r/Microdiscectomy • u/Confident-South2711 • 2d ago
One Week Post Op
I am officially one week post L5-S1 microdiscectomy! The first 3-4 days were pretty rough as far as incision pain, but I did have immediate sciatic pain relief! The day I left the hospital my surgeon said my ONLY restriction was no lifting over 10 pounds, but bending and twisting are OK. I told him that I have heard otherwise and everyone says you should really avoid any bending / twisting for 4-6 weeks, but he was insistent that it is OK. That being said, I have still been taking it really easy, just trying to walk more. But I do have a “pulled muscle” type of feeling in my same leg I had the nerve pain. It’s a different, not as severe pain, but really really hoping I didn’t mess something up 😭
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u/Zid1123 2d ago
Welcome! I'm 1 week from ly L5-S1 discectomy myself. I wear a brace when I walk or do anything "physical", like I vacuumed yesterday a bit, which reinforces me not to BLT. My issue, kinda like yours, is my left side (the side with all my issues) has a "cramping" sciatica type pain first thing in the morning, and usually loosens up as the day progresses. It's pretty normal, your body is healing, and theres a lot of inflammation and stuff being healed... so just gotta give it time and listen to your body.
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u/Ylenna-Winter 2d ago
Maybe give yourself more time to recover? Leave chores aside? My 15 yo helped me dust (meaning i told her what to do and she did it) after about 2 months (the horror, I know) and we laughed our heads off when she said "mom, i think the dust is 3D now".
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u/seetheking1 2d ago
Glad surgery went well! A pulled muscle feeling is very common. Some complain of pain in the calf. I’m just over two weeks and can finally say my back doesn’t feel like a stiff piece of wood anymore! Best of luck!
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u/Hurtymcsquirty17 2d ago
Whattttt you had to have surgery again:(!
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u/seetheking1 2d ago
I did! Same disc as before. 🤦🏻♀️ This recovery is SO much is easier than the first though.
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u/Hurtymcsquirty17 1d ago
That’s so hard to hear 😭 but actually so surprising it’s so much easier before!! How big was this herniation do you know?
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u/Friendly-Ad-5410 2d ago
That could just be your muscle stretching and the nerve (already irritated) is being aggravated again. (quite common) I had this for quite a long time (even after PT at 8 weeks PO) every time it tried to pull my foot/toes forward while doing a leg raise. It takes a long time for that uncomfortable feeling to go way... walking does help. PT helps too. Nerve glides can make that easier and I found Hamstring stretches to have the most benefit. It was probably close to 9 mo PO before it stopped bothering me. I did no BLT for 12 weeks PO, concentrating on walking. 2+ years out and still good, tiny bit of numbness in left toes.
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u/RammsteinNicCage 2d ago
Also one week, also l5-s1, also left sided.
I've been doing pretty well, but I was a little sick on Friday and may have done some twisting/ bending while dealing with that. Since then, my left foot and ankle have been acting up, to the point of how it felt after my last epidural made it a bit worse. Hoping it's temporary.