck and God bless. I know how you feel.

[Cajun Blake]

I have worked in the medical field for 15+ yrs , mainly dealing with workers comp injuries.... backs, necks, spine, broken bones, etc....

I probably have dealt with 250 claimants who have undergone some form of lumbar surgery. The most common surgery is the microdiskectomy b/c it is the most evasive surgery to deal with the impinged nerve root.

the spine or disc material at whatever level (cervical, thoracic, lumbar, or sacrum) remains stable b/c only a small portion of the disc is shaved away. The major soft tissue such as ligaments, joints, muscles, membranes, etc... are left in tact and not "cut on".

Since you have a disc pushing on a nerve root , this causes the shooting pain in your low back, lower extremities, or butt areas. Disc material is removed to relieve pressure on the nerve. The ortho/nuerosurgeon may removes a small portion of the facet joint to also help reduce pain.

A small incision less than 2" will be made to perform this surgical procedure.

Post operative prognosis will depend on several things: how your body heals after surgery, the skill of the surgeon, post-op treatment such as Phys Therapy, and what types of physical activities you do when returning to work.

IMO, around 75% of the people who undergo microdiskectomy surgery get good to great results. Around 1 out of 4 have unsatisfactory results with re-current pain ; thus resulting in future surgical intervention.

Nearly all of the people I have worked with have undergone micro-surgery at the L3-4 thru L5-S1 levels.

My advice ..... find the best surgeon (ortho or nuero) within a reasonable driving distance and make sure he/she specializes in "low backs" with a proven track record. Also , LISTEN TO YOUR DOCTOR !!!

There are NO guarantees with any surgery but you can increase your odds of success by doing your homework and researching this subject matter. I've witnessed lots of success stories, and also seen quite a few claimants have to undergo re-peat surgery.


**FWIW, Lumbar fusions with BAK cages and hardware are a whole different animal and be thankful your doctor is not recommending a 2 or 3 level fusion.

hope that helps brother