Tagged: back pain after microdiscectomy
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I’ve had back pain off and on for year . I used to work at a job doing heavy lifting and I also gained a lot of weight quickly because of a medicatio . So I’d have periods of severe back pain and my Dr would give me steroids and it helpe . On Feb 14 2016 I woke up and my back was hurting very severely. I got up to walk to the restroom and I felt something pop in my back. Then suddenly my legs went numb and I had severe pain in my bottom and hips. I went on like this for a month because I couldn’t afford the Dr copay. The pain was horrendous. I finally went to the neurosurgeon and he had copies of my MRI. He said I needed surgery immediately. So I had surgery the next day on march 16. The pain was a lot better. But my left foot still felt kind of numb. I had pain meds and they helped a lot. But after the surgery my legs and back were extrememly weak. Dr ordered physical therapy. I’m still somewhat weak. But severe pain has returned. Its only in my back. Its so bad it feels like my back is breaking when I try to walk. So I went back to the neurosurgeon. He HD ordered an MRI but I didn’t have the copay for it. So he said he knows what’s going on. All the cushion between those vertebrae is gone. It is at l5 s1 anyways. He said I have to wait two years before he will consider another surgery. My question is should I get a second opinion? Or do I really have to just keep dealing with this pain? Its been 6 months since my microdicsectom . Is there anything I can do to make this pain better? I can barely function some days. He also said it will get a lot better after my gastric sleeve surgery and I lose weight. Is this true? I really hope so. ThAnk you.
Your surgeon is probably correct. The large disc herniation he (or she) removed was part of the cushion of the L5-S1 disc. With the herniation (along with probable long standing degeneration), the disc no longer is absorbing shock and the bones are overloaded. Since it has been six months without relief (and I assume you underwent physical therapy and failed), you could be a candidate for surgery. I would disagree with your surgeon as to needing to wait two years. Ask if he would consider a back pain work-up to see if surgery could help you. If he would not, consider a second opinion.
Dr. Corenman
PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.Yes. I did physical therapy. It helped some with the leg and back weakness. I’m still having a lot of trouble. I fell yesterday and that makes the fourth time I have fell since my surgery. I will ask him about that. I just know I can’t live with this pain forever. Thank you for replying. If you would like to see a picture of my MRI you can email me. Thank you again.
Please ask your surgeon if he would reconsider his decision. If not, a second opinion would be appropriate.
Dr. Corenman
PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books. -
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