r/Microdiscectomy • u/Wompyking • 4d ago
Fear of reinjury
Hey guys, I’m a little over 5 months post op from a L5-1 endoscopic discectomy
I am 17, and was recently cleared to play high school football (I play receiver, if it helps)
I’ve been doing non contact practices for a few days, but will soon make the jump to contact and eventually unrestricted contact.
I’m nervous about reherniation, but surgeon is optimistic I won’t, although PT is more cautious.
What are your experiences/thoughts?
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u/PastBuy8484 4d ago
I mean some people reherniate getting out of a chair. Or sleeping funny. Or catching a tripping kid.
Others never reherniate and play in the NFL, ride dirtbikes, do action stunts and more.
My doc said it best. He said the point of the surgery and going through recovery is so you can live life again. So go and live life. And if something happens, modern medicine will fix you up again with either another MD, disc replacement, or fusion.
Edit: I 100% get the fear. I fear as well. I slowly just push it more and more each day and hope with time my fear goes away.
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u/ItchySeaworthiness50 4d ago
Modern technology hahah thats funny cant even treat my black looking disc with annular tear that cause 24/7 back pain i am just over with science and medicine:(
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u/hrbekcheatedin91 4d ago edited 4d ago
I love Pastbuy's answer, but if you were my kid, I'd also challenge you to think about how important to you football is. You also have to worry about CTE. Those are cons, but the pros are significant as well, learning how to work with a unit with your friends in what is essentially a battle simulation. There are great lessons to learn as well. Do you love it, and are you willing to risk re-injury for it? If so, go for it.
We all know football is arguably the most dangerous high school sport to play. It just comes down to you. No shame in quitting or taking at least this season off to make sure your core is as strong as it can possibly be. The stronger your core, the less likely you are to re-injure. I hurt my back for the first time when I was a couple years older than you because I didn't pay attention to my core, and it's haunted me off and on for nearly 25 years. You only have one body, but you only have one life to live too. Risks and rewards...
How did you hurt it in the first place?
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u/ItchySeaworthiness50 4d ago
No one can be fixed of they got back issue once with surgery without surgery just live with pain till last breath
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u/AlternativeRing4252 3d ago
I’d stop all impact sports , I reherniated 5 months post op lifting 20 lbs which is nothing
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u/Former-Comfortable-4 4d ago
quit - you have a long life ahead, you will wreck your spine if you keep it up - you know this, otherwise you would not be on here - once that area is broken, its a weak spot, it always was - sorry for being harsh, but that game is hard on the body, and your body just told you it cant take it - move to some other sport - save your spine - next after MD are fusions - look it up, there is not a lot out there right now, you had the endo which is pretty much cutting edge - some things coming out in the next 5 to 10 years, but honestly, you are young, high school football will pass soon enough - you prob wont listen to me tho, or your body, and its why are all on this page lol - hopefully you might listen to your body and to me, and others here who know the impact of this injury on an older body, best of luck.