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HELP Slipped disc surgery; Post Surgery Recovery
Topic Started: 16 Nov 2010, 09:43 AM (237 Views)
rachaelht
Newbie
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Dear All,

I'm new to this forum so please bear with me. The forum came highly recommended by a friend and neighbour and I'm looking to see if anyone out there can help me in any way. I really don't know where else to turn to and having a 5 yr old daughter I'm desperate to get back on my feet.

As I'm a newbie to this I am including lots of info about my health which you may find totally irrelevant so apologies for that!!!!!!!!

I am a 38 yr female and slipped a disc between L4 and L5 in June this year trapping my sciatic nerve and causing immense pain down my left leg. Due to the size of the prolapse my only option was micro surgery which I had under a spinal block at Preston Royal Infirmary Lancashire 5 weeks ago today by Mr Golash.

I am still having a LOT OF PAIN in my left buttock and in my lower shin and ankle. I am also pretty wiped out, so much so, my day consists of getting up to get my daughter ready for school, going back to bed, getting up for some tea and bathing and putting my daughter to bed then going back to bed myself.
I do get up every 2 hours or so (inc during the night) and walk a little around the room to keep myself moving.

IS THIS PAIN THE NORM 5 WEEKS AFTER SURGERY?? IT'S NOT IN ALL THE PLACES IN MY LEG AS WAS PRE SURGERY BUT IT'S JUST AS PAINFUL AND IT'S THE SAME KIND OF PAIN.

As I have M.E I can maybe understand being wiped out, as having any anaesthetic can cause a flare up of my M.E. On top of which the wound became slightly infected in week 3 post op and I was put on antibiotics, which again can cause me to feel rotten because of the M.E.

I have spinal osteoporosis with various osteophytes in the cervical and lumbar vertebrae and an old fracture of T7 (pre 2000) which I wasn't aware I had done until an xray 2007, OA and RA in my knees and hands - all of which was diagnosed 2007. The M.E was diagnosed in 1988 after 2 years of being 80% bed bound plus all the other usual symptons associated with M.E.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING TIME OUT TO READ THIS.

KIND REGARDS

RACHAEL X
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ajj1001
Advanced Member
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Hi Rachael and welcome to the forum.

Are you due to go back soon for a post op appointment? If not and you are concerned then its worth contacting them to check out if all is normal. Also are you under the care of someone for you ME? Can they help with managing your post op symptoms?

It can take a while for things to settle down following any spinal surgery. Its possible you're just doing a little too much with a 5 year old to look after. You have a complicated set of conditions to manage so understand its difficult.

Hope you start to feel better soon.

alison x
Std Meds Gabapentin, MR Tramadol, Paracetemol, Laxatives
2011 Sept PLIF L4 - S1
2010 May Discogram L2/L3 & L3/L4 both looking ok.
2009 May PLG Fusion L5/S1 Charite in situ
April Dismissed
2008 Caudal Epidural failed to work
2007 Deterioration L5/S1 Facet arthritis, Loss of disc height.
2004 Returned to Work
2002 Aug - physio
March 2 level ADR Charite L4/5, L5/S1
2000 Broadbased disc prolapses L4/5, L5/S1
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Tony L
Full Member
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Hi Rachael
Welcome to the site sorry you find the need. Alison has given you good advice, if your due for a post op appointment or not do check it out with them if only for your own peace of mind. It is early days since surgery and as Alison says you could be over doing it with a 5 year old to look after its bad enough sometimes looking after ourselves when in pain and dealing with health problems.

Regards
Tony
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Alastair
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Alastair
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Hi Rachel,
there's a complete section in the FAQs that was written by a Dr about spine problems and small children. I would strongly suggest that you get into the FAQs as soon as possible.

Are you expecting to have physiotherapy in the next week or so as a follow-up to your surgery, normally six weeks after surgery physiotherapy is offered.

In addition to the painkillers that you've got, try heat or cold to ease the pain
Best,
Alastair :D
Founder of this board 24th February 2007
Slow and Steady Wins This Race
Over 23 Years experience and research into spine surgery and over 2500 surgeries discussed and recorded

ADR L5/S1 Surgery with Dr Zeegers 26th July 2002 in Munich
8 facet joint ablations 28 – 8 – 12 with Dr Baranidharan and Jake Timothy in Leeds Diagnosed Forestiers disease
Your Best Asset Is Your Health
I live in West Yorkshire aged 81 now

Knowledge is power
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Gilly
Advanced Member
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Hi Rachael,
Just like to say welcome to the forum even though I do know you!!!!!! Hope everyone is able to give you some good advice and some help as I know how much you are suffering at the moment.
Love Gilly xxxxxxx
1990 MRI - disc protrusions levels 4/5 - fusion offered but
declined due to poor prognosis.
2007 MRI - disc protrusions Level 4/5 level5/S1
2010 2 level lumbar ADR Mr Ian Shackleford Warrington General

2010 MRI - disc protrusions at levels C4/5 C5/6
2011 27 June 2 level Cervical ADR Mr S at Spire (on NHS)
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