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Original poster

Anyone ever had a microdiscectomy?

43 replies

Mischance · 15/04/2022 15:11

I am beside myself with pain from a sipped disc. Even an opiate patch does not begin to touch the edges. Only option seems toi be microdiscectomy.

I have two options - normal op on the NHS (after Christmas sometime!) or spend my savings on same op privately (and eat up my savings) where it is a lighter anaesthetic and you are out the same day.

Does anyone have any experience of this? Thanks.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mischance · 15/04/2022 15:12

slipped - not sipped!

OP posts:
fruitofthenight · 15/04/2022 15:45

I've had two microdiscectomys under the NHS 6 years apart. The recovery was totally different both times, the first one I struggled with pain and took a while to get back to usual activities, the second time I was back to normal within days! I'm now pain free and back to a normal life. Is there anything in particular you wanted to know more about?

Original poster
Mischance · 15/04/2022 16:06

Well - that is good to hear and very encouraging.

The private appointment would be much quicker - beginning of next month - and they do not anaesthetise you so much, so on both counts this looks like the better option - except for the hit on my savings of course.

The other option is a full GA and apparently bigger incision.

I am just desperate with the pain down my leg and it has been going on since the end of December - I feel as though I would sell my body if someone offered to take this pain away! I am on an opiate patch but can only manage a small dose as any more turns my insides to concrete! I top up with paracetamol. I can barely walk and am using crutches - it is pretty darn miserable.

How soon were you up and about? Did the pain down the leg go straight away? Did you have a big incision? Was it sore for a long time? What things were you not allowed to do and for how long? - e.g. driving, lifting etc. I live on my own (widowed) and in the middle of nowhere so not driving at all is going to be a problem.

I am so glad that yours was a success and you are free of pain.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mischance · 15/04/2022 16:07

Sorry - end of November.

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MrOllivander · 15/04/2022 16:14

I've had a discectomy and laminectomy for cauda equina so 5hr op
Disclaimer that the surgeon called me wilful so my recovery may have been... quick Grin
Walked within an hour, discharged after 21hrs. Live alone. No lifting, bending or twisting for 6-8 weeks. Drove after 2 weeks, back on a horse at 8 weeks Blush

Original poster
Mischance · 15/04/2022 16:22

That sounds encouraging - I too am willful!

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fruitofthenight · 15/04/2022 16:36

@Mischance

Well - that is good to hear and very encouraging.

The private appointment would be much quicker - beginning of next month - and they do not anaesthetise you so much, so on both counts this looks like the better option - except for the hit on my savings of course.

The other option is a full GA and apparently bigger incision.

I am just desperate with the pain down my leg and it has been going on since the end of December - I feel as though I would sell my body if someone offered to take this pain away! I am on an opiate patch but can only manage a small dose as any more turns my insides to concrete! I top up with paracetamol. I can barely walk and am using crutches - it is pretty darn miserable.

How soon were you up and about? Did the pain down the leg go straight away? Did you have a big incision? Was it sore for a long time? What things were you not allowed to do and for how long? - e.g. driving, lifting etc. I live on my own (widowed) and in the middle of nowhere so not driving at all is going to be a problem.

I am so glad that yours was a success and you are free of pain.

If you can afford it I'd definitely go for the private route, I was waiting 18 months for my surgery. I wanted to chop my leg off daily and ended up on crutches too. Have you tried other medications? Amitriptyline was a life saver for being able to get a good nights sleep and it helps nerve pain. Both my experiences were so different. Surgery one I took a long time to recover, after surgery I still had the sciatica and was in a lot of pain with my back. The sciatica took a couple of months to fully go, my consultant said it was down to the fact my nerve had been compressed for such a long time period. My second surgery was really straight forward, I was free of sciatica instantly and was cleaning my house the next day! My incision is about 2-3cm, I always joke my surgeon wasn't a plastic surgeon as it's not the neatest but a small price to pay to be pain free. I don't drive so have no experience with that but I think as long as you can perform an emergency stop then you're good to go. Heavy lifting is not advised for 6 weeks and it's important to do physio after surgery to try and build up your core strength to avoid further back problems
PrettyPinkFlamingo2022 · 15/04/2022 16:43

Yep, I had one 2 years ago Feb, was my second one...its not great but it has definitely helped..however I was told if my back went again I would require fusing and that does scare me....Good luck what ever you decide x

Akite · 15/04/2022 16:43

My DH had a microdiscectomy 15 years ago and has been left with continuing nerve pain unfortunately. He wasn't really warned beforehand that this was even a possibility, he was fully expecting t be back to normal within a few weeks and it was crushing when that didn't happen. I don't think it's common at all for a discectomy to fail to give relief but I do think people should be aware beforehand that it might not work.

Cailinnua · 15/04/2022 16:51

I had this operation a few months ago. I am in Ireland so a different system, it was through private health insurance. If I had to pay for it, I would have spent every penny I had or taken a loan. My pain was all-consuming. It disappeared straight away. I went home the same day and was walking straight away. I did not sit for 2 weeks. I found the recovery tough, but I followed instructions and have come out of it as good as new.

Original poster
Mischance · 15/04/2022 16:54

Thanks for all the info.

I an aware that it may not be a cure-all - and it is complicated by the fact that there is a problem with my hip on the same side - I know I will still have that to contend with afterwards.

I had an injection in the spine which helped for a few days - presumably while the local was still at work a bit - but after that it was back with a vengeance.

The pain is truly dreadful and makes you want to give up really.

I am on a sister drug to amitriptylene and thank goodness I am able to sleep.

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Original poster
Mischance · 15/04/2022 16:57

@Cailinnua

I had this operation a few months ago. I am in Ireland so a different system, it was through private health insurance. If I had to pay for it, I would have spent every penny I had or taken a loan. My pain was all-consuming. It disappeared straight away. I went home the same day and was walking straight away. I did not sit for 2 weeks. I found the recovery tough, but I followed instructions and have come out of it as good as new.
That is encouraging - why did you not sit for 2 months? - was that because it was painful, or was it an instruction? In what way was the recovery tough if you don't mind me asking?

I identify with the "pain was all-consuming" - it rules my life.

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SimpleShootingWeekend · 15/04/2022 17:03

I was “on the list” for one but I paid for IDD therapy privately and it sorted it enough for me not to need surgery. It doesn’t work for everyone though so maybe I was just lucky. It cost about £1500 which is a lot when it might not help and I had to go 3x a week for about 6 weeks. I was desperate so the cost didn’t seem as important .

Sparechange · 15/04/2022 17:11

I had one 10 years ago and my overriding memory is coming round from the anaesthetic and realising I wasn’t in pain

I was up and about within a day, back to fairly normal within a week
A year later, I ran a marathon, and bar the occasional twinge when I lift weights, I’ve not had any reoccurring issues

But, don’t underestimate the amount of physio you will need so if you go down the private route, set aside some money for this also

Cailinnua · 15/04/2022 17:22

@Mischance
It was what I was told to do. I thought it was standard, you lie or stand only. My ruptured disk was in my lower spine. It might be different if your damage is higher.

MrOllivander · 15/04/2022 17:57

[quote Cailinnua]@Mischance
It was what I was told to do. I thought it was standard, you lie or stand only. My ruptured disk was in my lower spine. It might be different if your damage is higher.[/quote]
Yeah I forgot that bit! They told me no sitting for longer than 30 mins as apparently it's the devil for your back. To stand and lie
I spent a lot of time horizontal binge watching Buffy

scunner · 16/04/2022 23:33

I had a piece of disc pulverising the sciatic nerve and the pain was excruciating. I opted to go private as it became unbearable.
I had a Microdiscectomy and woke up pain free. Came out of hospital after 24 hours and made a good recovery. I had to use my savings, but it was worth every last penny! I wish you all the best.

GADDay · 16/04/2022 23:44

I had one in August last year. It was a private, minimally invasive procedure.

I had been in agonising pain for 6 months - the leg pain was honestly the worst I have ever endured. The surgeon said that my nerve was flat rather than round as it ad been so squished.

I am so incredibly grateful. I have my life back. I would do it again a thousand times over.

Original poster
Mischance · 17/04/2022 17:58

Thank you for these encouraging posts. I am due to have the surgery privately on May 24th - I cannot endure the pain any longer - certainly not until I might come up on the NHS list - we have no spinal surgeons on this area so have to join a huge list elsewhere. It would likely be end of the year or even beginning of 2023 before it would be done.

In the meantime I am crippled by pain and stuffing painkillers that themselves carry risks long term. I am pretty fed up with having to use my savings, but recognise that I have no alternative. I am lucky that I was able to save. What the hell do people with no savings do? ..... just go on suffering and being off work.

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MrOllivander · 17/04/2022 20:57

@Mischance I went off work
Sciatica for years
Pain started Jan 2017
Off work March 2017 as couldn't cope with the pain
Op was May 2017

ArtVandalay · 17/04/2022 23:22

My husband had one after 4 years of pain. He’s got to the point where he could barely walk or stand without shocking pain. He had 5 nerve root injections with very limited success.

The surgery was life changing. He had it done privately. He had one day off work and was pain free and walking immediately. He has never looked back.

Norgernert · 17/04/2022 23:28

I did 20 years ago and it was of limited success. I was in more pain after the surgery than before and it took a long time to get remotely back to normal. I think every procedure has some cases that work less well than others though.

Original poster
Mischance · 18/04/2022 17:43

Could I ask whether you had to wear surgical stocking after the operation, or whether you were put on anticoagulant therapy?

I will be at home on my own afterwards and my family want to help - would it make sense to have someone to stay for a few days immediately post-op? Did it take long before you could manage things for yourself?

Thanks for your help.

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ArtVandalay · 18/04/2022 17:52

My husband didn’t have to follow any post op protocol. No surgical stockings.

He was (with the surgeon’s blessing) able to do a 100 mile charity bike ride 4 days after the op. He was more debilitated after his vasectomy that having his 2 severely prolapsed discs sliced!

Original poster
Mischance · 19/04/2022 23:04

I will have to remember not to have a vasectomy! Smile

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