Just Had Decompression Microdisectomy Surgery of the L4/L5? Please response fully!

[rutman]

Steve--just had a decompression microdisectomy of the L4 and L5 and so far recuperating well right now. While it feels someone punched me in the back since surgery of 6 days ago I am gaining my stamina back after this 2 1/2 surgery. I not only had the ruptured disc, but when he was in there apparently a difficult surgery I had some bone spurs that had calcimized together also causing compression on the nerve root. He was able to cut that out and also repair the herniated disc. I had excruitiating pain shooting down the back of right leg going all the way down on top of foot and the foot was constantly numbe the last 2 weeks before surgery. Now--no shooting pain and just slight tingling numbness in right foot, but I have been told that's normal due to the nerve root has to heal--some of the largest nerves in the body right next to the sciatic nerve which is the largest. The tingling in the foot I have been told can last up to a year even after surgery due to getting the nerve to heal. I can tell I would do the surgery again with this Dr. Jeffrey Beane of Greensboro, NC (336-545-5000) of Greensboro Orthopedics. While he's an Orhtipedic and not a Neurosurgeon he is a Spine Specialist and doing Spine Surgery is his strong suit thank goodness and thank goodness my wife being a Case Mgr in the Nursing field knew about him as I live in Danville, VA and preferred going to him instead of others including a Neurosurgeon. He told me I also had a slightly bulging L5-S1 disc, but if it had only been that he would not have recommended surgery. Bottom line the disc between L4/L5 was ruptured severely and these bone spurs he also came across didn;t help matters at all--therefore the surgery. I would highly recommend this surgeon as I have to go back to remove stitches in 10-14 days and goal is to get back to work by Jan 23rd. Surgery was on 1-4-07--I think that pretty darn good considering what I've had. I have really no idea how I incurred the disc problems, but I'm sl;ightly overweight and will have to diet I realize, but I have been an avid golfer for 32 plus years and my question to others out there is really how much does the golf swing cause lower back problems and herniated discs? Can a wrong swing plane cause more pressure in the lower back versus a changed swing? I hope to get back playing in 6 mos or less, but realize the doctor will make that call for me in several weeks. Please make your comments on this Decompression Microsurgery and other people's successes, failures, recommendations as well as the golf swing questions at your earliest convenience. Lastly, here's a website that is a great demonstration of what I had done for lumbar disectomy--only my back slit was about 3-4 inches not 1-2 inches as the animation displays. Take care everyone! John aka rutman

http://www.spine-health.com/dir/lumbar.html

[Michelle]

Rutman,
Congrats on an apparently successful surgery! As far as golf swings-the only one I know is the one where you swing as hard as you can, completely miss the ball, and spin yourself around in a circle. Don't think I'd be a lot of help there! After my discectomy, I had a lot of tingling in my leg too, and it faded after about a year, getting progressively better. I took it as a good sign, even when the tingling sometimes stung. All I can say is be careful the rest of your life! You don't want to end up like me, redoing the same surgery a couple years later. Always protect your back. (I pushed a broken down car out of an intersection, and wham! Back where I started.) So be careful. The 'punch in the back' was exactly how I described my incision pain. My scar is about 3 inches as well, and would be narrower had the surgeon not used dissolving stitches so that I wouldn't have to drive back (3 hours) for him to remove my staples. That pain was slow to get better for me, so hang in there. It will eventually. So, the basic premise of this novel is to be careful! I'm so glad you're feeling better, but don't let that excitement overcome your common sense about what you can and can't do. Take it slow, and hopefully say goodbye to spine surgery!

[dshobbies]

John,

Though my experience in golf remains in the miniature division, I can only suggest that you be careful.

Discectiomies can be a quick fix and a permanant fix but they weaken the disc and put an increased burden on adjacent discs, making it easier for them to weaken and herniate. Without a crystal ball, no one can say what will happen in your specific case but extreme care is your best bet.

Percentages for success decrease dramatically in 2nd and 3rd discectomies and create more scar tissues which decrease the chances for success in ADR surgery, should you eventually decide to go that course.

Common sense is the name of your game. I do wish you good luck,

Dale

[rutman]

Dale--Important Question. Is it possible since I did have some bulging at the L5-S1 beow the L4/L5 that once he repaired ruptured disc and there were bone spurs that it takes extreme pressure off that L5-S1. Also, is it it true and normal that if real problems persist with the L5-S1 lumbar that FUSION may be in order--does that limit one's immobility to a certain extent--exepecially the golf swing or even everyday walking??? Please respond or anyone take a stab. Thanks in advance! JB

[dshobbies]

John,

Mark is really your goto guy but I don't think S1/L5 is out of trouble. I had two discectomies/laminectomies, eventually ending up with a 3 level adr.
L2/3 wasn't in great shape but was not a pain generator.

From my own experience, I was scheduled to have a fusion at that level and was told that you move the least (lumbarwise) from that disc. Doctors have told me I may not even feel any difference though I did eventually have an adr. I do know someone who had a fusion at that level and is still an avid golfer today, with no noticable impairment.

Evidence has shown that fusions promote DDD... but then again, I recently read a paper that suggests so do adrs?

None of this means that you will experience future problems, but awareness means you can take proper precautions, although a sneeze might do more damage than a golf swing!!!!

Michelle, perhaps you should join me in the miniature division.

Good luck to all,
Dale

[Michelle]

Dale,
That was the miniture division! Just kidding.

[wavedreamer1@aol.com]

I have had many spinal surgerys and now I have had to deal with nerve damage and they told me that it should heal itself in about a year. Well since then I have had to have 2 implanted pain pumps and nothing is helping the severe pain that runs down my legs. It still hurts to lay on my right side and to seat it kills the lower part of my back. So be very careful if the pain does not get better in 6 months I would start looking for someone that can fix it. Plese let me know if you know of someone. It is wonderful that your wife was by your side and not to make things worse after they put a cage in my loswe back it was not even 6 months all the sedc whent out in my neck. So another surgery. That was a bad one. I am not tryin gto color coat this in any way any surgery on your spine effect your whole body. If you want to hear more or have questions that I may can answer. wavedreamer1@aol.com. My prayers are with you. Sandra

Originally Posted by rutman

Steve--just had a decompression microdisectomy of the L4 and L5 and so far recuperating well right now. While it feels someone punched me in the back since surgery of 6 days ago I am gaining my stamina back after this 2 1/2 surgery. I not only had the ruptured disc, but when he was in there apparently a difficult surgery I had some bone spurs that had calcimized together also causing compression on the nerve root. He was able to cut that out and also repair the herniated disc. I had excruitiating pain shooting down the back of right leg going all the way down on top of foot and the foot was constantly numbe the last 2 weeks before surgery. Now--no shooting pain and just slight tingling numbness in right foot, but I have been told that's normal due to the nerve root has to heal--some of the largest nerves in the body right next to the sciatic nerve which is the largest. The tingling in the foot I have been told can last up to a year even after surgery due to getting the nerve to heal. I can tell I would do the surgery again with this Dr. Jeffrey Beane of Greensboro, NC (336-545-5000) of Greensboro Orthopedics. While he's an Orhtipedic and not a Neurosurgeon he is a Spine Specialist and doing Spine Surgery is his strong suit thank goodness and thank goodness my wife being a Case Mgr in the Nursing field knew about him as I live in Danville, VA and preferred going to him instead of others including a Neurosurgeon. He told me I also had a slightly bulging L5-S1 disc, but if it had only been that he would not have recommended surgery. Bottom line the disc between L4/L5 was ruptured severely and these bone spurs he also came across didn;t help matters at all--therefore the surgery. I would highly recommend this surgeon as I have to go back to remove stitches in 10-14 days and goal is to get back to work by Jan 23rd. Surgery was on 1-4-07--I think that pretty darn good considering what I've had. I have really no idea how I incurred the disc problems, but I'm sl;ightly overweight and will have to diet I realize, but I have been an avid golfer for 32 plus years and my question to others out there is really how much does the golf swing cause lower back problems and herniated discs? Can a wrong swing plane cause more pressure in the lower back versus a changed swing? I hope to get back playing in 6 mos or less, but realize the doctor will make that call for me in several weeks. Please make your comments on this Decompression Microsurgery and other people's successes, failures, recommendations as well as the golf swing questions at your earliest convenience. Lastly, here's a website that is a great demonstration of what I had done for lumbar disectomy--only my back slit was about 3-4 inches not 1-2 inches as the animation displays. Take care everyone! John aka rutman

Microdiscectomy: Lumbar Microdecompression Spine Surgery Video

[wavedreamer1@aol.com]

You description of your spinal problems look just like my list. Way to go having children was very hard for me. You did not state if you have any nerve damage? I do and now have an implanted pain pump. I need to find a doctor that can repair nerve damage to my lower spine. I can't live like this. I really want my life back. If you have any information please let me know. Thanks. wavedreamer1@aol.com

[wavedreamer1@aol.com]

Originally Posted by Michelle

Dale,
That was the miniture division! Just kidding.

Do you have nerve damage? If so do you know of a great doctor that can repair it? Thanks Sandra wavedreamer1@aol.com

[dshobbies]

Sandra,

First the bad news, there is no way to repair nerve damage.

Now the good. Neurontin and Lyrica drugs help lessen the effects of the nerve damage, if that's what it is. They do have their side effects but with severe pain, are well worth it.

Also, there may be something pressing on your nerve and that should be investigated via an MRI or other test. I'm in no way any kind of health care professional but that kind of severe pain may be nerve compression somewhere.

However, even while investigating what's causing your pain, you can still take either of these two drugs.

Good luck, Dale

You might want to rethink your name without your email address.