Ruptured Disc Surgery/Sciatic Nerve Pain Recovery

thanks for that. It is my thinking also. I have been puting up with this for 6 months. I have a sedentary job in front of a computer all day - 8-9 hour days plus commute. I can't stand it any more. Physio, Osteo and Chiroprators have not been able to help. I figure a trimmimg of the disc has got to be better than the pain. Ian

Hi, iam 44 yrs old, my first disc replacement was 12 yrs ago. The dr. Explained to me that the disc looked like shredded crab meat. The disc above wasnt in the best shape either, dr. Said i could get 10yrs out of it b4 it starts to bother me. Ok, i am now 111/2 yrs. out, i'd like to explain that my back problems are not because i'm older. I've always been in great shape, i'm a gym rat, keeping up with the 20yrs. Old. I've been a runner for 21 yrs. among lots of sports. I basically wore my back out. So, this is where i'm ar. My dr. Described my L4 disc, it erupted and pushing against my nerve. So yes i will have to have surgery. Not too happy but there is noway around this. After reading all these mails, i'm expecting some nerve damage after my operation. Only because i've been left with some nerve damage on my left foot. Its basically numb, tough to have good balance. I am a mother of twin 12 yrs.girls. I'm completely comsumed with their activites, not to mention they get out of school in 4 weeks, for summer break. I feel so guilty because i'm ruining there summer, my back, these past few years would only allow me to have 10 months not in extreme pain and laid up in pain. I'm hoping for the best and bracing for the worse. I'm wondering when will the fusion of each vertabre will stop? I'm actually convincing myself that some day i will be wheelchair bound. Sad

Not sure if u r better or still read this, but I have almost the identical situation except no horseback & I am almost 52. This 2nd Surgery was 11 weeks ago & I still ha e tremendous pain.... Wakes me at night ...seems to b getting worse MRI shows swollen sciatic nerve maybe small pc of disk on it....how long till u got well? Thanks. Janet

Hello. I was reading post about ruptured discs when I came across your post about spinal stenosis. My husband had spinal stenous and they found a benign tumor on his spinal cord. His surgeon said this is pretty common. It is like a hotdog shaped grow growing off the spine. They removed that but he didn't allow them to do the surgery to relieve the spinal stenous until a year later. he said the relief was immediate and greatly improved to the point of him returning to playing golf after 2 years of dealing with the pain. He is 60 years old. I have to believe that with you being 23 you would have better success. My husband is getting better and better. He is not 100% but I have wondered if that is because the nerves are still healing. Anyway I just wanted to share this experience. He was active military for 31 years and his body has really taken a pounding. I hope this is helpful

I'm 51, I woke up 6 months ago with the sciatic nerve issue. It went from being tolerable to intolerable. The end result was sitting became impossible, then standing was impossible and the only thing that would help remedy the pain was laying and that wasn't always the case as there was a few trips to the ER for pain relief on occasion. The MRI showed a ruptured L5S1, I ended up with surgery being required which was done a week ago on 7/24/13. When I woke up from surgery the sciatic nerve was pain free but there is a soreness in the buttock and occasional down to the back of the knee. Everyone has been telling me that will eventually go away but as far as the sciatic pain it is gone, you have no idea how awesome it feels to walk and sit again and enjoy life!!!!! Like I said the surgery was a week ago so I'm still in the process of recovery but hopefully in time all the pain will be gone. 

I recently had the l5-s1 discsectomy(spelling). I'm 34 yr old male. Had the left leg pain and everything thing else... Etc etc etc, but I'm 3 1/2 weeks posts op and ever since left leg is still numb but so is my right also...I any suggestions or similar experiences.

 

thanks 

ryan

I was told by my Dr that the numbness is pretty much a normal feeling from after surgery. His explanation to me was that the sciatic nerve was under tremendous pain and pressure that it will take a few weeks for the numbness to go away. My surgery was 19 days ago and it is slowly fading away

what kind of pain medication have the doctors prescribed for the pain for nerve pain in L5 -S1

I have a L5-S1 herniation. While trying steroid injections the sciatic pain was so bad I asked doc for something. Initially they gave me Vicodin which did nothing for the pain. Then they put me on Cymbalta which did help the sciatic pain...it took it from a 9-10 to a 5-6.... enough to take the edge off. But be aware it has side effects since it's a depression/anxiety drug (SSNRI) that they discovered helped with nerve pain. I felt good but detached and just a little like I was not all there.

Had microdiscectomy 13 days ago but sciatic pain

Hi I am.... Well WAS. Professional horse trainer until my life was basically destroyed two years ago when I herniated my l5/s1. No more working and have been only on again off again riding until this winter. Now I can't ride at all. I am just wondering if you are able to again? I have two horses and I love them and they are in my back yard so I will never sell them regardless of my outcome. But I just would like to know, can you ride again? It literally has been my whole life for my entire life. I began riding at 4, apprenticing as a trainers assistant at 13 on ponies, and began working as a trainer full time at 18. Now, at 35, I have no idea what to do. I am lost. I never in my mind, ever, pictured me doing anything else. Ever. I feel defeated and depressed.

Consultation with a surgeon next month. Was supposed to begin university this fall. Due to a mega bad flare up a few weeks ago, I think that dream too has flown the coop.

I can't feel my foot or my leg below the knee except for when the pain spasms start when my heavy narcotics wear off. I am so lost now.... Sorry.... This is hard for me. I know it's hard for everyone in this situation.

Hi, I had an electrical box blow up in my face at the elementary school where I was a custodian for over three years.  I was thrown on a cement floor.  Three months later, my back went out on me, after I worked very hard all summer cleaning the entire school, mostly by myself.  I had really bad ruptured disk at L4-5.  I kept telling all the doctors, pt's, pain management doctors, neurosurgeon.  Finally after thirteen months, he operated.  Well, it was too late.  He let me go way too long, so the nerve was pressed all those months.  I had FAILED BACK SURGERY in 1993.  Now, I am in pain all the time.  I can barely do anything anymore.  But, I push myself to do things, then take an Ibuprofen 800 mg., then I lay around for days, being depressed!  What helps me is swim therapy!  I wish I had started it years ago, but just began last spring.  It is so difficult to get workers comp. to keep sending me, right now I'm waiting on a Drs. Prescription to go again.  It makes you just want to give up, but some how I keep pushing forward, Whaough spirit us humans posses!!!  

I had two surgeries within 3 months of one another. MID on L4/L5. I really thought, after the first failed surgery, that I made the biggest mistake of my life. By the time I went into my second surgery I was in a wheel chair if I had to travel more than 15 feet. I am a 49 year old firefighter/fire inspector and I could see my career disappearing before my eyes. After the second surgery I really took it easy because I was afraid I had done something wrong the first time. It has been 6 months and I am feeling terrific. Don't get me wrong, I still get nerve pain occasionally and I have muscle pain but I am one happy camper. I can walk and move and be a human being again.
I would like to know if you can do anything to rebuild the collagen layer? Anyone know if there is a scientifically proven way of doing this?

I developed Sciatica Over night one day i was fine next day i woke up in so much pain buttock , legg, and lowerback but i wonder where it came from? I remember sleeping on a hard floor that night and also been wearing stilletoe high heels for a few years wonder if thats the cause im a performer......ive been dealing with this for about 6 months its excruciating pain i need help and answers what should i do? Medication sucks im so depresssed

what kind of surgery did you have? My husband has pain in his buttocks, its the sciatica. Its been going off and on for the last 2 years. It flared up again and its been about 9wks and he is still not getting relief. He goes to the chiro, he stretches on the inversion table, which is in our bedroom! Its terrible seeing no long lasting results. I am thinking he needs surgery, he oes in for an xray on friday.

I went to Cross Fit and told them I have degenerative disc disease. she just said it was all in head, and 'you can do it!' so on my first 'Burpee' exercise, I ruptured a disc. the pain down my leg for the next 24 hours was excrutiating because emergency room refused to give me a shot in the sciatic joint., finally had one the next day. had discectomy and hemilaminectomy and the pain is still there, duh ache in butt and legs, numb foot. its been 3 months since surgery. very depressed