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back surgery advice

anchie

Veteran

Just a quick update - my lower back pain got much worse since beginning of the year, I have being diagnosed with slipped disk (9 mm) that is pressing on sciatic nerve. I am now on long term sick leave, I am unable to sit and can walk max 5 min before collapsing in pain. I need help getting dressed or doing any activity that requires bending.I have palsy in my left leg. My neurologist is advising surgery but my physical therapist is advising more conservative approach. I am considering my options and I am torn at the moment. I would like to avoid surgery if at all possible because I have tendency to form scar tissue. But on the other hand I can have permanent damage to the nerve if recovery last too long.
I also don’t have unlimited sick leave and have to go back to work in few weeks the latest. I am sole breadwinner and can’t afford to be sick. My health provider (Cigna) has already pre approved the surgery.
I am spending my days in pj and loungewear and I have lost all interest in shopping and fashion.
But looking at the current situation with covid-19 it is very likely that all non essential surgeries will be postponed anyway, we have already few cases in Vienna, and had even suspect case at work yesterday (turned negative thankfully).

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25 replies

Latest reply was from Bijou

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Anchie, my heart goes out to you. SOOO AWFUL and stressful. I'm very sorry. (((HUGS))).

Two of my friends have had back surgery and it was LIFE CHANGING for them. Laurie and Anna here have too, with good results. I'm sure they will chime in.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I am so sorry to hear this Anchie ,that’s really rough.I have a long term chronic back problem(2 protruding discs)which I manage through exercise and lifestyle modification however I do not have significant neurological signs so am a different clinical picture to you.Asfar as advice goes you really are best asking an expert who knows you and your medical history personally and if necessary seeking a second opinion to confirm what you have been told.Surgery always carries risks as well as benefits so it’s important to discuss all of this thoroughly prior to surgery so that you can make a fully informed decision on what is best for you.Generally speaking surgery and conservative management results for Low back pain at 5years post injury are roughly equal but as with all statistics this does not take into account individual circumstances such as your palsy .Whatever you decide to do l will keep my fingers crossed that you make a full and speedy recovery.

taylor

Veteran

As I mentioned in your updated thread , my husband had micro discectomy surgery, it was quite successful. I was surprised that it was not too invasive. He had some symptoms with leg numbness also prior to surgery. He had ruptured disc , different than slipped as you have I realize.

Whatever you decide ...I wish you the very best . I will be thinking of you daily.

chouette22

Veteran

I too am so sorry to hear this and I am here to sympathize with you. It is SO, SO difficult making these decisions. I have a big problem in the upper back area where the cartilage has apparently pretty much disappeared in 2 areas and some bones are rubbing on each other and affecting the nerves, producing a lot of pain. I have done so much research, seen an orthopedic surgeon, looked into stem-cell therapy, etc. etc. I am getting such opposing advice. Everyone seems to have a positive or negative story. I am also participating in some pain forums and there, nearly everyone advises to absolutely stay away from operations (however, I am very conscious of the fact that the people for whom the operations were successful, don't linger any longer on pain forums, thus it's the people for whom the operations had negative results who are there).
Have you heard of Liebscher & Bracht in Germany? They have an excellent pain forum that I read. Maybe put your question on there? They are very pro-therapy everything and very anti-invasive procedures. They wrote the book: Deutschland hat Rücken, maybe a worthwhile exploration for you? There are LOTS of videos with really excellent exercises that lots of people had success with. I visited a Liebscher & Bracht therapist (they are in Switzerland and Austria too) when I was in Europe some time ago and really liked their approach. However, I live in the US, thus this wasn't a sustainable approach for me.
Please keep us updated! I wish you a lot of strength.

kellygirl

Veteran

What a devastating injury, Anchie. I'm so sorry that you are having to go through this. I can only imagine how stressful it must be. I've had mild sciatica and have thrown my back out enough to know how debilitating back pain can be. I hope that you are able to find some relief either by PT or surgery. Wishing you lots of strength to sort it out.

Anonymous

Oh boy - I can feel your frustration and anxiousness from here. Chronic pain is SO debilitating and depressing, and I sincerely hope you find some relief quickly. Having the financial burden looming overhead is not helping either, I'm sure. All I can do is say I'm thinking about you and hope that things improve very quickly.
Lisa

Kathie

Veteran

I was just wondering about your health, since we hadn’t seen you on the forum. So glad you chimed in here. (I can’t see your other post- very odd.) No advice to offer- a friend of mine had back surgery a few years ago, after she started experiencing numbness in an arm. I know you hear a lot of horror stories, but hers was successful. Though in her case, she was rapidly progressing to certain loss of feeling/function in her arm, so it was not a difficult choice. Wishing you the very best outcome, whatever you decide.

Teresa

Anchie, my heart goes out to you. Chronic pain really can suck the joy from everyday living. I had disc surgery about 15 years ago, after living a year with daily pain and nerve damage. The surgery was life-changing. I was pain free immediately afterward, and after some physical therapy I regained what I’d lost in mobility too. Good luck with your decision.

Sal

Veteran

Oh I am so sorry to hear this Anchie. My best wishes to you in whatever choice you make. Pain is terrible - and so debilitating. A big hug from NZ.

rachylou

Veteran

From the other thread, I was saying...

I had a hernia and could have or not have had surgery. I’d had surgery before and have a scar... the surgeon wanted to redo to fix that (I said no). I did the hernia surgery because I wanted to feel safer on my feet... I’m a baker.

I didn't have a herniated disc. I had a hernia hernia. I took about a week off work, was out of the hospital the same day (although I expected an overnight stay), and then it was three months no lifting and easy going. My bf at the time did have a herniated disc and did surgery. 24 hour stay, 4 weeks before returning to normal activity. For both of us, it was worth it. Definitely helped, no more being laid up or having to do everything gingerly. He could go back to running - he was a tri-athlete.

But there are always risks and things to consider. And everyone is different. You're never the same after surgery, but then again you're already not the same.

Aquamarine

Veteran

Oh no. No advice, just commiseration (another back pain sufferer). Please keep us posted!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

That sounds awful, I'm so sorry.

A very close friend of my husband recently had spine surgery after experiencing numbness in one side of his body -- going down his arm and leg. He's a guitar player in a rock band so just devastating for his career too. He had the surgery and was literally feeling better just days later.

Of course, much depends on your specific situation and the advice of your doctors, but your current situation certainly sounds painful and discouraging, and confusing since you have two medical professionals giving you competing advice.

I wish I had wisdom to impart to you, but since I don't, I send my good wishes for healing and pain-free days, no matter which course you choose.

Anonymous

So sorry Anchie! No advice, just hugs!

Eliza

Veteran

So sorry for all you are enduring, anchie. How small the world can become when one is in extreme pain.I understand caution with such a major surgery, yet I have chosen a surgery to attempt to reduce severe pain from a damaged nerve as an alternative to being only able to focus on wanting the burning and constant nerve firing to stop. I also was concerned about how little I was able to do and the long term consequences of being so incapacitated.

Would a second opinion from another neurologist be helpful in confirming your decision? I know that damaged nerves can behave in unpredictable ways and would be curious if experienced surgeons had seen such issues recover with PT or worsen with the passage of time before surgery. I found that when nerves are involved, predictions are not made unequivocally. Every situation is different. Sending you healing thoughts and a wish for peace. This is a lot.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I had a bulging disc at L5, pressing onto the L5 nerve root, causing pain all the way down my left leg.
I did PT for months, got stronger and stronger, but no relief. MRI showed the proof of the compression onto the nerve. Did steroid shots, that lasted maybe a month. Even that doctor recommended surgery. I got two opinions on surgery, went with the more conservative recovery time. I got a microdiscectomy, done as a day surgery. My recovery period was 6 weeks, because my job is physical. Surgeon said office workers could get back to work within a week, construction workers 8 weeks, so I was inbetween. First surgeon said I’d be back in 2 weeks, HA!
Yes I do get twinges every so often, and that could be due to my own negligence in exercise. But I’m much much better, and yes I would do it over again.

ETA, back surgery is much better than back in the day when you’d hear the horror stories, though no surgery is without risk

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Anchie, I'm so sorry you are dealing with this. It sounds as if you are in so much physical pain and mental/ emotional distress, and no wonder. What a difficult decision to make. i had been thinking of you and wondering if you were okay because you were here -- we miss you! But healing, in whatever way you can, is your only priority now. Wishing you a clear head for thinking things through and helpful advice from those you trust.

Gail

Veteran

So sorry that you are going through such a difficult time with hard decisions to make. Please know I'm thinking of you.

anchie

Veteran

Thank you all so much, it means a lot to me. I am on my phone so not easy to answer all individually but I appreciate all advices and sympathy words.

Forgot to say I have been also referred to Advance Medical service through Cigna to get second opinion to help me with decision. Does anyone have experience with them?

Anna - my situation sounds very similar to yours- I have it on L5/S1 left, 4th degree. I did PT and CT guided cortisone shots and MRI shows pressure on nerve. They estimated recovery time 6 weeks for the surgery but told me that success rate is about 85%.

I am trying to be positive and I still hope that it will start getting better on its own soon. I will probably give it another week before making decision.

Jane

Veteran

Hello Anchie, goodness this sounds tough and painful. I wish you well over the coming few weeks and hope that the decisions needing to be made become easier. Sending you hugs and lots of positive thoughts.

Elle

Veteran

So sorry you are dealing with this. Pain is exhausting. Since everyone's body is different, this a difficult decision for you. I always think getting a second opinion (from a neurologist) is a good idea. Please let us know what you decide.

Laurie

Veteran

Anchie,
Caveat: Everyone has a singular problem and experience. However, this sounds similar to my situation (though L4/L5). I had one surgeon tell me there was nothing to be done, I had to just live with the pain, and send me for the shots which absolutely didn't help. By that point my pain was so persistent and so debilitating that I was very depressed as well. I sought the opinion of another neurosurgeon who fully recommended surgery, told me I was an excellent candidate, took a very long time to explain everything. He also advised that if I waited much longer the nerve damage could be irreversible.
The very day after surgery the deep, abiding nerve pain down my leg was completely gone. The relief was tremendous. The first week post-surgery was hard largely due to lingering effects of the anesthesia, but by week 2 I felt much better. I was back to work (from home) after 2 weeks. I wore a back brace for 6 weeks, but I was walking over 3 miles in the brace by that point. (Before surgery I could not walk next door without being in agony).
I will say that I never had any back pain prior to my diagnosis - my complaint was the leg pain. However, post-surgery, I have persistent back pain. I am able to walk 7+ miles and can touch my toes, but - for example - a seated forward bend in yoga is almost impossible. But, this is bearable pain - I occasionally need Motrin. It flares after flights and long car rides.

That nerve pain in my leg was the worst thing I've ever felt. There is not a single day that goes by that I am not grateful - often to the point of tears - to have resolved it.

In my experience, the problem is well beyond being resolvable with PT. See the neuro experts.

PM if you want to chat further. Best of luck.

anchie

Veteran

Dear Laurie, thanks so much for your detailed response, much appreciated. My situation sounds awfully similar to yours unfortunately. My main problem is nerve pain down my leg. I can walk just for few minutes, enough to go to toilet or have a quick shower, but can’t stand long enough to even wash my hair. How long have you suffered through pain before you decided to go ahead with the surgery?

Staysfit

Veteran

Anchie,
Have you seen a pain medicine specialist? I have severe spinal arthritis and have had radio-ablations done to relieve pain in my lower back. There are certainly limits to its uses but it could be worth a consultation to see if there is anything they can do.

Laurie

Veteran

Anchie - sent you a PM.

Bijou

Veteran

Anchie, I have missed you on the forum and now reading this thread understand why you have not been posting. I am fortunate to not have experienced back pain. I know that this would be a very difficult decision and I hope you receive a good outcome, whatever you decide. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.