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  • Tank98
    Member
    Post count: 4

    Hi doc I’m a 31yr old I have a herniated disc 9mm gonna have surgery jan 16th on L5-S1 my symptoms started January 28 2011 had back pain which flared up my static nerve and led to numbness in my right buttock and thigh I had lil pain I’ve been of work for over a year now although I have numbness I can still bend down and twist with no pain and squat as well as other things I sleep fine only some tightness but that’s it also just had gastric by pass surgery so I’ve lost several pounds (35)lbs since nov7th I’m doing cardio workout 45min of treadmill and some elliptical only negative things I have is the numbness in right side hasen’ t gone away and my right leg is deteriating and right foot gets numb while walking but no pain Now will my surgery help ? And how long will recovery be?

    Tank98
    Member
    Post count: 4

    My back pain is between 4 lowest and highest -6 no haven’t used any machines or treatment other than physical therapy I’m on workmans comp for the state and was recently approved for back specialist and once I was viewed by him he recommend surgery due right leg deteriating no strength in leg no calf muscle I advised him that I can’t lift my leg up of my toes like a calf raise and on my left I could and with no change in 11months till I saw him he wanted me to do surgery

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    You have had a disc herniation at L5-S1 for a year now. Your symptoms are of no leg pain but continuing numbness of your right thigh and numbness of your foot, only when walking. You do have lower back pain from 4-6 on a VAS (visual analog scale). You note your “right leg is deteriorating” and later note weakness of the calf muscle.

    This sound like a classic case of an S1 compression radiculopathy. S1 is the nerve that becomes compressed with a disc herniation at the L5-S1 level. It is disturbing to hear of weakness one year out from the disc herniation. I am not sure that the muscle will recover even with surgery but I do agree with your surgeon that surgery sounds indicated. The best chance for motor strength recovery is with a decompression.

    Since it has been one year since the herniation, consideration of a new MRI is warranted to determine the extent of compression and to look for bone spur formation. I am also somewhat concerned about your lower back pain. Is the pain central (in the center of your back) or is it off to the side? If the pain is central, it may not respond to a microdiscectomy but that remains to be seen.

    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.
    Tank98
    Member
    Post count: 4

    Well unfortunately with the state it took almost 10 months to get MRI approved and I have pain in the center and lower part of my back but pain is only in the morning when stiff once I’m up walking around I have very little pain if any as far as getting another MRI don’t think state will go for it plus don’t wanna wait another 10 months for approval I do have a question 1.why don’t I have pain like other people in same situation ? 2. Will I have success with this surgery after losing good amount of weight from gastric by pass surgery? And 3. How will my recovery be ? 4. and will I be able to run again with out numbness?

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    It is good to hear that your lower back pain disappears after you rise in the morning. I also assume the MRI was done within the last two months as you stated you had to wait 10 months for the images. This means that the images are current and reflect your pathology.

    Weight loss is good as there will be less pressure on the disc during rehabilitation and for the rest of your life.

    The reason you do not have pain but only numbness could be good or problematic. The nerve root can adapt to a compressive herniation and pain can decrease by this adaptation. The nerve can also stop functioning and this can also decrease pain but this means the recovery is less complete after surgery.

    Numbness always takes much longer to diminish than pain. I have seen cases that take six months to recover and some that do not completely recover. Most likely you will be able to run again with less numbness after surgery.

    It has been studied that if surgery is performed more than six months after the nerve compression, the results are less compelling than if you has surgery before six months. None the less, surgery seems to be called for here.

    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.
    Tank98
    Member
    Post count: 4

    Well doc had my surgery on monday jan 16 th 2012 had right sided L5-S1 hemilaminectomy and microdiskectomy went well had lil pain after waking up was given pain meds which helped stayed over night around 7pm I attempted to walk and ended up walking around nurses station till 7:45 pm lost count of laps now I’m on my 2nd day out have no pain just soreness little tight in the am but once I’m up and back warms up tightness goes away still have numbness in right thigh doc said will take time to regain feeling so now I’m looking forward to a speedy recovery of 4-6 months wanna say thank u for your info and for answering my questions . And if u have comments or suggestions of my surgery received or any tips for after surgery recovery they would be much appreciated thank u

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