Back Issues :: Microdiscectomy For Back Pain, Or Only Sciatica?
Jun 1, 2014
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?
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I'm 18 and i was diagnosed with scoliosis at a young age. I wore a brace to correct the curvature for about 2-3 years. The brace would put pressure on my hips and after some time I would have pain in my lower back, down my buttocks, down the back of
the leg and into the toes. It's sharp and searing and sometimes there's tingling and numbness. Could this be sciatica caused by the brace? Is it possible that it pinched the nerves and caused permanent damage? All I know is that it is extremely painful and hard to get to go away..
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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?
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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.
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what causes sciatica?
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I have had the typical sciatica for years on and off nothing debilitating so I am familiar w/the pain in the buttocks and moved down the leg etc but this is different so if anyone has had this please let me know I'm so confused...a month ago I actually went to ER w/pain behind my thigh that felt like I was being stabbed...then it would stop and come back 10-12 seconds later lasting about 2-3 seconds and VERY painful did this consistently for 6 hrs and disappeared as fast as it came! GONE for 1 month until this past Sat started again altho not as constant ..until the past hr I have had it every 30 seconds and I cannot fig out what causes it ...or what it is ..the ER gave me Valium and my reg Dr said take magnesium altho my levels were within range. I almost feels like I was tasered or stabbed (have really never experienced either but seems like that's what it would feel like) so do you think this could be sciatica?
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Nine months ago I hurt my back with an improper lift. Unlike several other back sprains, this one won't go away. Low back pain, and bilateral sciatica. Mostly dull pain, but shooting pain down legs when I bend backwards, or step into a hole that jars my back. Doctors have to play by the insurance company rules, so they treat with meds, then Phys Therapy, then guessing, and before you know it you have been hurting for 9 months. So I had an MRI that revealed a herniated disc with central canal stenosis and 2 other bulging discs.
How does one choose the method of treatment, or the type of medical pro. If you go to a surgeon, he wants to cut, to a chiro, he wants to crack and twist, you get the point. I'm being stoic about the pain, because I am concerned about side effects and drug dependency, but it's time to get this fixed and get on with my life. I would like to think that the body is equipped to heal itself. But, maybe not.
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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?
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I'm a teenager who suffers from Sciatica pain. Please note that doctors have not told me this, I googled it and Sciatica exactly describes my pain. I have Spina bifida occulta, but was told it shouldn't cause me any pain. Not sure if that is relating to my pain. I had an X-RAY and an MRI (I think) and the doctor said it was fine... but that still does not explain my pain? It's been going on for maybe 4-5 years?
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Pain in buttock muscles, knee (with additional feeling of bubbling on back of thigh) and groin, is this sciatica?
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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?
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I've had problems with my neck and back since I was a child, but recently i've been having more problems with my back, i've had about 3 or 4 episodes of lower back pain but this time I have been diagnosed with lower back pain and sciatica, the doctor put me on codeine, but they didn't ease the pain and now nefopam which are basically doing the same, i've also been seeing a physio for the last 3 weeks, when he had a look he said my spine was twisted/curved and my right hip was lower than my left so I was walking lopsided, I feel like I'm going in circles and feeling fed up and in constant pain,
When I was born I was put in cast from above my hips to my toes as my hips/pelvis and legs weren't formed properly, I was in cast till I was about 2 or 3 years old, I then had an accident as a child and hurt my neck and back ...
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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?
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Two days ago I was in the gym exercising my shoulders and whilst I was lifting weights, I moved my back whilst seated and I heard a 'click' sound in my back, followed by pain in that area of my lower middle back. I immediately stopped exercising and haven't gone to the gym since.
I don't know what I was thinking by moving my back like that, but since it happened there is a lot less pain and it feels like the pain may be totally gone in the next 48-72 hours hopefully.
On the night of the injury I found it hard to turn onto my side when in bed, but now I can do it without any problems. Now I can only feel some pain when I turn my upper body to the left or right or if I try to stretch my lower back.
Would anyone be able to give me some advice such as what type of injury I have or whether this may have a long term effect? Is it a very positive sign that the pain is decreasing each day?
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I was about 108 kgs and after joining a gym i have lost about 32 kgs
but suddenly 20 days back i got back pain after my routine exercises and my MRI report says following:
1. L4-L5 disc reveals minimal diffuse bulge abutting the thecal sac without any nerve root compression.
2. B/L mild facet arthropathy is seen at L4/L5 and L3/L4 levels with tiny anterior paradiscal osteophytes at these level.
3. L5 vertebra us sacralised with rudimentary L5-S1 disc.
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I am 29 and Female. I have been under a great deal of stress lately. I have been having some minor health problems that cause my mind to go to that dark place. I am having very irregular periods and GERD/Gallbladder issues. Also, I am planning a wedding and my mother was just diagnosed with Lung cancer about 2 weeks ago.
My upper back across the "meaty" part of my shoulders has been so tight and painful. If my fiance rubs them, he finds all kinds of trigger points that are so painful to the touch I can't breathe. In the middle of my upper back I feel a sharp pain sometimes. My neck muscles are tight as well as the tops of my arms down to my elbows. On occasion my fingers tingle.
As of the past 2 days I feel a pressure on my chest right below my collar bone. If I yawn I can feel my throat muscles get sore. The very top of my sternum is tender to the touch. It almost feels bruised.
I did a little bit of research and it seems that all of these problems are connected. The scalene muscle group can cause all of these problems. I am going to see a massage therapist on thursday. Hopefully I get some relief.
Another bit of info, I have a desk job. I am at a computer for 10 hours a day. I work 60 + hours a week. I had a chest CT scan with contrast in July and it came back clear. ( unrelated incident ) So I believe I can rule out anything major. The scan is only 3 months old.
My question is; has anyone else experienced this? If so, what did you do to ease your symptoms? I have tried muscle rub so far. Doesn't help much...I am going to ice the areas today and see if that helps.
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I have a pain in between my diaphragm which leads through to my upper back, I have had for approximately 3 months but getting worse, if I lie on my stomach it hurts in both front and back. I have read all sorts of things that it might be from hernia to liver/kidney problem and gallstones... I did have a small incident where I strained myself trying to hold a motorbike up from falling down and I guess I have had the problem from then on, if I stretch out sometimes I will hear a click which radiates from the front to the back, if I push in my diaphragm it hurts. I live in a third world country so and worried about going to doctor.
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Anyone else have cramp in hip or back. When I wake up in the morning, my left leg, hip and bottom have a sharp cramp for about 10mins. What can I do? 32 weeks pregnant.
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I am having sever lower back pain. its everyday and all day. its a sever sharp pain in my lower back. and sometimes I cant bend over and pick up things that fell on the floor
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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!
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A week before cycle is due I've been having white milky discharge back pains, cramps at lower part of my stomach running nose sore boob on left side and a queasy stomach in the morning, now it's 5 days before my period is due and i'm drier than i was 2 to 3 days ago but still it's some creamy discharge.. should i go for a pregnancy test or just wait?
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