My Microdiscectomy Journey

Hi Pie, I went in & edited the heading for you, very easy to do. I am so glad to read that you are improving as you are. I am glad the neurosurgeon saw you & agreed a little more time is needed to get you over the hump. The additional PT should really help. I think by having the appropriate time off to recover is going to be a big plus for you, rather than being rushed right back to work. So many times the drs rush the patient back to work too soon and it causes so many bad issues for the patient. If they were given a decent amount of time off to start with things would have been so much better for all concerned.

Again, so glad to read things are looking up. Take care.

Susie

I have been watching your progress and it seems good so far, please keep posting these as it might be something that could help me...Many well wishes...

Hello Linda431 and welcome to the forum. Linda we ask all new members to start their own intro post so that all members will see it and be able to give you a proper hello & welcome aboard. Not everyone will see your post here. Thanks so much.....Susie

I will definitely report back.

One question if you don't mind. We're you this active before your injury....the swimming, hiking, jogging,etc?

Well I have to applaud your dedication. I do have a few years on you LOL, but I do try to keep fit. What's challenging is that the older you get, the harder it is to get your strength and level of fitness back after surgery like this.

You are my inspiration!

Hello Frankie & welcome to the forum. Frankie we ask all new members to make an intro post of their own so that all members will see it & be able to give you a proper hello & welcome aboard. By posting on someone else's thread as you have not many people will see your post. What you have written here is perfect to use as your intro post. Thanks....Susie

Pie,

I had some different procedures than yours, (I had the laminectomy, but also fusions and decompressions L1 through L5). I had extensive nerve damage in both legs, multiple neuropathies, weakness, buckling, back pain,....you know the drill.

I also had foot drop prior to surgery (and still do).

It's been 11 months since my surgery, and I'm still not "back to normal." Like you, I was an extremely active person, and I made my living based on my body strength, power, and coordination.....as a personal trainer. Like you, my job was a workout in itself, so physically demanding.

My neuro told me it wouldn't be unusual for it to take 12-16 months to see some results. He's right. I'm very pleased with the surgery, most of the symptoms are progressively improving....

But it took 10 months for me to start getting some of the feeling back in my foot, and it started in the big toe. Felt like a nail being driven into the toe nail.

Even now in month 11, I'm starting to notice new "signs of life" that weren't happening before.

You're still pretty early on in the whole post-back-surgery-recovery thing,....it sounds like you're completing exhaustively demanding physical work loads. It may genuinely just be a little too soon.

I was 2nd guessing, too, until (even after so many months), strange little new signs of improvement were popping up out of the blue.

Patience is crucial. Be kind to yourself, stay as active as you can (super important),....don't give up. You'll be surprised at the very cool and exciting changes that have yet to come your way!



M.

Thank you very much.

Honestly, a very big part of it is this HW Family. I joined at a time when things just began to get all kinds of crazy, and got crazier still!

But this is a great group of people who provide a safe place to let your guard down and cry, they help lift spirits up, encourage you,....and Vickie's been known to kick me in the tookus more than once! :)

I wish I found them earlier. It helps, doesn't it, to "speak" to others who get it and understand? You're in good company here!



M.

Heads up: I'm saying this to encourage you, not to discourage you, not in the least!

I'm still having problems standing. When I cook or am folding clothes, I have to do it in pieces that are between 5-10 minutes, then sit down, walk around, sometimes even lay down.

For me, the biggest help has been the freedom to move. Major pain triggers are being in one position for "too long," whether that is standing (the absolute worst), sitting (the second absolute worst).

Now, just based on my experience, (remembering everyone heals at different rates, etc., etc.)....at six weeks, nope! I wasn't out hopping about. I was still using a walker, walking with a cane was rare,-- doable but rare. And scary.

I still couldn't sleep. Couldn't get comfortable. I slept with at least 6 pillows propping/supporting myself.

As you know, I'm 11 months post-op, and today for example, my PT really worked me hard, and I had another bad pain spike, weakness, intractable pain that my meds barely touched.

But that happens. Before surgery, I wouldn't have "survived" even a gentle PT session, and I keep reminding myself that. Doing so helps me maintain perspective.

It took months and months for a lot of the symptoms to start to dissipate. Of course I've read stories of people walking soon after (I was too,...with help,..to the toilet!)...but even now, shopping for groceries, it's more comfortable holding onto the cart, but I make multiple trips on average 20 minutes.

Break things down into smaller time chunks.

They really are not kidding when they tell you that it takes a long time for recovery with back surgery. It's so complex, between the nerves being relieved, the stabilization of the vertebrae. It's slow.

I questioned it and doubted what I had done for at least the first 8-9 months.....but remember, it's really cool when you find YOUR point in healing where you'll start to notice that things don't hurt like they did, you won't be focusing so intensely on your pain and your med schedule, the anxiety will lift,....

This is where HW helped me so much...when you start to question yourself, think something's wrong, when you feel afraid and anxious,....come here to find out just how many others can relate who've been in similar situations. The sheer value of not feeling so alone in these scary times,....it's priceless!

...and just wait until that wonderful night when you sleep all the way through! Refreshing!

Must emphasize the importance of patience. I under-estimated it, I didn't plan on it taking "this long"....but what the heck, here I am, and all sorts of new things are grabbing my attention.

Hang in there, but don't be afraid to contact your doctor/surgeon if you have questions, if something doesn't feel right. That's why they're there!

Best of luck to you!

From an understanding soul,....


M.


PS: Remember that Neurontin takes a few WEEKS of consistently increasing your dose, per your doctor's scheduled directions, until an optimum blood level is reached, and then a few weeks ON that new optimum level. Make sure you give it a fair chance. It's a great med for those who find it works for them! Hang in there, and don't, do not, just stop taking it. This drug takes time to get the benefits from it.

Hello Landdev & welcome to the chronic pain forum. We ask all new members to make their own intro post so that all members will see it & be able to give you a proper hello & welcome aboard. By posting on someone else's thread many times there is little coverage.

To start your own thread/post click Post New Topic and put in a heading & start typing away.

Thanks....Susie

Susie ,

You are mostly like right about my job causing more harm than good. I am just trying to hang in there as long I can . I don't really want to be jobless during the holidays . I am hoping that next year I can go to school and learn a better trade . The pain that I am still experiencing in my back has been there before and after surgery. I am certain that it is still nerve pain . Feels like a sharp knife on the right side of my lower back and travels to my buttock and sometimes into my hip and groin . Its no where near as painful pre op . Just really annoying . It like a 3-4 out of 10 . I usually feel it when I bend or twist. I can manage it to a 2-3 with Naproxen two 220 mg pills twice a day . I don't know why it makes me feel better because I know Naproxen has nothing to do with nerve pain.

I have told the surgeon about this and he doesn't see any reason to be concern . He tells me that I am fine and its just nerves healing . Is there anything I can do to manage the pain to Zero ? I am thinking about trying out nerve pain medicine or Injections in the back . I really would like to have another MRI just to make sure everything is fine . I am doing my physical therapy stuff but it just not doing anything for me anymore . I feel like I am stuck at 80 % recovery .

I understand that my back will never be the same . I've read success stories where people made a full recovery and even claim that they feel like it had never happened . Lots of athletes get the Microdiscectomy surgery like Rob Gronkowski from the patriots . Hes out there running around and getting hit by these big guys . Yes I know I am not as in great shape as these athletes lol Still hoping I can be a success story

PieNic yes it does sound very much like nerve pain. Why not talk to the dr about this & have him rx something for this. Gabapentin, Lyrica, & Cymbalta are a couple of the usual meds for nerve pain. It is worth trying rather than suffering as you are.

It would be great if retraining could be possible. There is a huge difference of doing heavy physical work over being an athlete, lol, thats for sure. Just don't get discouraged because most people that have back surgery will tell you as more time went by they did feel better.

Take care.....Susie

6 Months Post Op Update

I can't believe that it has been half a year since I had Back surgery . Things are a lot better now. I am still not where I was hoping to be by now but I'll take it. I feel like I am 85% back to my normal self . I am able to do mostly everything that I was able to do before the injury. A lot of my aches and pains are slowly diminishing .The pain I was feeling on the upper and lower vertebrae near the incision is 75% gone, hip and groin pain is 90% gone, leg pain is 99 % gone but I still get a little bit of a twinge from time to time . Sitting down has gotten better but after sitting down for more than 45min I start to feel pain in my tail bone like a burning sensation.

My main complaint is that my back still hurts . I don't know why it hurts . Sometimes I wonder if the nerve is slightly impinged . When I twist a little I feel a sharp pain in my back . Really frustrating. . Wish I could get an MRI to see what's going on in there . I know that my doctor will say that its still early and give it a few more months. Tiered of hearing that phrase. I am going to give it 2 or 3 more months and if my back still hurts I am going to demand something be done .

I haven't gone back to the Gym or lifted any weights . Don't know if I ever will . Too afraid that I will re herniate again . May have to find another form of exercise . I guess I will just stick to bike riding, walking, and maybe take some yoga classes and start up swimming again in the summer time . Also going to have to modify the way I eat because I have been slowly packing on the pounds . Lol. It's hard to say no to food during the Holidays. I must admit that I have been slacking lately with exercising and stretching . :-( really need to start to get back into the groove of things .

The good thing is that I am still seeing signs of improvement . I have also stopped taking Naproxen 3 weeks ago and work isn't as bad as when I first started on Nov 19th . I am ready for the year to end and hopefully 2014 will be a lot better . Happy New Years to all .

Pie