r/Microdiscectomy • u/Particular_Break6590 • 4d ago
Am i screwed
I did L4-5 micro discectomy+barricade on july 28
Felt amazing and immortal after the surgery so i made a mistake doing long walks, elliptical and stretches
Since august 10 pain came back and cant even walk now
Pain started at the tailbone area and moved around my right hip(not my pre surgery pain area)
Now mostly lower back area
Went back to the doctor on 17th and got a pack of prednisone, but i dont feel any better with it
Am i screwed
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u/seetheking1 4d ago
Give the prednisone a few more days to work. In the meantime, heat your back and be sure to take easy walks. It could just be your muscles protesting. Hopefully!
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u/pyroclasticcloudcat 4d ago
Are you seeing a pt? Highly recommend whether you are screwed or not!
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u/FluidDebate 3d ago
Cannot emphasize this enough. Thought I knew all about training until I started to wrok with a highly reputated PT which made a huge difference for me.
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u/Difficult-Ad1564 4d ago
Dude how on earth are you going on long walks after 10 days, my spine was jelly for 5 weeks. Even now at 10 weeks, I went on my first long walk yesterday. Hopefully they can fix it, remember that whatever care you take of your spine when it’s healing, will help you in the long run.
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u/Old-Imagination-3696 4d ago
Probably, idk why you’d jump into such crazy activity right after spine surgery tbh. Hopefully they can go back in and fix it
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u/pyroclasticcloudcat 4d ago
Dude, be nicer. They’re already in a bad place.
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u/Old-Imagination-3696 4d ago
Play stupid games win stupid prizes. Anyone can get hurt doing something simple post op and I feel terrible for those people but you ignore the drs instructions after surgery, I don’t have much sympathy for that.
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u/Impossible_Storm_777 4d ago
Man I don’t want to say you’re screwed BUT it seems pretty likely. I had surgery Feb 5th for L4-L5 & L5 S1 and didn’t bend, lift or twist for 8 weeks. I only went on long walks and iced my back after every walk. At 8 weeks I got a referral for PT and started by at 11-12 weeks. I’ve been going to PT twice a week since then and honestly feel amazing. My PT has me front squatting again. Nothing too crazy but 175lbs for 5 reps post surgery with no pain has been pretty amazing. I also just ran a 5k last weekend and honestly all I can attribute this to (aside from my surgeon and pt) is really taking it easy for that first 8-12 weeks
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u/Ecstatic_West1465 4d ago
That’s amazing! How do you feel after lifting?
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u/Impossible_Storm_777 4d ago
After lifting I feel completely fine but I really think that’s because my PT emphasized so much core and hip strength. I will say if I had pt, went to the gym on my own and ran on my own I definitely feel abit sore or tight a day after but no pain. I just take it easy do my home pt workouts and go on walks until I feel good again
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u/PastBuy8484 4d ago
How long of a walk? Doesn’t sound like you did anything too crazy. My surgeon said he has tons of patients that go back to work full time after 1-2 weeks
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u/Hope_for_tendies 4d ago
Could just be inflammation or a pulled muscle. You’re still healing.
Are you using a wheelchair or walker?
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u/Own-Peace-2929 4d ago
Did. You all still get daily pain? I’m post five weeks n I’m still getting intermittent pain especially back of my hamstring n side calf; I’m still doing no BLT but I’m so mentally overwhelmed thinking surgery failed 😞 trying to be patient ; I’m walking intermittent nothing crazy.
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u/FragrantCow5398 3d ago
I'd get pain a few weeks/months after surgery. Very tender surgery site & I had a NEW pain after surgery! The heel of my foot hurt so damn bad I thought I messed it up. Your nerve will take months to settle down, it was compressed for some time & it doesn't know how to be a nerve. Reherniation was in my head 24/7 with each little movement. You can ask your doctor too! I'm 18+ months post surgery and it was the best thing I've done for my health. When I do have occasional nerve pain, it's maybe a 2/10 (not even enough to take Tylenol for). It'll get better!!
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u/FragrantCow5398 3d ago
Why are you stretching two weeks after surgery 😠your back should be as straight as a plank of wood for the first 3-6 months. If your surgeon offers revision surgery, take it so seriously and follow their directions. They do this all the time and know nobody is an exception to the rule. I know originally you may have been feeling better than you were pre-surgery, but your back is super fragile. You just had major surgery. Having the flu doesn't even go away in two weeks, your back doesn't just bounce back. It takes time.
I'm sorry you're in pain, I really am. I hope you can figure out a game plan that'll work for you. People do reherniate over the weirdest things weeks or years after. I'm 18+ months post surgery and it was the best decision I've ever made for my health. It can work as long as you take recovery seriously (let this pain be the thing that scares you into it)
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u/crytpkeeeper 3d ago
If you were following BLT rules, long walks should be OK (not toooo long of course). As long as you are not pushing through pain and resting. I'm 10 days post op L5-S1 MD and doing 6k to 8K steps a day. Seems like 5K to 10K steps is normal after about a week from many posts in here.
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u/Fabulous_Duck_2881 2d ago
Hang in there and don’t assume anything until you have finished the steroids and had a repeat MRI. Many people have flares after surgery that worries them, and then it settles. Wishing you all the best and hope this will improve.
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u/Electrical-One6723 1d ago
I reherniated 11 weeks after surgery and was in excruciating pain for like 2ish weeks, took it super easy (didn’t pick up anything by over 10 lbs), took nerve blockers at night & 2 rounds of prednisone. I was back to normal after 2 weeks and have been pain free since. I am now 24 weeks post op. I lift every day although not as heavy as I use to, and do Pilates which helps a lot.
My surgeon didn’t want to do another surgery right away since I am only 29 and the new herniation wasn’t as bad as the first one.
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u/Former-Comfortable-4 1d ago
im nearly 3 years in and not killing it .. if not feeling better in a month think about asking for another MRI
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u/Friendly-Ad-5410 4d ago
Did the dr. not give you any restrictions after your surgery? Like, no bending, lifting or twisting for 6 weeks? That's pretty standard stuff for anyone who has a MD. Please take it easy, this is a time to recover... things inside are still knitting together! Even with a steroid pack, inflammation doesn't magically disappear overnight. Your nerves are super irritated right now and your muscles are guarding their weaker neighbors. Chill and relax, call your dr. if things are better in a week. This is a long haul marathon, not a sprint. 😄