Back Issues :: Microdiscectomy And Smoking
Jan 8, 2015
I am 19 years old and having my micro discectomy for herniation at L4/L5 tomorrow at noon. I am a smoker and have been smoking since I was 14 (I know I started young) and don't know what to do after my surgery. My doctor informed me that I should quit smoking or at least go a few weeks without it post-op because it could interfere with recovery.
I've tried in the past to quit multiple times and failed all of them. I smoke about 1 1/2 packs a day and the longest I've been without smoking is 3 days.
I'm really confused as to do what to do. I know quitting is the only right answer but I don't think I can at this point of my life.
So I was wondering just how bad is smoking post-op? What kind of consequences could come out if I do continue smoking? Is making a full, healthy recovery impossible if I continue to smoke?
View 1 Replies
Advertisement
I've had horrible back pain for over a year now due to a herniated disc at L5/S1 and a bulge at L4/L5. It's gotten better at various times during the interim, but I've never been able to bodybuilder/workout again. I usually do not have sciatica (only severe back pain) but every time I re-aggravate it I do get sciatica that shoots into my right heel. I visited my neurosurgeon and he told me he does not think I would be a candidate for a microdiscectomy because my primary symptom is not sciatica - but I want some second opinions. Did a microdiscectomy help your back pain from the herniation and not just the sciatica?
View 8 Replies
I'm a long time sufferer of low back pain (20 years, I'm 42). I believe I've given my diagnosis & previous treatment rundown on a previous post, but I'll post it here again, hopefully short and sweet:
Last MRI (Feb. 2012)
Bulging L4-L5, Herniated L5-S1 (Central Annular Tear, 6mm protrusion)
Previous MRI in 2008 showed basically the same as above.
I have tried most therapies & treatments, including but not exclusively:
Acupuncture, TENS, PT, ESI in 2008 & 2012, Prolotherapy, Mackenzie Stretching, Chiro, Massage.
Some of my main activities that I've had to scale back to, and serve as productive exercise:
Walking everyday, inversion table, swimming, Mackenzie stretching.
I used to do martial arts and grappling and have not done so in a couple years now.
I have a hard time now with doing things that I HAVE to do, like working around the house or sitting in my car to drive to work as a couple examples. I cannot do any type of sports that have ANY kind of flexion movement. (I'm able to swim because my back is in extension position)
I've been reading some posts regarding folks who've had the microdiscectomy procedure done, and I've met with many neuro and ortho surgeons during my long journey. I've also begun to research BMSC treatment as well, as this is proving to be very promising, but is still in the very early stages of acceptance and use in the States. I've always opted to not have an invasive procedure because of fear of it not helping and possibly making things worse.
However, I'm just tired of the conservative approach not working and I'm tired of not being able to fully live my life.
Believe me, I understand there are many that are worse off than me and I wish I could help you because I know how bad chronic pain is and what is does to you physically AND mentally.
All the doctors I've ever seen look at me (at 5'9, 150 lbs, lean and "looking" healthy), and I pass all the "strength" tests they give me. They tell me to go conservative, which I fully respect. However, just because I look healthy and can pass them pushing on my legs and feet while I resist, and I'm not losing bladder or bowel control doesn't mean that the slightest move or overdoing it won't put me down again.
Case in point, (After 2 years since my last episode and the walking and my conservative exercising not giving me the progress I'm expecting after 2 years), I decided to, (at the recommendation of a sports med doctor), to go see a well respected and very highly recommended, (by friends), PT Strength and Conditioning coach. He put me through an initial PT type evaluation and I had my first session last night. Well, about half-way through, something wasn't feeling right. We scaled down the workout, (which was pretty conservative already), to just stretching at that point. Long story short, I'm now back to stabbing pain, radiating leg pain and tingling, and standing crooked and not being able to sit down.
I'm really beginning to seriously consider surgery, or possibly explore BMSC treatment for the disc(s). I'm sure since it's been 2 years from my last one, I'll need another MRI before doing anything.
My question is, what would you do if you were in my shoes?
View 14 Replies
I have had a lumbar L5S1 mico on feb 14 of this year. Now I am having sharp pain in my back under my right shoulder blade by the T7. Plus this makes my back tighten up and spasm. Any thoughts out there. I know it has to do with the injury but does anyone know what this is... btw not the gallbladder I don't have one anymore. This pain is at its worst when I am lying down and if I rotate to the right side the pain will be so sharp it stops me in my tracks...any help would be great. I also got my S! nerve checked and it is relieved from the surgery but I am left with the numbness in the foot, calf, and upper thigh and also told this might be permanent.
View 3 Replies
I am a regular smoker (about 1/2 pack a day) and I've never had a nausea problem from it before. I decided to cut down, and the past couple days, I only have had about 2 each day. Then, this morning after smoking one, I suddenly felt very sick and then threw up. Is this because I cut back?
View 2 Replies
How are all you non smokers doing. I have just past the six month mark. Still feeling a bit rubbish with indigestion and breathlessness. Going to doctors tomorrow hope I can get some help as inhaler does nothing at all.
View 5 Replies
I had L5S1 bulge removed 4 weeks ago, recovery has generally been good. Since the operation I have been having leg spasms when I turn onto my back and straighten my legs during the night? I am booked in for another MRI scan next week, the surgeon said there maybe now a problem higher up my back? Never had this before the operation?
View 2 Replies
I had a microdiscectomy back in December 21, 2015 right before my 18th birthday ( today marks the 4 month post surgery mark ). I still have pain running down my right leg ( upper glut and sometimes in my calf muscle ). Before the surgery I have had the disc pinching on my nerve for nearly 10 months.... It ruined my summer and I couldn't do what most of my friends were doing... My parents were too scared that something would go wrong with the surgery, so we tried Physical Therapy for about 2-3 months. My pain was getting worse and worse. After a lot of convincing I got my parents to allow me to get the surgery ( No regrets at all ). I would rate my pain before my surgery as 9/10 and now after my surgery I rate it as 5-7/10. I can't even remember how it feels to have no pain... It is constant and doesn't go away ( I feel better when I lie down on my back or stomach ).. I feel better when I sleep on the ground rather than on my, what used to be comfortable, bed.... I am starting to lose hope on ever feeling better... Everytime I walk I have pain in my upper right glut ( every time I extend my right foot ) and sometimes it goes down my right leg to my calf.... I still can't bend down without a massive amount of pain running down my right leg... I can't even sit down for longer than 30 minutes because I start to have a lot of pain in my calf, which makes going to school really hard.. Are there any patients that have had this type of surgery and felt better in more than 6 months?
View 2 Replies
I'm 28 years old and am about 4 months out of surgery for my herniated disc now and have had no issues since, recently ran out of the Pain meds they had me on (Norco 10-325). I was off work for 2 months and have been working at my automobile factory for 2 months without any issues. The past two days I have had severe restless legs, while getting up and walking around helps, it gets bad even while at work. I haven't been able to sleep and just feel plain discomfort. Like my back needs to be 'cracked' and severe pain also. I guess my question is, is this more than likely caused from my lack of pain meds or could it have been there since surgery and I haven't noticed because of the meds? Doctor cut me off them and said I need to find a new job, but I think it can be fixed or handled so I can at least be comfortable. Also on the mri that showed the herniation there was a bulging disc. Could that have herniated as well? I am also on celexa lisinopril and adderall ( which I haven't taken since getting on the narcotics except for the lisinopril ) any advice is helpful to find out more. Have an appointment with a new doctor on the 14th would like to know what to say. I know people abuse narcotics and I don't want my doctor to get the wrong impression.
View 4 Replies
I had L4/L5 microdiscectomy and laminectomy about 4 months ago. I had on and off low back pain for 6-7 years but it became unbearable couple of years back. Prior to surgery I had buttock pain and I couldn't walk or stand without pain. I am recovering pretty slowly. I am off pain meds and I walk 45 mins a day and do gentle back stretches as advised by the surgeon. The surgeon said that I had a big herniation and he removed about 60-70% of the disc. Is it common to have that much removed?. Will I be able to recover fully or will i need more surgery like fusion in the future. I am just 27 yrs old and I don't want to live in pain.
View 1 Replies
I am a RN and I have had years of low back pain with a history of herniated
discs from L3-S1. These symptoms would aggravate me from time to time but, being a nurse, with a
familial history of arthritis I thought it was just par for the course. Until three months ago when i
developed sciatica pain down my left leg and it was present every day, and it ruined my summer.
I couldn't walk without pain, bend without pain and basically was bedridden and depressed all
summer. I am healthy, took NO meds up to this point and I was always a pretty active person. I finally
decided to have the surgery. On Monday 09/30/13 I had a microdiscectomy and was pleasantly
surprised with how easy it was to go home the next day. My pain was minimal, honestly, I do not
think I even needed the Oxycodone, it wasn't that bad. However, I did need the Valium, I noticed
the incision was sore in the am and was happy to have the Valium. By day 3 post op, I was off all
of the narcotic meds and only taking ibuprofen and tylenol (valium at night). Day 5, I was walking, no numbness, no tingling, doing fine... Until I coughed. I literally re herniated from a cough and ended
up back in the hospital undergoing a second round of emergency surgery to remove the extruded
disc. I now have numbness in my left foot and toes that I am so sad about. I have read and read on
line and all that I have heard is that it very rarely goes away, yet the surgeon says it will? Who do I
believe? And how long does it take? I just want my life back (much like everyone here) so, any
information you can provide me with would be very much appreciated. I'm still not having any pain to speak of so, for those of you worried about post op pain, it's really really not bad at all!
View 22 Replies
I am early on after my discectomy (day 3), but I am concerned. I see many people have immediate pain reduction, I woke up and still had my preop pain. Now it's just pain deep in my thigh and the surgical pain. I am also worried because I still can't stand up straight! I haven't been able to stand straight for two months following a car accident that reherniated my l5s1. The original injury was resolved to an acceptable level without surgery. It was interesting that the car accident immediately stopped all nerve pain in my right leg that I learned to live with, but it moved to the left leg!
I am just getting concerned since I see so many posts where people wake up painless and can walk freely. I can walk for maybe 2 minutes then i am in really bad pain, and i'm hunched over while walking. Should I be concerned? Any insights from people with less than storybook recoveries?
View 10 Replies
I had a microdiscectomy, L5-S1 on March 24th of this year. My recovery was terrible at first, possibly due to my waiting 5 months to have the surgery after 17 injections! Anyways, I was in fantastic shape before my injury. I would run a few days a week and do body strengthening exercises at home. At my 6 week checkup, my Dr. said basically all I can do is walk and swim. No squats, no crunches, no lunges. I don't have a pool or gym membership and I live in a state where it's getting to be unbearable to be outside! I'm getting depressed about my body. The pain meds have made me much lazier (and for a long time, hungrier!) although I am only taking them at night now. I have a pretty strict vegetarian, mostly vegan diet and I go to school for Dietetics so I know how to eat healthy, however I have gained a few pounds, although people tell me I look like I've lost weight. I don't feel comfortable in my clothes or own body for that matter. All of my lean muscle is gone and I feel squishy. It's bathing suit season here soon and I don't want to hide out all summer because of my insecurities. I just can't seem to get out of this sort of funk. I want to be able to be active and motivated again, it just seems like its taking forever! On another note, I am an exotic dancer. I have been dancing for 12 years now, I'm pretty sure that's how I ended up in this mess as I was very hard on my body, doing crazy upside down pole tricks and so on my Dr. gave me the ok to go back to work, but I am NOT allowed to do any of those moves I used to do, no tricks, no sudden twisting movements, no extreme bending. I have worked one shift so far, took it extremely easy and feel ok (although my legs were very sore the next day). I guess I'm going off here, but does anyone have any suggestions about any exercises I can't think of that I would be allowed to do? Can anyone relate to what I'm going through, or have any kind of advice at all? I feel so alone, and NO ONE understands the excruciating pain I've endured, sleepless nights and feeling so awful that I had wished at times I would not wake up. I already take antidepressants and benzodiazepines I am NOT willing to mess around with higher dosages (I plan to get off them after I graduate).
View 3 Replies
I had a microdiscectomy almost 4 weeks do to the disc pinching my sciatic nerve. The pain before the surgery went from my left butt cheek down to my foot, and felt like someone was sticking a knife in my hip and calf. Since the Surgery I have had severe nerve pain in my left foot in the ball of my foot to my toes. I am currently on gabapentin pills and gabapentin cream. I was just looking to see if anyone had any ideas what could help get me off the recliner. Or any ideas whether this would go away or how long this usually lasts.
View 3 Replies
I just had a lumbar microdiscectomy yesterday on the L5-S1 disc. Right after I woke up and got up to walk in hospital I noticed the bottom of my right foot feels asleep. I never had this problems before. The reason why I had the surgery was from sciatic pain down my right leg going into my calf. I have had back problems with a herniated disc for 2.5 years. My latest flare up was sciatic pain for 3 months straight, I had a spinal injection, was in physical therapy, on pain meds and had no relief. I finally made the decision to go through with the surgery. My leg pain is completely gone, back incision hurts, but my main concern is the bottom of my foot is numb. Has anyone had this problem? I called the spine surgeon this morning and waiting for his call back. I was unable to speak with him after surgery because I was his 4th surgery of the day, he spoke with my husband when I was in recovery.
View 6 Replies
The excruciating sciatic pain is gone but I am left unable to walk w/o a walker or sometimes I can use a cane. My back, at the incision is painful and weeping slightly. My R. knee hurts like all hell , my R. hip has pain but is somewhat better. I am afraid to stay alone for risk of falling, as I tend to still lose my balance. Both of my ankles are heavily swollen to a point of being unable to put shoes on. I know that the muscular atrophy didn't occur overnight as well as, well most of my symptoms. So tell me, anybody who has been here, is this normal,? Should I expect up and down "victories" as I have described?, I know that I am young in my recovery but does this seem to be following a normal path of recuperation ?, or could something else be wrong? The Dr. never did mention what to expect post op.
View 2 Replies
2wks ago, I had a very large herniation removed and I did great the first week, but I think that I am now having muscle spasms. I see my doctor for my first post op visit this week. I have been in a back brace since the surgery and only take it off to sleep (am a side sleeper). This week, I think that I have been having spasms at night. I know that it's not nerve pain b/c I know what that feels like. It feels like a tightening and ache and is scaring me b/c it's in my back and leg, where I had the previous nerve pain. Are these spasms? I have not slept all night. I got up and walked around, but I don't know if I should be walking while in pain. I do have Valium, which was giving to me as a muscle relaxer upon release from hospital, but am getting no relief. Is this common and are there any tips?
View 2 Replies
I'm 5 months post op, Is they any light at the end of the tunnel for me?
I'm still in pain especially my right calf, feels like constant cramping.
I can walk ok, as soon as I stop I can't stand up straight due to my right leg feeling very tight.
It was a herniated disc at l5, s1 nerve.
View 4 Replies
Week 5 post microdiscectomy on L5/S1. Numbness and pain on my leg and toes is gone BUT currently experiencing numbness and sharp shooting pain on my left testicle making it difficult to have an erection.
View 1 Replies
I am wondering can i do driving job(light van)which having 40 min drive 10 mnts walk for 8-9 hours? no heavy lifting. If i can after how many weeks after microdiscectomy?
View 3 Replies
About 2 week's ago I took 2 perc within a night and the next day I got sick, I thought from the pills, but than I was nauseous and have been for the most part ever since. My left side mid to lower back started hurting approx a week ago and it's gotten much worse last night and now I'm having pain in my upper right abdomen as if the pain moved. I'm on muscle relaxers for my back already but it's not affecting/helping my new pain though and the new pain doesn't feel the same. I was just curious if anyone had any idea what it might be, some say kidneys but does that pain or can it move from my back to my abdomen?
View 1 Replies
