7 weeks post microdiscectomy l4 /5 herniation 6mm, ongoing , burning sensation still shins

Hi js, and welcome to the forum!

Yes, the 12-18 month recovery time for full healing of the nerves is correct, although some people heal faster (a lot depends on how much damage the nerves sustained prior to surgery). But either way, you should gradually improve over time, and will hopefully be feeling a lot better long before 12 mo rolls around.

While it is possible to reherniate doing even very simple/seemingly harmless things (I know, I've done it -- reherniated after coughing 9 days post-op), it is pretty uncommon, especially the farther you get out, and if you have been following your post-op instructions -- and yes, it sounds like you have been doing everything right. My guess would be that most of your leg pain is from inflammation, especially now that you are back to work/doing more. It should get better with time. The important thing is that the pain is not worsening, it is not severe, and you don't have any neurologic compromise.

I totally understand your stressing out -- I was the same way for a long time (particularly since I DID reherniate and have other post-op complications), and have only just recently begun to relax now that I am over the 3 mo mark. I know it may seem like it, but 7 wks out is really not that far along in the whole sceme of things. Your back and your nerves are still aggravated from surgery, and your body still has a lot of healing to do. Heck, I'm 14 wks out from my last back surgery (which is still not that far out) -- twice as far out as you -- and I still know exactly when my inflammation is kicking up, because my residual nerve pain gets a lot worse. As I still keep reminding myself, it takes time for everything to calm down. Recovery is a process, and you are bound to have periodic setbacks. It is never as straightforward as the doctors would have you believe.

If things get worse, talk to your doctor. But other than that, I'd say keep doing what you are doing and listen to your body -- don't push yourself too much, and rest as needed. Yes, you need to gently move, stretch, and strengthen, but you also need to heal. Hang in there. Things should get better with time!

Skeye

Post Edited (skeye) : 12/14/2017 4:36:50 AM (GMT-7)

thanks so much straydog and skeye, i will keep updating my progress, i want to also say my well wishes to you both also in a timely recovery and may the Christmas spirit bring your recovery upon you quicker.

I think you are spot on regarding inflammation, im not needing to take meds anymore, but i had some yukky 3/10 burning in my feet after a busy day ( with no bending or lifting!) at home with my gorgeous yet energetic 5 & 7 year olds and at the same time felt 'funny' around my L5 disc incision area like bruising...i woke up this morning with same feelings in my legs and remembered your thoughts re inflammation and strapped an ice pack to my low back, it really reduced the nerve sensations almost straight away by quite a lot. I also battle with driving and sitting quite a bit, bout half an hour is my limit, seems to really dislike my nerves, but standing up is ok..

I am learning a lot thru this process, like how much our society teaches us to ignore our body and push thru pain, im not sure thats a wise move now!....

Also, seems like us micro d's the inflammation is the "silent hinderance", managing that closely and let that guide our activity level is what im seing is important.

The more research i do, i see consistent themes where ppl rush back to high intensity activity at 6 weeks and down the track 12 months end up in what appears to be an inflammation cycle they cant break for sometime years...

I have made a choice , thanks to forums like this to give away weight lifting/training and go with pilates style isometric training after my rehab in a few months depending on how i feel of course. I will stick to walking with family and dog! so i can be a good husband and dad in good health going forward....injuries like this make you re-evaluate who and what is important, good things come from significant life challenges especially our battles back to good health.

Look forward to my next update

Post Edited (js100) : 12/14/2017 4:23:50 PM (GMT-7)

Thanks so much Steve57, i hope you continue to recover stronger than before! You are right , its very challenging to be so patient, especially with little kids....sometimes im like, this healing stuff is just not happening then i realise i did quite a bit more last week than this week, even just looking after the kids, washing, cooking...its quite a lot of work on your back i didnt realise just how much you back does until someone cuts it open and works on it.. ... my biggest issue currently is driving, flares up my nerve pain if I drive or sit for too long, bout an hour is my limit...i guess thats ok for 7 weeks post surgery from what i am now learning...how long before you can comfortably sit and drive Steve57?

Thanks so much Susie, its so hard to govern yourself when your little precious man wants to kick the ball and you cant, i just keep telling myself be patient, next Christmas im hoping to be better than this one and i may be able to go camping with kids and the beach..its heartbreaking to have to say no, they miss out

Hey guys, was reading something that i found helpful but at the same time concerning about the way surgeons discuss back surgery. I was reading an online sports paper and saw "Olympic athletes" with sciatica back surgery. After reading through the list of world class people who had an micro d for sever herniation, i was blown away that the 'minimum' recovery time , for a world class athlete was 7-9 months regarding nerve pain subsiding and functionality . I am in dismay that surgeons still say, yeah 6 weeks , may take as long as 3 months.. In all, and i mean all the endless research i have done, online and talking locally with friends etc who have had this done, NONE have gotten nerve pain normality in under 9 months. NO wonder poor people like us are scared as hell when we are still in some residual nerve pain at 7 weeks or three months even...Gee, wizz..i know its no guarantee of a perfect outcome but 3 months, be a miracle almost it seems

js100 said...
Thanks so much Steve57, i hope you continue to recover stronger than before! You are right , its very challenging to be so patient, especially with little kids....sometimes im like, this healing stuff is just not happening then i realise i did quite a bit more last week than this week, even just looking after the kids, washing, cooking...its quite a lot of work on your back i didnt realise just how much you back does until someone cuts it open and works on it.. ... my biggest issue currently is driving, flares up my nerve pain if I drive or sit for too long, bout an hour is my limit...i guess thats ok for 7 weeks post surgery from what i am now learning...how long before you can comfortably sit and drive Steve57?

js100 I think it was about two months when I was able to wean myself off of the opiods for pain and just used tylenol as necessary. As far as driving it was probably about 12 weeks before I tried a long trip over about 30 minutes. Just stopped every couple of hours to stretch and walk around for a minute and it was ok. I did some snow shoveling yesterday, just a few inches of light fluffy stuff and I am feeling it today. Not bad but it still reminds me that I am not 100% yet!

Js, just a thought, is there any way of getting a hold of your surgeon? You may want to consider asking for a short burst of oral steroids to try to get some of this inflammation knocked down. It would sure be worth a try. Perhaps cut back on your activities a little until things settle down.

Take care.

I agree with Susie, and would talk to one of your doctors (GP or surgeon's PA if he/she has one) about trying a course of oral steroids if your pain continues. Just because they did not see any overt inflammation on the scan, does not mean that the nerve roots are not still subtly inflammed or aggravated from the surgery. If the inflammation is subtle, it may not be visible on imaging, but that does not mean that it cannot still cause you significant pain. You are not that far out and still have a lot of healing to do, and ongoing inflammation and temporary setbacks are expected at this point, particularly as you do more.

I wouldn't worry too much about potential nerve damage at this point, unless you are having significant and persistent problems (severe pain and especially weakness). While an EMG could be done to check for nerve damage, if there were significant nerve damage from the surgery or caused by the herniation itself, one would think that it would have been apparent long ago. Why nerve damage is suddenly appearing now, when you have not reherniated or done any other kind of new structural damage to your back, and the nerves are not being entrapped by scar tissue, does not make a whole lot of sense. So even if there is evidence of some nerve damage, I'd say your chances are that it is minor and that it will heal on its own in time. Of course, that's not to say that you do not have nerve pain, and a medication for nerve pain might not help or be worth trying in the mean time, especially if the steroids fail. But don't get yourself overly stressed about this being permanent nerve damage at this point. Nerves take a LONG time to heal (months to years, depending on the severity of the damage), but unless the damage is extensive (which it does not sound like it is), they DO heal.

Some degree of mechanical instability is to be expected after any disc surgery. If it is severe and causing significant problems, they can always do a fusion down the line. But again, don't worry about that right now. My guess would be that it is minor at this point (even if your herniation was large), and as you heal and get stronger and build up your core and back muscles, your body will compensate for the instability. That coupled with lifting properly and limiting bending and twisting when possible (even after "healed") will help protect your back in the long run.

I know it is really easy to worry and jump to conclusions (been there), but try to remember that in the long run, you are still in the early stages of healing and have a long way to go. Things will likely get better, just give it time, listen to your body, and try not to overdo things.

Skeye

Post Edited (skeye) : 12/20/2017 5:11:00 AM (GMT-7)

js100

Time is your friend. I know it's easy to get all worked up over what seems like never ending pains. Sometimes you just have to stop and rest completely to let things settle down. Its hard to do when you have a family and a job but it might be the only thing that will help.

And don't be afraid to let your surgeon or PCP know what you are experiencing and ask about other meds that can help you get through this.

As I said before I'm almost 1 1/2 years post op and was seemingly doing great a few weeks ago but in the past few days I've been doing some work around the house and shoveling snow and I'm hurting now so I'll take a few days off and basically do nothing to let things settle down. Luckily I'm retired as is my wife so she can pamper me and take care of things around here while I sit on the couch!

Take care.

Well guys, have invested as a trial, 2 neurofen anti inflams twice a day for yesterday and today, and , massive difference, my back almost felt normal again, and nerve pain down to 0-2 out 10. ??? So im confused, i grilled the radiologist who said, nope def no swelling. This must be muscle, ligament swelling still. Is that still possible 2 months post op?

Thanks Susie. I thought , for anyone on this micro-d journey I would advise of things are helping me at the moment:

No binding lifting and twisting;
using a lunge to pick things up, not a squat (for some reason squat technique using a hip hinge irritates the hell of my nerves);
Regular ice pack;
Intermittent ibuprofen anti inflame sparingly;
using core stabilising exercises that do not using the back muscles;
slow walking and moving throughout the day;
resting and listening to my body when and rest when we need.
getting good support

9 weeks post op today. Had a great few days, beach, walking in sand, walking in surf, had a light game cricket 'gently throwing the ball with my son" had a great almost normalish three days..then leg cramps and tingling in my feet last night when laying on my side..its a new sensation, seems now lying on my left side sleeping now gives me pins n needles in my feet? Im fine moving around, just lying on my side..the frustration continues i have no idea why this is happening..three big steps forward, then back we go....