[Doug]

#4537

This forum is very helpful and I thank you for having it. Based on your advice I cancelled my overseas trip plans as I didn’t want to take any chances even though you said it could be done. I thank you for that advice. It’s been nearly 4 weeks since the microdiscectomy at the L-5 S-1 and I thought the readers would like to hear the results. I can actually sit again which was my biggest issue. The Neurosurgeons both yelled at me that I should not have waited 6 months and should have only waited 3 months due to the degree of my pain after 3 months and due to the fact that I had already had 3 epidurals of steroids by 3 months. The research beforehand was all over the place but now I agree with them that it was a mistake. The extra 3 months they said caused a stretching of the nerve as it was being pushed by the disc. After the surgery there was a delay of about 12 hours when it was as we say all hell broke loose in regards to the fact that when the Surgeon was cutting into my back as he had to get close to the nerve there was a tearing of the dura matter of the nerve which just inside that dura matter is CSF = Cerebral Spinal Fluid which leaked out. They warned me beforehand of it’s possibility and after the surgery that it occurred but they should have smacked me in the face because I forgot and at about 4 AM at home I thought I was going to die. I called 911, the hospital etc. and they said call the surgeon as all I could say was that I had a fever. In any event finally at 7 AM the Surgeon called me back and explained everything in greater detail so I started doing as he said and it all went away in a couple of days. For the next 3 weeks when I would walk though it felt as though someone was walking behind me kicking my thigh muscle. Finally two days ago that stopped. Today after driving 3 hours I have noticed some pain when sitting again but nothing like before. There is also a numbness to the right side of my right thigh as I feel it when I touch it but there is no real pain associated with it. The Surgeon blames it on the fact that I waited 6 months instead of 3 for the surgery and the Surgeon disagrees with the advice of the Pain Specialist who was giving the Epidural Steroids who said wait 6 months. I didn’t know it but sometimes they do the surgery from the front but mine was from the back. All in all I am happy with the results to date and again am thankful to Dr. Corenman for this site and his advice.

Attached files

[Doug]

#4538

I attached in my previous comment a photo of the little scar which is the length of a belt loop.

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#4539

Thank you for sharing your experience with the forum. It is important to know that generally, surgery can be very helpful to relieve pain and reduce pressure on the nerve. Some comments regarding what you were told.

I agree that waiting six months was probably a mistake as studies reveal that herniated disc surgery results are probably not as good when waiting that time period prior to surgery. However, the fear factor that most patients experience (“I don’t want someone cutting on my back”) makes denial seem more plausible.

The dural leak you experienced is very unusual but can happen even in the best of hands. The numbness you have experienced is something that was present before surgery but was covered over by the pain, so when the pain recedes after surgery, the numbness is revealed. Normally, plan on 4-6 months for the numbness to go away but some have permanent numbness. It is no problem for most patients.

Pain docs are in a bind with surgery vs. injections. The injections reduce pain but can be only be a temporary benefit. A general rule is that if the symptoms are not tolerable after three months, surgery should be considered.

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.

[Doug]

#4541

Everything that the Doc said above is exactly correct. Don’t wait 6 months! I asked the Surgeon since my Aunt who is also my Godmother has been in a wheel chair for over 30 years from malpractice of incorrect back surgery what were the chances of me ending up in a wheel chair. He said -0-. I agree with him now and explain that was what was playing on my mind as to why I also was putting it off. Now I feel stupid for having waited so long so listen to what the Doc says. If 3 months have elapsed: Get the surgery if you still have the pain. Get a 2nd opinion if you don’t trust the Surgeon and see if he doesn’t tell you the same thing the first Surgeon told you. Also note that if you put it off 6 months and are taking all those meds you risk the potential of become addicted to the meds and then have to go through the process of getting off of them which isn’t easy. Again though the CSF leakage is rare but you should if the Surgeon tells you it is possible get written instructions as to what to do if it occurs because if you follow the instructions it is not a big deal. It was only a big deal to me because I didn’t recognize the symptoms as being from the CSF leakage and I didn’t know what to do as well as the fact that it was 4 AM when it all went down.

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