Microdiscectomy Tomorrow

[coll]

Hello all,

Quick and simple, 13 years ago prolapsed disc at L5S1, got better on its own. Back and right leg pain on and off since until last October, making the bed came back with a vengeance.

The pain retreated until mid Jan when it came back worse than ever, by early Feb couldn't stand or walk, 2x500mg Para/Codeine didn't touch the pain and made me ill. Somehow trying to find a comfortable position trapped the femural nerve in my stomach meaning I lost most of the feeling in the front of both thighs !

Paid for BUPA since NHS waiting list was so long, had an MRI which showed L5S1 had done it again, nerve crushed and swollen to twice its normal size had nerve block injections to lower spine. It started working then a week later I slipped at home, pain to right leg, numbness, pins and needles, I actually cried the pain was so intense. Still not walking or standing for more than a couple of minutes, virtually disabled.

By that time I had binned the para/codeine and was using Tramadol, much much better but had to take 2 every 4 hours to keep on top of the pain and sleeping tablets to get anything like a few hours sleep.

BUPA consultant referred me back to NHS and told me to get Lyrica from my GP for the pain.

I did and WOW that is one amazing drug, also know as Pregabalin, first thing GP said was 'Do you know how much that costs ?", like I cared, four days later pain was going, one week later, THE PAIN HAD GONE !!! Walking was now easier, no more sleeping tablets, still had symptoms, numbness, loss of feeling and pins and needles a bit. But the pain had gone, truly amazing, it was like life had started again, my mood changed, unless you've been in such severe pain you just don't realise what its like not to have pain.

In the meantime managed to get an emergency NHS consultants appt, he said given my situation and the length of time which had elapsed etc surgery would be best option, slice off the protrusion, 1-2 inch cut, 1 hour operation, in Tuesday out Wednesday.

So thats me, I wanted to avoid surgery so much but I think I'm at the end of the road now, nowhere else to go, luckily as I work for HM Gov I still get paid unless they pension me off, but I'm useless around the house and with the family. Can't drive, lift, cook, garden, my wonderful wife has been doing it all, daughter just see's her Dad laying around not getting better, thankfully the pain has gone.

So why am I posting, well firstly to tell you about Lyrica, if you have pain caused as a result of a nerve being crushed or damaged, insist on it, in my case it worked and made life much easier when the pain had gone.

Secondly whilst I have left it late I am looking for positive feedback about the op, I realise that often forums like this often attract cases where there have been problems and realise that success is advertised less than failure but I need the bright side.

Thanks in advance.

 

[zszlylqz]

Hi there,

Just a quick note to say good luck for your op tomorrow, my daughter is 19 and has had an horrendous experience with a disc prolapse at L4/5 with nerve root compression. THe fact it lay undiagnosed due to NHS imcompetence for 8 months before the wonderful neurosurgeons got a hold of it and operated as an emergency contributed to her problems, but surgery was still the best and maybe only option she had available. She had her first op in January, which unfortunately due to the extent of disc debris re-herniated 3 weeks later leading to a revision discectomy (you can read her story on my post " revision discectomy for my 19 year old daughter". Her recovery has been pretty remarkable really for the last 8 weeks, she was back at uni and going along fine. The last few days she's had problems with leg pain/tingling and a painful back which obviously worried us greatly, she called the hospital tho and they're going to re-scan her in the next few days..we're hopeful its nothing major. Just finally, despite all the problems Keira encountered, I think you should go into the op in a positive frame of mind - it WILL work and when it does, you'll wonder how you ever coped before. It's still the best thing Keira could have done and I'm sure it will be for you too - that wonder drug sounds pretty impressive too, thanks for that, and GOOD LUCK !! - our thoughts are with you, keep me posted.

Kate

 

[Pompal 09.]

Thank you for the reply.

Good to see your daughter is well again, trust it continues.

Just read your post, the swimming thing is interesting, prior to this session of back pain I was swimming between 3 and 4 miles a week, breaststroke.

Everyone said its good for the back, GP and two consultants said it was not the likely cause, but in the back of my mind its a possibility. Guy at the pool said because I'm swimming slowly over distance my back is arched in the water, he said it could be the cause, but then he couldn't be considered an expert.

Your research would be interesting.

Thanks again.

 

[Dubharllach]

Hi,

I have read both of your posts and it is obvious that op is the main relief for crushed vertabrae which is pinching the nerves. A lot of times people tends to turn to drugs to relieve pain and I am sorry to say that drugs wil only prolong it and not heal or help it get better. I sympatize with both of you, treetalkin with his daughterand mjr600, but there are alternative Medicine treatments to help ease the pain and possibly relieve it permanently.

I am a Special Massage Therapist, a Reflexologist, an Acupressurist and a Dislocated and / or a Pinched Nerve Specialist in Alternative Medicine and I have received people with many of these problems and did not know where to turn to. People with my expertise and experience are not found everywhere but you have to look, searchand ask about them.

I wish both of you good luck

Joe


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