To ask if you’ve had a Microdiscectomy?

[AsACloud]

Hi all,
I’m planned to have a Microdiscectomy in 2 months. Not had much info from the hospital yet so I’ve read up on recovery etc but I always feel first hand experiences are more informative. Has anyone had this procedure that would share their insights please? Not looking forward to the op but only a 2 night stay & will be really pleased if it removes the ongoing pain and limitations! Especially interested in recovery times for flying. Supposed to go on holiday which will have me fly 7 weeks after op date. Most info I’ve read saying not less than 6 weeks for long haul and it’s a 7 hour flight.

Hopeful bump 😊

Yes, I had cauda equina and a 5hr discectomy
Woke up at 4pm, discharged lunch time the next day
For about 3 weeks I did nothing but sleep and watch Buffy then I started walking and gradually building up the distance and also physio privately. Ended up I was walking around 5k
8 weeks i was back on a horse, realised it was too soon and left it another couple of weeks before I rode again

In fact I have dates!

11th May - op
29th May - drove myself to have a tattoo
31st May - up to walking about 5000 steps
16th June - got back on a horse too soon
6th July (so just under 8 weeks) - back riding properly
2nd August - back deadlifting in the gym

Pic of my scar when it was fresh

Wow, great info. Thanks a lot!
I have the pain/weakness/pins and needles etc but thankfully not the more urgent symptoms affecting bowel/bladder. So your op sounds like it was for a more severe issue if you got a discectomy and not a microdisectomy?

Yeah I herniated L5/S1 and then developed cauda equina so I had total loss of feeling, foot drop, had to drag my leg to walk etc. the loss of feeling was a relief from the screaming pain to be honest! They said it was really tight in my back and that's why it took 5hrs

L5/S1 for me too. Foot drop is thankfully short lived, when I get out of a seated position. Hoping it doesn’t worsen before the op. Thanks for your replies, really helpful to know more. Hope you’re fully recovered x

No leg pain, I get the odd bit of back pain/stiffness
I can play netball, do spin classes, lift weights etc so very grateful compared to what it could have been