re: Microdiscectomy for sciatica / herniated disc

Ive had 2 MDs. First L4/5 and the disc had actually ruptured which means parts of it were free floating in my spinal column. When a piece would touch my nerve, it was extreme pain and why PT didn't help. I was pain free when I woke up from surgery and back to work in a week. Second surgery 7 years later was because I'm dumb and was lifting something heavy while bent forward at the waist. I felt it pop and my back immediately tightened. It got better over a few months but popped again so I went back to my surgeon and had another MD, can't remember which disc but it wasn't the same one. Again, pain free after surgery. Advice people gave me before my first surgery was have a neurosurgeon do it rather than an ortho. Neuros deal with nerves and that is really what your dealing with.

Ahhh, got ya back issue is the fricking worse especially if you are active. I definitely wasn't the best patient in regards to taking it easy. Some my own fault and some circumstantial. I am praying it is not herniated/ruptured again.

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had 5 busted from running.

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WTF; what DOESNT cause this?

Deads, squats, bent rows, and now running?

People on work comp never go back to work after this surgery.

Yep, had it done twice over the past two years....once on the right side and once on the left side. Both went great. I'm extremely active and feel fantastic. I'd have it done yearly if I had to do so in order to get the relief I now have. Just follow the post op directions and you'll be fine. It's a fairly short recovery. Changed my life.

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Has anyone on here or anyone you know had a Microdiscectomy for a herniated disc

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2017, L4/L5 checking in.

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Curious how it went and how long it took to get back to normal.

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I tried to hold our for no surgery as long as I could, but it was too crippling. My neuro was a wizard - I woke up from the surgery with ZERO of the nerve pain. The 4 weeks of doing basically nothing is kind of a bummer while you nurse the incision. 2 weeks of physical therapy and then I graduated to personal training at the gym.

These surgeries are very routine for these guys (don't be surprised if your neuro does 5 that same day). They don't go near your cord, so risk of something truly awful is low.

Recovery is also psychological because it's so hard to start fully trusting it again. You will learn in PT how to move in such a way in all activities that really limits the chance of a recurrence.

A year on, you'll be doing anything you want.

Get it, take care of yourself and put in the work to rehab. Good luck!

I really appreciate all of the replies! I’ve got a well respected neurosurgeon doing it so feel confident in it. I’m glad to hear many of you are feeling better

It’s interesting that the anti surgeon people I speak with never had sciatica just back pain so they don’t know exactly what I’ve been dealing with. And the ones who said they’ve heard “horror stories” from back surgery can never tell me specific instances. When I tell them it’s an outpatient surgery they say “oh then that’s a different back surgery I heard about”

I got the surgery done on Monday. Dr said surgery went well. Took about an hour and half and was in the car headed home about 30-45 minutes after surgery.

When I woke up the sciatica pain was gone. There has been some minimal tingling on the side of my calf. Oddly worst pain is in heel of foot in middle of night but it just lasts for a few seconds. Some nauseous and little headache. Extra strength Tylenol helps with the incision pain and headache. Only used prescribed pain meds for first night and day

Been taking short walks throughout house. Going to do a very small neighborhood walk this afternoon and try to go longer each day without pushing it. Won't lift anything or bend back for a few weeks.

Hardest thing is getting into bed b/c incision feels tight and nervous making things worse.

I know it's only day 4 and I've got to be patient but so far so good.

A few tips after surgery:
- Have some stool softeners ready to go - eat prunes. You'll be constipated and bloated after surgery
- Tylenol extra strength
- Order a picker upper to keep from bending. My cell phone charger on bedside table keeps dropping and it's been great to not bend to pick it up. Same with tv remote
- Set up cell phone charger on kitchen counter so when you're doing your walking you can charge phone
- Watch some videos on how to get in and out of bed. Really helps especially when you get the hang of it
- Drink tons of water/Gatorade
- Take multiple short walks around the house. Don't lay around all day especially on day 1 and 2

Feel free to ask me any questions and I appreciate all those that replied to my original post.