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Chronic pain

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Original poster

Sciatica/discetomy surgery

17 replies

BG2015 · 17/10/2021 15:26

My DP has had sciatica since May due to 2 slipped discs. (He had it in 2015 but got relief from a cortisone spinal injection)

He's not worked since May, could hardly walk until they eventually sorted his medication out and has been in constant pain and cannot stand or sit for long.

He's having a discetomy on Thursday and I'm just wondering if anyone has experience of this operation - first few days after the operation and ongoing recovery.

He's hoping to be back at work beginning of December but he works in the demolition industry and it's a very physical job so I'm wondering whether that time frame is too soon.

OP posts:
NotMyCat · 22/10/2021 01:41

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 Smile

NotMyCat · 22/10/2021 01:43

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

merrymelody · 22/10/2021 07:21

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.

Original poster
BG2015 · 22/10/2021 07:55

Thank you both for your replies.

He had his operation successfully yesterday at the Nuffield. He was home at 7.30pm. He has no sciatic pain but just some pain from the wound. He's slept well.

He's just worrying now about reducing his drugs as he's been on gabepentin and amitriptyline. He's had no direction from our GP but Dr Google says to just decrease the does slowly.

I'm hoping the crutches go back in the garage and he NEVER has to use them again.

OP posts:
CalamariGames · 22/10/2021 08:16

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.

merrymelody · 22/10/2021 22:09

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.

BeautifulBirds · 22/10/2021 22:12

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.)

BeautifulBirds · 22/10/2021 22:14

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!!

Burnshersmurfs · 22/10/2021 22:23

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

Burnshersmurfs · 22/10/2021 22:24

“Dis e Tommy” is discectomy Grin

Original poster
BG2015 · 23/10/2021 10:41

He's was doing ok until he woke up in the night to go to the toilet, he's been getting out of bed properly as shown by the physio but as he stood up he said his back cracked and now he has sciatic pain in his right leg (it was his left leg previously)

He's very 'doom & gloom' and convinced it's not worked. I'm trying to be positive as it's only 48 hours since surgery.

OP posts:
CalamariGames · 23/10/2021 10:55

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.

Original poster
BG2015 · 26/10/2021 13:29

He's much improved now. He's seeing a physio on Friday which hopefully will give him some good exercises to build strength etc

OP posts:
rubyslippers · 26/10/2021 13:34

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

JazzHandsYeah · 28/10/2021 04:24

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.

Temple29 · 28/10/2021 04:34

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?

Original poster
BG2015 · 28/10/2021 08:03

@Temple29

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?

He's looking at changing jobs. He's 56 so he's worried about this happening again. He works for his friend so could have less physical duties but I know what he's like and he'd just get stuck in, lift something heavy and his back will go.

He's got another 5 weeks recovery and physio tomorrow so hopefully that will help going forward.

OP posts:
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