Lumbar Microdiscectomy - Brian D. Rudin, M.D.

[dhide14]

How long does pain remain AFTER this surgery? WHen will I feel "normal" again?

[playingforhim511]

@dhide14 Hey, I had a L4 micro done 2 years ago. I had severe leg pain and numbness and after surgery i regained most feeling in my leg. Pain was almost completely gone.  However, pain from just the surgery was about 7 days, severe pain that is. Day 3 post op was HORRIBLE, if you haven't had surgery already be sure to stay till Day 4, b/c Day 3 you'll need that morphine!!!! Also be sure they place in you physical therapy post op. I was not did not have PT and have another herniation now :(

[oakboyreppa]

Had this surgery today in Austin Tx.

[rbowater]

I had this surgery on L5 S1 after months of chronic left leg pain. Pain was gone and strength back in the leg after surgery but 2 weeks later some pain came back in left leg and then in my right leg. Another MRI shows no further herniation but some scar tissue. I am now nearly 4 months post op and still have pins and needles, muscle twitches and some pain in both legs. Doc says it's nerve damage and may take up to a year to come right! Back feels fine though.

[DonkerWoorde6]

I have a disc herniation in my L4/L5 and i have been in horrible pain for more then a year. I had a bad crash in the gym 2 summers ago and since then I can not bend my back backwards more then a few degrees. I have tried many therapies and non seem to be working. Now I am starting to wonder if this surgery would be it???

[floridarnmt]

I was told today that the recovery is about 2 weeks, and often less. They encourage you to get walking immediately. The first week or two the major complaint is pain from the recovery of surgery. After that time will tell as the nerve recovers. It is my understanding that nerve recovery can take up to a year. I'm looking forward to having this done and having recovery.

[floridarnmt]

I am having this surgery on 01/17. My disk sequestrated on May 27, 2009. It has been 18 months. Never once by 3 specialist was I sent to the neurosurgeon. I underwent 14 weeks of intense physical therapy because I couldn't walk, I had foot drop and was in 100/10 pain. I decided to demand to see a neurosurgeon because of my continued and worsening discomfort. The neurosurgeon said he can now relieve 70% of my symptoms, but the remaining 30% is going to be permanent damage to the nerve.

[playingforhim511]

@floridarnmt WOW that sounds super painful! :( I had numbness in my left leg and severe back and leg pain from a fall from a chair(go figure) and saw a neurosurgeon. After a couple doses of steroids and steriod injection(painful) I decided to see a surgeon. Went in on an Monday had surgery on Wednesday, 2 years ago. I had a small bulge on L3 and a large on L4. She fixed the L4 and also found it had ruptured(yikes!). No PT after which really was a bad decision on her part. 2 yrs post op...

[playingforhim511]

@floridarnmt and now both legs are numb and a minor foot drop in the right!!! I'm in PT and has helped, but ultimately surgery will have to tbe the option for me. I'm taking muscle relaxers and 800-1000mg of pver the counter anti-inflammatory meds...or if it's so bad(usually in the morning when I first get up) I'll take a perscription med. I've found that at night to sleep with a pillow either under my knees lying on my back or between them if I'm on my side helps with pain.

[fosgate3]

what is the recovery time for this and how well does a patient recover? I'm possibly looking at this surgery in the near future, around my L4 area. Right now, I can hardly bend over without pain, or lift my leg on the affected side and stretch it outwards in front of me while sitting without intense pain. Taking 1000 -1200mg ibuprofen gets rid of it but still, sometimes that doesnt stop it all.

[bitterexdroid]

I had a microdiscectomy done on L4/L5 this January in Toronto. I wish this procedure had been offered to me earlier...my own MD dismissed my back symptoms for almost 2 years. I finally asked for an MRI and was referred to a wonderful Neurosurgeon by the name of Dr. Mainprize at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto. I waited only 1 week after that visit to have the procedure done. All is well, except for a large Tarlov Cyst in my sacrum. Oh, I also now have a wonderful new MD :) Happy Ending here!

[luckeepaws94]

I go in to have my surgery in a week, they said I will be in the hospital over night. I have been in pain for months now so it will be nice to be pain free.

[roudy1689]

thanks for posting the video! one of the better i've seen. lucky me, i get to have this surgery, hope it works.

[zaagmans1]

Same for me. Hope it works for me too. How did it go?

[roudy1689]

haven't done it yet, but i'm kicking myself for watching this video. i've had both knees scoped, so it shouldn't be too bad. i;m 46 years old and i am leary of back surgeries just because i come from a time when they were not so successful