lower lumbar discetomy

mely

Hi,
I am waiting to be called for an operation on my lower back to remove discs or part of them from my back as they are pressing on nerves. I am a little concerned about the operation and the lenght of recovery time, and would be grateful if anyone has been through this or knows someone that has had a lower lumbar discetomy and can advise me on recovery time etc....

Thanks
Mel

query

Sorry I can't offer any help on the length of recovery, but I am wondering how you were referred for the operation in the first place? I have been diagnosed with two ruptured discs in my lower back but given that they are not affecting the power in my legs or I don't have pins and needles the doctors say that I should see if I can live with the pain.

I am living on Valium to relax the muscles, anti inflammatories, and also strong painkillers Zydol. Since I have been diagnosed (June) i have had two fairly lengthy periods off work and the pain is just excruciating. When I can I walk and swim. I am 30 and failry fit.

I went private to Beaumont and have full VHI cover (Plan E) but the doctors are reluctant to operate. What are your symptoms?

mely

Hi,

Sorry to hear you too suffer from this as i can really sympathise with you. I had severe back pain for 6 to 7 months and i was going to doctors and chiroprators etc to try shock therapy etc, as i too have ruptered discs and then the pain gradually got worse and i could no longer walk much and sleep etc. I went back to my doctor and he sent me for a CT and MRI scan and then referred me to Beumont Private clinic to see a neurosurgeon. He was reluctant to do anything for me at first and sent me home to try more treatment and loose weight for 6 weeks and then the pain got worse and i started to loose control of my bladder so they decided to do the operation as soon as they can.I would advise you to see another doctor and explain the systoms again. My initail symtoms were just severe lower back pain which moved into my legs and neck and then at times the pain caused me to loose control of my bladder. You cannot stay on painkillers for the rest of your life, i was on them for 7 months and they affected my hair growth and also can become addictive. I would advise you to maybe see another doctor and this time asked to be sent to the Mater hospital as they too have this service.

Hope this helps.

Thanks
Mel

Acidflash

I had this operation nearly three years ago. I had the same problems as you, severe pain in my lower back and down along my right leg, numbness in my right foot, and occaisonaly had trouble even walking. This went on for about 6 months and my doctor kept telling me no surgeon would operate so he just kept giving me prescreptions for anti imflammatories until i asked to be referred to an orthopedic surgeon. When i ginally saw him he sent me straight to hospital for rest, phsio and traction. When none of these eased the pain he operated and the relief was immediate. Pain was gone from my leg and back within 2-3 days, the numbmess in my foot went after about a week. I was out of bed and walking the day after the operation,with the nurses help, granted i was still very stiff and movement was slow.The following day i started to get out of bed myself and walk around myself, I was released from the hospital 4 days after the operation. They usually keep people for a week after but when the surgeon asked if i was up to going home i said yes. Once i got home i couldn't sit comfortably for about 7 - 10 days so had to lie down most of the time, i had no trouble walking but initially could only walk for 10 - 15 mins at a time taking it easy, no point in over doing it as it will just lengthen recovery time. After about 4 weeks i was pretty much back to normal, still had some stiffness some days but generally i was ok. i would get the odd day where i had a little pain for about 6 - 7 weeks after the op, since then i've had no problems though and i am happy i had the op.

hope this helps

Widget

There is quite a debate in the medical world between letting low back pain and slipped discs settle naturally or if intervening earlier on is the best course. I hope QUERY has had an MRI scan because that is the gold standard test and shows if a disc has slipped and to what degree it is pressing on a nerve. If there is no pressure on a nerve it is best to leave to settle down itself - if there is compression I think surgery should be considered early on. Micro discetomy is the best option as it is less likely to cause scarring around the disc which can cause pain even after the disc or part of it has been removed. I think a neurosurgeon is yer only man or woman for the job - and you want someone who is experienced with operating with a microscope as this method helps cut the risk of scarring big time. The recovery period as outlined is about right - most people find the pain post op nothing when compared to pre op situation!!

query

Yes, I've had an MRI scan which showed two severly ruptured discs. The neurosurgeon (Prof Phillips at Beaumont) said though that they couldn't tell which disc wa causing the pain and they could only operate on one at a time. The only symptom I have is pain, no numbness etc. I'm just so sick of taking the painkillers!

Widget

Sorry about delay in getting back to you. Your disc problem must be more complicated than most - but there is no reason I know of why you can't operate on two discs. Do the medical people realise how much pain you are in - being stoical is not a good option with back pain. Also there is a process called a nerve root block - an injection into the spine to deaden the nerve that is being compressed, if you are in doubt as to which disc is causing pain you block one and if pain disappears even for a day or two you know which disc is the main culprit. This is not to be confused with useless epidural injections where the surgeon sticks a needle into the back and hopes for the best, nerve root blocks are targeted to particular nerve roots and done under X ray to make sure it is being put in exactly the right place. Ask if this is an option for you??