Bad back & (MISS) Minimally invasive spinal surgery

kwalsh000

Hey all,

Just curious has anyone had this done? I know there are other threads about back surgery but they talk mainly about fusions etc and I am thinking more along the lines of the Lumbar Microdiscectomy as the video shows on http://www.spineireland.ie/

I injured my back 3 years ago (i train with weights but it was not caused by the weights, was moving a locker and a slip happened), had an epidural and it didnt work. So 6 months later and physio i was 70% pain mostly gone except I have not being able to straighten my left leg when sitting upright but I was able to live with that and got back to work training heavy enough weights and cycling etc.

1 month ago i was about to pick up a weight and was not thinking and bam, massive pain, since then ive had an epidural 2 weeks ago and it worked for a few days and then wore off and the pain goes down to the back of my leg (it only ever went half way down my thigh). Its a constant sharp pain through out the day (prob a 4 or 5/10) with some 10/10 depending on how I move. So i am thinking to get it sorted early enough with the surgery as i am only my late 20's and want to get back to my old routine asap.

Has anyone done it and had any experiences?

kwalsh000

I'll take the lack of responses as a no.

Well ive booked my self in for the key hole surgery/microdiscectomy in the Sports Surgery Clinic.

The back got worse but its a bit better now not as intense but still sore every movement and I have never been able to straighten my left leg when sitting in 3 years so its time to get it done and fixed.

I will post an update after so other people can get another view on it.

kwalsh000

Well I thought I might aswell update this here for others to see.

I went in for my op on Wednesday the 6th and it is now Friday the 8th. I had my operation in the Sports Surgery Clinic under Dr. Jacque Noel and everything went very well.

I arrived in around 11.30 and after some initial tests like blood pressure and urine I was brought in to the theater where I met the Dr and anesthetist who went through things with me. I was given my general anesthetic and before i knew it I was awake 3 hours later and did not have much back pain and stomach was great.

Later on I could feel the back pain alot more (like someone kicked me in the back) but it was not the usual pain from before the op and was to be expected considering i was just after the surgery, other than the sickness later on and some difficulty urinating from the anesthetic all was good.

The next morning the back was still fairly sore and I was advised to sleep on my back and not really my side when resting. I met with the physio who went through everything and helped me get out and about walking (the first few times I stood up I almost collapsed so it took a while). I was then advised that walking is unrestricted and to do a good amount of it to help the back heal but not to twist, lift or bend. Even just laying in bed my back has to be flat and not even slightly elevated.

It is now day 2 and while still sore it is feeling better than yesterday and I was able to walk around the house and up the stairs alot better. It is still hard to move while in the bed/change position but over all i am delighted to have had it done (even though i cant feel the full effects yet) as I can already notice no pain below the thigh.

I will try keep this updated but wanted to let people know my experience incase it is of any use.

apache

Thats great you're doing well kwalsh. Theres a few threads in this forum talking about microdiscectomy. You should have a gander.

RubyGirl

How are you getting on now op, is it expensive?

kwalsh000

Thanks Apache, I must have searched the wrong terms when I was looking.

I am getting on a lot better. It is still sore, the first few days were fairly sore and tight but now the pain has reduced. My mobility is still not good as I can't sit down for long and have to spend most of my time on my back and then walking 3 times or so a day at 20 mins a piece (gets sore around then).

In terms of the old leg pain, its virtually gone! I still feel the odd twinge which from what I have read is just the nerve regenerating and the upper cheek/lower back still is sore but getting better. As for price I am not too sure as i went through my medical insurance.

This is a good read for both before and after surgery
http://www.hopkinsortho.org/JHULumbSpineSurgeryGuide.pdf

I would still highly recommend it to anyone, i left it three years to get done and regret not doing it sooner.

jdee99

Glad your on the mend and a positive outcome

apache

thats great news kwalsh. patience is your friend. it will be a while before you are back to yourself. nerves regenerate very very slow but they do eventually.

it sounds really positive that you have a good result at this early stage. delighted for you.

edit - just do exactly what they direct to the letter. thats a good link you posted. will have a better read of it later.

kwalsh000

Thanks all I was nervous at first of it as I had not be able to straighten my left leg in 3 years and had pain every day so now its quite a change!

Definitely as you say I have to do it to the letter and not over to it. I will eventually get there though. Surprisingly have not had too much hassle from work since the surgery so lets hope it stays that way.

I hope as i post progress over time I hope it can help people get a better indication of what to expect and if it is for them.

kwalsh000

A bit of an update.

Just over 7 weeks since the surgery. The first few weeks were the best (It would get sore if I walked for too long or sat for too long but was great). Around week 5 it was getting a bit sore again in the back (not down the leg) I went for a check up the week after (week 6) and started physio the next day. I was given exercises to do to help it heal (another injection can be arranged if need be I was told).

I am not just over a week into them and for the first time its sore down my leg when walking and even now its painful as I sit here. Some days the exercises are not too bad (such as the rolling my back down to as if i am touching my toes) other days they are quite sore and today has been the worst so far (bare in mind I have not taken pain killers past the second week)

I might try arrange another MRI just to make sure it did not herniate again when I was vomiting the night after the surgery (paranoid now!) but I will keep this updated as I go so others can see as from what I have read some have said its the 3rd month they began to feel a lot better.

So will wait and see!

Ashington

has anyone had any experience with Dr seamus Morris in the mater private for a microdis tommy