i just spent all night up tossing and turning... im having Lumbar Microdiscectomy tomorrow morning & i just hit rock bottom.... i have herniated L4-L5 & i am so scared that my symptoms will not go away... we discovered the herniated disc back in March of '09... ive did PT, Lumbar epidurals.... now surgery.....
im just hoping my pain goes away, & hope i can live a healthy lifestyle for my 3 kids & gf!!!
@juanbread87 . Hello. Hope your surgery went well. It took 1 year for leg numbness to disappear. Make sure you eat a healthy diet, do your PT, walking is a good excercise for the back, do not stress and be positive. I lost 20 pounds and felt better(only fruits and vegetables in diet). Unfortunately i never completely recovered, but if you take good care of yourself and be persistent you will be fine. God bless.
How are you feeling now?? Is the numbness and pain completely gone? Are you able to run now? I am having microdiscectomy March 1, 2012. I am very anxious about the upcoming surgery. Please respond back as soon as you can. Thanks. I have a L5-S1 disc herniation .
Thanks for your posts!! I am having a discectomy in about one week. Your videos have helped me more than anything else on the web. I am scared to death, but I want my life back!!! Everything you've said on this one is me all the way!! I will try to let you know know it goes. Seriously, thanks for posting everything. It really has helped me.
Thank you for your encouraging video. After 4 months of extreme sciatica in my right leg, I am going in for surgery on Tuesday. Wish me luck. Congratulations on your recovery.
Oh my gosh, this has been so helpful. I'm going through what you went through!! I am fighting with insurance to be allowed to even just get an MRI. I have had the pain since Nov. 2010. I did the PT, it worked but for just a short time then I'm back to square 1. I too am planning a breast reduction after they allow me to have the back surgery. etc. etc. etc. sound familiar? Thanks for your vids!
It's 6:15pm. I had my surgery today, 8:8/11 at 7:30am. I feel great. I'm glad I had the surgery. My left buttocks and left leg are pain free!!!! I recommend surgery to anyone with this type of injury.
I am glad your surgery went well. I had the same one Oct 22 2010 and at this point I am getting REALLY bad pain from the Siatic nerve. Almost as bad as the pain before surgery. Glad your better.
I just had the same surgery you did 1 week ago today. I would be interested in corresponding for suggestions and any questions I have . I would be willing to email or fb but am unsure how to get my fb name or email without posting it for all to see. I think I am doing well 1 week out, my leg and hip pain that I have had for the past 2 1/2 years is gone! The leg is still numb, my doctor says that may never go away, but I can live with that. I have had no life for over 2 years and just a
Hi, glad to hear your surgery and recovery are successful. I was wondering did you have a laminectomy done too. If you or someone else had a laminectomy along with a microdiscectomy what was the result and do you have any limitations in physical activity.
I had back surgery a year ago and I'm worse off now than before the pain is 100 times worse than before the surgery. I'm happy to hear your surgery went well. Each day that goes by my back pain gets worse and worse. I actually regret having back surgery. I guess it doesn't work for everyone.
Hi There, look i just wanted to say that your videos are very supportive towards the issue and have helped me immensley cope with my hesitations and scares around a microdisectomy.Im actually only 21 and have to undergo a microdisectomy next monday due to an ongoing issue with sciatic. The pain is so immense that I have considerable trouble with standing for more than 3 minutes. It is a paracentral disc pertrusion at L4 L5 which is quite large. So thanks for posting these, theyre helpful :)
I'm 14 having this on the 23rd. How long until you're able to run and jump and play sports? Weeks? Months? A year? Years? How long did the pain last from the incision?
You might also consider an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen. FYI: A really cold bath can also drop your blood pressure. For some people this can cause symptoms like fainting. Be smart about it if you go that route and make sure someone is around.
You doctor is correct about lots of fluids after a massage. If you are feeling like there is a lot of inflammation try putting ice where it hurts the most or "relaxing" in a cold bath if it is just everywhere and give it time. Hot water is relaxing and feels good but it causes the blood vessels to open up and the inflammation can increase. Cold will cause the blood vessels to constrict and bring down the inflammation. This is personal advice but I think it is always wise to consult a doctor.
I need your advice if you could help me out. I tried a massage therapist, claiming he might help me heal the problem but I believe all he did was aggravate things, he went deep into my muscles causing me excruciating pain and now my right arm and right leg feel numbness and weak, I'm afraid he damaged or irritated my nerves, It's been 1 1/2 I am desperate because it's hurting me bad. Doctors told me I should be under lots of water liquids, and I'm taking hot bathtubs everyday. Any advice please
sorry to bother you again, but this is what is in my mind, according to the specialists my bulge has reduced in size a few mm, 6 years ago it was 7 mm, now it's 3-4 mm barely compressing the nerve root the S1, I am hoping it will continue to shrink until no pressure is on the nerve, but yes my real pain is the sciatic nerve, and you probably understand the type of pain I went through all these years, because my family never did. I have been scheduled for physical therapy to get my strength back
Optimistic expectation on the outcome of my surgery because I could see how much the disc was displacing the nerves and I couldn't imagine the pain being worse when that was taken away to alliviate pressure on the nerves. Happy birthday in advance. My birthday wish for you is that you get off that steriod injection table and enjoy the rest of you day. I know it is hard to deal with a disc problem but it sounds like you are on the right track. Keep up those exercises. They really do help.
Your doctor is correct about the surgery irritating the nerve. I have pain in my buttock that comes and goes frequently still. I also get numbness in my toes when I do too much. I attribute a lot of it to scar tissue and inflammation. The steriod injections are pretty amazing. I will likely give you a break from the pain. That can last for a very long time depending on the person. I really did have fairly
I am really happy for you that your are doing so much better, probably don't feel that agonizing pain anymore,I guess you had so much faith in this surgery and did the right thing. honestly I was ready myself to go with it as well but my last surgeon made me think twice, he told me the bulge disc is very small but the nerve is so irritated and that surgery might not be the answer "for now", As I said, my disc has shrunk maybe because I've been doing all those exercises for so long.
Thanks so much for the response. I am trying to stay positive and hope that my next steroid injection will decrease this horrible constant pain ( the leg), sometimes I don't know why but I can't help but cry about it, it's just so excruciating sometimes, January 13th( my birthday) will be given the shot, I am very afraid of urgery because of all the risks. I have tried chiropractor therapy and all types of pills but poorly helped. only good news is my disc bulge has shrank the past 6 years 4mm
Also, for a small disc bulge seriously look into "MacKenzie therapy" and find a physical therapist who is trained in that particular technique. The idea is they try to non-surgically push the disc herniation back in. You might have to make a few phone calls to find one. Chiropractors also have techniques for dealing with herniated discs so you could look into that as well. I had tolerable pain and sciatica for about 12 yrs but the past 2 yrs where painful beyond belief + my foot was dropping
A small bulge will generally speaking will "heal" itself but it can be a real pain in the rear (or down the leg) while that process occurs. Surgery should always be the last option. However, once you have herniated a disc in your back the odds of another injury increase. It is good that you have consulted multiple neurosurgeons. If they are all in agreement I would take their advice. You can control the pain to a certain extent with sessions of acupuncture and other things.
@HealthyLifeMentor How are you doing now? I had a microdiscectomy at a similar time to you around a year ago (mine was in Nov. 2010). Are you still doing well?
oh yeah by the way, since you are more familiar with this problem, I want to know if u know the difference between a herniated disc like the one you had and mine, mine is just a small bulge, you think I might have more hopes of healing this than the one you had and needing microsurgery?
Hi healthylifementor, I'm going to be brief so I don't waste much of your time. I just needed it your opinion on my situation, I am living with a herniated disc I am 25 now and the pain down the leg which is I believe my sciatic nerve, is causing me so much pain, severe I would say and it has gotten worse gradually the past 2 years. I have seen 5 different neurosurgeons but they all tell me surgery might not help because the disc herniation is very small yet I m in severe pain, advice please
I had an l4/l5 and l5/s1 dicectomy on 29/12/10 I was released from hospital after 2 nights and I feel so much better for it had wound checked today by doctor he is impressed with healing and made appoinment to have 15 staples removed on 12th before op I had to crawl to my toilet in evenings as pain in right leg got progresivly worse over day now 1 week later I am on no medication and the only pain is from staples which every now and then I can feel but its nothing to what I had before.
Sorry it took me so long to respond this time. Prior to surgery I had severe pain in my right buttock and hip. I also had occasional burning and shooting pains down my leg to my toes. I would go through periods of back spasms. The weeks priors to the surgery I was hunched over and could barely pull myself tpgether to sit. Sitting was the worst!
Can you describe the pain you had before the microdiscectomy (the pain down the leg to the foot, numbness, loss of reflexes etc.) and at what particular level your herniated disc was (perhaps it is L4-L5 or L5-S1)? I have some serious problems with my herniated discs too, but the pain and discomfort I feel are quite little and bearable, but I'm pretty sure it will get worse one day and the operation will be the last choice, because other ways of treating hernias don't work for me.
Thanks for sharing your experience with your surgery!!
I have an appointment with the surgeon on the 16th. From an orthopedic Dr. assessment I've got that my case it's pretty surgical. I've been in bed for the last 6 weeks, and after a long push with my family Dr he got me the appointment.
Not sure how long will take to get to the OR, as here in Canada we have to bear with waiting list for operations.. And that sucks..
i just spent all night up tossing and turning... im having Lumbar Microdiscectomy tomorrow morning & i just hit rock bottom.... i have herniated L4-L5 & i am so scared that my symptoms will not go away... we discovered the herniated disc back in March of '09... ive did PT, Lumbar epidurals.... now surgery.....
im just hoping my pain goes away, & hope i can live a healthy lifestyle for my 3 kids & gf!!!
juanbread87 1 week ago
@juanbread87 . Hello. Hope your surgery went well. It took 1 year for leg numbness to disappear. Make sure you eat a healthy diet, do your PT, walking is a good excercise for the back, do not stress and be positive. I lost 20 pounds and felt better(only fruits and vegetables in diet). Unfortunately i never completely recovered, but if you take good care of yourself and be persistent you will be fine. God bless.
ilusaibaba 6 hours ago
How are you feeling now?? Is the numbness and pain completely gone? Are you able to run now? I am having microdiscectomy March 1, 2012. I am very anxious about the upcoming surgery. Please respond back as soon as you can. Thanks. I have a L5-S1 disc herniation .
nlum1964 2 weeks ago
Thanks for your posts!! I am having a discectomy in about one week. Your videos have helped me more than anything else on the web. I am scared to death, but I want my life back!!! Everything you've said on this one is me all the way!! I will try to let you know know it goes. Seriously, thanks for posting everything. It really has helped me.
brenda7574 1 month ago in playlist Uploaded videos
hey..... who did your surgery? I love your results and am in need of a great Dr.?
jmarchiafava 1 month ago
I like small boobies :)
zZzMr3XzZz 1 month ago
I was wondering what kind of medications you were prescribed following your surgery to control your pain.
janis239 4 months ago
Thank you for your encouraging video. After 4 months of extreme sciatica in my right leg, I am going in for surgery on Tuesday. Wish me luck. Congratulations on your recovery.
janis239 4 months ago
Oh my gosh, this has been so helpful. I'm going through what you went through!! I am fighting with insurance to be allowed to even just get an MRI. I have had the pain since Nov. 2010. I did the PT, it worked but for just a short time then I'm back to square 1. I too am planning a breast reduction after they allow me to have the back surgery. etc. etc. etc. sound familiar? Thanks for your vids!
sib6sis3 5 months ago
It's 6:15pm. I had my surgery today, 8:8/11 at 7:30am. I feel great. I'm glad I had the surgery. My left buttocks and left leg are pain free!!!! I recommend surgery to anyone with this type of injury.
juangran33 6 months ago
My pain started 7/12/11. Im having the same surgery on 8/8/11. I can't believe you lived with the pain for 2 years. I lasted 3 weeks. Wish me luck!
juangran33 6 months ago
I am glad your surgery went well. I had the same one Oct 22 2010 and at this point I am getting REALLY bad pain from the Siatic nerve. Almost as bad as the pain before surgery. Glad your better.
stephmm2004 7 months ago
fat face
dhide14 8 months ago
I just had the same surgery you did 1 week ago today. I would be interested in corresponding for suggestions and any questions I have . I would be willing to email or fb but am unsure how to get my fb name or email without posting it for all to see. I think I am doing well 1 week out, my leg and hip pain that I have had for the past 2 1/2 years is gone! The leg is still numb, my doctor says that may never go away, but I can live with that. I have had no life for over 2 years and just a
fergiak 8 months ago
Hi, glad to hear your surgery and recovery are successful. I was wondering did you have a laminectomy done too. If you or someone else had a laminectomy along with a microdiscectomy what was the result and do you have any limitations in physical activity.
blackfinger1 9 months ago
I had back surgery a year ago and I'm worse off now than before the pain is 100 times worse than before the surgery. I'm happy to hear your surgery went well. Each day that goes by my back pain gets worse and worse. I actually regret having back surgery. I guess it doesn't work for everyone.
TheHolly2879 9 months ago
Hi There, look i just wanted to say that your videos are very supportive towards the issue and have helped me immensley cope with my hesitations and scares around a microdisectomy.Im actually only 21 and have to undergo a microdisectomy next monday due to an ongoing issue with sciatic. The pain is so immense that I have considerable trouble with standing for more than 3 minutes. It is a paracentral disc pertrusion at L4 L5 which is quite large. So thanks for posting these, theyre helpful :)
Tristan212133 9 months ago
Iam so happy for you.IHAVE MY SURGERY 2 WEEKS AGO AND FEEL THAT MY RECOVERY IS VERY SLOW.Like you i try everthing before my surgery.
SillyMeHannah2 10 months ago
Iam so happy for you.IHHAVE MY SURGERY 2 WEEKS AGO AND FEEL THAT MY RECOVERY IS VERY SLOW.
SillyMeHannah2 10 months ago
I'm 14 having this on the 23rd. How long until you're able to run and jump and play sports? Weeks? Months? A year? Years? How long did the pain last from the incision?
Adri27Ang 11 months ago
You might also consider an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen. FYI: A really cold bath can also drop your blood pressure. For some people this can cause symptoms like fainting. Be smart about it if you go that route and make sure someone is around.
HealthyLifeMentor 1 year ago
You doctor is correct about lots of fluids after a massage. If you are feeling like there is a lot of inflammation try putting ice where it hurts the most or "relaxing" in a cold bath if it is just everywhere and give it time. Hot water is relaxing and feels good but it causes the blood vessels to open up and the inflammation can increase. Cold will cause the blood vessels to constrict and bring down the inflammation. This is personal advice but I think it is always wise to consult a doctor.
HealthyLifeMentor 1 year ago
I need your advice if you could help me out. I tried a massage therapist, claiming he might help me heal the problem but I believe all he did was aggravate things, he went deep into my muscles causing me excruciating pain and now my right arm and right leg feel numbness and weak, I'm afraid he damaged or irritated my nerves, It's been 1 1/2 I am desperate because it's hurting me bad. Doctors told me I should be under lots of water liquids, and I'm taking hot bathtubs everyday. Any advice please
jeanlatorre18 1 year ago
sorry to bother you again, but this is what is in my mind, according to the specialists my bulge has reduced in size a few mm, 6 years ago it was 7 mm, now it's 3-4 mm barely compressing the nerve root the S1, I am hoping it will continue to shrink until no pressure is on the nerve, but yes my real pain is the sciatic nerve, and you probably understand the type of pain I went through all these years, because my family never did. I have been scheduled for physical therapy to get my strength back
jeanlatorre18 1 year ago
Optimistic expectation on the outcome of my surgery because I could see how much the disc was displacing the nerves and I couldn't imagine the pain being worse when that was taken away to alliviate pressure on the nerves. Happy birthday in advance. My birthday wish for you is that you get off that steriod injection table and enjoy the rest of you day. I know it is hard to deal with a disc problem but it sounds like you are on the right track. Keep up those exercises. They really do help.
HealthyLifeMentor 1 year ago
Your doctor is correct about the surgery irritating the nerve. I have pain in my buttock that comes and goes frequently still. I also get numbness in my toes when I do too much. I attribute a lot of it to scar tissue and inflammation. The steriod injections are pretty amazing. I will likely give you a break from the pain. That can last for a very long time depending on the person. I really did have fairly
HealthyLifeMentor 1 year ago
I am really happy for you that your are doing so much better, probably don't feel that agonizing pain anymore,I guess you had so much faith in this surgery and did the right thing. honestly I was ready myself to go with it as well but my last surgeon made me think twice, he told me the bulge disc is very small but the nerve is so irritated and that surgery might not be the answer "for now", As I said, my disc has shrunk maybe because I've been doing all those exercises for so long.
jeanlatorre18 1 year ago
Thanks so much for the response. I am trying to stay positive and hope that my next steroid injection will decrease this horrible constant pain ( the leg), sometimes I don't know why but I can't help but cry about it, it's just so excruciating sometimes, January 13th( my birthday) will be given the shot, I am very afraid of urgery because of all the risks. I have tried chiropractor therapy and all types of pills but poorly helped. only good news is my disc bulge has shrank the past 6 years 4mm
jeanlatorre18 1 year ago
Also, for a small disc bulge seriously look into "MacKenzie therapy" and find a physical therapist who is trained in that particular technique. The idea is they try to non-surgically push the disc herniation back in. You might have to make a few phone calls to find one. Chiropractors also have techniques for dealing with herniated discs so you could look into that as well. I had tolerable pain and sciatica for about 12 yrs but the past 2 yrs where painful beyond belief + my foot was dropping
HealthyLifeMentor 1 year ago
A small bulge will generally speaking will "heal" itself but it can be a real pain in the rear (or down the leg) while that process occurs. Surgery should always be the last option. However, once you have herniated a disc in your back the odds of another injury increase. It is good that you have consulted multiple neurosurgeons. If they are all in agreement I would take their advice. You can control the pain to a certain extent with sessions of acupuncture and other things.
HealthyLifeMentor 1 year ago
@HealthyLifeMentor How are you doing now? I had a microdiscectomy at a similar time to you around a year ago (mine was in Nov. 2010). Are you still doing well?
ummmerrrrummm 2 months ago
oh yeah by the way, since you are more familiar with this problem, I want to know if u know the difference between a herniated disc like the one you had and mine, mine is just a small bulge, you think I might have more hopes of healing this than the one you had and needing microsurgery?
jeanlatorre18 1 year ago
Hi healthylifementor, I'm going to be brief so I don't waste much of your time. I just needed it your opinion on my situation, I am living with a herniated disc I am 25 now and the pain down the leg which is I believe my sciatic nerve, is causing me so much pain, severe I would say and it has gotten worse gradually the past 2 years. I have seen 5 different neurosurgeons but they all tell me surgery might not help because the disc herniation is very small yet I m in severe pain, advice please
jeanlatorre18 1 year ago
I had an l4/l5 and l5/s1 dicectomy on 29/12/10 I was released from hospital after 2 nights and I feel so much better for it had wound checked today by doctor he is impressed with healing and made appoinment to have 15 staples removed on 12th before op I had to crawl to my toilet in evenings as pain in right leg got progresivly worse over day now 1 week later I am on no medication and the only pain is from staples which every now and then I can feel but its nothing to what I had before.
bambambangers 1 year ago
Comment removed
bambambangers 1 year ago
Sorry it took me so long to respond this time. Prior to surgery I had severe pain in my right buttock and hip. I also had occasional burning and shooting pains down my leg to my toes. I would go through periods of back spasms. The weeks priors to the surgery I was hunched over and could barely pull myself tpgether to sit. Sitting was the worst!
HealthyLifeMentor 1 year ago
Can you describe the pain you had before the microdiscectomy (the pain down the leg to the foot, numbness, loss of reflexes etc.) and at what particular level your herniated disc was (perhaps it is L4-L5 or L5-S1)? I have some serious problems with my herniated discs too, but the pain and discomfort I feel are quite little and bearable, but I'm pretty sure it will get worse one day and the operation will be the last choice, because other ways of treating hernias don't work for me.
antanukas 1 year ago
Thanks for sharing your experience with your surgery!!
I have an appointment with the surgeon on the 16th. From an orthopedic Dr. assessment I've got that my case it's pretty surgical. I've been in bed for the last 6 weeks, and after a long push with my family Dr he got me the appointment.
Not sure how long will take to get to the OR, as here in Canada we have to bear with waiting list for operations.. And that sucks..
gianfrancoa 1 year ago