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  • Discodan
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    Post count: 5

    So another update and maybe some advice needed.
    So at end of April into early May I was busy for a week on farm, I was driving tractor on rough ground for a few hrs each day and picking stones. I felt the tractor driving in particular caused me some discomfort as i was being thrown around inside the cab. I noticed after this week i couldnt walk very far{2km} without feeling the same discomfort/numbness along with mild referral pain down my left leg, very similar to how i felt in my original post last November. I got physio which helped but after a few days i resumed work as normal on farm and the discomfort returned, at no point did i feel any sharp pain, it was more of a discomfort that gradually gets worse with activity or driving tractor. It can be very uncomfortable at night. I got more physio a couple of times and took nurofen but have been struggling ever since. I went to my GP 3 wks ago and he gave me a reducing dose of steroids{prednisoline) for 8 days which made a huge difference in my recovery last November but they didnt seem to have the same effect this time around. He was happy with my reflexes and my range of movement is pretty good without feeling any sharp pain. So its been 9 or 10 wks now like this, there have been times i felt i was making progress having 2 or 3 good days but i easily irritate it again by doing very small things like walking that little bit further, maybe 3km or by doing something on farm. Ive kept away from doing any heavy lifting or tractor work.

    I have a follow up appointment with surgeon on july 29th which will be 15months post op.
    Have you any advice? Should I request another Mri before seeing him?

    Discodan
    Participant
    Post count: 5

    So A quick update 5months since my last post and almost a full year after my operation.

    Massive improvement, I met surgeon on 9th Dec last and had an MRI the same day. Mri came back looking very good and surgeon said I need to give it more time, a year or maybe even 18months he said. I had been experiencing improvement for a about a month at this stage after taking a course of oral steroids along with antibiotics for a chest infection. Even though they weren’t prescribed to treat my back they really helped me turn a corner.

    Nowadays I’m doing really well. I’m back working daily on the farm doing manual work but minding myself. I walk every day and i do a 7km or 8km walk maybe 3 times a week now. I’m taking no pain killers at all now. There are days when I’m a bit stiff and sore and I just take things that bit easier.

    Overall I’m very pleased with where i am today especially when I thought surgery was a failure 6months post op.

    I am excited about the future and I’m in a positive state of mind again..Stay safe everyone..

    Discodan
    Participant
    Post count: 5

    Seems pretty sound advice. I’ve been able to build up my exercise twice already before the flare up/setbacks so I’m still hopeful that I can do it again more patiently and steadily.
    Im booked in for MRI and follow up on 9th/Dec so I will know more then.

    Thank you again for getting back to me.

    Discodan
    Participant
    Post count: 5

    Thank you for your quick response and after reading both the IDR and Stenosis links you sent it’s seems to tie in with my symptoms and the mri imaging I saw of my l5s1 disc.

    I suppose I’m also wondering what your thoughts are regarding the chances of my current symptoms improving given I’m now at 7months post op?? I’ve read that in some cases where a nerve has been compressed a long time (7yrs in my case) it can take much longer for the nerve to settle down. But I have interpreted that if I have IDR as a result of my surgery then the root cause of my symptoms now may not be from my decompressed nerve..

    If my symptoms do not improve over the next few months, is there any other treatment other than surgery that can help my situation? I’ve noticed the oral steroid I took for my flu helped, does this mean a steroid injection may help? I suppose my end goal here is to get back working at maybe 75% capacity and being able to walk/cycle a good distance.

    When you say not to jump into another surgery, are you saying that maybe I should be happy with where I am and settle for that? Maybe that is the way to go and I may have to get my head around that. I suppose I just love being active but I am aware that there are people in much worse situations than me.
    I won’t be jumping into another surgery and if it’s suggested as an option to me Id definitely be getting a second opinion.

    Thank you again for your response, it’s hard to get a response let alone and informed opinion on any other forum.

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