Repost:Has anyone had or know someone who has had a Lumbar Discectomy

I think/Know I will be having this proccedure. I am freaking out right now!! I need some details about personal experiences with the surgery. What is the recovery time? Thank you in advance!!

Message edited 3/9/2006 8:04:08 AM.

Re: Repost:Has anyone had or know someone who has had a Lumbar Discectomy

I've never had any type of surgery but was curious about your post......
Best of Luck with the surgery....

Message edited 3/9/2006 8:05:44 AM.

Re: Repost:Has anyone had or know someone who has had a Lumbar Discectomy

My Mom has had a discetomy done on 2 discs in her neck and also a big section of her lower back (i believe it was 3 or 4 sections starting at L3 but don't quote me on that!! I am not an expert)

Let me know if you want me to ask her any questions. She was in such bad shape before the surgery-constantly in pain, walking very slow and off-balance,couldn't get in and out of the car without help etc. Her back pain is gone. Last week was 1 year since the surgery and she is doing great. My Mom is not old-she was 48 when she had this surgery-she is doing so good, Able to walk the mall, get around on her own etc.
My one piece on advice is that if the Dr. says you need the surgery, don't put it off too long. They told her to have the surgery before my wedding and she pushed it off by almost a year-she just lived in excruciating pain--because she waited so long she has some nerve damage that is slowly getting better. She had a walker in the beginning and then a cane for awhile-this is NOT the norm but it is so important not to push the surgery off too long!!!
Please FM me if you have any questions about it!!

The Dr. had said the recovery time was going to be 4-6 weeks but it was longer for her-mainly because of the nerve problem and her muscles were so weak-after the surgery he said he had never seen a patient with such a bad case of disk degeneration-especially somebody who was up and walking around.

Message edited 3/9/2006 8:45:47 AM.

Re: Repost:Has anyone had or know someone who has had a Lumbar Discectomy

I had a lumbar Laminectomy in 97. I was in a lot of pain after surgery and went through 10 months of physical therapy 3 times a week....I still experience a lot of pain, so although the surgery helped...It didn't cure the problem. I see a chiropractor 4 times a week and have had 3 epidural shots to get me out of bed...because I was out of work for over a month.

I wish you tons of luck and suggest you try the shots before the surgery...my surgeon suggested it after finding out that I needed another surgery 10 years after the first one.

If you need the name of my pain specialist, let me know....
Feel better!

Re: Repost:Has anyone had or know someone who has had a Lumbar Discectomy

Posted by Crismicka

I had a lumbar Laminectomy in 97. I was in a lot of pain after surgery and went through 10 months of physical therapy 3 times a week....I still experience a lot of pain, so although the surgery helped...It didn't cure the problem. I see a chiropractor 4 times a week and have had 3 epidural shots to get me out of bed...because I was out of work for over a month.

I wish you tons of luck and suggest you try the shots before the surgery...my surgeon suggested it after finding out that I needed another surgery 10 years after the first one.

If you need the name of my pain specialist, let me know....
Feel better!

Re: Repost:Has anyone had or know someone who has had a Lumbar Discectomy

My Mom was living on those shots! Finally the Dr. said she couldn't keep up like that. She ended up all over looking for a Dr. who was confident enough in doing the surgery on the 4 sections-she ended up with a spinal-neurosurgeon in Connecticut. She still goes to PT 1-2 times a week to work on rebuilding the lost muscle strength.

Re: Repost:Has anyone had or know someone who has had a Lumbar Discectomy

I was just reading through the pamphlet and it says that its a microscopic procedure and I can go home the same day! Was any of yours this type?