. Resume driving when you can turn your head and look over your shoulder without pain. A lumbar microdiscectomy may become necessary when a herniated lumber disc affects one side of the body. 1999-2023 Veritas Health, LLC. Spinal intervertebral discs are the bodys shock absorbers, allowing the back to be strong, highly flexible, and resilient. If it's similar or slightly improved to your pre-op pain, then I wouldn't panic. If you or a loved one suffer from backor neckpain, call The Spine Center today at(847) 628-8147toschedule a consultation. My back was inflamed afterwards, and I had some hip pain the following day, but I didnt think much of it, because those episodes happened during my previous recovery and would resolve with rest>rest in 2 days max. Its not extreme. What causes reherniation after microdiscectomy surgery? A microdiscectomy is a procedure which is typically indicated when a herniated, protruded, or extruded disc in your spine presses against a central nerve causing leg pain, numbness, or weakness.Microdiscectomy, also sometimes called microdecompression or microdiskectomy, is a minimally invasive surgical procedure performed on patients with a herniated lumbar disc. Tagged:leg symptoms after a lumbar microdiscectomy. Amicrodiscectomyis a procedure used to remove all or part of a herniated disc when damaged discs are causing pain, numbness, and weakness ina patientslegs and back. It's not always easy to precisely diagnose the symptoms related to nerve irritation around the spine. Iron Neck for chronic pain caused by foraminal stenosis? Sciatica is the type of pain that originates in your lower back and typically radiates down one or both of your legs. Yes, a swollen nerve can mimic the same, but less severe pain from the herniated disc. My sciatic nerve was crushed and I have been unable to walk and have been in constant agonizing pain for six months. And although recovery from lumbar microdiscectomy is quicker and less painful than more invasive types of back surgery, youwillstill need to take some precautions. I had my TLIF surgery on 6/24/2020 by Dr. Corenman, I can not say enough good things about the Dr or his staff. How to best prepare for it, if there is a way? The bones help protect the cord . 2 days after lumbar decompression surgery I developed sciatica type pain, shooting through buttock and down the thigh, the pain which I never had before the surgery. I highly recommend Dr. Corenman and the Steadman Clinic. A reherniation after microdiscectomy may occur in the immediate postoperative period, a few weeks to few months after the surgery, or within years following the surgery. In this instance, treating the secondary source of pain may involve massage therapy, medication, and similar nonsurgical options.It Could Be Due to Scar Tissue or Other PossibilitiesPostoperative leg pain is sometimes caused by the formation of scar tissue. In general, the postoperative period includes the same patient experiences. Get Veritas Health Newsletters delivered to your inbox. Thank you for choosing Dr. Corenman as your healthcare provider. You can develop a seroma (a collection of fluid post-operatively) that temporarily will partially compress the nerve after surgery. Prescription non-compliance can cause side effects and other consequences that place your health and wellbeing at risk. A thin towel or t-shirt may be used as a barrier between the heat/ice source and the skin to avoid direct skin injury. 1 Leg and Buttock Pain After Spinal Fusion Surgery. This seroma should resolve in 2-3 months. Now I can do it pain-free. Was able to walk longer, and had almost no pain, except for the incision site stiffness. One more thing gritch..DON'T OVER DO IT!! This condition is regarded as a major healthcare problem that should be considered a public health crisis according to researchers. Sciatica is a pain condition caused by compression of the spinal nerve. Special caution must be exercised for patients who have decreased skin sensation at the surgical site and/or pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes. As was mentioned earlier, the type of surgical technique used during the initial procedure and type of herniation strongly influence whether or not there will be a recurrence. Most patients are gradually weaned off opioids over a period of 1 to 2 weeks. I, for sure, do not want to have a fusion-I have heard from others what a night-mare that procedure is. For instance, if a herniated disc was irritating a nerve for a while before your surgery, it could take a few weeks or more for the affected part of the nerve to fully heal and recover. I still have the same foot pain as before surgery. However, there can be limitations to L4-L5 surgery as it is one of the lowest weight-bearing discs of the body. Dr. Liu also suggests that patients continue the herniated disc surgery recovery process by walking short distances during the first couple weeks after surgery and gradually building endurance until they can walk two to three miles a day. The good news is that many patients have significant pain relief from a microdiscectomy and can quickly return to their normal lives, generally in 4-6 weeks. Once you start experiencing recurring back pain,your surgeonmustdetermine if the pain is being caused byreherniationor an acute flare-up. Here are some of the mistakes that you will want to avoid whileconvalescing after amicrodiscectomyprocedure: Youre going to be a little sore while initially recovering from surgery, and that is perfectly normal. Re-herniation can occur and can happen to 10% of individuals who have a herniation (no matter if surgery occurred or not). A seroma is a fluid-filled pocket at the surgical site that develops after surgery. Fifteen cases were diagnosed as piriformis syndrome. !he read all of my issue and details and his replies really helped me in decidingi am now confident about my decision and i now totally understand the procedure thanks to the in-depth information providedthank you ever so much ! ITs sitting that brings it on. For example, your surgeon may perform a lumbar microdiscectomy to remove the herniated portionof a lumbar discin your lower back. Dr. Bergin has a special interest in medical research and maintains membership in the Scoliosis Research Society. So I can move my chin to my chest further, for example. Had microdiscectomy L 4/5 on 08/13/09. Obviously, I need to do a fresh MRI with gadolinum to discover whats truly happening. Thats going to be almost 12 hours on my feet a day. Leg pain is definitely secondary to problems in back because there is a spinal cord from brain to the tail tip which gives branches to the legs and arms at d. https://neckandback.com/conditions/peripheral-nerve-anatomy-neck/. As fellowship-trained physicians with over, treating spinal conditions, we offer patient recommendations for treatment, including conservative care, non-operativetreatment, and sophisticated, customized surgical solutions. Limit ice or heat therapy applications to 15 or 20 minutes at a time, with at least 2 hours of rest in between, to optimize tissue response between applications. Even though most lumbar microdiscectomies are done on an outpatient basis, complications could dictate that you remain in the hospital for up to 72 hours. Sleeping properly is highly recommended as it is key to rest and tissue recovery. These conditions will typically not resolve on their own, and will require additional treatment potentially an additional surgical procedure. They prevent vertebrae from rubbing together and help maintain spine flexibility. outpatient procedure thats performed underanesthesia. If the drainage fluid is thin, watery, and pinkish red, there is likely nothing to be . During a microdiscectomy procedure, the surgeonuses a microscope and laser toremovepart of the nucleus pulposus through a small incision (less than 2 inches). Stronger painkillers, such as opioids, are typically used in combination with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. Talk to a physical therapist about "gentle exercises" to perform during the early postoperative period. Theymay alsorecommenda diagnostic nerve root injection in cases whenan initialclinical diagnosis isnot evident. . so i received the microdiscectomy on march 12 of last year. If the nerve is still irritated or swollen, there can still be pain present, greater on the side of the prior herniation. Peekawho is right..you probably need a dose pack of steroids..I had the same problem after my discectomy..they put me on a dose pack, and after the first pill, the pain in my butt and down my leg went away..hang in there..my surgeon explained it this way."the reason you are experiencing that pain, is because the nerve that has been pressed on Thank you for input on this. In this case, the source of the pain will continue since the direct cause of the issue was not pinpointed properly. Abstract. It's not always easy to precisely diagnose the symptoms related to nerve irritation around the spine. We strive toofferefficient and professional. This site is for educational purposes only; no information is intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. I had a discectomy done in 2000..I had a severe herniation in lower level (L4/L5)..the discectomy helped, but I went back to work too soon, over did it, and ended up having to get it fusedIt ended up, bone on bone, so they fused itI had the same symptoms as you, with the pain in my butt after surgery..it was so bad, I could hardly take it..my doc put me on a 5 day dose pack of steroids, and boy o boy did it workit sounds to me like you definitely have the foot drop thing going onfoot drop develops from the nerve being pinched in your back, cutting off the mobility in the lower leg and footI had it so bad, that I was tripping, and falling alotthe classic test to do to see if you have foot drop is to stand up against a wall, feet, legs, butt, back, shoulders touching the wallonce flush against the wall raise the front of your feet, keeping your heels on the groundtry to get the front of your feet as high as you can, keeping your heels on the groundMy doc did this test with me, and my right foot went up, but the left stayed on the floor..he told me that my case of foot drop was the worst he had ever seenfortunately, after the fusion, it came back, and now It's back 100%some people aren't so fortunateit does however take time to come back..some cases up to a yearyou have to be patientI really think you have the symptoms of foot drop..has your doc mentioned this to you/and or explained it?the tingling is from nerve pinchingthat nerve is super pissed off, hence the pain and tinglingmake sure you mention to your doc the oral steroids..if I were a betting woman, I bet that would relieve your pain, and reduce the swelling of the nerveplease keep me posted, and good luck with itif you don't have one already, I suggest using a cane to walk around with..I used one, and it helped me so much..especially with the foot dropkeep me posted.. Incision Drainage Issues. Dr. Liu offers the following lumbar discectomy recovery tips: There are not many permanent restrictions after a microdiscectomy. Much like anytype ofback surgery, your body needs to be active afteralumbar microdiscectomy to encourage blood flow and to help strengthen and stretch muscles that support your back. A. is an outpatientsurgicalprocedureperformed under anesthesia to remove all or part of a herniated disc. If it's worse than before your operation, I would ring your surgeon for advice. to our patients, deliveredwith integrity and honesty in a cohesive, family-like environment. All me back pain was home as soon as Hey All. Long-Distance Consults & Medical Legal: 888-888-5310, Request a Diagnostic or Surgical Second Opinion. Or is it normal after this kind of surgery and will resolve on its own? Its just a sort of sensitivity I havent had since the surgery. As an aside, lingering pain is one of the classic signs of re-herniation after a microdiscectomysurgicalprocedure. A lumbar microdiscectomy surgery is typically performed to alleviate the symptoms and signs of sciatica in the lower back and leg caused by a lumbar disc herniation. Spinal discs are gel-filled capsules located between the spine's bony vertebrae. I think swimming is just fine. Disc degeneration and herniation are common back problems leading to surgery. Betteryet, get someone to help you. These differences may be due to compression at another site or a nerve root tethering to epidural fibrosis. If your doctor prescribesmedicationfor you to help with pain or inflammation,take it as. For instance, if a herniated disc was irritating a nerve for a while before your surgery, it could take a few weeks or more for the affected part of the nerve to fully heal and recover. Any activity that causes the leg to bend at the hip (hip flexion) with the leg straight (no bent knee), will stretch the sciatic nerve and the hamstring muscle at the same time. The type of surgical technique used during microdiscectomy,and the type of herniation,may increase ones riskforreherniationafterwards. About 2 weeks after lumbar microdiscectomy, most patients begin to experience significantly less pain and higher energy level. Scar tissue forms with all surgeries, but it sometimes becomes an issue if it forms around a nerve root. For example, the incomplete removal of herniated disc material or inadequate closure of a significant gap in the annulus may lead to reherniation. When the root swells, some return of symptoms can be expected. Heavy physical activity within the first few weeks, As you can see, patient compliance plays a major role in ensuring ahealthier, more complete. After physical therapy and other conservative measures failed, a woman experiencing pain and weakness in her legs and lower back underwent lumbar decompression surgery. By ignoring the pain, you mayalso be neglectinga serious issue that could cause long-term damage. This fragment can push on the nerve root, which causes the pain to occur. Unfortunately, this microdiscectomy recovery time depends on many factors, including the patients general health, the speed of tissue recovery, the success of the procedure, etc., so the actual herniated disc surgery recovery time can be longer. Right after your procedure, any numbness will likely not be any cause for concern. If the pain is still there after 3 months, it is unlikely to improve on its own. Can;t wait until Monday a.m. to call his office again. For example after: Lumbar discectomy - The disc is not as strong after back surgery and it is possible for new piece of disc to break off, herniate and pinch the sciatic nerve. I had l4/l5 discectomy 25 days ago, because I suffered from lower back pain that quickly was replaced by a persistant almost daily sciatica for almost 4 months. After surgery, your surgeon may recommend visiting a physical therapist toimprove your recovery quality. Immediately following the surgery, she developed severe pain in her right foot; 3 months later, she underwent an additional decompressive procedure. The information is produced and reviewed by over 200 medical professionals with the goal of providing trusted, uniquely informative information for people with painful health conditions. Although symptoms are varied andcanbecome more severe with movement, they typically include: When you are experiencing any of these warning signs onan ongoingbasis,its best toschedule an evaluationwith afellowship-trainedorthopedic surgeon. Although most patients enjoy noticeable pain relief immediately following the surgery, nerve recovery after a lumbar discectomy is dependent on a variety of factors. If you or a loved one suffer from backor neckpain, call The Spine Center today at, once per month - call 847-628-8147 to confirm, Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF), Total Disc Arthroplasty & Total Disc Replacement, Non-operative Treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis, Treatment of Degenerative Spondylolisthesis. With it being the weekend, I am in limbo!!!! We have asolidcommitment to excellence in diagnosing and treating spinal injuries and conditions spanning all age groups. The goal of this surgery is to improve leg pain, restore function, and enable a return to normal daily activities. If you or a loved one suffer from backor neckpain,call The Spine Center today at, once per month - call 847-628-8147 to confirm, Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF), Total Disc Arthroplasty & Total Disc Replacement, Non-operative Treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis, Treatment of Degenerative Spondylolisthesis. The foot drop thing is exactly what isgoing on. Its not painful. One of the main things that you may have to do is to get a discectomy, where they go in and put the discs back where they need to be. As a patient, knowing the telltale signs ofreherniationafter microdiscectomy surgery will help ensurethat you get the care you deserve. i was so confused and lost about which procedure i should treat my back pain with.Dr.Corenman is just so kind to make time from his schedule to help me :')! Start taking short walks around the house or the yard; climb stairs if you can do so without pain. In addition to medication, ice packs and/or heat wraps may be used. version of the surgerythatcan be performed on various parts of the spine. Started neurontin this week. Finding the actual source of your discomfort following an initial microdiscectomy may involve: Specialized nerve tests Diagnostic injections to see if numbing other nerves in the same area relieves your leg pain Discussing your symptoms in greater detail Image diagnostics or procedures such as using a special dye to track nerve pathwaysThere May Be a Secondary Pain SourceLeg pain stemming from a spine-adjacent nerve may still continue after surgery if a secondary source is causing discomfort. Sleeping on your stomach or flat on your back puts significant stress on your spine. Summary of background data: Lumbar radiculopathy is characterized by different sensory symptoms like pain, numbness, and paresthesia, which may resolve at different rates after surgical decompression. Finding the actual source of your discomfort following an initial microdiscectomy may involve: It Could Be Due to Scar Tissue or Other Possibilities. Although it isnt very large, the incision site will probably be covered with surgical tape strips and will take about 10 to 14 days to heal. There are other possible reasons for pain after a laminectomy, discectomy or a microdiscectomy. I want to write about my lifestyle, pain levels, routine, and how things are generally going two years after my microdiscectomy. i was so confused and lost about which procedure i should treat my back pain with.Dr.Corenman is just so kind to make time from his schedule to help me :')! The doctor willthenonlyremovethe damaged portion of the disc. This treatment is done immediately following the discectomyduring the same operationand doesnt require any additional incisions or time in the hospital. What should I do now. wound pain. These stretches performed too aggressively will piss off the nerve. While rare, this can happen within the surgical site where the microdiscectomy was performed. Acute pain is more likely the result of recurrent disc herniation following a shift in weight distribution across the vertebral levels. Any activity (like walking) can stretch the root. In the case of recurrent back pain accompanied bysciatica(pain radiating down the back of the leg) after total discectomy, another discmay have become herniated. The movements you notice that increase symptoms all stretch the nerve root so this would be expected for 4-12 weeks. Some pain in the back or buttock region post-op is completely normal. 1.2 Inflammation of the membranes that surround the nerves of the spinal cord. Usually, patients are discharged either the same day or the day after their surgery. Otarbo Home Search Home Search buttock pain after microdiscectomy (2022) June 9, 2022 . Several home remedies may also be used to reduce pain and improve healing.