I am a few days away from being 4 weeks post-op from microdiscectomy at L4-L5. The first two weeks post-op I felt great. Went back for a re-check, was released to drive and given modified physical activity restrictions. Three days later, I went to an appointment, met friends for lunch, and as I was walking to my car, I had a lot of pain in my hip and calf. I figured it was just time for some ibuprofen, but that did not help at all. Went to a convenient store on the way home and didn’t think I would make it back to my car. I was doing a shuffle-hop to walk at all. I spent the next two days in bed, face down, getting up only if it was necessary. I was unable to walk w/o pushing a chair as a walker. On the third day, I was doing much better—able to be up and around and about 50% improvement in pain. Later that evening, I scooted over on my bed, got a “zing” in my back and down my leg and was back to square one. The next day, my doctor called in a Medrol Dose Pack which did not significantly improve my symptoms. I finished that two days ago and, now, he has me on Neurontin. He says it’s too early to think this is anything other than rebound inflammation—-that he is trying to make me comfortable and after 5 weeks, if it’s still not getting better, we will repeat MRI. Meanwhile, I am worse off than I was before the surgery. What are your thoughts? BTW, thank you for this forum as it has at least helped me to be patient and stay positive throughout this ordeal.
