Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Collapsed Disc

14 replies

Anste · 28/02/2011 18:41

I wonder if anyone can help please - doctors in particular. Is it usual to have a collapsed disc (L5) and to have it repaired twice? The first op was a Micro discectomy, the second was a 'repair.'

It seems everyone who has the op a second time automatically has the complete disc removed and a fusion takes place.

After all this my daughter's pain is still really bad, especially as the scar tissue has attached itself to the nerve.

I would be so grateful for any help or advice.

OP posts:
Winetimeisfinetime · 28/02/2011 21:15

Sorry Anste, can't help but am bumping this for you.

sparklyblack · 28/02/2011 21:17

Hi, not a doctor but had L4/5 microdiscectomy last year. Surgeon told me that there was a possibility of needing further surgery, if the disc began to cause problems again, so I'd guess it isn't that unusual. Sorry I can't be more helpful, could your daughter contact the consultant and ask? Really feel for her, the pain was so so terrible, easily worse than giving birth and my labours were very difficult :(.

Original poster
Anste · 01/03/2011 07:56

Thanks you sparklyblack. She sees the consultant fairly often, she is now due to have another epidural to help the pain. Its just that everyone seems to have had their disc completely removed - except for you and her!

She asks the consultant so many questions and he has loads of time for her but its turning out to be a bit of a nightmare.

I'll tell her about the giving birth bit - she had a ceasarian!

OP posts:
Original poster
Anste · 01/03/2011 07:56

What's bumping?

OP posts:
smee · 01/03/2011 14:49

Anste, sorry your daughter's having such a hard time with it all. I'm not a doctor, but I had a completely disintegrated disc at L5. Spent 4 years going through treatment after treatment until as a last resort they fused the discs in Dec.'09. Was genuinely life changing for me and am now largely pain free. Suppose what I'm saying is, if nothing else is working, maybe she should push for the fusion. I had all the epidural injections too - they're definitely worth a try, but with me they didn't touch the pain or solve the problem.

Original poster
Anste · 01/03/2011 19:34

Thank you smee. So sorry you had to wait 4 years, how awful. Its nice to know the fusion has more or less sorted you out, I think the consultant is holding back because she's only 27,but like she says she's got a long way to go and can't bear this pain. Her third epidural is booked for next Wednesday, I must say she doesn't think much to them either, although she wants to try again just in case.

OP posts:
sevenbubbles · 01/03/2011 21:32

I had a microdisectomy after the birth of my daughter -l5 disc. Immediately after that op I felt massive relief from the symptoms which frankly were much much worse than labour. The worst pain I have ever felt. anyhow, 3 weeks after the first op the pain came back. I had another MRI scan and that showed that I had prolapsed the disc again. I went straight back under the knife and had some more removed and my bone was channelled to make a bit more room for the nerve. But I wasn't fused. I had ongoing pain for about a year. Minor in comparison to the pain I had suffered previously. It was a bit like I could feel the nerve throbbing down my leg to my ankle. Anyhow after about a year I suddenly realised that I was fine again. My back feels tired from time to time but the sciatic pain has now gone. I think that it just took time for the nerve to repair itself. Hope this helps. I really found that massage therapy helped too.

Original poster
Anste · 01/03/2011 21:47

Thanks sevenbubbles, it seems there is hope. What is massage therapy? Who does it? Does a GP refer you or do you take yourself off?

Its nice to hear from you all and know you understand.

OP posts:
sevenbubbles · 03/03/2011 07:52

I found a physio who had trained as a massage therapist - was really nervous about anyone touching the area around my scar so wanted someone who knew what I had been through. I guess physios who do sport massage may be good. I got more from this than any exercise etc. Hope she gets some relief soon.

RAlover · 03/03/2011 07:56

Hi,
I had a micridiscectomy last year, and (like others have said) it has been life changing for me,
One of the things my consultant said was that I would have to convince him that surgery was necessary. It was, for him, a last resort to remove the disc. Perhaps your daughter could go down that route??
I am now taking pilates lessons, also extremely helpful.

smee · 03/03/2011 11:25

I second pilates - though tell your daughter to maybe start with 1:1 as it's fine tuning, so if you get it wrong it can make things worse. Swimming's good too.

mrsgetonwithit · 03/03/2011 19:10

I had a L5/s1 fusion when I was 24 ish.......i am 42 now.

Not many probs I play tennis and it does not hold me back at all.

I had a car crash when I was 21.

I have also had a cesarian.

Chaotica · 03/03/2011 19:34

I had L4/5 disc entirely removed in a microdiscectomy (after 4 years of problems). I have no pain (although I have nerve damage), but I was told that was rather unusual, apparently the scar tissue and nerve damage can cause ongoing problems no matter what the surgeons do. OTOH I would suggest that your daughter get referred to a specialist back pain physio (if she can) - mine was great and sorted out the residual problems that having a bad back for years can cause.

Original poster
Anste · 04/03/2011 18:25

I am passing all your advice on to my daughter, it is comforting to know how much support is out there. Thank you so much, its helping make decisions so much easier.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page