L4-L5 Bulged disc right side and Micro-discectomy surgery
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I am 52 years old and suffering from pretty bad sciatica down my right buttock and into the calf and foot/toes. I am scheduled to have nerve decompression surgey in one month. I haven't been able to knock this thing down on my own after a strict regiment of PT (simple floor excersizes for stretghtening core and keeping affected leg as strong as possible and stretching), drugs for pain management and minimizing nerve irratation and long term damage, sitting on a big blow up ball at my desk job (sitting is painful and sends me overboard with the pain and numbness), hanging upside down on an inversion board for brief periods of time twice a day, and finally lots and lots of laying on my back and resting. My question to all you climbers and maybe especially older ones like me that may have had the same nerve decompression procedure near the lower spine.... |
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I had exactly the same thing but instead of surgery they did an injection of steroids into my spine. this shrunk the swelling and flushed out the disc debris in my spinal cavity. I was 90 percent better in 3 days and 100 percent in about a month. you may want to ask about this procedure. it may not work for you but if it does it's much better than surgery. |
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What works for some folks with bulging discs and an inability to sit are McKenzie physical therapy exercises. They have a website with a list of providers. |
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I have an L5/S1 herniated disc causing sciatica. Most of my pain is from sitting with extreme pain occurring when I initially stand up but will go away after walking around for a bit. Fortunately for me, my symptoms have diminished over the past 3 months by doing a combination of stretching, NSAIDs, walking/running and NOT sitting. I have a desk job and I just don't sit anymore. Converted my desk into a standing station and just make due. I'm either standing or laying on my back. |
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Thanks guys for the input. I have indeed had one nerve root block injection which brought brief relief but then symptoms came right back. I have taken oral steriods twice also with only brief relief. |
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my wife is a nurse at a hospital that does these surgeries almost every day. she says that most people get at least some relief but that results and recovery time vary greatly between patients. certainly being in good shape would give you a better chance at a quick recovery. |
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Thanks for the encouragement George. Yes... I am quite worried I won't be back out climbing cause I enjoy it alot... but I am doing everything I can I think for best recovery. Thought I would throw it out there and see if any other climbers have been down a similar road. |
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Spine surgery done for the right indications is very successful. It can give you your life back so to speak. I would try to avoid comparing the apples and oranges of everyone's personal experiences. While disc herniations are known to often shrink up and resolve a good bit over 6 months, some of them don't, and if you delay too long you can end up with a much longer road to full recovery. It sounds like you have at least been able to keep up your core strength somewhat with PT. |
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Another l4/l5/s1 disk poocher here. Happen when I turned 40, when I turned 50 I blew my achilles, can not wait until 60 comes. |
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All I can say is that you need to do some deep research on this stuff. The science of bulging discs is pretty sketchy when you look at it. Probably 40% of the population over 40 has bulging or slipped discs, yet most of them don't experience pain. However, if you go to a doc complaining of back pain, he does an MRI, and it finds a bulging disc, he will tell you that the cause of your pain is the bulging disc. 95% of the time, this doc is also a surgeon. All I can say is to be cautious and skeptical; do your homework thoroughly before you make a decision to undergo the knife. You may find this NPR piece from January of interest in this regard: npr.org/blogs/health/2014/0… |
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No horror story here. I started to have pain around the first of last year. It would come and go but I didn't go to the Doc until March. They did an MRI and found two badly herniated disks. The doctors said I could've be paralyzed if I fell down stairs or off a curb. My L4 and L5 were so close together they were almost pinching my spinal cord. Did the micro not fusion and eight weeks later I was mountain biking in Whistler BC. I even flipped over the bars and no trouble. I'm not saying there's not bad things happening out but listen to your doctor. You're active so you'll recover. If you do surgery start walking ASAP. I could walk after 3 days. I walked a mile after 7 and 3 after 14 by week 8, I was walking 25 miles/week. |
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Finally.... someone whao has actually had a Micro-discectomy.... |
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My 2 cents... |
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Ok I know I'm being unproductive today as I'm replying 11 minutes after you posted Burt! Haha.. Forget about it! I'm happy to answer any questions. It's sketchy thinking about back surgery. You hear so many horror stories that the good ones often are forgetten. I do know three guys and one girl who have had micros and have recovered well. I would definitely take the gamble and do micro discetomony before fusion. My neighbor did the fusion because he wanted only one surgery. It took an entire year for him to recover. |
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I feel your pain Burt. I've had SI joint dysfunction and what we now believe to be a bulging disc at L5/S1. (From cross fit at work) Up until today my PT has focused solely on the SI joint. It's been difficult because it can have the same symptoms as a bulging disc. Initially I had sciatica (pins/needles) all the way into my left foot. That has been gone for some time but I still get an ache in my thigh and calf when I do certain movements. |
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Actually Nick... I am quite interested to hear how your problem was narrowed down to a SI Joint issue. X-Ray? I feel like I have pain in my SI Joint right now in fact. Th docs (even the Nuero-surgeon) all say the bulge at my L4-L5 looks mild on the one MRI I recieved back in Oct 2013. I have not had an X-Ray yet since this sciatica came on. I had many x-rays in the past of my pelvis and lower spine because I have arthritus in both my hip joints and in the facets of my lumbar spine. I recieved a BHR hip joint implant 7 years ago and I have been thinking all along that my sciatica is somehow related to the hip replacement surgey... One of my major issues with all this is the deep gluteal muscle Piriformis hurts alot and is nasty tight...I can't stretch it with out making matters worse and I can't hardly lift my leg in forward direction and with knee bent inwards (like trying to sit Indian style)... can't bend over or tie my shoe and I am wondering if it is because of my SI Joint? I have time until the actualy surgery and another MRI plus consult with the Nuero-surgeon a week before the knife in order to further evaluate everything before I finally commit. |
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There is good evidence that the SI joint can be a source of pain. Usually it is thought that some trauma occured to the joint or an inflammatory process is present. Any PT who is familiar with the Laslett tests outlined below can make the diagnosis. Treatment is usually stabilization/strengthening/core exercises and sometimes a steroid injection. |
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Burt, When you say long term use that sounds scary! I went to my family doctor the end of March. She ordered the MRI right away since the pain started three months prior. She didn't order any PT because I was active. So I went right to speak with the surgeon. Dr Chang said the herniation was so bad that surgery was the only option and that it should be done immediately. Now I know I could've this and maybe done that but I had lots of accidents. I always listen to the doctor. Call me naive. So May 3rd was surgery. I walked out of the hospital instead of riding in the wheelchair. Eight weeks later I was in Whistler BC. I took pain killers from April to mid June. Therefore I'm surprised you say you would take them long term. It sounds like you got worse problems than me or maybe your solution isn't as clear cut as mine. No punt intended. |
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Kirby.... At this point I don't think I am worse then you were. I am just not able to get past a certain point of recovery. I am able to walk around and do my daily duties such as home stuff and my 40 hour a week desk job. Sitting at work is a real challenge... it makes everything hurt more and especially after an 8 hout day. I sit on a big blow up excersize ball for 45 minute stints and then stand for 45 minute stints between sitting my office chair in the absolute most upright fashion. I get up and do walk laps around the office cubicle maze. I walk on a tread mill down in the office basement workout room for a mile every day at noon. I walk my dog alot. I do floor PT twice a day for core and leg strength and flexibility. I am not able to run, ski, ride my bike, rock or ice climmb, and or any heavy lifting. I am in pain most of the time all day but it is now more low grade with little spikes of worse pain here and there depending on the movement. I can't bend over to put on sock or shoe and I can't hardly tie my shoes. I am ready for the surgery because I can't seem to get past this level of recovery and it has been 5 months now. |
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Good luck! It sounds like you held out and tried everything else. Sounds to me like you're outta options. |
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I've been searching the web to read about different experiences with microdiscectomies. This is the first time I have posted. I am due to get one in 3 days and I am petrified about the procedure. I have never had surgery or been under before. I pinched a nerve (L3/4) back in Sept. 2013, had an ESI in October that got me up to 85% better, had a relapse in December and another ESI in Jan. that barely helped. After talking to 2 Ortho spine surgeons, they felt a Micro was needed (confirmed by a MRI). In the meanwhile I had another ESI that has got me to about 75%. I suffer from pain in the knee and the shin. I'm conflicted about the surgery due to my fear of something going wrong in surgery (ie. reaction to the anesthesia, stroke etc.) and not getting the surgery and suffering permanent nerve damage. I have spoke to the surgeon about all this but was wondering if anybody had a different insight. I have a physically demanding job that I need to get back to. Sorry for the long post. |