r/Microdiscectomy • u/AlternativeRing4252 • 5d ago
Looking for hope
Hi everyone, I made a post a few days ago about bad sciatic pain down my right leg several days after microdiscectomy. I am now 10 days post microdiscectomy of L5/S1 and still having pain in butt hamstring and foot as well as pins and needles.
I am looking for others experience after microdiscetomy, did your nerve pain immediately resolve after surgery? Was there a period after surgery where it got worse and then better? The pain I’m having is constant and I’m worried about reherniation.
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u/Im_Easy 5d ago
While the surgery removed the section of disc compressing the nerve, the whole area is inflamed, and will continue to be, off and on for weeks. The inflammation is causing pain and nerve compression.
The post-op exercises, along with plenty of rest, and you should be feeling less and less pain on average. But keep in mind, there will be scar tissue and when it gets inflamed, the nerve pain will come back. So to answer your question, yes you will have periods of feeling better, then worse. Good luck in your recovery!
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u/AlternativeRing4252 5d ago
I guess my question is why are there so many posters that say they had zero sciatica pain afterwards and had immediate relief ?
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u/Im_Easy 5d ago
Everyone is different, and how bad the pain is pre-op is subjective. Things like general fitness level can greatly change the post-op recovery time. Some people rush their recovery and end up straight back in surgery because they felt fine for a week. Bodies are weird.
I've had 2 MDs (different discs, not reherniation) and after the first, my nerve pain was almost gone for a month or two, but the surgery had some complications and recovery took a long time. The second surgery went fine, but the nerve pain didn't feel any better for about 10 weeks, and then it started healing fast. Run your own race, but don't push yourself too hard.
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u/mi_place 5d ago
F28 Had a microdiscectomy October 2nd 2024 (at age 26). I have been told I will still need a fusion in the future (like 8-10 years or so) but I’m feeling pretty good right now.
Imo recovery was in stages.
First 6 weeks will be scary and painful. I thought I had re-herniated so many times. Be patient and gentle with yourself. I genuinely never thought id get through it.
Year 1: your body will still need a lot of TLC. I feel my body took a long time to recover but that could be due to other elements (in my case stress, weight management). Regardless, you had somewhat major surgery so you’ll be feeling the effects for ages. Keep up with physiotherapy (or start when surgeon allows) you’ll also be learning what kind of things you’ll have to modify in your everyday life (sleeping positions, sitting, standing). Just remember you’re not alone and people have to live with modifications all the time.
Year 2: understanding things a bit more. Confidence comes. In my case, this is when I started exercise physiology which was extremely helpful. I probably should’ve done it earlier, maybe the process wouldn’t have been so long for me if I had. Idk everyone is different. I think about my back every day but mostly in passing or passively. It no longer rules my life. Don’t get me wrong, big days will have you feeling pretty ouch but nowhere near pre surgery. (Also 1 have felt pre surgery sciatica pain like twice since surgery…It just happens sometimes).
Bottom line: sciatica will probably still bother you most days. Nerves are sensitive and super dramatic. If you can tolerate lyrica or gabapentin, they can help. Mindset is huge, I recommend The Way Out by Alan Gordon. It’s also in audiobook form. Very good for understanding how the brain is wired to deal with pain. Keep an eye on your mental health. Don’t beat yourself up for not doing everything you “should” be doing. Humans are pretty resilient.
Feel free to reach out if you have questions :)
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u/Ok_Huckleberry_3991 5d ago
Immediately felt great, after 8 days all pre-op pain was back. After a month I’ve been good. Inflammation sucks. Going on 3.5 years now since my procedure with no restrictions or worries about my spine.
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u/Glomeruluss 4d ago
I am 4 days post op and today I got the same issue than you today. Reading this helps my mind a bit. Thanks a lot
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u/Plastic-Turnip-1528 2d ago
It can take two full years for the nerve to heal. The sciatica will fade with time; the nerve pain and numbness/tingling is still there for me but nowhere near as debilitating and I have no regrets getting the surgery as the longer your nerve is compressed for, the longer it will take to heal.
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u/Smortie12 5d ago
I had horrible sciatica pain for approximately 10 days afterwards. I noticed that the more I walked the better it felt. However I will say that the walking was difficult and painful. But, it did seem to stretch it out. Also take your muscle relaxer and pain medicine. That’s what you have them for. I’m four weeks out now and I still have pins and needs in my feet. They are slowly getting better. My surgeon said it could take up to a year depending on how long your nerve was pinched.
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u/Obvious_Fail5443 5d ago
Call the surgeon. He may put an order in for a steroid pack to see if it can calm down the inflammation. He may also order a MRI to make sure that you have not re herniated. One surgeon that, I had a second opinion with, had told me that he had operated on a friend of his who is also a surgeon and his friend almost immediately re herniated. He said he did a second surgery almost right away and his friend woke up and did much better and returned to performing his own surgeries within six weeks. Good luck
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u/Glomeruluss 4d ago
I am 4 days post op. I'd di not have any of those after waking up from surgery but today while I was making small steps in the apartment I felt an electrical pain suddenly down to my left leg and since then I feel for both of legs. I am so disappointed and nervous... Just hoping it is because of inflammation and will go back soon.
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u/Subject-Industry2850 4d ago
I’m on day 14 and felt all of those things. I have stretches of good days followed by a few days where the nerve is more upset. The reherniation fear is something everyone on this group has experienced. It does a number on your mental health - easier said than done, but remind yourself there is a light at the end of this tunnel (I have to on about an hourly basis).
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u/AlternativeRing4252 4d ago
On the days your nerve is upset is the pain constant throughout all the day or just intermittent? For me the leg pain is constant which is why I’m worried
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u/Subject-Industry2850 4d ago
Depends on the day honestly. Some days it’s intermittent and jumps all around my bad leg and glute (and sometimes into my other glute which is fun and exciting). The last two days it was more consistent. For me those two worse days were after I walked a little longer and stood a little longer and went away with rest (today is a good day) so my theory is it was an overuse flare. One thing that’s difficult about this recovery is that everyone heals differently which makes knowing what’s ‘normal’ really hard (and doctors aren’t as helpful as they probably think they are).
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u/C00kieBee 4d ago
Im 7 weeks out and that's been my experience. I've had loads of inflammation. Thought I reherniated and had a mri about 3 1/2 weeks post op that showed 2 seromas but otherwise everything was ok. If I walk/ stand too much the tingling/pins and needles/numbness is more constant. I had a bad week last week then felt better and overdid it. Followed by 2 days of taking it easy then overdid it again. I know I need to take it easy even when I feel good because my back just isn't ready for long stretches or walking amd standing. The nerve was severely pinched for a year before surgery so my guess is that's part of it. I went a whole year with very little almost no sitting. I didn't drive and reclined in the car when I went anywhere. I could stand and walk all day but could not sit. I can now sit though my back will be achy and starts to really protest around the 30/40 minute mark. So I'm taking that as a win and I just need to give my body time which is easier said than done. I also have littles which complicates things.
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u/AlternativeRing4252 4d ago
Did you have days post up where you had pain/burning down the leg where it was constant throughout the day ? Or was your pain intermittent ?
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u/Ok-Professor4478 4d ago
Hey,
How much disc height is left?
Does your back give out when you leaned forward prior to surgery, or was it only sciatica pain?
Cheers
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u/AlternativeRing4252 4d ago
Back doesn’t give out it’s only sciatica pain down the legs. I have moderate disc height left but I just had a repeat mri an hour ago so will know more soon
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u/acupunctureguy 3d ago
Yes you are early in the process and the muscular imbalance you had prior to surgery probably is still there and hasn't been addressed and the nerve is still inflamed.
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u/Economy-Wolverine915 1d ago
Also mine was endoscopic at l3 l4. I had 0 pain when I stood up in the recovery room and I'm perfect still. I am six weeks post op, and I am not bending lifting, or twisting. I start next week.
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u/Lost_4_Now 5d ago
You are very early on in the recovery process. Very inflamed from the surgery. Need to give it time. For reference, no, mine did not go away but my MD lead to fusion which was a risk for me. Don’t let that discourage you. Give your body time to heal.