Anyone had a microdiscectomy?

Luckygirl3. I didn't know what this entailed, so googled it.

I have no experience, but just wanted to wish you all the best and hope that your pain is soon relieved.

I had to look it up too.

Good luck and I hope you will have some help afterwards while you recover - and that the operation is successful and you regain mobility without pain.

My DH was due to have one in 2020 which was cancelled before the pandemic. When he was called again last year, the surgeon said he no longer need the op as his back condition had got considerably better on its own! But if you need it go for it, a neighbour swears by it. All the best x

Both my husband and son had this to relieve disc pressure on the sciatic nerve. They both made a good recovery and the scars are very neat. DH realised there was no point in trying to manage without painkillers afterwards so took what was recommended.
Best wishes for your op.

I had a Microdiscectomy 14 months ago. A pice of disc was pulverising the sciatic nerve. The pain in my leg and hip was insufferable.

I woke up from the anaesthetic and I was pain free. I had a small incision and small dressing on my back and was advised to rest on my back for a few days. VERY gentle physio was given. I was also given clear written instructions on how to reduce the strong pain medication I had been taking for months.

I hope you do have the surgery. Your surgeon wouldn’t recommend it if he/she thought it wouldn’t be of great benefit to you.
What is your fear of having it done?

Thank you for good wishes.

I am in so much pain at present and unable to continue like this.

One of the reasons I am not keen is because I am hopeless with general anaesthetics and get very sick and unstable on my feet for days afterwards. But if I will be lying down a lot then that will not matter!

Could I pm you Marilla as I have some specific questions that you might be able to help me with?

Well, I'm grateful for this information and glad that you got a diagnosis, Luckygirl.

I'm going to ask the GP about this as I keep complaining about sciatica and they take no notice; I'm in pain and hobbling around like a 100 year old.

One problem with a microdiscectomy is that if one segment is operated on sometimes the area immediately above develops the same problems. For example, L5-S1 is the very bottom of your spine so the area above that is L4-L5.

I am not sure when the word micro was added because it was always known as a discectomy and one of the safest back operations.

Please make sure the surgeon is either a neurosurgeon or he only operates on backs. You do not want a "Jack of all trades".

I should add that while the dreadful pain in my leg and hip did improve 100%, there was stiffness and some aching in the site of the procedure. In comparison to the pain I had put up with before, it was not a problem and perfectly manageable with reduced painkillers and plenty of rest.

Charleygirl, I believe the microdisectomy is performed via a smaller cut than the discectomy.

I had a slipped disc in October for the second time. GPS were not seeing patients but I saw a private physio who after several sessions has put me almost right. I also have lost almost two stone so hoping it all stays quiet. I wish you well with your op and would be very interested to hear how it goes.

I’d not heard of this procedure before. I had a TLIF following two failed surgeries for discs pressing on the sciatic nerve.

Following the third operation I woke up and said ‘I’m mended’. I had no pain at all, a great relief after many years in agony and living on painkillers.

I’m sure your procedure will go well, all good wishes to you.

Lucky girl3 I can well imagine your pain. I experienced it before having a lumbar microdiscectomy way back in 2005. I remember the Neurosurgeon telling me the outcome would be the same in 5 years time whether I had the operation or not, but I found the pain so unbearable (and with a busy life at that time), I opted to have the operation asap. I woke from the op painfree, it was such a relief. I was given physiotherapy exercises afterwards and still do them, but maybe not as often as I should. I’ve also had problems with anaesthetics in the past, do discuss with your surgeon beforehand. I found that not having pre-meds helped a great deal. Good luck, try not to worry too much beforehand - easy to say, I know.

Was the surgeon implying that it would simply come back? That is not very encouraging! I hope it hasn't.

My DS is having this procedure done at the end of the month. It's being carried out privately by a surgeon who specialises in this area. He's reluctant but is having it done as the injection didn't really work for him. Will let you know how he gets on.

My understanding at the time was that the problem could resolve within 5 years or an operation would alleviate the pain sooner. It sounds like this is what happened to BlueSky’s DH earlier in the thread. Although I still suffer back pain sometimes now, it certainly isn’t from pressure on the sciatic nerve with that dreadful pain down my leg.

I had this operation three years ago and the difference it made was incredible. I had sciatica and numbness in my lower leg and foot which I had had for two years and was limping most of the time. I had been given an injection which had not worked and had been doing physio exercises which made no difference but as soon as I woke up from the op I was pain free which was such a relief.

Good to hear about the successful outcomes.

Yes - definitely encouraging!

I am in so much pain that I cannot walk some of the time. I am using crutches. It is a terrible blight on my life. I have had to cancel a holiday and am desperate to get on with my life - the less there is left of it, the more precious it is.

My DS that he can't have the op within 2 months of Covid. Luckily he has just made it.

Tomorrow is the op! I am worrying about every possible thing that might go wrong - that is what happens when you live on your own.

The pain is appalling - there is no way I could put this off and wait for it to hopefully get better.

But I do feel very nervous.......

Good luck Luckygirl. Reading all the posts above, hopefully this time next week you too will feel like a new person ?

Luckygirl all the very best for tomorrow- it sounds to me as though you must have it done asap and anaesthesia has changed for the good. I am sure you will be fine.

I am hoping on Wednesday you will be wondering what all of the fuss is about!

Good luck and say goodbye to your crutches unless you still need them for for your THR.

Wishing you all the best for tomorrow Lucky! Your new life is about to start! ?