2-3 months ago started having some real issues in lower back. 1 month ago(and after visiting the chiropractor for the first time in my life) I found myself in the ER with excruciating pain in my lower right back and right testicle. The following day after coming out of the fog from all the pain meds administered, I noticed I had lost feeling in my upper inner leg and pelvic region. The specialist asked me to come in immediately as I later found out to rule out cauda equina syndrome. MRI reveled l4/l5 disk is hardly a disc anymore and the l1/l2 disc had ruptured and was causing the problems. Have had no intense pain since then, but still have no feeling in upper inner leg and right side of pelvic region(hayoo and the boys are fine). Dr. is recommending a Partial Lumbar Discectomy to relieve the pressure on the nerves. I asked a lot of questions in the followup that I did not even think about originally with it happening so fast. Would love to hear from anyone here that has had this, and their thoughts afterwards, good and bad. I know back surgery has come a long way, but it is still back surgery. TIA for any information you can provide:toast:
Who has experience with "Partial Lumbar Discectomy"?
- Thread starter UGA12
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Been through it twice. The only reason I had to go through it twice was because the first doctor did not do a good job. Pain before first surgery was an 8 out of 10, after surgery they told me it should be a zero and it was more like an intermittent 1 or 2. That escalated over time to off the chart, it was literally disabling. I could no longer walk.
I was lucky to know a friend from high school who got me into a doctor he works for that does this kind of surgery. Since the second surgery I have had literally zero pain.
I can likely answer a lot of questions but the advice I would give you is do your research and find a good doctor with a history of good results and most importantly, DO NOT WAIT. The longer you wait the more you risk nerve damage. The situation you likely have going on is the disk has ruptured and the gel inside that acts as the cushion between vertebrae has squirted out and is laying on a nerve(s). This isn't going to get better on it's own. You need that gel removed from the nerve and the disk repaired/removed.
Ask any questions you have and I'll answer based on my experience.
I was lucky to know a friend from high school who got me into a doctor he works for that does this kind of surgery. Since the second surgery I have had literally zero pain.
I can likely answer a lot of questions but the advice I would give you is do your research and find a good doctor with a history of good results and most importantly, DO NOT WAIT. The longer you wait the more you risk nerve damage. The situation you likely have going on is the disk has ruptured and the gel inside that acts as the cushion between vertebrae has squirted out and is laying on a nerve(s). This isn't going to get better on it's own. You need that gel removed from the nerve and the disk repaired/removed.
Ask any questions you have and I'll answer based on my experience.
Thanks for the info.
What was recovery time for everyday activities and strenuous activities?
Did you have loss of feeling? Did it return?
Is there a specific site you used to research docs?
Thanks
I had L2 surgery to repair a ruptured disc. Recovery time was about 7 days and very little pain as I was prescribed Percocet. This was 2015. I was in the hospital overnight.
I'm sure this surgery has come along way since I was scheduled to go under the knife 10 years ago.....
At that time I talked to 10 people that had the surgery. These were guys in their 50's- 60's.
They were split 50/50 on the overall results. Some said best thing ever, some seriously regretted.
My pain was initially off the charts...even with drugs, I lost 15 pounds from stress and lack of sleep.
Instead of the surgery, I opted for the series of cortisone injections, and gave up golf and Bowling.
After a few months of sedentary lifestyle, it finally settled down to near zero pain.
Today 10 years later, absolutely zero pain. I took up swimming, and water volleyball as my exercise of choice.
If you have a great doctor and are in reasonably good shape, with todays procedures, you probably will have a great outcome.
I would still tread lightly and ask an awful lot of questions.....you only got one spine.
gluck
At that time I talked to 10 people that had the surgery. These were guys in their 50's- 60's.
They were split 50/50 on the overall results. Some said best thing ever, some seriously regretted.
My pain was initially off the charts...even with drugs, I lost 15 pounds from stress and lack of sleep.
Instead of the surgery, I opted for the series of cortisone injections, and gave up golf and Bowling.
After a few months of sedentary lifestyle, it finally settled down to near zero pain.
Today 10 years later, absolutely zero pain. I took up swimming, and water volleyball as my exercise of choice.
If you have a great doctor and are in reasonably good shape, with todays procedures, you probably will have a great outcome.
I would still tread lightly and ask an awful lot of questions.....you only got one spine.
gluck
Recovery time was very little in my case as once they remove whatever is pressing on the nerve the pain just goes away. I had surgery on a Monday and quit taking the Percocet by Wednesday (I'm not a big fan of pain killers), by Friday I nearly resumed all regular non strenuous activities, two weeks out you would never know I had surgery.
No loss of feeling anywhere, just could barely use my leg as the nerve pinched was my sciatica.
I didn't research much of anything, like I said above, I had a friend who was this guy's assistant so it just kind of worked out for me. I would ask your GP who they recommend and it's not hard to find reviews online of anyone.
Good luck in your search. Back pain can be debilitating and is just not any fun. I wish you a speedy recovery whatever you decide.
Had a Laminectomy in 2007. C3, 4 and 5 replaced with a titanium segment. Damage to the spine caused a loss of strength in my left arm. Couldn't lift, push or pull more than a few pounds. Pain fluctuated. Some days much worse than others. Did not want surgery. Went through a nerve conduction test. After several pokes with the needles, Doctor said, "We have involvement." Surgeon read the report and said in order to fix your arm, I need to repair your spine. Still adamant about surgery. Few days later, all five members of my left hand went rigid. After twenty seconds or so, feeling returned and hand was normal. Two days later, same thing happened. Became concerned I would lose the use of my left arm. Told the surgeon, "Sharpen the blade." Overnight in the hospital, and wore a neck brace for a month. Full lateral and vertical movement today.
Surgeon: Dr. Gerard J. Werries / St. Margaret's Hospital / Aspinwall, Pa.
Surgeon: Dr. Gerard J. Werries / St. Margaret's Hospital / Aspinwall, Pa.
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Thanks guys. Going to ask more questions and do more research but feeling like the best thing to do at this point is to have it corrected.
TY
Apparently the one I have (L1/L2) makes up a very small percentage of cases in the lumbar area(about 5% from what I see) so finding specifics on it is a little more difficult. I would assume a disk is a disc, but that will also be a question I will be finding an answer to. On the plus side, what I have seen indicates that long term recovery/success is better with "high" lumbar repair vs "low".
That's probably good information to seek out. The majority of the ones done, from what I can gather, are lower in the back so it's certainly worth getting all the advice you can from experts.
I don't take getting cut open lightly and certainly not when it comes you your back. A bad back can affect your entire life so it's worth doing your due diligence before making a decision.
