Microdiscectomy surgery, any fellow back pain suffers?

[Banjaxx]

So looks like I’m on for surgery on my back, I’d love to hear from anyone with some first hand experience of recovery and whether they feel like it was worth it.

Not sure I have any alternatives as it’s properly buggered this time. I’ve a long history of back issues, 20 odd years of herniating discs on and off with increasingly regular stints of severe pain and sciatica. Had multiple mris, physio and steroid injections etc but now Ive bilateral sciatica down into both feet and existing on cocodamol which is no fun.

has anyone seen drastic improvement post surgery? Is it possible to get back to exercising after? Or has anyone had a negative experience of the surgery?

Following as although consultant wasn’t keen at first he’s now thinking a microdiscectomy may be the only real option left. Have tried physio, steroid injections etc to no avail as well. The only pain medication that works is amitryptyline but the side effects aren’t great. Wish there was a magic cure as after a year of this I’m so tired of it!

I had it. The best thing I've ever done. Prepare to walk like a penguin for a week or so

I had a microdisectomy in 2010. It was honestly life-changing for me. I've never suffered with sciatica since.

My sister was crippled with her back and could only walk about 40 metres bent over but after surgery she can walk 5 miles. She said surgery was painful after for about 10 days but so worth it. She said without the surgery she believes she would be bedridden and drugged up to her eyeballs by now.

I’ve had a microdisectomy twice- L5/S1. Once at 21 years old and once at 30. Best thing I have ever done, in the most incredible amounts of pain both times before surgery, then after no pain at all, up walking around that evening. I was in pain for months both times, would recommend.

its such a relief to wake up to such positive replies. I honestly don’t think I can functiin much linger with the level of pain I’m in. It’s not acute burning pain like it was when the disc actually herniated but it’s just constant background pain that zaps my attentions and energy and leaves me permanently distracted and pissed off even with painkillers.

@clipclop5 ive not tried amitryptylin , although it has been mentioned, what were the side effects? I stopped taking naproxen a while back as it messed with my stomach and I didn’t want to have to start adding in omeprazile on top of it and the cocodamol as it just felt like a lot of medication to be taking.

@Whatwouldyoudo2021 i thought it was just L4/L5 I’d need surgery on but last mri showed L5/S1 was worse and bulging both sides so guess it’ll be two discs at the same time.

@ootred pretty much walk like that now anyway!

Mine was on my L5/S1 also. I've been on amitriptiline and it's beneficial in that if you take it in the evening, you will get a decent night's sleep. It can make your mouth dry but the nights sleep is worth it! You may feel quite groggy for a while when you wake up but that will pass as you get used to it.

I had emergency surgery for cauda equina caused by a herniation at l5/s1
Back on a horse 8 weeks post op, and I still do a lot of exercise. Some residual numbness and the odd bit of back pain, but nothing like the total lack of feeling and agony I had

Was a 5hr op and I was discharged less than 24hrs later

I had one done 10 years ago now. I probably won't do it again. Mainly the scar tissue ended up irritating the nerves ever since. Not majorly bad but to a similar extent to the original back pain. Personally I would make sure you have done everything you can to avoid having it done but as a last resort it can be good as a friend it completely transformed his life with no complications at all.

@PeloFondo that must’ve been terrifying. I’m on constant vigil for it turning into CES, when the sciatica started radiating down both legs I started getting nervous, thankfully I’ve not had any saddle numbness. Great to hear you were back up on horseback so quickly after the surgery. That’s really reassuring.
@Haybo26 not sure I can cope with being even more groggy in the morning than I already am! Good nights sleep sounds very tempting though. Did you have surgery or did it just resolve itself?

Hi op I've had 2 of these ops and def worth it both times

Thanks so much everyone, feeling so much more optimistic about facing the surgery. Not sure how long I’ll have to jiggle work around for but I should get an indication of time line next week at my review with the consultant.

I have Piriformis Syndrome. It's very painful when I sit. I had sciatica when I was very young. I didn't know this surgery existed!

Hi, I had this surgery at the end of May...I started a thread around that time. I'm now about 14weeks post surgery and still improving...it is hard though and I'm still on Naproxen and gabapentin but only twice a day and still having regular physio.
So improved from the beginning of this year which I am thankful for
My journey to surgery

Oh and got signed off to return to work (desk based) after around 8 weeks....I have a standing desk and wear trainers as well as taking frequent breaks. Back up the gym but no where near where I was and still finding things that can cause aggregation of the nerve ....TS a slow recovery process for me and I was very fit and active before so that side is a little frustrating

Thanks for posting your link @ChristmasPuddingAllRound just read your thread. I wonder why they never diagnosed you with cauda equina? Sounds like that last week before your surgery with loss of feeling and urine retention you basically had all the red flag symptoms? Glad to hear you’re feeling better and n the road to recovery.

I had the op. Cured my sciatica. I'd recommend anyone to have it done if you have exhausted every other option.

Definitely keep an eye for CE symptoms
I walked into a&e and had full bladder control

@Banjaxx I have no idea... If I'm honest I've lost a lot of this year to pain and medication! It has been worthwhile but it is hard work, and a long haul! I hope you get sorted and get pain relief

Following this thread as been experiencing pain since august and waiting first spinal injection very soon- surgery will be last options but great full to hear the positive experiences thank you!
im currently on amitriptyline 30mg, naproxen with ompezraole and 30/500 cocodomol.
for those of you on amitriptyline what dose are you on? My consultant mentioned trying to reduce this dose and I did go down to 20mg after 2 weeks of improvement but had a flair up this week again and feel back to day 1 so on 30 mg again now.
@Banjaxx I hope you find some relief soon !

UPDATE!
just thought I’d fire a quick update on here for anyone who posted back at the start. I had my surgery last week, bilateral discectomy. The pain on my left side is gone, totally vanished but my right side is bloody agony. Surgeon said that the right side was actually a lot worse than it looked on the mri and the nerve was significantly compressed, it was on the left but that was expected so no shocker. He said they removed a sizeable ‘chunk’ on both sides, his words not mine. Grim choice of words imo! Anyway hoping the pain on the right is due to inflammation and will settle, but at the minute I can’t walk without pain even maxxing out on the painkillers I’ve been sent home with. Not sure how long to wait before I start panicking that I’ve wrecked myself tbh! No review date yet with the surgeon but I think I’ll leave it til Friday and if I don’t see any improvement I’ll call his secretary and see if I can see him sooner for some reassurance.