Discectomy - thoughts
Discussion
Had a slipped disc for a number of weeks now and speaking to a specialist a Discectomy may be an option (basically) cutting (trimming) away the bulging disc.
Anyone had this done or know much about it? Have an MRI soon before we even know that it needs to be done but trying to get some info.
Anyone had this done or know much about it? Have an MRI soon before we even know that it needs to be done but trying to get some info.
I had one of these about 10 years ago after I slipped a disc playing american football at university. The two things I remember most vividly about the operation/aftermath is being told that there is a 1 in 10 chance of being totally paralysed and the almost unbearable pain post-op until the morphine kicked in.
Friends who visited me later said that I looked like death. Oh, and the daily injections into my stomach to prevent the blood clotting REALLY hurt.
BUT! The net result meant I could walk and stand without pain once everything had healed up. And I have almost no remaining symptoms except I can tell if its crap weather without opening the curtains.
Overall, totally worth it but God it hurt at times.
HTH
Ben
Friends who visited me later said that I looked like death. Oh, and the daily injections into my stomach to prevent the blood clotting REALLY hurt.
BUT! The net result meant I could walk and stand without pain once everything had healed up. And I have almost no remaining symptoms except I can tell if its crap weather without opening the curtains.
Overall, totally worth it but God it hurt at times.
HTH
Ben
Do it. (after seeking advice etc and making an informed decision...)
Sorted me right out after months of physio/osteopath resulted in a somewhat depleted bank account and very temporary pain relief.
Get an MRI done pronto though...mine was apparently hideously bad and apparently I was really close to a wheelchair and all other kinds of nasties. Surgeon got me in the next day after seeing mine (and that was NHS too).
Told me to go home, sit on the sofa and not do anything until I came back the following day to be admitted. I thought I'd best keep schtumm about powerboating in the Menai Strait the day before!
Sorted me right out after months of physio/osteopath resulted in a somewhat depleted bank account and very temporary pain relief.
Get an MRI done pronto though...mine was apparently hideously bad and apparently I was really close to a wheelchair and all other kinds of nasties. Surgeon got me in the next day after seeing mine (and that was NHS too).
Told me to go home, sit on the sofa and not do anything until I came back the following day to be admitted. I thought I'd best keep schtumm about powerboating in the Menai Strait the day before!
Jesus, reading Jersey's post I got away lightly. Woke up off my tits on morphine and was a gibbering idiot for the next few hours according to the other half. I was home the next day, and no word of a lie, I was sailing a week after having had the staples removed.
Before the op I was in total agony and I could not walk for more than 200yds without needing to sit down...or I would try and get out of my car (no pain whatsoever) and land in a heap as my legs had stopped working!
Before the op I was in total agony and I could not walk for more than 200yds without needing to sit down...or I would try and get out of my car (no pain whatsoever) and land in a heap as my legs had stopped working!
I had a microdiscectomy in 2001. I think this is the normal op these days, it's a semi-keyhole procedure that takes a couple of hours with something like 99% success rate.
I too was a pretty serious case, I saw the consultant at 4pm, was admitted at 9pm same day, MRI scanned at 11am next day and in theatre at 2pm - my feet hardly touched the ground!
When I woke up afterwards, I was a bit sick from the anaesthetic but otherwise needed no painkillers. A slight itch from the wound was all, and after enduring months of the most extreme pain it was a welcome relief. I was also back on my feet 18 hours later.
In short, don't worry about it.
I too was a pretty serious case, I saw the consultant at 4pm, was admitted at 9pm same day, MRI scanned at 11am next day and in theatre at 2pm - my feet hardly touched the ground!
When I woke up afterwards, I was a bit sick from the anaesthetic but otherwise needed no painkillers. A slight itch from the wound was all, and after enduring months of the most extreme pain it was a welcome relief. I was also back on my feet 18 hours later.
In short, don't worry about it.
Glad to help.
Prior to the op, I'd been misdiagnosed as having a torn calf muscle which they did lots of physio on, to bugger all effect (unsurprisingly). It had got so bad that I had a walking stick and still had to stop and wait for the pain to pass every 20 metres or so despite oodles of pain killers. And that looks bloody stupid if you're 23.
anyhoo, its all over now and obviously I'm glad I had it done. Does sound like times have moved on somewhat - which is good news for you.
Unexpected and humorous downside of the op? I have a six inch scar at the base of my spine that practically runs into my bum crack (bear with me here). When I wear swimming shorts, I look like I have the longest arse crack in the known universe. Builders must be SO jealous.
Ta-ta
ben
Prior to the op, I'd been misdiagnosed as having a torn calf muscle which they did lots of physio on, to bugger all effect (unsurprisingly). It had got so bad that I had a walking stick and still had to stop and wait for the pain to pass every 20 metres or so despite oodles of pain killers. And that looks bloody stupid if you're 23.
anyhoo, its all over now and obviously I'm glad I had it done. Does sound like times have moved on somewhat - which is good news for you.
Unexpected and humorous downside of the op? I have a six inch scar at the base of my spine that practically runs into my bum crack (bear with me here). When I wear swimming shorts, I look like I have the longest arse crack in the known universe. Builders must be SO jealous.
Ta-ta
ben
Edited by JerseyS2000 on Wednesday 29th October 22:56
Edited by JerseyS2000 on Wednesday 29th October 22:56
I think Jersey's 1 in 10 paralysis chance has improved a lot in the 10 years or so, they did tell me it was a risk but it was only a few percent.
ETA I see you are in Sutton Coldfield, the surgeon who did mine was a Mr Choksy (sp? pronounced choc-sea) in Coventry, who is widely regarded as one of the best, he might work elsewhere in the Midlands. For MRIs, there is a private company called CMC imaging, who have an MRI in an articulated lorry and they visit various locations, cost me about £230, versus the £600 you sometimes have to pay. Might be worth it to speed things up, I know they visit the Old Silhillians Rugby club in Solihull, fairly close for you...
ETA I see you are in Sutton Coldfield, the surgeon who did mine was a Mr Choksy (sp? pronounced choc-sea) in Coventry, who is widely regarded as one of the best, he might work elsewhere in the Midlands. For MRIs, there is a private company called CMC imaging, who have an MRI in an articulated lorry and they visit various locations, cost me about £230, versus the £600 you sometimes have to pay. Might be worth it to speed things up, I know they visit the Old Silhillians Rugby club in Solihull, fairly close for you...
Edited by Hard-Drive on Thursday 30th October 18:43
Edited by Hard-Drive on Thursday 30th October 18:44
HD cheers for the recommendation, its all going through my insurance at the moment. Going through a surgeon called Jackowski who is top of the list from my Physio in terms of recommendations, apparently very very good.
Will see what the MRI brings up, but if its an option will be in there like a shot to get rid of the incessant pain, annoyance and numbness!!
Will see what the MRI brings up, but if its an option will be in there like a shot to get rid of the incessant pain, annoyance and numbness!!
k, any mention of back pain and I go all weak. Runs in my family. Bleugh.My wife had a similar experience to Jersey. Twice.
They managed to avoid too much nerve damage tho. The first op was prompted by the back pain leading to being unable to get up.
Get a good surgeon. Her second op was to tidy up the first and sort out the scar tissue and chunks of disc left floating from the first op.
The pain is much improved (6 months on) - and she's bad at doing the physio, if you do your exercises it gets better quicker.
Still has reduced mobility, loss of sensation, and loss of reflex tho. That's nerve damage from where the disc pinched the nerves, and I don't think it's coming back.
Anyway. Expect to be a bit wonky on your feet for a few weeks after, but then you'll improve.
Better than risking paralysis, imo.
They managed to avoid too much nerve damage tho. The first op was prompted by the back pain leading to being unable to get up.
Get a good surgeon. Her second op was to tidy up the first and sort out the scar tissue and chunks of disc left floating from the first op.
The pain is much improved (6 months on) - and she's bad at doing the physio, if you do your exercises it gets better quicker.
Still has reduced mobility, loss of sensation, and loss of reflex tho. That's nerve damage from where the disc pinched the nerves, and I don't think it's coming back.
Anyway. Expect to be a bit wonky on your feet for a few weeks after, but then you'll improve.
Better than risking paralysis, imo.
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