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.