Microdiscectomy anyone??

[Pinkgorilla101]

Looking for.anyone that can tell me what a microdiscectomy is like. I am having one next week after seeing a surgeon who said I need it doing asap before my nerve is permanently damaged. Would be grateful for any insights especially when I can swim again and the initial recovery

As I understand it, you will have a small surgical incision, so you will have to wait until that has healed over properly before you can swim without risk of infection, probably 4-6 weeks. Your doctor/physio will advise. I had a laminectomy years ago, and am pleased to report it was a total success. It was rotten at the time, requiring a 10 day hospital stay, but boy was it worth it to get rid of the god awful sciatica.

My husband had one after 4 years of intense pain, pointless nerve root injections and physio - he could barely walk.

He came home the same day and returned to work the following day. It was miraculous. He’s not a regular swimmer, so I don’t know about that, but he had the op on a Thursday and on the Sunday, he did a 100 mile bike ride (with the surgeon’s approval).

That sounds so encouraging. I have been like this for 3 long months now. I am having the surgery in Turkey so dreading the no swimming rule in 35 degree heat but I will do anything to get rid of the pain

Honestly - it was life changing for him. He’d thought the only solution was to have spinal fusion which he didn’t want due to being a cyclist and the downtime involved.

Someone just happened to recommend a neurosurgeon to him and it was the best thing that could’ve happened.

Do you live in Turkey or you are going there just for the surgery? Hopefully your hotel have air con to counteract the heat.

DH had a microdiscectomy about 6mths before I met him. That was 25yrs ago so I didn't get to see him before the op. He said he could barely walk with sciatica pain. He was only early 20's and told to swim and do certain exercises for months which he said was incredibly painful and made not difference at all.

When he woke up from surgery, the pain relief was instant apparently. He said he was up that afternoon and could walk to the toilet. He has a 1inch scar on his lower back. He has since put on weight and had the odd twinge, but apparently nothing at all as bad as it was back then.

I had one due to a disc rupture
recovery was really rough - the relief tho was instant
I had to wear a brace and was on crutches for three months
what have you been advised?
what I can say is that after years of terrible pain and sciatica the surgery was a success

We spend a lot of time in Turkey and came here to see a surgeon. I went to my GP in the UK after seeing a nurse several times. He couldn’t refer to a specialist for 6 months and gave me tablets. I saw the surgeon here yesterday and he couldn’t refer not believe what I told him. My nerve is severely compressed and he was amazed I could walk. God knows what would have happened had I decided to stay in UK.

Im sorry to hear you’re in such pain. I had a discectomy last year - i dont know how the recovery differs between that and microdiscectomy. I had been unable to walk, stand or sit for about six weeks and for me the pain relief was instant after the surgery, albeit I have a bit of permanent nerve damage from the nerve compression pre surgery (nothing that stops me doing anything exercise wise). I was not meant to twist or lift anything for 4-6 weeks post surgery and then light movement for the first 12 weeks. Six months later i am back to everything and feel better than I did before the first time my back went six years ago. I hope you’re fully recovered soon.

Best thing I ever did.
No bending, stretching (swimming), twisting or turning for 6 weeks.
walk an hour a day (lost 10 kg).
Put everything at waist height and get a grabber stick in case you drop things.
1 year down the line and I am very pleased but I still do my exercises every morning.
All of the above were my surgeons instructions.
Good luck

A friend of mine had a microdiscectomy after months of severe nerve pain, and she said the anticipation was far worse than the procedure itself. Her recovery wasn't instant, but she noticed an improvement in the nerve pain quite quickly. The first few weeks required patience and taking things steadily, but she felt it was absolutely worth it in the long run. I hope your surgery goes smoothly and that you start to get some relief from the symptoms you've been dealing with.