Discectomy

Back surgeries are serious man. Do whatever PT they prescribe you and I wouldn’t venture too far from it. You want to do everything you can to heal right.

I've learned more from this, than I have from my Dr. I told him that I still had a little sciatic pain after my surgery and he said it, " may" take some time before it goes away. He didnt tell me what to expect in the coming weeks. I have not heard from him since. I called his office Friday and they told me, he'd call me back. Still nothing. Thank you for responding.

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. I told him that I still had a little sciatic pain after my surgery and he said it, " may" take some time before it goes away.

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I had off and on pain for 3 or 4 years after my surgery. Nothing serious but just pain that would make me think maybe I pop the disc again. About 2 years after my doc put me in the MRI again but it was all good. Even now, 15 years after, if I lift something too heavy, I will have a little scatic nerve tingle for a few days.

So the discectomy will relieve pressure on the nerve by removing some of the disc. So you will feel better from that at first, but the nerve itself still needs a long time to heal as they are slow healers. Most docs say 6 mos to a year depending on how bad the nerve damage was and how long it was being pinched. The more inflamed it was, the longer it takes.
So imagine it’s still swollen and inflamed just as if you mashed your finger in a car door multiple times. So if you increase load on the spine with excessive bending, lifting, squatting and such, you will get to the point you are putting pressure on the nerve again and will feel the same pain possible you felt before surgery. I felt mine at least to some extent for about 8 months. Past 4-5 months it was mainly off and on when I did too much.
You can also re herniate the disc if you put too much load on it before it scars over. Take it easy for a while. Don’t screw this up or you may need a more invasive surgery.

Doc has been telling me that I need one for about three years. How bad was the procedure?

I came back to work yesterday and the Dr. was reluctant to allow it but he said I could come back if I do not sit down for more than 10 minutes at a time. I'm on a computer most of the day and I put my screen on a box and my keyboard on a garbage can so I can stand during the day. Sitting is the worst thing. That's when I feel pain.