So I herniated a disk in my back....

[Brucker]

As the title states. My back decided it had enough of holding together and finally let go. Herniated the L5/S1 which is the lowest disc in the back. And it is pressing firmly against my S! nerves. That is causes constant pain from my lower back, down the right side of my body to my right foot. I have never been in this amount of constant pain. It has been recommended to me, from 3 different docs, that I get surgery since I am not healing at all. Guess it won't need to be fused together, "just" a lumbar Microscopic Discectomy (remove the problem part of the disc).


So I guess my question is, who here has had back surgery? And what was your experience like? How long has it been?

Thanks in advance!

[The StRanger]

I used to work with a dude that blew out his lower back. (back in the late 80s)
They went in from the front and he was out for 8 weeks and on light duty for 6 months
But I dont know what injury it was or what needed to be done !

[sdhill]

Last year I worked with 4 people in my office who had back surgery. All went to the same doctor with good results. If I remember correctly 3 where disc issues and one they had to fuse and replace something. Anyways all of them were up and moving around within 1 week. My friend Ken who is in his 50's and is 6'4 250lbs was back under his mustang in a month. I know I will have to do the same in the next 10 years from what I have been told, not looking forward to it. I can probably get the docs number for you if you want it?

[Chris]

I'll guess the 3 docs are all surgeons, right? Surgeons recommend surgery every time, it's how they make their living. Has anyone suggested an epidural? It's usually two cortisone injections to take down the swelling thus removing the cause of the pain. There's a medical term called "failed back syndrome" which is really failed back surgery syndrome. Look it up and do some reading before letting a surgeon operate. I have a good friend who experienced this as well as a former co-worker who now live with the pain w/o any really hope of relief.

I have 3 blown discs, L5/S1, L4/L5, L3/L4 and have lived with these for 30+ years. I've had 6 or 7 docs anxious to cut on me but I know people who were left in pain just as before the surgery. I'm not trying to be a downer but my orthopedist who is not a surgeon suggested I wait until I'm older (I'm 64) and less active due to the possible results.

You'll find plenty of people saying how successful their surgery was and how they're happy they had it. I'm not against surgery (just had my second eye surgery today) but I treasure the ability to move and will probably never have my back operated on. I'm simply providing info that most people don't know go or won't bring up.

My orthopedist is local and recommended by my GP, they both are against surgery due to the possible failure. I'd be happy to give you her name if you'd like another opinion. Just PM me for it. Either way, sorry you're experiencing this common problem and hope you can find relief, it's probably due to abuse from your job and a major problem in carrying on every day.

Best luck in whatever you decide!

[Brucker]

Chris previously posted:

[dscowell]

My dad had back surgery I wanna say 5 years ago. He wasn't doing very good before couldn't do much of anything with out it hurting his back quite a bit. Sounds kind of like what you have were he was pretty much in constant pain. He got the surgery couldn't do much afterwards of course but after a couple months he was doing really good and still is. I remember him saying his back hasn't felt so good in 10 or so years. He can jog and lift weights and move around the house with out any pain. I have yet to here him complain about his back like when I was younger and heard him saying something about it everyday.

[Chris]

I hear you Aaron, I've been lucky to get by without surgery so far but that's obviously not your experience. My unprofessional opinion is Microscopic Discectomy!

Best luck to you!

[Java]

Last year on January 28th (you'd remember the date too) I was playing with a puppy in the basement of an old house with varying ceiling heights. I stood up into a beam that was a little lower to the floor than I am tall and it knocked me out. I guess technically I knocked myself out. I woke up with a concussion, compressed neck, torn abdominal muscle and sciatica from exactly what you have, but mine was radiating down my left leg. The worst part was the sciatica, as I'm sure you're discovering, it's with you every moment of the day. I did not want to get surgery, I tried lots of things and suffered with it for 8 months until I tried Kundalini yoga in October. It was brutal at first, but I went slowly and did it every day. By December I had all my flexibility back, and I am currently pain free, have been for over a month. I cannot recommend yoga enough, it kept me off the table.

[Chris]

Nice Paul, happy for your success. Off to look up Kundalini yoga...

[Jackie]

Paul previously posted:

[Brucker]

Thanks for sharing everyone! I have been told that this is a fairly common injury. And that I am young, strong, and healthy (besides the one disc) so my outlook on a very favorable outcome is good. But hearing of others issues is comforting.

I have struggled with lower back pain my entire adult life. I have been involved in some VERY brutal accidents (on the track and on the road) and my line of work does not help the situation. After talking with the different docs I have come to understand that I have probably had a bulging L5/S1 disc for a couple years now. It had been managed by stretching, different exercises, and frequent trips to the chiropractor. And then it finally ruptured. I can't actually pin point when it happened. My back had been acting up but nothing worse than normal. Then one night/early a.m. I was awoken by severe pain. Guess my body didn't like the way I was sleeping. Sad to think I hurt myself by sleeping.

I have an appointment with a surgeon that two of the different docs referred me to. Guess I will wait to see what he says. Thanks again for sharing everyone!

[Brucker]

I am for sure going in for surgery now, and much earlier than expected. I have lost a lot of more strength in my right leg and now also have a constant pins and needles feeling throughout the area. Needless to say the doctors weren't too happy about that and I am now not supposed to work at all until I after surgery which will take place next week. They are worried if they wait any longer, other problems may arise. And they are the type of problems I wouldn't wish on any man.... So guess I get to be cut open... Good times.

[Chris]

Sorry to hear it's getting worse, you're wise not to let things continue to deteriorate.

Best wishes for a quick recovery!

[Brucker]

Thanks Chris, I am more than a little nervous. Surgery scares the crap outta me.

[Hypoid]

Git-R-Done!

My wife had a disc repair around the turn of the century. Since we were on "indigent medicine" at University Hospital, she had to wait. By the time they got her into surgery, a two hour procedure took six hours.

I have not shared her experience since a lot has changed over the last 15 years.

[Jackie]

Hoping for best for you, Aaron.

[Cr33p3r]

Aaron I can relate since I messed up C3-C6 in my neck back on April 15, 2010 both arms down to the tips of my fingers and both feet go numb. I recently looked into the laser surgery and at$14k I'm going to be living with pain pills for a long time. It doesn't take much to aggravate it just a cough, sneeze, turn my head to quickly holding my head in the wrong position too long. Another bad point is the problems it creates in the muscles and other joints, just had my 2nd cortisone shot in less than 3 months in the right shoulder and 1 in the left.
Anyhow hope it goes good for you.

[Brucker]

Thanks guys. They just moved my surgery up even closer. Going in tomorrow afternoon now. I am freaking out a little bit. More so from losing yet another day of trying to get stuff done before the surgery. Guess I just need to come to terms with the fact that some stuff will just have to wait. And I guess a little just from the fact they are going to be cutting me open tomorrow. Damn, a million little things could go wrong, and I don't have any control over any of it. God I am a control freak....

[xaza]

Best of wishes for you and your surgery tomorrow.

[Chris]

Brucker previously posted: