anyone had disc hernia surgery?

[SIK]

Probably an odd question to ask here but I'm not on any other forum so.. :P

In short, I have a disc hernia L5-S1, and it hurts like a motherfucker (sciatica down the leg)

I'm doing physio.. and next week going for some surgeon opinions.
Supposedly, there are some minimal invasive methods (lasers, needless) for surgery and the patient goes home the same day, mostly pain free.

Anyone had that? Experiences?

P.S.
Sex is next to impossible with disc hernia

[brassmonkey]

jeezus no

[BaldBastard]

Had a microdiscectomy and rhizolysis in 07, L5-s1

Best thing I did, spent 2 years in fucking agony trying every treatment I could nothing really worked except a good ice pack and cortisone injection but that wears off fast.

I could hardly walk when I went in to get it and was on a cocktail of painkillers daily.

Had the op, woke up, went for a piss.. pain free! 2 hours later I was in parking lot smoking a ciggy, went home next day, never needed any pain killers after that, you need to be careful for a few weeks till it all heals, but being pain free was all that mattered to me.

Its hard learning to walk right again, like you stand on a stone when walking and all your muscles tense up.. waiting for the pain ping from your back, takes your body a while to realise.. there is no more pain.

I've been fine since, like I've had other back issues but not l5s1.. that was fixed.

Sequestered another disc a couple of years ago.. now that fucking hurts ;)

[femdomdestiny]

My sister had it and it was successful. On the other hand, a friend that is anesthesiologist told me never to do a surgery before trying other things. Other doctors say that you when pain starts to be serious, the patient will ask and beg to finally do it.

[BaldBastard]

Originally Posted by femdomdestiny

My sister had it and it was successful. On the other hand, a friend that is anesthesiologist told me never to do a surgery before trying other things. Other doctors say that you when pain starts to be serious, the patient will ask and beg to finally do it.

Problem is you really need to see the surgeon first, they are the most qualified and will always push for the non surgery option if its not needed, but only really they can make that call. Likewise an MRI is the only thing that can show what's really going on in there. all Xrays, Ct scans and the likes do.. is show you need an MRI. I had various physiotherapists and other quacks push and prod my spine for a years, till a surgeon looked at it and said.. "That wouldn't of achieved much", the disk bulge was sticking in to my sciatic nerve 6mm, reality was I had no planB it was operation or living in pain, pushing the nerve by massage and the likes.. was an extreme risk of doing more damage..

[femdomdestiny]

Originally Posted by MrBaldBastard

Problem is you really need to see the surgeon first, they are the most qualified and will always push for the non surgery option if its not needed, but only really they can make that call. Likewise an MRI is the only thing that can show what's really going on in there. all Xrays, Ct scans and the likes do.. is show you need an MRI. I had various physiotherapists and other quacks push and prod my spine for a years, till a surgeon looked at it and said.. "That wouldn't of achieved much", the disk bulge was sticking in to my sciatic nerve 6mm, the reality was I had no planB it was an operation or living in pain, pushing the nerve by massage and the likes.. was an extreme risk of doing more damage..

I believe that things a little bit more complicated, especially where there are tons of potential diagnosis. I remember, over 20 years ago, the surgeon told me that I should operate scoliosis. What he didn't tell me that there are other effective ways to fix a problem without having titanium rod implanted in my body. He was a serious surgeon, a military one.

I don't believe people generally and second or third opinion should be a mandatory thing in such situations.

[SIK]

Originally Posted by MrBaldBastard

the disk bulge was sticking in to my sciatic nerve 6mm

I had lower back pains (no sciatica) for like 10 years or so, only did massages and cold/hot cremes to ease the pain, only ibuprofen rarely

since 3 months ago, I developed full blown sciatica down the right leg.. hurts like a motherfucker but I'm still not taking pain meds.. as stupid as it sounds, I just thought it is a "bad period" and it will eventually just pass

but it didn't, hence physio and MRI showed 8mm bulge into sciatic nerve (but judging from what you wrote, your pains were much worse)

so.. yeah, I'm looking into options to fucking END all by back pains with surgery

[Sly]

Originally Posted by femdomdestiny

I believe that things a little bit more complicated, especially where there are tons of potential diagnosis. I remember, over 20 years ago, the surgeon told me that I should operate scoliosis. What he didn't tell me that there are other effective ways to fix a problem without having titanium rod implanted in my body. He was a serious surgeon, a military one.

I don't believe people generally and second or third opinion should be a mandatory thing in such situations.

I had that rod put in my back 25 years ago. Have never had back issues. Until 2 weeks ago when I somehow pulled a muscle, LOL.

What did you end up doing for your back?

[BaldBastard]

Originally Posted by SIK

I had lower back pains (no sciatica) for like 10 years or so, only did massages and cold/hot cremes to ease the pain, only ibuprofen rarely

since 3 months ago, I developed full blown sciatica down the right leg.. hurts like a motherfucker but I'm still not taking pain meds.. as stupid as it sounds, I just thought it is a "bad period" and it will eventually just pass

but it didn't, hence physio and MRI showed 8mm bulge into sciatic nerve (but judging from what you wrote, your pains were much worse)

so.. yeah, I'm looking into options to fucking END all by back pains with surgery

Pain killers don't do a lot, for me laying flat, ( had pc on floor hehe ) and anti-inflammatorys were best.

Size of the bulge is not relevant to the pain experienced, depends where its hitting on the nerve and how much space you have in your spinal canal.

Sciatica is nerve compression, long term nerve compressions leads to permanent nerve damage, I HIGHLY suggest you go see that surgeon ;)

[SIK]

Originally Posted by MrBaldBastard

Sciatica is nerve compression, long term nerve compressions leads to permanent nerve damage, I HIGHLY suggest you go see that surgeon ;)

yup, gonna make appointments with at least 3 of them during next week, to get more opinions

already got recommendations for good ones, surgery price is supposedly around 7000$

[Bladewire]

Have you tried inversion therapy? You can get these inversion tables cheap and they really work

[BaldBastard]

Anything requiring a neuro surgeon isn't cheap but in my case it was worth every cent. Despite having full medical insurance here it still cost me 10k

Get the MRI explained to you after that your options should be clear

[BaldBastard]

Originally Posted by Bladewire

Have you tried inversion therapy? You can get these inversion tables cheap and they really work

That sort of shit is good for a short term relief, so is just laying flat, but they are not a long term soloution

[Bladewire]

Originally Posted by MrBaldBastard

That sort of shit is good for a short term relief, so is just laying flat, but they are not a long term soloution

Sometimes. Remember, the point of surgery to fix s herniated disc is to relieve/decompress pressure from the root of the nerve. This can sometimes be done by inversion therapy. It can sometumes even be done by a quality chiropractor.

[PiffStenis]

Hello PiffStenis it appears that you have not posted on our forums in several weeks, why not take a few moments to ask a question, help provide a solution or just engage in a conversation with another member in any one of our forums?

[SIK]

Originally Posted by Bladewire

It can sometumes even be done by a quality chiropractor.

Heh.. my (expanded) story actually involves a "quality" chiropractor..

I actually had "just" lower back pains for years.. and I developed full blown sciatica three months ago because of a tiny manipulation done by a "quality" chiropractor

Some people do get help from chiropractors but from mine and some other experiences, I'd never recommend it. Those fuckers can make the situation much worse instead of helping.

[SIK]

Will be fun to hear what surgeons advise me next week... fuck I'm scared shitless of the operation itself if it comes to that

[Bladewire]

Originally Posted by SIK

Will be fun to hear what surgeons advise me next week... fuck I'm scared shitless of the operation itself if it comes to that

Surgeons advise surgery. It's like going to a dentist and asking if you need anything done, same for a mechanic, or computer programmer. Everyone tries to show there's a need for what they do.

Oh and the surgeon you talk to isn't always the one who does the surgery so be mindful of that

[SilentKnight]

Had the pinched sciatic nerve condition due to a herniated disc several years ago. Felt like a major charlie horse on the outside of the thigh...gradually worsened until I lost feeling in several toes. Constant agony and at the worst I was taking 3 oxys every two hours and it wasn't dulling the pain. And I have an extremely high pain threshold.

After four months of this (bed-ridden and unable to function)...I went for an MRI, then consulted with a neuro-surgeon who recommended the surgery. I opted for it.

Had the surgery done. Took about another month of physio to recuperate.

Haven't had a relapse since. I get the occasional twinge that lasts a short while but goes away.

There are risks with the surgery, of course. The surgeon went through them all with me so I knew what I was facing. But since I couldn't function the way I was...the surgery was a no-brainer (at least for me).

My advice if going with the surgery...make sure you get a surgeon who's been doing the procedure a very long time and completely knows his stuff. I'd have it done again if the condition returns (which they say is a high probability at some point).

Good luck. Sciatica is a doosh...I know what you're goin' through.

[SIK]

Originally Posted by Bladewire

Surgeons advise surgery

Sorta correct but different in my part of the world

We have full medical coverage so the public hospital surgeons will actually give you a solid opinion, yes or no.
Private practice ones will indeed suggest surgery, that I know.

[SIK]

Originally Posted by SilentKnight

Good luck. Sciatica is a doosh...I know what you're goin' through.

Thanks

BTW, what surgery did you have? Full anesthesia / open back or local anesthesia / microdisectomy ?

[SilentKnight]

Should mention prior to the surgery I spent several months with chiropractors, accupuncturist and had deep-tissue massages done regularly...and the condition only got worse. The quacks prolonged the condition by claiming they could fix it. The only thing they fixed was emptying my wallet for repeated treatments.

Fed up, I finally booked an appointment with our family doctor, who scheduled the MRI. He knew right away the classic symptoms, which he said should've been recognized by all the therapists I'd been seeing.

Had I gone to the doctor sooner and not wasted time with the quacks...I likely would have cut my downtime from 7 months to just a couple.

[SilentKnight]

Originally Posted by SIK

Thanks

BTW, what surgery did you have? Full anesthesia / open back or local anesthesia / microdisectomy ?

Full anesthesia. The lower back incision was less than 2-inches...and it's almost completely vanished now.

I was actually able to walk from the wheelchair at the hospital front door to my vehicle after the surgery...still sore, but a vast improvement right away.

[symtab]

I also had hernial disc a few years ago. Was not able to drive, work at the office...not to mention i had to give up hiking. The RMN (MRI i think in english) showed a small buldge on the L5/L6 and i had pain down my left leg. Doctor said its because i sit to much at the computer and my back muscles dont do their job. Did psysio for a couple of weeks and after that i started doing sports (weight lifting and all kind of exercises to strengthen my back muscles). I still do the exercises 2 times / week, but now i can work at the office, hike, run....even carry 20kg backpack...

[BaldBastard]

Originally Posted by Bladewire

Sometimes. Remember, the point of surgery to fix s herniated disc is to relieve/decompress pressure from the root of the nerve. This can sometimes be done by inversion therapy. It can sometumes even be done by a quality chiropractor.

sorry.. no

the bulges are inside your spine pressing against your spinal cord they don't require a gp, a bone specialist or a muscle specialist, what you need is a Neurosurgeon and a MRI. Only then do you have the information you need and the correct level of doctor to explain your options to you and that might even be phiso, but only that neurosurgeon has the info and qualifications to decide that.

If you strain your back, pull a muscle, or have a skeletal alignment problem then maybe phiso or chiros can help, but not for a bulge

I'd guess most of those having surgery were in the same position as me, which is you probably needed an operation the first time you go an see the doctor because you've delayed that visit by 12 months or more already. Yet they still put you through phiso and all that stuff, usually just making it worse because the window of opportunity for anything like that to work has long since past.


If you have back pain.. do your best to get in to a Neurosurgeon, let them decide if chrio or phiso is all you need.

[Bladewire]

Originally Posted by SilentKnight

Full anesthesia.

Pussy

[SilentKnight]

Originally Posted by MrBaldBastard

sorry.. no

the bulges are inside your spine pressing against your spinal cord they don't require a gp, a bone specialist or a muscle specialist, what you need is a Neurosurgeon and a MRI. Only then do you have the information you need and the correct level of doctor to explain your options to you and that might even be phiso, but only that neurosurgeon has the info and qualifications to decide that.

If you strain your back, pull a muscle, or have a skeletal alignment problem then maybe phiso or chiros can help, but not for a bulge

I'd guess most of those having surgery were in the same position as me, which is you probably needed an operation the first time you go an see the doctor because you've delayed that visit by 12 months or more already. Yet they still put you through phiso and all that stuff, usually just making it worse because the window of opportunity for anything like that to work has long since past.


If you have back pain.. do your best to get in to a Neurosurgeon, let them decide if chrio or phiso is all you need.

Spot on.