Sciatica/discetomy surgery

Hi. Yes I had cauda equina and a discectomy which took just under 5hrs, my recovery was fast but the surgeon called me wilful so...

First few days - I slept. And slept. I think partly from the anaesthetic and partly from the relief of no pain! I would watch an episode of Buffy, fall asleep, wake up and eat and repeat
I was uncomfortable for a while and went faint a few times
Walked an hour post op, discharged 21hrs after

I was told not to lift, bend or twist, and I live alone so picked things up by squatting. Braced my back against a wall if I sneezed! Used a flat pillow to keep my back in line rather than sleeping with two pillows
I started walking properly about 3 weeks post op and built it up using different surfaces like cobbles, grass etc and some v basic exercises like standing on one leg. Then I did 8 PT rehab sessions in the gym. Drove about 3 weeks after the op, back on my horse at 10 weeks
Work wise I was back after 14 weeks but my job was sitting full time. They told me it takes a year for full recovery for all the nerves etc, and I also had some weird symptoms so don't panic if he gets them! Stuff like pins and needles and tingling in my arms, severe hamstring cramps, all because the nerves had been prodded about

Feel free to ask anything else

Oh and don't sit post op! Stand or lie, no more than sort of 45 mins sitting as it's so bad for your back. I was more comfortable standing up to be honest. Have a look at stuff around the house too because it's things like you can't bend to spit toothpaste out or pick up soap from the shower floor - and you don't realise until you come to it
The poor cat got used to me launching food from standing height and I think he thought I was making it rain food

I had one four years ago but didn't do enough exercise post-op and suffered more back problems. Make sure he doesn't fall into the same trap! Maintaining or improving core strength is so important.

Good luck to your DH, I had the same op earlier this year. Agree with pp I was very tired at first, but also so excited to be out of pain I was tempted to do too much. We went round a garden centre the day after I got home from hospital- I was so happy to go but it was a bit much for me. Also I found the advice was not very detailed about what I could do, even now I am back at work and I haven't had very much advice about what is safe e.g can I pick up any weight now or is there still a restriction? I have been considering going to a private physio or something for more advice so if his doctors are similarly unhelpful it might be worth looking into, especially as he has a physical job.
I did find I gained some weight during my recovery which is obviously not ideal for my back, but it was through being relatively inactive and comfort eating because I was bored or a bit down while recovering sometimes. Anyway that is something to be careful about if he is the type who gains weight easily.

Have him taper off the meds gradually and then only take pain relief as needed. Rest for a couple of days and then up and about for brief periods. His body will let him know when to rest.

I managed to get my hands on a zero gravity folding chair and it made all the difference! It reduces pressure on your back - lower back in particular.

Had a discectomy 3.5 weeks ago. Pain relief was instant, as soon as I woke up. I have been sleepy this week, but think I have a viral infection, not linked.

Have been free from pregabalin for 1 week. It needs to be done slowly, very slowly. (see my thread asking for support.)

Meant to say, the exercises are so important. If they are not done there will be more problems.

My consultant said no lifting for 3 months, not easy with a toddler!!

Dis e Tommy and laminectomy about 10 years ago (L4+5). Absolute game changer for me. The recovery was long but I haven’t had any issues since apart from a foot drop as a result of the original damage (not the op). I keep my weight in check and am cautious about lifting stuff and overdoing things. Obviously, this is my experience and I don’t know much about the bigger picture- but this looks positive: bmcmusculoskeletdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12891-018-2240-2

“Dis e Tommy” is discectomy

You can get pain, as there is inflammation in the wound site causing pressure, also the nerves take some time to heal. If its quite bad and he is worried its worth talking to the hospital as they normally give you a contact for his surgeon or doctor there.

I had a discetomy following a rupture which crushed my sciatic nerve
It was a long recovery - I was nearly a week in hospital, 3 months off work and 9 months on crutches
I had to build up to walking a mile per day every day and physio every single day
Your DH should do exercises as per instructions religiously - this will make a difference
Following on from my surgery I have not had any major episodes again and I have worked very hard to improve my fitness and core strength with exercise and weight training
Painkillers especially the nerve painkillers need to be tapered off - they really affected my sleep

I had a discectomy and laminectomy a few years ago for slipped discs that had trapped the main nerve in my back. Unfortunately mine failed after 10 days and the discs prolapsed again.
I agree with PP about not sitting for long periods. Ice really helped with the surgical pain.

My DH had the same surgery in July 2019 and felt some pain/discomfort here and there for the first 6-12 months after but not as bad as the original pain. Mostly had issues when he didn’t keep up with the physio exercises. Now has no pain at all and it’s been amazing.

He couldn’t lift anything for the first 3 months (including newborn baby) and everything was gradual after that. Also works in a manual job and was recommended to return to work on restricted duties by the surgeon, not that his job listened.

Is your husband still thinking of returning in December?