12 months ago I developed 2 prolapsed discs at L5/S1 and L4/L5. I put off surgery twice for family reasons and have been in varying degrees of constant pain. At one point I was admitted to hospital with suspected Cauda Equina Syndrome. I have cried and struggled so much. I was led to believe that there was no hope of recovery without surgery.
Well, about 6 weeks ago I noticed that the nerve pain (sciatica) had virtually gone. I was able to come off the Pregabalin and although I had some pain in my back I was able to walk freely and could lie flat on my back in bed, something I had been unable to do for almost a year.
I am finally in the position of being free to have the surgery and saw my consultant yesterday. I told him how my pain had virtually gone and he examined me, did tests etc and said I no longer need the surgery!
His explanation was he believes the scavenger cells in my body have recognised that the prolapsed disc tissue should not be there and have eaten it away- so performing the surgery for me. ( this is simplified but you get the gist.) he says this can happen in about 10% of patients. This goes against what I was told in London by one of the top neurosurgeons in the country who said there was no chance of progress without surgery- although when I saw him I was at my worst- due to the length of time I had been like that. This sort of recovery normally happens in the first 6 months. I was also told that I was likely to have permanent nerve damage and that the sensation in my leg and foot may not return.
Well I am fine! The feeling is back. The pains I have in my back should improve with strengthening exercises. My core muscles are shot to bits but will come back in time. I am stunned! I feel I have defied the odds. I can be fast tracked back to him if I have any recurrence of leg pain but otherwise I am free to get on with my life.
This is just fantastic news for me in a time where good news has been in short supply. I know there is a chance of relapse and I have to be careful, but he says the stronger I get the muscles in my back the less chance there is of this happening. I just wanted to share this with you, that there is hope without surgical procedures, and with a bit more luck (I am lucky to be in that 10%, fingers crossed) I can make a full recovery!