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advice regarding microdiscectomy decision

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Posted 12/7/2014 9:01 PM (GMT 0)
I am in a really difficult place on deciding whether I should have a microdiscectomy. My problem being I am not sure my symptoms are bad enough to warrant the risks yet are too bad for me to return to work. I am almost 8 months post disc herniation, I did a sudden herniation surfing with no prior history of backpain, I was recovering well but had a relapse at the 3 month mark, I had numbness, weakness and difficulty walking on my toes...I have had tons of conservative care, chiro, osteo, IDD, acupuncture, you name it i've done it....I am now at a point I have no neurological symptoms, I have no pain when lying down and no real pain when sitting (I haven't the entire time) but I have constant pain in my leg to my ankle when standing/walking....my job is very physical and I have had a baby so have prolonged my maternity leave but need to return to work soon....would you say the risk of potentially reducing my leg pain is worth it although by the sounds of your journey it has taken a long time anyway to get back to normal and I feel I am half way there already so possibly give myself another 6 months which I will have to do anyway if I have surgery.....its such a hard decision and don't seem to have come across anyone else in a similar predicament as most people have such bad symptoms surgery is a no brainer as if I was really bad there would be no question that I would have the surgery...has anyone else had similar experience to me I would love to hear any of your stories....
Posted 12/8/2014 2:15 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you eejay for your intro post. Surgery is a decision only you can make & no one wants it unless it is absolutely necessary. I would not have any kind of surgery unless I was ok with my decision. Your head needs to be on straight about the surgery too.

The big concern here to me is this leg pain you are talking about. That very much sounds like you have nerve involvement going on. The thing about a pinched/compressed nerve is the nerve damage can become permanent if a person waits too long to have surgery. This very thing happened to a friend of mine because she waited too long. No surgery in the world can fix it. You may remain the same if you have nothing done, its all a gamble.

You say you are unable to work currently because of your situation. Are you prepared to go into a different type of employment that will allow you to work as you are now?

I will caution you about talking to a lot of people that have had surgery. Some people like to get too carried away with their story & about all they do is terrify the person thinking about surgery, lol. Ask the dr any questions you may have. Above all get a 2nd opinion too. Find yourself a good board certified, fellowship trained neurosurgeon. They are the best there is when it comes to spine surgery & have the best set of hands.

Take care.
Posted 12/8/2014 7:57 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your message. Unfortunately at this stage other work is not possible.

I know I have nerve involvement as have had MRI and have L4/L5 prolapse with L5 nerve root compression however I now have no numbness, tingling or any weakness in the leg, I can walk and even rode a bike on the weekend but obviously it aggravates the leg pain, I can also bend forwards which initially I was unable to do, so I do feel some of the compression/inflamm putting compression on the nerve has subsided....surgery just seems such a big risk when I can currently walk around but the leg pain is getting me down. I totally agree with not listening to too many stories regarding surgery as they all seem horror stories and success stories don't tend to be on pain forums!

Well think will make decision post new year and in the mean time what doesn't kill us makes us stronger hey?!!
Posted 12/8/2014 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
You are so right, people that have successful surgeries do not as a rule hang out in forums. Instead they are out living their life as they should. I would not rush into any decision & above all if you decide on surgery get a 2nd opinion before doing anything. I really think when the time comes you will know what you need to do one way or the other.

We have a lady right now that has had several micro surgeries because of repeated herniations at the same level. Now she is looking at a fusion. Level of activity & type of employment plays a role in whether these microsurgeries are successful or not. I have seen some be a great success & some that were not & usually the failures were because of the physical employment & life style of the individual.

Keep is posted on how you are doing.
Posted 12/10/2014 1:26 PM (GMT 0)
There is a middle path between surgery and nothing. A couple of years ago I was asked several times by one of my pain docs if I was ready for surgery. The other pain doc, an anesthesiologist, intervened and gave me injections and radiofrequency nerve ablations, and I've avoided surgery since then.

Since my most recent accident I have been dealing with worse back pain, but my neurosurgeon says there is nothing to do surgery on. I have constant pain, numbness and tingling, but neurosurgeon says it's not enough for surgery.

So my point is, maybe see a neurosurgeon, maybe two, get a myelogram or other testing, and see if surgery is necessary. If it's not really an urgent necessary surgery, see a pain doctor who does injections as well as giving pain meds.
Posted 12/10/2014 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Alcie for your advice. I have decided to postpone appointment with the neurosurgeon until the new year, I feel this has been such a bad year making any decisions this year is not wise plus I feel if I am still this bad in another month I will opt for injections or the surgery but if I have shown any improvment again even a little I will continue with my slow slog in hope of eventually having no leg pain.
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