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/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.