Anyone had a discectomy for massive prolapsed disc?

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If so how was it?

I've had a massive prolapsed disc L5 since June pressing on S1 nerve, causing excruciating pain in back and leg (sciatica). A bit of an improvement but not much.

Saw a private spinal osteo in Jan who recommended surgery. I'm terrified (and single mum so tricky). But have had an awful week pain-wise, suicidal thoughts. So maybe I need to do the surgery...

Any suggestions/experience? Please be gentle though, thank you.

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I am sorry to hear this. I tore my L5 a few years ago and it was only due to my amazing osteo that got me through it. Is surgery really the only option for you?

I've not had the discectomy, but it was a potential outcome for me.

I had a severe prolapse L4/L5 and another L5/S1. My GP suggested I take up swimming (given I was unable to stand up long enough to shower at this stage I did not feel this was helpful advice).

I paid to go privately and the first spinal specialist I saw suggested a discectomy to deal with the nerve pain in my leg and my back. But this wasn't going to deal with the pain and weakness in my back and the pain from the damaged disc would potentially recur.

I got a second opinion from an unconnected orthopaedic surgeon who took a better look (all done on zoom) and he established I had developed 'foot drop' and in fact needed the entire disc removed, and a spinal fusion.

I'm now 3 months post op, in much less pain and caring for my 3 young children (with a little bit of help)

Please, please, whatever you do, get a second opinion. If I hadn't I would have become disabled and unable to walk unaided within a few years. I'm a fit, healthy 30 year old again now, and while I'm poorer for paying to have my op, I'm fucking grateful for every penny I spent.

Thanks.
Have been seeing osteo since aug, also acupuncture. Very little change, so much pain, was going to try and avoid surgery but don't know any more.

I was in the same situation as you with horrendous pain and I had to have a discectomy. It took me a few months to fully recover but I was back at work (office based) after two weeks. I know two other people who made much faster full recoveries (over a few weeks).

I am very glad I had it as it was immediate relief and I got back to doing all the things I did before. One bit of advice I wish I was given is - stay away from Google. Wishing you a quick recovery

Thanks never that's helpful. I did have loss of sensation in half of foot, that's now back. But one reflex isn't working and slightly less sensation in leg in patches.

Were you working when you had Op? My work are already fed up with me having had 3 months off last yr and working reduced hours now...

Me, mine got so bad that I had to have emergency surgery as I couldn’t wee and the pain was excruciating (I’d been on pain medication for much of the previous 2 years). The relief of pain after the surgery was fantastic, best thing ever! I do have residual nerve damage in my calf, foot and some of my toes (numbness mostly).

Thanks sister that's good to hear, and good advice!

My job is fairly actuve, only partly eg 25% desk based so worried about return to work post op

I had about 2 weeks off work after my surgery.

I had one privately 10 years ago following a prolapsed L5/S1. I had been in agony for months. The pain went immediately following the op and I recovered within a week or two. Some slight numbness in one leg for a short time. It was amazing to be pain-free.

Husband chose not too. 3 months off work and 21 months further slow recovery but able to work and the prolapse has probably dissolved now and hes ok again. He is pleased he didnt now.

He was in such awful pain I called an ambulance. Unable to move to even go to the surgery for weeks. On all sorts of medication. How you are coping as a single parent I dont know

Xx

Do you mean osteopath when you say ‘osteo’?

I work with patients post-discectomy. Please speak with your GP about a referral to a spinal surgeon if he feels it’s indicated. A spinal surgeon may even have an advanced practitioner physio attached to their team (our hospital does - we’re a specialist centre) who can give you interim advice if surgery is not immediately indicated. The evidence suggests that non-surgical interventions are as effective as surgery in many cases. They are the best people to advise you on how best to proceed, not an osteopath.

It's amazing to hear so many going to pain-free.

Maybe i need to find some courage. I have ptsd from loads of other awful things, so it's hard to be optimistic.

If you are losing sensation in you foot or leg, have the surgery. Really.

I wasn't working at the time, but my husband had to take time off, which was quite tricky. I had to travel to a different city and isolate got 2 weeks before surgery. Your employers will have you back (depending on your job) 3ish weeks after surgery, which is much better than losing you completely due to the pain.

Please speak with your GP about a referral to a spinal surgeon if he feels it’s indicated.

Sorry if s/he feels it’s indicated. I forgot myself

Yep, took quite a long time to recover from the surgery to be honest, best part of a year but was the only way to resolve it. Have been fine since I recovered.

There are also pain relief injections you can have - I'll afraid i can't recall the details but if you speak to an orthopaedic surgeon they will give you the best treatments and what impact they will have.

Thanks Elphaba, I paid to see the spinal surgeon privately - he recomended surgery.

Osteopath is helpful as my muscles in my leg go into spasm/solid and he sorts them out.

Am having physio, but it's over the phone! Osteo has given physio type stretches and core stengthening too. Yes I read that about non-surgical too, but am seriously considering surgery now. 8 months severe pain is proving devastating to my mental health.

never i had one steroid injection. Made no difference to pain. Anaethetist suggested trying a second one, but surgeon said if first doesn't work, 2nd prob won't...

yes i did 17 years ago on the same discs. after 6 weeks it was great, im not going to say 1005 pain free but 98%. it has reoccured quite a few times though, once requiring surgery again and around 5 with hospital admissions. about once a year i get a bad flare up when im in agony and taking tramadol constantly for a week or two, sometimes 3.
it also plays up if i do repetetive movements, simple things like just washing the pots, ironing ( so i gave that up....) but that usually eases fairly quick

oh i also had the injection, once was brill but the 2nd time it just transferred the pain to the other side

Husband had surgery at Kings 33 years ago. Osteo had previously made it worse.
He was pain free for about 12 years, it was miraculous.
Unfortunately it’s back with a real vengeance but lower down so carrying more risk. He will consider it again though, without hesitation, if pain management injections don’t help.
He was back on his feet days later (probably be quicker now) and playing tentative tennis 6 weeks later. Again, that was in the dark ages and your recovery will be quicker now.

All the best.

I went to my GP who referred me to have an MRI. Once they saw how badly it was herniated, I was fast tracked for surgery. I had been around the houses with physios / acupuncture before that.

It is apparently a vv bad prolapse...

thank you

Covid impact on NHS obv hasn't helped... No private surgery happening here, no idea re NHS or where I am on list...