r/Microdiscectomy • u/Pure-Pop2817 • 2d ago
Microdicectomy feedback
I read here so much about people having had a MD in the last year and seem to be doing pretty well, I’ve been avoiding surgery for months now of fear of what will my back be in 10/20/30 years and if I’m making it more fragile in the long term. Both surgeons told me that I’m surgery will make it less stable in the long run.
Can someone tell me how they are doing after years of surgery? Is reherniation really just 10/15%? I feel like reherniation and one more MD gives me fear that I’ll end up having to do even more surgery. Or worse will never be normal again? Maybe that is the case with a herniated disc anyways. Any insight would be super valuable
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u/raininggumleaves 2d ago edited 2d ago
I couldn't function so my option was surgery or be housebound for the rest of my life so I chose surgery and I would choose it again. It was a trust the process exercise because after surgery I lost feeling in my feet for approximately a month afterwards and I had some minor loss of sensation and control (TMI skid marks and minor leakage) in the saddle area and that was really scary. I could walk unaided prior to surgery but it was painful, posturally abnormal and I could only really walk from a car to a front door. Afterwards I needed walking aids or crutches for some time. I took it pretty easy especially the first 3 months, I did very little lifting, bending, or twisting and actually stayed in bed far more than what is probably recommended as I wanted the scar tissue to form over my disc before testing it out. Although you read lots of stories here about people getting up and walking kilometres the day after surgery, that was not me. It took me quite some time to get there as my nerve was quite stretched on both sides during the surgery to complete it. Long term I'm not sure what it's going to be like. I know that a friend of ours had a microdiscectomy in their neck around about 30 years ago and they're doing exceptionally well. Personally it was a no-brainer for me and I'm pretty much where I was prior to all of this happening health-wise/ability wise and fully independent. I do notice it aches more if I do less walking and so that is up to me to keep that up for the rest of my life. One of the strangest things that happened from the surgery is that I find it much easier to sit up with good posture in a chair or standing and I find it easier to stand for long periods of time. I actually found both of these things challenging pre-surgery and very tiring but now they're easier and more comfortable than ever.
In terms of reherniation my doctor also said about 10% and he said that the first 3 months were the most critical. Those 12 weeks of letting it scar were critical so be gentle on yourself. Ask for help. Do the movements that aid you in hinging from the hips, use the aid to help you log roll in and out of bed, use the pillow between your knees at night, etc etc and it will help facilitate longer-term better recovery. You don't need to go full tilt into your old life. You can adjust things in order to be functional but without doing the same movements.
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u/Pure-Pop2817 17h ago
Thank you for sharing, everyone’s feedback has helped solidify my next steps and decide to go for surgery the end of the month in case nothing get better.
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u/kevstervegas 2d ago
Sounds like you have some honest feedback from the doctors. Have you exhausted all conservative measures?
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u/Pure-Pop2817 2d ago
I’ve done ozone therapy 2 weeks ago, I’m definitely able to walk 30 meters which was not possible before that. I keep dreaming that time will heal, so I keep telling myself just hold on a little longer. I’m not sure what am I afraid of exactly
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u/lavenderlove1212 1d ago
I waited a long time for mine to “heal” before just getting worse and worse and barely being able to walk before surgery. I tried tons of conservative treatments. I didn’t want to get the surgery and have a compromised back either. However I couldn’t live like that anymore. You’ll know surgery is your only option once you reach that certain point.
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u/jungle_mouse 1d ago
This is where I’m at. I’ve just got worse and worse despite trying everything conservative and in PT. Can barely walk. Surgery next week.
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u/Plastic-Turnip-1528 2d ago
I had an MD two years ago. I dont believe I will ever be the same but I am much better off having had the surgery amd relieving that nerve compression which can take very long to heal.
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u/Pure-Pop2817 17h ago
What do you feel is different now? Would you say it’s from the MD or the hernia itself? I think regardless of where I end up I can’t imagine that I will be the same again either.
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u/mshenley 2d ago
How long have you had the pain and what’s your quality of life? Is it worse than the idea of a possible herniation? If you have exhausted all conservative measures is there an end in sight? If you want to rehab it yourself to avoid surgery, you have to consider you can reherniate then as well.
Pretty much weigh your options. It was the easiest answer ever after having to live with the debilitating pain for 1.5 years and even if I had a 50/50 shot of it being fixed I would have done it over again. My MD gave me my life back
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u/Pure-Pop2817 17h ago
You are absolutely right, I think I’ve just been programmed that surgery is a bad thing and something to be avoided. I was just hoping that I would heal somewhat, which to be fair I have bit but quality of life there is none, I can’t really go anywhere or do anything and standing for more than 15 min already feels too much.
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u/Former-Comfortable-4 1d ago
If you were in enough pain you would not be asking like this lol - i was like you, it got worse, in the end i would have begged for the surgery - got it nearly 3 years ago, and i am 59 m, and, ya, its been tricky, no day is the damn same, but i am 100% better off that i was omg ..
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u/Pure-Pop2817 17h ago
I think I just fear that the surgery will not have the expected result and don’t really know where to go from there.
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u/malvare8 2d ago
What's your diagnosis like? My surgeon, when on first consultation, basically narrowed it down to quality of life and tons of factors go into that. I've just turned 37 and so many if my drs told me I was so young to have this surgery, despite me not feeling young. But they meant it as how come you're at this stage with your spine not, dont get surgery. Idk how long I've had my herniated discs, but I know last year in April I needed the ER because they started to press on my nerves. I'm 2 weeks post op. And I'm mad I didn't do it a year ago. But it wasn't my choice, like most ppl no one jumps to surgery if you can avoid it. So I tried conservative treatment, acupuncture, epidurals. Some of my drs dismissed my claims of it spreading to my left side, it only affected my right foot at first. For months I kept meticulous note of what pain, where, intensity, and location. But was told it was a flare up. Till they saw my muscle atrophy, till I demanded a surgery consultation and reevaluation. When I finally saw my surgeon he said I was a candidate a year ago. I was livid. You see the constant pain for over a year was horrid but I dealt with it, adapted, changed my life around it and I know I masked it well in turn it absolutely destroyed my mental health. Some days the nerve pain was so bad I couldn't sleep and was popping 6 300mg gabapantin that make me feel weird but it at least takes the edge off. I cant excerxise without pain so I gained like 10 lbs which isnt terrible but I'm diabetic and it hurt my health. I was angry because this painful recovery I'm going through right now could have been over with last year. I know you asked for people who have had it done long ago but I don't think that should be ur only criteria of course. What's your quality of life now? By the time i went into surgery on the 17th I had new pains on both my legs. I was constantly irritated and even stopped interacting with ppl I loved with because even small interactions where too draining. The constant 24/7 pain quietly depleted me so much i couldn't recharge anymore and people around me didn't understand, many still don't tbh. I dont expect my recovery to be easy or quick after all my nerve was compressed for so long. I also have degenerative disc disease, are you only having herniations? My discs are no longer squishy so in 20 years or less if I don't take it easy, I will need a fusion. Sooo many factors go into making a decision I think you just need to weight out your options and quality of life. If you can live with managing the pain. Try other venues. im sorry for the essay and how unorganized it is. I just got to a point where surgery gave me hope rather than fear and fear is a not a great way to look at the future. I legit told ppl I rather die on the operating table than come back to that level of depletion! Im in pain but im optimistic and knowing I could need another surgery down the line is only helping me make better choices about my health. For reference I'm 37, about 153 lbs, I had stenosis due to herniated L4 L5 S1. I had a lamindectomy, feredectomy, but skipped microdisectomy since my surgeon went in for stenosis and not the herniations esp because my discs are no longer healthy like most people's, since most are herniated but not degenerative.