Backstory: I'm almost 40. I've always been very active. College athlete, personal trainer, done powerlifting, Olympic lifting, run ultramarathons. Being inactive is not an option for me.

I've had some back issues off and on for years but I've always managed it myself. I severely herniated a disc at L4-L5 about 10 weeks ago. Heard a pop while deadlifting. Worst pain I've ever experienced. Couldn't get off the couch for 2 weeks. Had an injection that helped significantly. My back feels great but my leg still hurts if I spend too much time on it. My foot will actually go numb after a while.
Doctor is recommending a microdiscectomy. My stubborn side says that I can push through and work this out myself. I haven't been active in almost 3 months and don't know if I can handle being still for another 2 months of recovery after surgery.
My biggest fear is always being the guy with the back problem. I refuse to accept that I can't get back to my previous level of activity.

What are your experiences with this procedure?

(Sorry for the rambling story but I've never been injured on this level before and it's messing with my mind. I just want someone to tell me that I'll be back to my old self in no time.)

This post was edited on 5/9/21 at 12:20 pm

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Posted by Zappas Stache

Utility Muffin Research Kitchen

Member since Apr 2009

38691 posts

Posted on 5/9/21 at 2:32 pm to RainMan

I've had 2 discectomies, the first when I was 37 on the L4-5 and the second about 5 years later on L3 because I was stupid and lifting a stackable washer up some stairs while bent forward. After each surgery the pain was gone and I was back to swimming within a month and riding my bike after 6 weeks. Like you, I put off the first surgery and dealt with the pain and leg numbness for a year. As a result, I had muscle atrophy in one calf from the nerve compression and that calf is still noticeably smaller than the other. My advice is get the surgery and have a neurosurgeon do it rather than an ortho. It's really a nerve issue and a neuro is better at dealing with that.

This post was edited on 5/9/21 at 2:46 pm

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Posted by TheZaba

Member since Oct 2008

6181 posts

Posted on 5/9/21 at 8:01 pm to RainMan

If you’re truly anti-surgery, 10 weeks isn’t THAT long of a time to recover/rehab after something like this

What are you doing to help yourself right now besides passive treatments (injection/meds)? Have you seen a good PT (emphasis on GOOD)?

Sure, surgery’s an option, but it’s not the only option. Not all disc/nerve issues are the same

This post was edited on 5/9/21 at 8:23 pm

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Posted by tigerfoot

Alexandria

Member since Sep 2006

56306 posts

Posted on 5/10/21 at 7:21 am to RainMan

The damage to the nerve can be permanent. Get the surgery.

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Posted by Tayday

Lake Charles. LA

Member since Mar 2011

5520 posts

Posted on 5/10/21 at 10:43 am to RainMan

Had a microdiscectomy twice on the same disc. Herniated then re-herniated it 6 months after.

I naturally babied my activity after the re-herniation but I'm now 2.5 years removed from it and am back to everything.. weightlifting, golf, basketball.

I'm consciously more careful in the day to day but 100% would recommend it to get back to a sense of normalcy.

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Posted by tigerfootball10

Member since Sep 2005

9495 posts

Posted on 5/10/21 at 7:46 pm to RainMan

Had the surgery one year ago. For me it was not a choice. I couldn’t move my left leg from knee down. Dr said if the nerves stay trapped long enough you could lose function. Recovery after surgery was nothing. However my exercise regimen is totally different, I will never squat again. Pain was one thing but being paralyzed was eye opening. Leg days are enjoyable now

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Posted by RainMan

Baton Rouge

Member since Oct 2010

530 posts

Posted on 5/11/21 at 9:23 pm to tigerfootball10

Thanks for the input.
Guess I'll be having surgery then!

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Posted by boudinman

Member since Nov 2019

5046 posts

Posted on 5/15/21 at 9:39 pm to RainMan

Whatever surgery you decide upon. Make this decision. GET A NEUROSURGEON!

Do NOT get an Orthopedic surgeon that says Spine Trained Fellowship.

Your Spinal Cord is no joke. Find the best NEUROSURGEON you can.

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Posted by pilsnerpusher

Member since Sep 2009

1366 posts

Posted on 5/15/21 at 10:28 pm to RainMan

I'm 46 years old. I had one in 2007 for my L4-L5. sciatica and back pain were gone when I woke up. It seemed like they had me up and walking less than 5 minutes after I woke up. Doctor's orders were to walk 3 miles a day, every day (rain or shine) at a 4 mile an hour pace for 8 weeks. Also was to lift nothing over 20 lbs during that time. After the 8 weeks I gradually introduced activity. In the 14 years since, the only times I've had issues are when I get 15-20 pounds overweight. Any time I let me weight creep that far out of a normal bmi range im asking for trouble. Right now I'm in my normal bmi range and do core work 3 times a week religiously. I can run, bike, lift, and do pretty much whatever else I want.

after the surgery you'll be pain free. If you want to stay that way then walk your arse off and when you're cleared focus on core work and keeping your weight in the healthy bmi range.

Also, I agree completely with making sure you get a neurosurgeon to do it.

This post was edited on 5/15/21 at 10:31 pm

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Posted by Yeti_Chaser

Member since Nov 2017

7472 posts

Posted on 5/15/21 at 10:37 pm to RainMan

Whatever you decide be sure to give us an update in a few months