I had a lumbar microdiscectomy 6 days ago and the pain was okay, well I thought it was but I just tried to lift my leg and it now hurts like it did before....my surgeon said there might still be some leg pain after surgery but surely they would have been straight after? Am I worrying too much?
i am diabetic by the way
Hello. Pain is normal after surgery. I had mine on 20th March and I also had a few days later I had shooting pains up and down the leg as if i never had surgery. But my surgeon told me it's normal and it will fade away. Guess what ? It did! I had numbness in thr toes and ankle but now it's only very faint in the left big toe! It did come a few days later so don't worry.
I started doing light stretches about a week after surgery while lying in bed. I have not started physio as I still have some muscle weakness in the leg and walk with a very light limp. My surgeon and physiotherapist are pleased with my progress. I have started driving but I don't lift anything over 5 lbs or bend and Twist. I would say to you to be patient. You will feel different sensations as the nerves regenerate. But don't overdo anything. Do some light walking of permitted and see if you can get some light stretches from your surgeon or physio.
I am so happy I did this op. I would have been suffering otherwise. Good luck to you!
Oh phew I will stop panicking then! I do worry too much and I do feel that I have probably been doing too much....I just have no patience with my boyfriend! But I should stop! I have bed exercises to do and I am doing then and I have physio this Friday and a wound check on Thursday! Did you have problems getting to sleep at night? And also for the past couple of days I have had nausea and lightheadedness :S
Oh yes I
Yes I did have loads of trouble to sleep for about 2 weeks. It will get better. I am a get up and go person who is always busy.it is frustrating but trust me take it easy. Let your body heal. Use ice pack on the back also to reduce swelling. By reducing swelling at the cut area the pain in your leg will ease up. What meds are you taking? I was on tramacet but stopped it after a week and only used if I got pain trying to sleep. I moved to ibuprofen and paracetamol. I also use an injection called Neurobine which is a B vitamin supplement to encourage nerve regeneration. I found that helped me a lot. I took the injection instead of the tablets as it works faster. Ask your surgeon About it . Not sure what they use in the UK. Could be under a different name. So... be patient! Take it easy and risk nothing. I am a major wotry wart also. I understand how you feel.😊
Phew not just me then haha! It's weird because for the first 3 days I had no problems sleeping even napping during the day but the last few days it has been horrible not being able to sleep until 2am the earliest it's so frustrating! Ah I don't have an ice pack...I don't have much In my freezer lol! I have been ibuprofen and paracetamol since I was discharged from hospital but feel it really isn't doing much, or it is and I am just so used to the pain relief I got from morphine when I was in hospital! :S
Ohhh. You definitely need an ice pack! You will feel relief in a day after using it . Just 15 mins every couple hours. Use a frozen pack of vegetableS wrapped in a pillow case!
Maybe ask the doctor for a pain killer that would helol you sleep at night? But honestly icing will help you loads. Let me know how you are doing ok. Best wishes.
I also did not have any pain foe the first 3 days!!
I definitely have frozen vegetables...loads of them! I think I will I was on another pain killer when I was In hospital which made me sleepy can't remember the name though but it started with Ox!
Glad i am not the only one as I thought it had reherniated!
I also thought that! Just don't bend , twist and lift and just take it slow!
I will try too Thank you! You didn't say anything about the nausea though!
I didn't have any nausea. When do you get it ? I did not have much of an appetite though for a couple of weeks after the op. I only ate so I could take my tablets. If it persists then I would ask the doctor. Hope this helps.
Pretty much all time gets worse in the afternoon/evenings I suppose I don't have an appetite either just force feeding myself maybe I should stop the painkillers??
Well if u can tolerate the pain stop it for a day or 2 see if it helps. if in pain try something else maybe ?
I am in the States, but had a very sucessful Disectomy, Decompression Laminectomy and Fusion@L4-L5 Nov 11th. Knowing that I live alone and would need to drive as soon as the neurosurgeon cleared it.....also knowing all about the restrictions, I got busy on the Internet for Mobility aids. I came up with this really cool inexpensive swivel seat that helps you get under the wheel without twisting at all. Try it. It has been a lifesaver for me. Less than $25 at Wal Mart. I am still using it for comfort, but when I no longer need it in the car, you can also use it on dining chairs, etc.
You're welcome! Lol
Patricia
Hi Trinigyul. Sorry if it seems that I am stalking your posts but something you said about how soon you gave up narcotic pain meds and took Ibuprophen instead caught my eye. I am in the States so it very well might be differe t than here, but the basics should not be. And believe me, For the 7 months pre- surgery, Ibuprophen 600 mg e ery 8 hrs was the only thing allowing me to remain sane as well as to remain working. I was a full time Ortho Surg RN at a Uni ersity Trauma Center pulling three 12 hr shifts per week. However, my neurosurgeon specifically warned me not to take NSAIDS of any kind for 4 months post-op. Something about studies showing interverence with bone healing. With Orthopaedic Joint surgery, especially the hip replacements a wonderful pain med named Toradol is given IV while in hospial for first 36 hrs and then discontinued. The generic for it is Ketorlac. In essence, it is an NSAID and as close to liquid Ibuprophen as we can get here in the USA. I ask for Toradol rather than a narcotic injection if injured and as I said previously, Ibuprophen is normally my go-to
OTC pain med. All of this FYI of course.
Patricia
Put sometning in your stomach before taking any of these medications. That usually helps with nausea, but a word to the wise. Pain pills are notorious for causing nausea. The med you were given in the hospital after tne Morphine pump was likely Oxycodone
I'm an RN, retired since last May. Start the ice...it will help more than you k ow. PS....I had my fusion Nov 11th, so I am just 5 1/2 months post op. I stuck to the restrictions religiously and pretty much still do except I am able to bend at the waist very well. I am not saying that I am 100% because I am not. I was told to expect to get back 80% of my normal activity level by 6 months and I am there. I am grateful for that 80% compared to the horrible pain I was in pre surgery. Currently I am swimming at the YMCA (on my back only or treading water which uses and strengthens the lower back muscles and I am gardening for 1-2 brs at a time. The problem I have is that I am no longer able to sleep on my stomach with comfort, so I don't. I hope this has been helpful. Feel better soon and whatever you do do not let yourself become impatient with the process of recovery.
Patricia
The nausea has disappeared for now thankfully! Still haven't tried the ice yet though....I need to!
The thing that's getting me the most is the buttock and leg pain 
I stopped them and just taking the odd ibuprofen when I feel I need to not that I think it helps!
Hi
That's good news about the naseau. It takes some time for pain to ease. If you ice it will.help. Give it s go. My pain began to ease about 2 weeks post op. Don't go without pain relief though of it is really bothering you. Ok.