Laminectomy/Discectomy.. who has had one?

[cabmandone]

Back in October 2016 I was diagnosed with a herniated disc at L3, L4 and L5/S1 with L5/S1 putting pressure on the nerve bundle. I had extreme tightness in my hip, hamstring, thigh and shin as well as slight numbness in my big toe. I have responded well to PT as I'm no longer having all the tightness but my hamstring is still tight (can't get a good stretch compared to non effected leg) even though I have been doing stretches. It also feels like there is a not in my upper thigh at the hip joint level. I still get some jolts in my lower leg on occasion but for the most part I'm a little uncomfortable not in pain if that makes sense.
I was scheduled for a laminectomy/discectomy but thought since I was responding well that I'd forgo the surgery in favor of the more conservative approach. My problem is that I think I'm fooling myself thinking I'll beat this with exercise and stretching. I know that the nerve had pressure placed on it by the herniated disc and that it will take time for the nerve to heal. I'm just not sure if the nerve will heal because the herniation still exists. My other issue is that the thought of surgery involving nerves and spine freaks me out. So I'm reaching out to anyone here who has had the procedure to get your thoughts as well as to those who have had good success with exercise and stretching.
FWIW the neurosurgeon my family doctor recommended is supposed to be a pretty conservative surgeon. He suggested surgery back in October/November but did say there was a chance for relief through physical therapy.

[mgatepi]

Went through the same thing about 10 years ago. I put off surgery for about 2 years going through therapy after therapy. Always offering temporary relief at best.
Finally had the surgery. All went well, no problems at all. I still have some issues with slight numbness after standing for long periods of time, but much better than before!
I was really at the point were I could not function so really...I had no choice.
You will be fine!
Good luck!
mg

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by mgatepi

I still have some issues with slight numbness after standing for long periods of time, but much better than before!

This is exactly what my concern is with delaying.
I have had a lot of back pain but never nerve pain in the legs. My thought is that getting it done early rather than wait for PT to fail will prevent further damage to the nerve requiring less time for it to heal properly.
Thanks for the input!

[mgatepi]

My back pain, for as long as I can remember, always radiated down my left leg. It got to the point where I was having difficulty walking. I would actually trip myself because I could not control where my leg was going. Not fun.
I had a Doctor recommend a spinal fusion, this really worried me and opted for the lessor surgery. I am OK now, not perfect but OK.
Good luck!
mg

[Vipergrün]

I've had one of each, L4/L5, and have had good luck, knock on wood. I do a lot of core exercises and use an inversion table once in a while. I run, workout a lot, did a Spartan race, etc. Just be smart about recovery, and did I mention strong core?

[sammyg2]

L5-S1 in 1985 IIRC.
Never been quite the same since.

If I had to do it over I prolly wouldn't.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Vipergrün

I've had one of each, L4/L5, and have had good luck, knock on wood. I do a lot of core exercises and use an inversion table once in a while. I run, workout a lot, did a Spartan race, etc. Just be smart about recovery, and did I mention strong core?

I have been doing mostly planks (forward, left/right side)but have mixed in a modified crunch where I only go up slightly to where shoulders come off the ground while making sure my lower back is firmly on the floor and holding for 30 seconds and also doing the Pilates 100 and hanging leg lifts. Back has been mostly "bird dog" on a balance ball. I know core is the key. I have really been focused on core for the last two months which is what I attribute most of my progress to but I think I have reached maximum benefit and to go further will require the surgery.
As I understand it, they would be performing both. The laminectomy to allow more room for the nerve canal and the discectomy to remove the herniated portion of the disc.

[sammyg2]

Sleep posture is one of the most important aspects of back health.

You need to sleep in a position where the lower back muscles are NOT in contraction all night. They have to have time to relax, recharge, repair.
if you sleep where your hips are rotating more than your shoulders, your back may be fighting gravity all night.

No muscle relax.
No muscle recharge.
No muscle repair.

Changing my sleep posture did moire to heal my back than the surgery did.



You've heard of the guy who said:

My chiropractor is great. I've been seeing his twice a week for 25 years!
Temporary solution to permanent problem. IMO.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Sleep posture is one of the most important aspects of back health.

I have always been a stomach or side sleeper. Just got into the pillow between the knees thing because my physical therapist suggested it.

[DanielDudley]

Originally Posted by cabmando

Back in October 2016 I was diagnosed with a herniated disc at L3, L4 and L5/S1 with L5/S1 putting pressure on the nerve bundle. I had extreme tightness in my hip, hamstring, thigh and shin as well as slight numbness in my big toe. I have responded well to PT as I'm no longer having all the tightness but my hamstring is still tight (can't get a good stretch compared to non effected leg) even though I have been doing stretches. It also feels like there is a not in my upper thigh at the hip joint level. I still get some jolts in my lower leg on occasion but for the most part I'm a little uncomfortable not in pain if that makes sense.
I was scheduled for a laminectomy/discectomy but thought since I was responding well that I'd forgo the surgery in favor of the more conservative approach. My problem is that I think I'm fooling myself thinking I'll beat this with exercise and stretching. I know that the nerve had pressure placed on it by the herniated disc and that it will take time for the nerve to heal. I'm just not sure if the nerve will heal because the herniation still exists. My other issue is that the thought of surgery involving nerves and spine freaks me out. So I'm reaching out to anyone here who has had the procedure to get your thoughts as well as to those who have had good success with exercise and stretching.
FWIW the neurosurgeon my family doctor recommended is supposed to be a pretty conservative surgeon. He suggested surgery back in October/November but did say there was a chance for relief through physical therapy.

Don't make a decision based on doubts, especially if you are getting positive results. It doesn't seem as if you need to rush into anything right now, and an overactive imagination will have you thinking that maybe you should. You would absolutely know if you should. When that time comes, if it comes, have the surgery, or maybe look into some of the new forms of surgery.

Until then, try to relax. I can tell you from experience that fear intensifies pain to a remarkable degree. Patience, things will become clear.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by DanielDudley

Don't make a decision based on doubts, especially if you are getting positive results. It doesn't seem as if you need to rush into anything right now, and an overactive imagination will have you thinking that maybe you should. You would absolutely know if you should. When that time comes, if it comes, have the surgery, or maybe look into some of the new forms of surgery.

Until then, try to relax. I can tell you from experience that fear intensifies pain to a remarkable degree. Patience, things will become clear.

Thanks for the advice.
That's actually why I didn't have the surgery in December as I was originally scheduled. I wanted to make a decision when I wasn't in pain. I told my doctor when I was diagnosed that before I make a decision we have to get my pain managed so that I'm not making a decision simply because I have pain. I have gone 2 months without much pain but my biggest concern is that if I wait longer my chances of nerve damage become greater. But then again there are risks involved with the surgery which only adds to my dilemma. Wait and risk permanent nerve damage or have the surgery and while low, risk nerve damage.

[HardDrive]

My L1/2 are both ruptured badly. I keep my weight down, and don't let me core get to far out of shape. I've been lucky thus far, I'm 47 and manage it with a few PT stretches and moderate exercise.

The problem with giving people advice about back issues is that everyone is in a completely different situation. Not only are the back issue not alike, but the way people heal, their attitude, general health....all that stuff plays into it.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by mgatepi

My back pain, for as long as I can remember, always radiated down my left leg. It got to the point where I was having difficulty walking.

Sounds kind of like what my doc tells me is sciatica. When it's bad it hurts my lower back constantly and if I cough or sneeze my left leg just stops working. It's like jello. So far I have been able to control it with weight control and exercise. Funny how those two things can help so many problems.

[john70t]

If you are young....the spine may fix itself.
1)- I was 30yo and basically became crippled because my boss(es) told me to jump off a cliff and overwork my body.
2)- And so following orders, I did.
3)- This was followed by many many years of back spasms with a hamstring tight as a rock. I couldn't do dishes or stand in a supermarket line.
4)- Back.Knee.Back.Knee. Back. Knee. What the hell is causing this pain? What fixes it?
5)- Hydration, excercize, attention to posture, sleep, and better habits fixes it.

If you are younger:
American AMA spinal surgery procedures are still on the level of Neanderthals breaking rocks. Those people will probably make things worse.
The European's have artificial disk replacement.
The Asians have acupressure/acupuncture/diet.
Get more medical opinions before any fusion surgery BS load of goods. That is Plan C.

[john70t]

If you are much older, the vertebrae body itself is crumbling, and it's putting pressure on the disks:
Western medicine has a bone glue which works magic.

[Nickshu]

I had one at L5/S1 in March 2016. I had a huge herniated disc and severe right leg pain. I had instant pain relief and no significant pain since. Very happy with the results. Glad I didn't wait and went ahead with the surgery.

Sent from my Samsung GS7 using Tapatalk

[gsxrken]

Hit amazon for Dr Stuart McGill's books. Cheaper than the copays you've surely been dishing out.
In a nutshell he preaches safe spinal positions. Half the stretches and PT you're probably doing are just putting the disc and nerve in further duress.

[Lyle O]

Most any rupture causing pain and numbness is also causing damage to the spinal cord itself and the nerve bundles there. That means the longer you wait to relieve the pressure (remove the disc fragment putting pressure there), the more chance there is for permanent damage. I had the same issue and had the surgery. It was quick and easy, relieved the pain almost instantly, and my function and feeling returned about 98%. Your nerves will regenerate slowly, but only if there is attention to it without waiting too long. Don't delay if there's diminished function and you know it's caused by the ruptured disc. Good luck.

[Don Plumley]

My wife (she was in her mid-30's) had nagging back pain since childbirth. One night after a bad coughing fit, she extruded a disk into her L1-L2 spinal column. By the end of the week we saw some foot dragging (toe) which means as Lyle pointed out, there was danger of spinal cord damage.

Found the best back cracker at UCLA, he did a simple microdiskectomy and 20 years later she is pretty much 100%. Scary few days for sure, but she is a success story when it comes to spinal surgery. Minimally invasive, minimal recovery. Any orthopod will be happy to do back surgery. Find someone that this procedure is almost exclusively what they do. Otherwise, it's like going to a VW shop with your 911RS and wonder why they can't make the MFI sing.

One of the things we did for a second opinion was visit another specialist surgeon and explain, "You don't get to be the surgeon. Look at the MRI and let us know if this was your wife/daughter, what would you do?" His answer was, "I'd have her in surgery in the next 30 minutes."

[john70t]

Instead of the chiropractor: Perhaps a daily bungy jump from 20 feet? lol.
Or an inversion table?
Or a Total Gym?

After my past injury I used to dream about a rope around my ankle so i could force everything in the joints back straight from the ankle to the hips to the spine.
I thought and thought. But I never did. I should have back then.
A festering regret still.

If if cognitively feels right then go forward and do it.
Make it happen.
Life is too short!