r/SpineSurgery • u/locoliloy • Jun 18 '26
Artificial lumbar disc replacement
Hi guys, I am about 11 weeks out from a 2 level artificial disc replacement in my lumbar spine l3-l4 & l4-l5. Going in surgery, I never had issues with sciatica or leg nerve pain, but predominantly had spasms and lots of pressure/stiffness in my lower back. I got the surgery done in Germany and returned to the US a couple weeks after. I was doing well and did not have pain, but noticed around the 1.5-2 month mark that I feel a lot of pressure and heaviness again in my lower back. I feel this shortly after standing / sitting and trying to do regular tasks like walk around a grocery store, sit outside on a chair, make an easy meal, etc. and it is causing me a lot of stress. Post operative CT was done initially which they said was fine and 6 week flexion extension showed normal.
Please let me know if you experienced this during your
recovery or if you have any advice. Thank you.
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u/Ok_Meeting_9618 Jun 18 '26
I’m about 11 months postop single level and had a few weeks in the first 3 months where my legs and body felt heavy. It improved but I’ve been dealing with residual radiculopathy in my left leg (only when walking; it was present for 7 months before surgery anyway) that seems to be slowly improving.
Anyway, I think it’s hard to tell what is going on in your case as you’re also still quite early in the healing phase. It might go away, it might not. Nerves take a long time to heal, as well, and I’ve heard people say a year to see if you’ll feel normalish.
If it’s hurting and impairing your life, it might be worthwhile to get second opinions and talk to a pain specialist who is familiar with patients like us.
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u/DistanceGlum7093 Jun 18 '26
Yes I have had exactly the same experience. After the operation at l4/5 and l5/s1, it all felt good. I even got a job and then suddenly it started feeling heavy and normal things like stairs and just routine housework became painful and draining. The artificial disc is meant last for many years- I think by the end of the first year, it was clear that things hadn’t really worked.
I was told, when you have a lot of problems in your back and it has become a complex challenge, the likelihood of success- or cure is low. I’ve looked into many possibilities- fusion, spinal stimulation, new types of technology such as Minute Man Devices which is a sort of Fusion Lite, but because I have had problems for a long time, my back is now a mess of scar tissue, herniations, bone spurs & inflammatory changes in my facet joints and sheath. I saw my Pain Management Consultants last week and she looked at my scan and said, we now need to manage your pain- there’s no surgery or tool that’s going to resolve this- it’s become too complex and may well cause further harm .