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Has anyone here had a microdiscectomy for a herniated disc?
Posted on 9/20/26 at 10:46 am
Posted on 9/20/26 at 10:46 am
Have a herniated disc that is compressing a nerve. The disc/annular tear is manageable, the nerve pain is insane.
Weighing letting it heal naturally versus the surgery.
Anyone with experience?
Weighing letting it heal naturally versus the surgery.
Anyone with experience?
Posted on 9/20/26 at 10:55 am to catfish 62
I had one and glad I did. The pain was bad. I had it on Monday and was back at work the following Monday. The note from the doctor stated, I had to stand at my desk for three weeks and my employer held me to it which was harder than I expected but the pain was gone.
Posted on 9/20/26 at 11:04 am to catfish 62
I’ve had a herniated L-4/5 that has dogged me for years, I’ve had a surgery where they cut the protruding part off and probably 5 epidural steroid shots.
The surgery fixed it for four or so years but the left leg pain/numbness eventually came back, when it gets in the top of your calf muscle is hell.
Mine finally scared over and barely bothers me anymore.
The surgery fixed it for four or so years but the left leg pain/numbness eventually came back, when it gets in the top of your calf muscle is hell.
Mine finally scared over and barely bothers me anymore.
This post was edited on 9/20/26 at 11:06 am
Posted on 9/20/26 at 11:06 am to catfish 62
Only have surgery if you can't take the pain. Once you start having back surgery you'll never stop having back surgery.
Posted on 9/20/26 at 11:14 am to Ricardo
quote:
Only have surgery if you can't take the pain
I’m about two weeks into the compressed nerve and the pain is so tough. Managing it with pain medicine but it doesn’t fully go away.
We are due in 2 weeks with our third baby too.
I’ve gathered that surgery and natural recovery (reabsorption) take the same amount of time roughly, but the surgical benefit is the nerve pain is gone instantly.
If I could get the nerve pain to die down, it’s a no brainer to wait on cutting out the herniated portion…
Posted on 9/20/26 at 11:16 am to catfish 62
Dealt with it for 3 years. Ate ibuprofen like tic tacs. Finally healed on its on. That was 25 years ago. Been fine ever since
Posted on 9/20/26 at 11:17 am to catfish 62
I have 2 in my neck. C5 and C6 I think. Me and meloxicam deal with the pain. When I turn my head I can hear things crunching.
Posted on 9/20/26 at 11:18 am to catfish 62
I went in for a microdiscectomy for a herniated disc a few years ago. Four months later I was in more pain than before the surgery. I couldn't lay flat and had to sleep in my recliner and eventually could not put any weight on my left leg to the point where I had to talk myself into getting up and taking a piss. I thought I had a case of failed back surgery. Finally, after four months the doctor ordered an MRI (which was pure hell lying flat for 45 minutes) and found that I had a staph infection in my spine and to report to the emergency room. IV antibiotics did nothing for it, so they ended up doing a two-level fusion. This was a case of bad luck for me, and I am not trying to discourage you from getting the surgery but be aware of the risks associated any time they open you up.
Posted on 9/20/26 at 11:19 am to catfish 62
I haven't, but I have a lot of second hand experience
The minimally-invasive stuff is incredible these days. Nothing like the old surgeries and I think fewer long-term issues. If you're going to have surgery, go to a big city and do that with pros.
The minimally-invasive stuff is incredible these days. Nothing like the old surgeries and I think fewer long-term issues. If you're going to have surgery, go to a big city and do that with pros.
Posted on 9/20/26 at 11:22 am to catfish 62
Yes
Glad I did.
I was started to feel better but did it anyway after miserable couple of months. So healing but went back to many activities and non issue now
Glad I did.
I was started to feel better but did it anyway after miserable couple of months. So healing but went back to many activities and non issue now
Posted on 9/20/26 at 11:23 am to catfish 62
If you can manage and maintain quality of life, I would
If you can’t get the surgery
And also me aware that you can have permanent motor loss, so if you start noticing weakness in an extremity don’t pass it off as a passing issue.
If you can’t get the surgery
And also me aware that you can have permanent motor loss, so if you start noticing weakness in an extremity don’t pass it off as a passing issue.
Posted on 9/20/26 at 11:24 am to SlowFlowPro
quote:
The minimally-invasive stuff is incredible these days
It’s a pretty impressive operation for being about 40 minutes. One inch or less incision, small bone fragment removal, vacuum out herniation and move the nerve to the side, stitch it up and done.
I’m highly confident in the surgeons ability, just weighing the trade off of recovery times with a new born in route.
Posted on 9/20/26 at 11:28 am to catfish 62
I had one in late November / early December. I went back offshore a week later (I don't do much besides walk around). I'm playing golf again like nothing ever happened.
Posted on 9/20/26 at 11:30 am to tigerfoot
quote:
And also me aware that you can have permanent motor loss,
This is also what I’m worried about. It’s only been two weeks so far, but my foot is tingly numb (expected) and the shooting pain in my hip, outside calf, and foot/shin is constant. I’m limping around now but last visit the doc said my strength was good
Posted on 9/20/26 at 11:40 am to catfish 62
quote:
Has anyone here had a microdiscectomy for a herniated disc?
Guy I fish with had a microdiscectomy and for whatever reason his pain got much worse after the surgery. He was totally laid out. I brought him lunch a couple of times when he couldn't get out of bed. Surgeon went back in for a revision about two months later and it was night and day. About 5-6 months from the second surgery, he was back out on the water and pain free. He started dating this lady who lives in his neighborhood who teaches yoga.
Posted on 9/20/26 at 12:51 pm to TBoy
You sound like a fat fisherman lol
Posted on 9/20/26 at 12:51 pm to catfish 62
I have a bad herniation at L5-S1 and virtually no disc. Back pain was bad but left butt cheek pain and tourniquet sensation around my left leg was miserable. Saw 2 different surgeons and they both gave me same 3 options. I asked about needing to do PT first for insurance approval. I did 12 weeks of PT and lost 65# over a year and it was unbelievable how much better I got. I still hurt like a mfer in the AM if I overdue it the day before (lane trimming/tractor work) but after a little while of moving around it loosens up and gets better. I’ll prob still need surgery eventually but I’m 44 and I’d like to kick the can down the road so to speak.
Posted on 9/20/26 at 12:58 pm to catfish 62
Did your MRIs show any cervical or lumbar stenosis? I have both. Lumbar is "severe", and I have periodic, unbearable left leg sciatica.. Still at the info gathering stage.
Posted on 9/20/26 at 1:58 pm to beauxgy
quote:
Did your MRIs show any cervical or lumbar stenosis? I have both.
No stenosis and excellent disc height and color in all, even including the herniated one.
Posted on 9/20/26 at 2:29 pm to catfish 62
Yes just go ahead and do it if it’s bothering you that badly. I’m glad I did. I couldn’t live with that nerve pain.
You could also try an epidural first to see if that does anything. They didn’t work for me but I know people that they have worked for. Your insurance will most likely require you to try that anyways before signing off on surgery.
You could also try an epidural first to see if that does anything. They didn’t work for me but I know people that they have worked for. Your insurance will most likely require you to try that anyways before signing off on surgery.
This post was edited on 9/20/26 at 2:32 pm
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