To have surgery or not to have surgery!!

Back2lyfe · #1 (**permalink**) 03-29-2011, 07:36 AM

I herniated disc at L-5 S-1 level. I have radicupathy and my legs and toes are numb. I never was educated on the spinal nerves on the body that if your nerves are impinged after 6 months you should have surgery. It has been 2 years after my herniated disc. I have been in pain for 2 years i cannot go through the day without pain pills. 2 years ago i had 4 cars and i was 1 semester away from transfering to UC school i also had great credit. 2 years later i still am a semester away from going to uc school i had to sell 3 of my cars, my credit is ruined and Im near homeless. My question is since its been 2 years will surgery help me get the numbness off of my feet and will i ever be able to move like i was befoRE. since i have waited long to have surgery will it be a waste to have surgery?

longroadahead · #2 (**permalink**) 03-29-2011, 01:27 PM

Have you seen a doctor about surgery? That would be the first step. Since you seem to know what level and it is a herniation would think you have seen a doctor.

Don't think it would be too late and that you have waited 2 years it would appear the disc still has not healed itself. The hardest part IMHO is finding the right doctor and procedure that is best for you.

Did your symptoms develop all at once 2 years ago or have you had gradual onset of symptoms?

Maria · #3 (**permalink**) 03-29-2011, 04:15 PM

That is a question I cannot answer however can you walk on your toes, heels, squat, stand on one foot, and all that jazz (neuro exam). Still can't answer your surgical question. Do you have good muscle tone still and function of your extremities, no drop foot? Chances are you're still a surgical candidate. Can it fix your numbness? Good question for the surgeons.

I had numbness w/my rt. foot first few toes (great toe,one next to it) and creeping up my leg. Not severe numbness but when I would drive it was scary because I couldn't feel my foot on the pedal pushing down so would hold my pants leg and move leg up and down. Practically stopped driving for a year or two. Dr. said I had "compression" related numbness from my L5S1 narrowing/bulge but not impinging on nerve or anything on MRI. At that time when I asked.. will surgery help this.. he said "It might and it might not" so I waited. I got more surgical opinions. I was considering ADR at 2 levels then hybrid surgery (ADR at L4 and fusion at L5S1). I did neither.

Now it's about 7 -10 years later and I no longer have the numbness nor the degree of back pain as before (L5S1 autofused but my original injury was nearly 30 years ago).

Why don't you get a few more opinions/consultations. If you're still able to use your extremity and function is the same hopefully things are still Ok. That's not to say "wait longer" or "have surgery" it's just to say get qualifed opinions that matter.

dshobbies · #4 (**permalink**) 03-29-2011, 04:45 PM

Hi Back2lyfe and welcome to the forum,

I'm sorry you need to be here - spinal problems are quite intricate and confusing to maneuver around.

Nerve questions are difficult to answer because very little is known about them. Will they heal? Can they heal, etc. A nerve conductivity test should answer whether your nerves are still functioning but that won't answer if they'll come back or how much they might improve, only the possibility.

After nerve damage during surgery, my nerves tested positive but after 5 years, normal feeling has only partially returned. At this point, it's unlikely there will be any further improvement.

However, I must ask what you have done to try to fix your two year old problem? What have doctors advised you. What kind of doctors have you seen and how many? Suffering as you have for two years is too long, especially if a herniation is compressing your spinal cord. When was your last MRI and what were the results.

Please tell us where you live and perhaps someone can recommend a doctor(s) for another opinion. This has been going on for too long.

Dale

Back2lyfe · #5 (**permalink**) 03-30-2011, 03:53 AM

I was hurt by lifting a heavy box and manuevering it the wrong way. I am in california state in the USA. I do not have foot drop, i can still walk on toes barely and ankles. I can also bend and squat. I cannot sit or stand longer than an hour without having to lay down. My whole left leg will go numb when i sit i also get a shocking sensation in my anus wheni sit. Leg pain is always noticable i need to sit with my foot on the chair and angle it when i sleep as well. Pain is constantly on my mind. I depend on taking 10/325 norco about 6 a day. If i do not take any medication before i go to bed i will wake up at night until i get medication in my body inorder to finish an average day of sleep. Disc prostustion with radicupathy i am willing to try anything so i wish i can one day be able to run. I am very athletic before the injury i have gained weight now and am depressed. i want my life back.. anymore input would be awesome thanks guys

Maria · #6 (**permalink**) 03-30-2011, 02:47 PM

You may still be a surgical candidate. I had some similar symptoms in the more delicate part of the anatomy you mentioned that supposedly had to do w/my L4 disc bulge. You might also benefit from a longer acting pain medication. I'd recommend getting some surgical consults and talking w/your Pain Management doc re something maybe more effective to manage your pain. I live in CA as well. There are plenty of good docs here in So Cal. and I'm sure in other parts as well. Is WC covering your injury or regular medical insurance or do you have any prob trying to schedule appts/consultations?