Prolappsed disc, had my op now what?
Discussion
Surgeory should always be the last option, if exercise therapy fails then surgery is the route, as the OP mentioned he was on morphine and his life was effected, doctor has no choice. To the OP you need to post exactl what they ve done, but normal form with this is mobility, core stability done correctly not just some goon placing you in the plank position, and increase strength not just in back exts and flexors but glutes, hamstrings and quads, take things easy use common sense and get in a swimming pool asap, look up mobility exercises in hydro on a search engine. Hope this helps but see a physio asap.
Chiropractors are generally excellent for things that are more superficial - for example if you have pulled a ligament in your back, or you have a muscle injury, or if you have posture related back problems where your back is out of the correct alignment a little bit. They can help get it in to line and feeling better.
But this is a disc injury.
The decision to operate is down to the site and severity of the disc injury and the factors to consider are: is there a risk to the spinal cord (if the disc has prolapsed directly backwards) or risk to a nerve root as it exits from the spine (if the disc has prolapsed backwards and a bit to one side), and finally - how much disability and disruption to the patient is there.
One of the things with disc injury is that the centre of the disc is sort of like a gel and if there was enough force with the initial injury, you get this gel like material 'blowing out' along the side of the spinal cord and it can cause a lot of discomfort. If that is what has happened it should be cleared out if possible.
Post op: In general the recovery time is 6-8 weeks. Unfortunately the back won't be as flexible as it used to be and you need to be sensible about the sorts of load/force you expect your back to withstand but hopefully the pain that you were having will be a lot better!!
But this is a disc injury.
The decision to operate is down to the site and severity of the disc injury and the factors to consider are: is there a risk to the spinal cord (if the disc has prolapsed directly backwards) or risk to a nerve root as it exits from the spine (if the disc has prolapsed backwards and a bit to one side), and finally - how much disability and disruption to the patient is there.
One of the things with disc injury is that the centre of the disc is sort of like a gel and if there was enough force with the initial injury, you get this gel like material 'blowing out' along the side of the spinal cord and it can cause a lot of discomfort. If that is what has happened it should be cleared out if possible.
Post op: In general the recovery time is 6-8 weeks. Unfortunately the back won't be as flexible as it used to be and you need to be sensible about the sorts of load/force you expect your back to withstand but hopefully the pain that you were having will be a lot better!!
996 sps said:
Surgeory should always be the last option, if exercise therapy fails then surgery is the route, as the OP mentioned he was on morphine and his life was effected, doctor has no choice. To the OP you need to post exactl what they ve done, but normal form with this is mobility, core stability done correctly not just some goon placing you in the plank position, and increase strength not just in back exts and flexors but glutes, hamstrings and quads, take things easy use common sense and get in a swimming pool asap, look up mobility exercises in hydro on a search engine. Hope this helps but see a physio asap.
Just to add see only a physio if you want any advice pm me.RetroTed said:
Ninjaboy said:
I've just been told i need this doing so, i'm very interested. The NHS say operate, the ciropractor say don't. whos right?.
It all depends on the severity of the prolappse. Mine was severe and I was on strong morphine for the last 6 months. Have you had an MRI scan?
Edited by Ninjaboy on Friday 6th November 15:08
Ninjaboy said:
RetroTed said:
Ninjaboy said:
I've just been told i need this doing so, i'm very interested. The NHS say operate, the ciropractor say don't. whos right?.
It all depends on the severity of the prolappse. Mine was severe and I was on strong morphine for the last 6 months. Have you had an MRI scan?Edited by Ninjaboy on Friday 6th November 15:08
Don't worry about the surgey I have heard of plenty of people that have had the op and now lead a normal life. My problem is that my GP is shyte and the hostpital can't tell me much apart from don't lift or strech hence the post
RetroTed said:
Ninjaboy said:
RetroTed said:
Ninjaboy said:
I've just been told i need this doing so, i'm very interested. The NHS say operate, the ciropractor say don't. whos right?.
It all depends on the severity of the prolappse. Mine was severe and I was on strong morphine for the last 6 months. Have you had an MRI scan?Edited by Ninjaboy on Friday 6th November 15:08
Don't worry about the surgey I have heard of plenty of people that have had the op and now lead a normal life. My problem is that my GP is shyte and the hostpital can't tell me much apart from don't lift or strech hence the post
t loads of Codine 30mg and 10mg Amitripyline, i've just been made redundant from work too cause i'm on sick leave. fking great aint it it sounds like you had it worse than me i had pain and tingling to my toes and a loss of reflex. Hope your back on your feet soon mate.Edited by Ninjaboy on Friday 6th November 16:47
Ninjaboy said:
RetroTed said:
Ninjaboy said:
RetroTed said:
Ninjaboy said:
I've just been told i need this doing so, i'm very interested. The NHS say operate, the ciropractor say don't. whos right?.
It all depends on the severity of the prolappse. Mine was severe and I was on strong morphine for the last 6 months. Have you had an MRI scan?Edited by Ninjaboy on Friday 6th November 15:08
Don't worry about the surgey I have heard of plenty of people that have had the op and now lead a normal life. My problem is that my GP is shyte and the hostpital can't tell me much apart from don't lift or strech hence the post
t loads of Codine 30mg and 10mg Amitripyline, i've just been made redundant from work too cause i'm on sick leave. fking great aint it it sounds like you had it worse than me i had pain and tingling to my toes and a loss of reflex. Hope your back on your feet soon mate.Edited by Ninjaboy on Friday 6th November 16:47
Ted, I had two proplased discs removed (S1 & 2) when I was 19. Went through countless MRI's, mylograms and epidurals to try and diagnose and aleviate the problem but to no effect. Like you I was on morphine for a good few months and was paralysed from the waist down for the two weeks prior to the op.
After becoming virtually dependant on the morphine post op
the worst element of the recovery for me was the cold turkey coming off the drugs. Doc advised me to slowly reduce the dose but I knew best. 
It was the worst two weeks of my life, no sleep because, although my body was knackered, my brain was telling me that without the fog of the drugs to knock me out, I was wide awake. I still vividly remember the first bit of sleep I got - 3 hours one evening. 6 hours the next. and 38 hours the next!
One embarrasing side effect for me in getting the feeling in my lower body back was the amount of times the little chap decided to "take in the view". OK normally, but when you're being supported by two sexy Aussie nurses as you stand up to take a whizz? Had a tricky time explaining to my doctor why I was having difficulty getting up to go to the loo!
It took me about 8 weeks to be up and moving with any degree of independance. It took around 4 months for me to be confident that turning my neck (as opposed to my whole body as I was doing before then) wouldn't cause me any issues. And it took about two years for other people to stop telling me I was walking "kinda funny" (I never noticed my limp but I guess my body was compensating).
A few years down the line and I was doing serious numbers on the calf press, too!
I know my limits and being fit sure helps alot. Core muscle strength really, really, helps.
GL with it all and drop me a PM if you want any more detail!
After becoming virtually dependant on the morphine post op
the worst element of the recovery for me was the cold turkey coming off the drugs. Doc advised me to slowly reduce the dose but I knew best. It was the worst two weeks of my life, no sleep because, although my body was knackered, my brain was telling me that without the fog of the drugs to knock me out, I was wide awake. I still vividly remember the first bit of sleep I got - 3 hours one evening. 6 hours the next. and 38 hours the next!One embarrasing side effect for me in getting the feeling in my lower body back was the amount of times the little chap decided to "take in the view". OK normally, but when you're being supported by two sexy Aussie nurses as you stand up to take a whizz? Had a tricky time explaining to my doctor why I was having difficulty getting up to go to the loo!
It took me about 8 weeks to be up and moving with any degree of independance. It took around 4 months for me to be confident that turning my neck (as opposed to my whole body as I was doing before then) wouldn't cause me any issues. And it took about two years for other people to stop telling me I was walking "kinda funny" (I never noticed my limp but I guess my body was compensating).
A few years down the line and I was doing serious numbers on the calf press, too!
I know my limits and being fit sure helps alot. Core muscle strength really, really, helps.
GL with it all and drop me a PM if you want any more detail!
Zod said:
Ninjaboy said:
I've just been told i need this doing so, i'm very interested. The NHS say operate, the ciropractor say don't. whos right?.
Here's a clue: the NHS advice is from a doctor; the chiropractor's advice is not.I had microdicectomy on 3 disks in August '07 and was back working offshore December '07, thankfully had no problems ever since.
Due to the NHS being totally un-interested I ended up having my surgery done privately in Belgium and would highly recommend it to anyone who has the money. It wasn't a case of being loaded when I had it done but couldn't face the 9month waiting for the NHS. Phoned about the surgery on the Wednesday had the operation the following Tueday. Back home on the Friday.
For recovery it took about 2-3weeks before I was getting most mobility back and started swimming and walking. Within 6weeks I was walking in excess of 5 miles a day and swimming every other day.
Take it easy for the first couple of weeks and build up slowly.
Local physio nurse advised me to get one of those big excersise balls and sit on it with my back straight and elevate one leg at a time and hold it for 5-10 seconds and repeat for 10 reps.
Hope the above helps.
Due to the NHS being totally un-interested I ended up having my surgery done privately in Belgium and would highly recommend it to anyone who has the money. It wasn't a case of being loaded when I had it done but couldn't face the 9month waiting for the NHS. Phoned about the surgery on the Wednesday had the operation the following Tueday. Back home on the Friday.
For recovery it took about 2-3weeks before I was getting most mobility back and started swimming and walking. Within 6weeks I was walking in excess of 5 miles a day and swimming every other day.
Take it easy for the first couple of weeks and build up slowly.
Local physio nurse advised me to get one of those big excersise balls and sit on it with my back straight and elevate one leg at a time and hold it for 5-10 seconds and repeat for 10 reps.
Hope the above helps.
i'm booked in for an op but at the moment i seem to be making a pretty good recovery since i've been given some new physio to do. I'm got another consultation in 6 weeks but feeling 100% better pain wise. Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff