Laminectomy portion of my back surgery

[jdp1633]

So this was my video I posted about 4 years ago...having said that I have been pain free for these 4 years.

The surgery isn't for everyone, it's mainly for people with pain down your legs, and not strictly back pain.

I had mostly pain radiating down my right leg, could not walk for very w/out having to sit soon.

I would recommend this surgery to people with those symptoms. Laminectomy/discectomy

[pikerm]

My mom is one of the few who has been extremely disabled WITHOUT the surgery. She has lost 14 years of her life and at this point, she is desperate to try anything for relief other than suicide. Her L4-L5 lamy is tomorrow. As she told me and so many others, "it has to be better than the shape I'm in now."

[hotrodrev]

I would not recommend ant surgical procedures on your back,,first operation L1-L5

laminectomy with fusion...snd operation discectomy and to put in more cadaver bone because it did not fuse.....2 rods 14 screws and bow disabled from...constant misery all the time,, and seeing a pain specialist

[isisncasey]

I'm part of the 15% that was completely disabled from the surgery. I should've just bore the pain and fefused surgery..

[biglaguilar]

my doctor said i have two discs pinching a nerve and that i need surgery ... my symptoms are lower back pain and pain running down my right leg i cannt walk for more then 5 minz i cannt stand i cannt work nutttin all i do is stay home sitting down all day is surgery the way to go ?

[magicquartz]

I have siatica now and I've got the numbness down my right leg, which makes it difficult stability wise. I think this may be my only option if therapy doesn't work. How long did it take you to recover from this? Did you do it as day surgery or overnight? I'm curious to find out because I may be going down the same path.

[aaronmcnello]

Damn...... I could not be the doctor doin that....

[lungcancercure]

I had a 12 inch incision last Thursday to insert appliances, etc, etc, etc. I used one of Dr. Revici's medicines prior to surgery, and had some sneaked in a couple days after.

As a result, I got off all the morphine, Lortabs - everything other than Revici in five days. Was sent home - no rehab hospital. His med is nonconstipating and nonaddictive, non toxic really.

[speedoflite1]

Failed back syndrome or post-laminectomy syndrome is pretty self-explanatory = persistent low back pain after having back surgery. Calf wasting, like mind, on medial (inner) side, can occur.  I like total body stretches and core strengthening execises for life, especially abs, hamstrings & calf muscles; whirlpool;sleep in fetal position w/body pillow between knees; low doses of Ibuprophen and Neurontin usually work pretty well enuff.

[redman629556]

I acctually have 27 vertibres its crazy

[leemikeburroughs]

I had a lower lumber laminectomy in June 2008. L5-S1. I am in more pain now than I was before, and my surgeon has since retired. Good luck trying to find a surgeon to touch you after a 1 year post op.. its not happening! I was told I need a fusion, but cant have it done for at least another year.. any suggestions?

[envia23]

mine took around 2 hours from looking at my anesthesia bill. I had a nuro surgeon take care of me. I'm 3 months post op and feeling better every day.

[smartkhaldi]

How long is the procedure?

[speedoflite1]

My MRI findings/dx: L4, L5, S1 moderate to severe, right sided, lower lumbar disc herniation causing an obliterated nerve root at one or more disc spaces. Symptoms: constant numbness, tingling w/sharp shooting sciatic nerve pains radiating all the way down the rear of right leg into my toes. Weak leg, foot & ankle muscle strength - (wasted) calf muscle over time. Underwent laminectomy with no significant improvement or relief. Retired/Totally disabled @ age 51.

[smartkhaldi]

do u know how long the procedure takes?

[speedoflite1]

2-3 hours w/o complications, but I was totally under (uncounscious) at the time so don't take that as gospel.  hospital stay: 2 days, with f/u home nursing care.

[Kinewah]

I had exactly the same thing. Now 4 mos post-op, still constant pain, burning, crunching sounds in area of laminectomy upon movement. Cannot sit stand or lie down for any extended period of time. Calf muscles have no flexibility. Rock hard and hard to walk. Has anyone else experienced calf muscle problems post op?

[dhol7]

Your lucky you found a good surgeon. I have herniated discs L5s1 and L2/3 causing piriformis and sciatic problems in both legs and sides for 8months now. Injections and surgery are my last options.Nothing has worked for me yet apart from light stretches. Good luck to every1, ta 4 posting :)

[lucycruickshanks]

I just had this done. I'm really young so that was in my favor. I had it done early in the morning and was released about a hour after the surgery was over. I could walk and move around in about two days. I'm already back to doing whatever i want and it hasn't even been a month. The worst part was just that my throat was sore from the tube

[marko425]

Jdp, What were your symptoms? Did you have sciatica? I've had it for almost 10 months now and am on my 4th Doctor, a Neuro Surgeon. He gave me 6 shots of cortisone in my L4,L5,S1 area yesterday to hopefully give me some relief so I can at least get some sleep. He said he couldn't guarantee it but I'm hoping it works. I've been reading about laminectomys. How long did it take you to recover? That looks like a tough operation to get over.

[jdp1633]

I had burning pain down my leg (radiculopathy)after walking about 100yds. I had 3 cortisone shots by another doc...gave me temporary relief...persued another doctor. He is a neurosurgeon at Vanderbilt in Nashville. Long story short...was walking after a few days w/ no pain down leg...was playing mild golf 1 month after and basketball a few months after. Have been pain free for over a year now. My surgery was partial discectomy/laminectomy. This might not be the surgery for your specific case.

[marko425]

Jdp, Thanks for your replies. I met with the Neuro Surgeon today. The 6 shots did not work. After looking at my MRI's again he said that a laminectory in L4, L5 is the thing he thinks will really clear up my problems. I asked him lots of questions. He said I would probably be out of the hospital on my second day there and after 2 weeks I probably would feel good and be pain free. I would definitely like to correspond w/you more by email before I get it done.

[jdp1633]

Does he/she want to do a discectomy w/ the laminectomy?

[marko425]

He used the word laminectomy. I asked him what exactly that meant and he said he filed down the L4 and L5 vertebrae so there was more room for the sciatic nerve and thus it would not be touching the disk or the vertebrae which has arthritic spurs in it. I'll ask him when next I meet with him to make sure.

[marko425]

He also noticed a sebatious cyst on the left side of L4 which the radiologist missed when reading the MRI and making his report. Makes me wonder what else he might have missed. The neuro surgeon said that he would have thought I had pain down my left leg. I don't have much pain in my left leg. It's 98% in my right leg. Go figure :)

[tranurse]

i just had the surgery 2 weeks ago. my back hurt, of course, but i felt so much better even in the pacu. i was walking in my room, 2 hours later. i have a lot of weakness in my r foot, i start physical therapy for that next week. i am already going back to the gym. can do elliptical machine and treadmill. i wish i would have done it sooner.

[tranurse]

i had my surgery 2 weeks ago. i have already started going to the gym. i had been in pain for several years off and on. i had sciatica, horribly for about a month. i couldn't walk, i couldn't sit, i could only lie on my left side. my leg ended up going numb from the knee down. my doc said to watch it and see. i got fed up and went to the e.r. where i work. i was walking 2 or 3 hrs after with no pain in my leg. i still have numbness in leg, may or may not go away. i start therapy soon.

[jdp1633]

If you would like to know the name of the surgeon, i will give it to u in a private email. Be cautious as to who you see. Do your research, ask how many surgeries he/she has performed. Success ratios etc. Best of luck to you!

[tmmaston]

What caused this that you had to have this procedure done?

[Dimension150]

I had this surgery a few months ago. It went well. I have to admit, from this video it's really hard to make out what the heck they are doing. It looks like they're stirring up a frosty strawberry martini!

[CazerX]

*barf*

[Marmalade000000]

Why would they be drilling a hole IN the vertabra, when the herniated disc is usually in BETWEEN the vertabrae?

[jdp1633]

It would make sense to go between the vertebrae...but...spinal anatomy is not that simple. When a ruptured disk impinges a nerve it does so in a posterior direction. There are bones that surround the spinal cord where these nerves exit. Going in from the back, you basically have to drill through these to get to the disc. Just search the web for spinal column pics and you'll see what im talking about...hope that helps.

[9712bluestar]

I had a lumbar laminectomy, it was the most painful thing I ever experienced. It took me 2 days before I could even get enough courage to get out of bed & walk. But after I did the 3 rd day was better. I am glad I had it cause I am pain free now 1 1/2 yrs later I can do anything.

[ilovewillf]

Jesus Christ, I am fucking cancelling my surgery. Fuck that.

[CameronDude]

ouch.

[zzwop77]

I had a L-4 and L-5 fusion done in 2001. The weird part was they went in through my stomach. Getting over the stomach cut was the hard part. The back fusion went great. But I would be lying if I said it wasn't painful.

[reddame64]

Hey zz,I'm with youon the stomach incision!! Although I had had a c-section 6 years prior, it still hurt! I have had 4 surgeries L-4/L-5area and still havea severely herniated disc....come on can't anyone find acure for this?? I want a titianum spine!

[ibroofn]

im supposed to have a lumbar fusion soon. im looking for an alternative treatment now

[justabitofmidas]

Wow that is amazing and looks painfull

[ennui406]

Wow, let's be thankful for good anesthesia! That looks painful.