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Q: lumbar micro disectomy of L5/s1
asked by:
ioka
on August 7th, 2009
Supporter
hello,
Im wondering if anyone has had this surgery and what benefits they have achieved from it.
I was at hospital today and the spinal surgeon i spoke to told me i need this operation even if to make my legs more pain free.
he went through my mri scans with me and explained the procedure and for the first time in 3 yrs i was shown my prolapse and it looked like a tadpole hanging out of the place where my disc should be.
Ive been told i shall have pain indefinatley this is just to try help take the pressure off the nerves due to swelling.
Before surgery goes ahead i shall be given repeat mri scan and if possible c.t scan to check for nerve damage as it was 10 months since last scan.i stated i wanted another one done as i felt surgery was being hasty on an old reading.
I would like to hear from anyone who has had this surgery done and if they were told not to expect any big benefits from it and maybe actually found they had better mobility through it..
Im wondering if anyone has had this surgery and what benefits they have achieved from it.
I was at hospital today and the spinal surgeon i spoke to told me i need this operation even if to make my legs more pain free.
he went through my mri scans with me and explained the procedure and for the first time in 3 yrs i was shown my prolapse and it looked like a tadpole hanging out of the place where my disc should be.
Ive been told i shall have pain indefinatley this is just to try help take the pressure off the nerves due to swelling.
Before surgery goes ahead i shall be given repeat mri scan and if possible c.t scan to check for nerve damage as it was 10 months since last scan.i stated i wanted another one done as i felt surgery was being hasty on an old reading.
I would like to hear from anyone who has had this surgery done and if they were told not to expect any big benefits from it and maybe actually found they had better mobility through it..
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Replies(34)
littleonefb
replied on August 7th, 2009
Extremely eHealthy
LOKA,
so glad to hear that you have seen another doctor and are getting new MRI and CT scans as well.
Interesting that the doctor said you will have pain indefinitely. How is the doctor so sure of that. Even with nerve compression for several years, it does not always mean you have permanent nerve damage.
Have yo had an EMG done, to determine if there is nerve damage?
Anyways, as to your question about micro disectomy of L5/S!.
I've had L4/L5/S1, done a couple of years ago and I was told it might not relieve all of the low lumbar pain on the right side of my butt as that was muscle and only time would tell about that and a round of PT to strengthen those muslces, but I would have significant if not total relief of the nerve pain in my right leg.
I had been having nerve compression for quite a few years, but had no symptoms until I had sudden onset of nerve pain and had surgery 4 months later.
Micro D is good for relieving the pain and nerve pain in legs and feet and thighs but not so great for back pain.
Anyways, in my case, all he pain was gone in my thigh, leg and foot as soon as I woke up from surgery and most of the pain in my butt was gone as well.
Rehab cured the rest of the muscle pain post op. Some nerve pain came back after a couple of weeks post op and that was a good sign. it was sporadic nerve jabs as the nerves healed and I've been fine ever since.
You need to ask your doctor if he is just doing a micro d. or if he is going to also widen the central foramen of the vertebrae and the lateral recess as well.
Also find out how he is going to gain acess to the disc.
The leading caused of failed decompression surgery, i.e. microdiesctomy and disectomy, is a failure to decompress the lateral recess area of the vertebrae and even though the disc has been worked on, the nerves are still compressed in the lateral area of the vertebrae because it was not widened.
this failure to do that leads to many un necessary fusions. So be sure to check about that as well
Recently, in the last few years, laminotomy has gained considerable favor vs doing a full laminectomy to gain access to the disc.
By doing a laminotomy, only a very small piece of the lamina is removed and this helps to keep stability in the spine.
With a laminectomy, the entire lamina is removed and that can lead to instability of the vertebrae, especially if at some time in the future another micro d needs to be done on another level.
Laminectomies can and do lead to the need for fusions as their is so much removed from the vertebrae when it is done.
Like I said, with my surgery a few years ago, I had immediate pain relief, the rest went with physical therapy and a continued home PT program of exercises that I do twice a day every day and you need to do those for the rest of your life.
I've been able to do just about everything that i did before the spine problem began as well. walking, shopping, walking several miles a day, several days a week, gardening on my hands and knees.
The only difference is I can't do the gardening for hours on end like I used to, without taking lots of breaks. So it can take me longer to do things than it used to do.
Then again, I am older now than I was say 10 years ago.
Good luck and if you have any questions just post here or PM me.
Fran
so glad to hear that you have seen another doctor and are getting new MRI and CT scans as well.
Interesting that the doctor said you will have pain indefinitely. How is the doctor so sure of that. Even with nerve compression for several years, it does not always mean you have permanent nerve damage.
Have yo had an EMG done, to determine if there is nerve damage?
Anyways, as to your question about micro disectomy of L5/S!.
I've had L4/L5/S1, done a couple of years ago and I was told it might not relieve all of the low lumbar pain on the right side of my butt as that was muscle and only time would tell about that and a round of PT to strengthen those muslces, but I would have significant if not total relief of the nerve pain in my right leg.
I had been having nerve compression for quite a few years, but had no symptoms until I had sudden onset of nerve pain and had surgery 4 months later.
Micro D is good for relieving the pain and nerve pain in legs and feet and thighs but not so great for back pain.
Anyways, in my case, all he pain was gone in my thigh, leg and foot as soon as I woke up from surgery and most of the pain in my butt was gone as well.
Rehab cured the rest of the muscle pain post op. Some nerve pain came back after a couple of weeks post op and that was a good sign. it was sporadic nerve jabs as the nerves healed and I've been fine ever since.
You need to ask your doctor if he is just doing a micro d. or if he is going to also widen the central foramen of the vertebrae and the lateral recess as well.
Also find out how he is going to gain acess to the disc.
The leading caused of failed decompression surgery, i.e. microdiesctomy and disectomy, is a failure to decompress the lateral recess area of the vertebrae and even though the disc has been worked on, the nerves are still compressed in the lateral area of the vertebrae because it was not widened.
this failure to do that leads to many un necessary fusions. So be sure to check about that as well
Recently, in the last few years, laminotomy has gained considerable favor vs doing a full laminectomy to gain access to the disc.
By doing a laminotomy, only a very small piece of the lamina is removed and this helps to keep stability in the spine.
With a laminectomy, the entire lamina is removed and that can lead to instability of the vertebrae, especially if at some time in the future another micro d needs to be done on another level.
Laminectomies can and do lead to the need for fusions as their is so much removed from the vertebrae when it is done.
Like I said, with my surgery a few years ago, I had immediate pain relief, the rest went with physical therapy and a continued home PT program of exercises that I do twice a day every day and you need to do those for the rest of your life.
I've been able to do just about everything that i did before the spine problem began as well. walking, shopping, walking several miles a day, several days a week, gardening on my hands and knees.
The only difference is I can't do the gardening for hours on end like I used to, without taking lots of breaks. So it can take me longer to do things than it used to do.
Then again, I am older now than I was say 10 years ago.
Good luck and if you have any questions just post here or PM me.
Fran
|
ioka
replied on August 7th, 2009
Supporter
Many thanks to you reply fran..So much information and welcomed.
The spinal neurosurgeon i consulted with today of the institute of neurological sciences explianed a window shall be made in my back and ther shall be various procedures involved before they reach the actual disc..
He explained the same as yourself that it helps the nerve pain in both legs but not for the lumbar region of the back..and that my post op recovery shall be longer than that of a patient who had only a prolapse for six months..
ive not to expect any significant change too soon as it shall be a longer process to reveal how successful the surgery has been..im being positive in my mind about this and hope like you find i have some normality back in my life..
I have to be admitted 2/3 days previous to surgery and have the mri and ct scan so once im in hospital that shall be me until they have checked everything fully before i see inside the theatre..i have to expect to be in hospital for a minimum of two weeks..
This is last chance for me and welcome the surgery with positivity as im own opinion negativity of any kind shall prolong progress. Ive exhausted any other options and waited for this to be the last road i shall venture down.
The nerves shall be checked out and had i not taken second prolapse last year this chance of surgery would not have been possible..i shall keep in touch with you especially after surgery for any tips or help you can give me as ive fought a hard battle for three yrs and shall do so again to gain as good a result as yourself..
The spinal neurosurgeon i consulted with today of the institute of neurological sciences explianed a window shall be made in my back and ther shall be various procedures involved before they reach the actual disc..
He explained the same as yourself that it helps the nerve pain in both legs but not for the lumbar region of the back..and that my post op recovery shall be longer than that of a patient who had only a prolapse for six months..
ive not to expect any significant change too soon as it shall be a longer process to reveal how successful the surgery has been..im being positive in my mind about this and hope like you find i have some normality back in my life..
I have to be admitted 2/3 days previous to surgery and have the mri and ct scan so once im in hospital that shall be me until they have checked everything fully before i see inside the theatre..i have to expect to be in hospital for a minimum of two weeks..
This is last chance for me and welcome the surgery with positivity as im own opinion negativity of any kind shall prolong progress. Ive exhausted any other options and waited for this to be the last road i shall venture down.
The nerves shall be checked out and had i not taken second prolapse last year this chance of surgery would not have been possible..i shall keep in touch with you especially after surgery for any tips or help you can give me as ive fought a hard battle for three yrs and shall do so again to gain as good a result as yourself..
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littleonefb
replied on August 7th, 2009
Extremely eHealthy
LOKA,
so glad to hear that you have seen another doctor and are getting new MRI and CT scans as well.
Interesting that the doctor said you will have pain indefinitely. How is the doctor so sure of that. Even with nerve compression for several years, it does not always mean you have permanent nerve damage.
Have yo had an EMG done, to determine if there is nerve damage?
Anyways, as to your question about micro disectomy of L5/S!.
I've had L4/L5/S1, done a couple of years ago and I was told it might not relieve all of the low lumbar pain on the right side of my butt as that was muscle and only time would tell about that and a round of PT to strengthen those muslces, but I would have significant if not total relief of the nerve pain in my right leg.
I had been having nerve compression for quite a few years, but had no symptoms until I had sudden onset of nerve pain and had surgery 4 months later.
Micro D is good for relieving the pain and nerve pain in legs and feet and thighs but not so great for back pain.
Anyways, in my case, all he pain was gone in my thigh, leg and foot as soon as I woke up from surgery and most of the pain in my butt was gone as well.
Rehab cured the rest of the muscle pain post op. Some nerve pain came back after a couple of weeks post op and that was a good sign. it was sporadic nerve jabs as the nerves healed and I've been fine ever since.
You need to ask your doctor if he is just doing a micro d. or if he is going to also widen the central foramen of the vertebrae and the lateral recess as well.
Also find out how he is going to gain acess to the disc.
The leading caused of failed decompression surgery, i.e. microdiesctomy and disectomy, is a failure to decompress the lateral recess area of the vertebrae and even though the disc has been worked on, the nerves are still compressed in the lateral area of the vertebrae because it was not widened.
this failure to do that leads to many un necessary fusions. So be sure to check about that as well
Recently, in the last few years, laminotomy has gained considerable favor vs doing a full laminectomy to gain access to the disc.
By doing a laminotomy, only a very small piece of the lamina is removed and this helps to keep stability in the spine.
With a laminectomy, the entire lamina is removed and that can lead to instability of the vertebrae, especially if at some time in the future another micro d needs to be done on another level.
Laminectomies can and do lead to the need for fusions as their is so much removed from the vertebrae when it is done.
Like I said, with my surgery a few years ago, I had immediate pain relief, the rest went with physical therapy and a continued home PT program of exercises that I do twice a day every day and you need to do those for the rest of your life.
I've been able to do just about everything that i did before the spine problem began as well. walking, shopping, walking several miles a day, several days a week, gardening on my hands and knees.
The only difference is I can't do the gardening for hours on end like I used to, without taking lots of breaks. So it can take me longer to do things than it used to do.
Then again, I am older now than I was say 10 years ago.
Good luck and if you have any questions just post here or PM me.
Fran
so glad to hear that you have seen another doctor and are getting new MRI and CT scans as well.
Interesting that the doctor said you will have pain indefinitely. How is the doctor so sure of that. Even with nerve compression for several years, it does not always mean you have permanent nerve damage.
Have yo had an EMG done, to determine if there is nerve damage?
Anyways, as to your question about micro disectomy of L5/S!.
I've had L4/L5/S1, done a couple of years ago and I was told it might not relieve all of the low lumbar pain on the right side of my butt as that was muscle and only time would tell about that and a round of PT to strengthen those muslces, but I would have significant if not total relief of the nerve pain in my right leg.
I had been having nerve compression for quite a few years, but had no symptoms until I had sudden onset of nerve pain and had surgery 4 months later.
Micro D is good for relieving the pain and nerve pain in legs and feet and thighs but not so great for back pain.
Anyways, in my case, all he pain was gone in my thigh, leg and foot as soon as I woke up from surgery and most of the pain in my butt was gone as well.
Rehab cured the rest of the muscle pain post op. Some nerve pain came back after a couple of weeks post op and that was a good sign. it was sporadic nerve jabs as the nerves healed and I've been fine ever since.
You need to ask your doctor if he is just doing a micro d. or if he is going to also widen the central foramen of the vertebrae and the lateral recess as well.
Also find out how he is going to gain acess to the disc.
The leading caused of failed decompression surgery, i.e. microdiesctomy and disectomy, is a failure to decompress the lateral recess area of the vertebrae and even though the disc has been worked on, the nerves are still compressed in the lateral area of the vertebrae because it was not widened.
this failure to do that leads to many un necessary fusions. So be sure to check about that as well
Recently, in the last few years, laminotomy has gained considerable favor vs doing a full laminectomy to gain access to the disc.
By doing a laminotomy, only a very small piece of the lamina is removed and this helps to keep stability in the spine.
With a laminectomy, the entire lamina is removed and that can lead to instability of the vertebrae, especially if at some time in the future another micro d needs to be done on another level.
Laminectomies can and do lead to the need for fusions as their is so much removed from the vertebrae when it is done.
Like I said, with my surgery a few years ago, I had immediate pain relief, the rest went with physical therapy and a continued home PT program of exercises that I do twice a day every day and you need to do those for the rest of your life.
I've been able to do just about everything that i did before the spine problem began as well. walking, shopping, walking several miles a day, several days a week, gardening on my hands and knees.
The only difference is I can't do the gardening for hours on end like I used to, without taking lots of breaks. So it can take me longer to do things than it used to do.
Then again, I am older now than I was say 10 years ago.
Good luck and if you have any questions just post here or PM me.
Fran
|
ioka
replied on August 7th, 2009
Supporter
hello fran you have repeated your first message to me again..was there something i missed out to my reply to you?
ioka
ioka
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littleonefb
replied on August 7th, 2009
Extremely eHealthy
Hi Loka, very strange, I posted the message to you, then logged out of the site. No idea how that happened or why it posted twice.
It's midnight now and I just logged on to the site now and there was the post twice.
Very strange for sure.
Do have some questions for you though, after reading your response, the first one.
Why will you be admitted to the hospital to have the tests done?
Why will you be in the hospital for a minimum of 2 weeks? Here in the states, a micro disectomy is done as day surgery and is called a "23 hour admit", so that just in case the patient isn't quite ready to leave the hospital the same day or the surgery is done late in the day, there is a post op bed for over night for the patient.
When are going to be admitted to the hospital?
And yes I have lots and lots of advise for you, before you even go into the hospital, but will post that stuff tomorrow.
Is your doctor thinking that he might have to do more surgery than just the micro D?
Fran
It's midnight now and I just logged on to the site now and there was the post twice.
Very strange for sure.
Do have some questions for you though, after reading your response, the first one.
Why will you be admitted to the hospital to have the tests done?
Why will you be in the hospital for a minimum of 2 weeks? Here in the states, a micro disectomy is done as day surgery and is called a "23 hour admit", so that just in case the patient isn't quite ready to leave the hospital the same day or the surgery is done late in the day, there is a post op bed for over night for the patient.
When are going to be admitted to the hospital?
And yes I have lots and lots of advise for you, before you even go into the hospital, but will post that stuff tomorrow.
Is your doctor thinking that he might have to do more surgery than just the micro D?
Fran
|
ioka
replied on August 8th, 2009
Supporter
hi fran,
Im being admitted in before end of this month.
The reason for this is because of waiting times in uk and if i waited as an outpatient i could be waiting for the mri alone for 6 months..when you are admitted all the tests can be done while im in and results back in two days..
He has given me the option that once all tests are done blood works also i can come home for a few days and be back in day before surgery..
He said on his findings of second mri and the fact i have had too wait 11 months for result of that scan he has decided at this point for lumbar micro disectomy but,
i have also walked around with second prolapse for this time and needs to do more tests for further investigation so there maybe more surgery involved.
The reason for extra post op stay is to make sure i don,t encounter any problems when home as i live 25 miles from hospital and in uk the infection risks in back surgery are high..If as he suspects till nerve scan done that there is nerve damage this shall also need close monotoring after surgery..
He said because i have bi-lateral pain radiating down both legs and the length of time i have waited for surgery my post op recovery shall take longer and it shall be a waiting game for exactly how much relief i have achieved..but i also need to add that he said the success rate is very good and the final decision of lumbar micro d shall be decideed on my new scans.
Like evrything else since this began 3 yrs ago nothing straight forward but i do think surgery is my last hope of some relief even in my legs..
Im being admitted in before end of this month.
The reason for this is because of waiting times in uk and if i waited as an outpatient i could be waiting for the mri alone for 6 months..when you are admitted all the tests can be done while im in and results back in two days..
He has given me the option that once all tests are done blood works also i can come home for a few days and be back in day before surgery..
He said on his findings of second mri and the fact i have had too wait 11 months for result of that scan he has decided at this point for lumbar micro disectomy but,
i have also walked around with second prolapse for this time and needs to do more tests for further investigation so there maybe more surgery involved.
The reason for extra post op stay is to make sure i don,t encounter any problems when home as i live 25 miles from hospital and in uk the infection risks in back surgery are high..If as he suspects till nerve scan done that there is nerve damage this shall also need close monotoring after surgery..
He said because i have bi-lateral pain radiating down both legs and the length of time i have waited for surgery my post op recovery shall take longer and it shall be a waiting game for exactly how much relief i have achieved..but i also need to add that he said the success rate is very good and the final decision of lumbar micro d shall be decideed on my new scans.
Like evrything else since this began 3 yrs ago nothing straight forward but i do think surgery is my last hope of some relief even in my legs..
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littleonefb
replied on August 8th, 2009
Extremely eHealthy
Loka,
Now everything makes sense to me. It sounds like you finally have a doctor that understands what is going on and is going to take control of the situation and get things done right this time, no matter what.
I like his approach too. Since your scans are so old now, and things have been screwed up for so long, he can't be sure of what is or isn't going on without new ones and added tests and knows the way to get them done and done ASAP.
That's probably the best news you have had in quite some time. Yeah, something is going right for you now.
He seems to know what he is talking about, makes perfect sense and the tests sound perfectly right as well.
It seems that the risk of infection for spine surgery is high everywhere, no matter what country you are in. Some of the highest rates of infection are in spine surgery.
There is nothing straight forward in spine surgery, so many things can be going on that can not be seen my all tests that can be done, that sometimes, it's the naked eye right there once the surgery is in progress that gives the answer.
At least this surgeon is being honest with you.
And yes, after all you've been through, I think surgery is your best option.
I know it was for me and I only waited 4 months to make that decision, but nothing else helped me and I wanted a life back without pain at the top of the scale.
If I where you, after the tests are done, you get the results and know exactly what surgery will be needed, that you should go home so that you can get some things ready before surgery.
There are lots of things you really need to do to get ready for spine surgery in your home, most of them are the same kind of things regardless of the surgery, the difference is how long the restrictions will last before you can do things again.
I'm so glad you are now on the way to getting answers and help.
will post a follow up to this one with some suggestions for you on what to get ready before surgery.
Fran
Now everything makes sense to me. It sounds like you finally have a doctor that understands what is going on and is going to take control of the situation and get things done right this time, no matter what.
I like his approach too. Since your scans are so old now, and things have been screwed up for so long, he can't be sure of what is or isn't going on without new ones and added tests and knows the way to get them done and done ASAP.
That's probably the best news you have had in quite some time. Yeah, something is going right for you now.
He seems to know what he is talking about, makes perfect sense and the tests sound perfectly right as well.
It seems that the risk of infection for spine surgery is high everywhere, no matter what country you are in. Some of the highest rates of infection are in spine surgery.
There is nothing straight forward in spine surgery, so many things can be going on that can not be seen my all tests that can be done, that sometimes, it's the naked eye right there once the surgery is in progress that gives the answer.
At least this surgeon is being honest with you.
And yes, after all you've been through, I think surgery is your best option.
I know it was for me and I only waited 4 months to make that decision, but nothing else helped me and I wanted a life back without pain at the top of the scale.
If I where you, after the tests are done, you get the results and know exactly what surgery will be needed, that you should go home so that you can get some things ready before surgery.
There are lots of things you really need to do to get ready for spine surgery in your home, most of them are the same kind of things regardless of the surgery, the difference is how long the restrictions will last before you can do things again.
I'm so glad you are now on the way to getting answers and help.
will post a follow up to this one with some suggestions for you on what to get ready before surgery.
Fran
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princesskari418
replied on August 10th, 2009
New User
i have had this surhery but it was at L4/5....i dont have the pains in my legs but i have a lot of localized pain still....
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Users who thank princesskari418 for this post:
ioka
ayurcliniq_munnar
replied on August 10th, 2009
Experienced User
surgery is the last option,when nothing works. i dont know how much this costs. your pain may be due to the sciatic nerve which is being compressed due to the disc prolapse.
though there are successful and Pain less ayurveda therapies are available from Ayurveda, i think you may not get the insurance benefit! But ayurveda therapies are less expensive and healthy approach with herbal medicines.
though there are successful and Pain less ayurveda therapies are available from Ayurveda, i think you may not get the insurance benefit! But ayurveda therapies are less expensive and healthy approach with herbal medicines.
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ioka
replied on August 10th, 2009
Supporter
hi ayurcliniq,
thankyou for your advise..unforutunately i have to disagree and have seen my mri scans first hand and been explained in great detail by my neurosurgeon..the prolapse is big and like a huge tadpole hanging from my where my disc should be and what was once a small bulge has occured through second prolapse on same disc.
my case has been complcated for three yrs and finally through nhs which is goverment sponsored i am having surgery done from a highly qualified surgeon..i was refused surgery a year and half ago its only because of second prolapse that they are intervening because they have too. If i refused surgery i am risking further spinal problems as its already under stress and my spinal cord is working harder than it should to compensate for the now unsupported damaged disc. i thank you for your concern but this surgery is vital for me to have some pain taken away.
thankyou for your advise..unforutunately i have to disagree and have seen my mri scans first hand and been explained in great detail by my neurosurgeon..the prolapse is big and like a huge tadpole hanging from my where my disc should be and what was once a small bulge has occured through second prolapse on same disc.
my case has been complcated for three yrs and finally through nhs which is goverment sponsored i am having surgery done from a highly qualified surgeon..i was refused surgery a year and half ago its only because of second prolapse that they are intervening because they have too. If i refused surgery i am risking further spinal problems as its already under stress and my spinal cord is working harder than it should to compensate for the now unsupported damaged disc. i thank you for your concern but this surgery is vital for me to have some pain taken away.
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ioka
replied on August 10th, 2009
Supporter
Littleonefb,
Thankyou again for your reply and yes i am so glad that now something is being done..some think i should still put in complaint to medical board at lack of support i have had over last three yrs..my thoughts at present is too concentrate on saving my energy at present and be stress free as possible for my long awaited surgery..
i look forward to hearing from you and read your valuable advise on what to do and how to get ready before im admitted to hospital.
You have been a great support to me more than you realise and been more than patient with my somewhat confusing posts as i have tried to unfold my suffering over these last three yrs..
i hope you have the patience a few more months once i start updating from post op as i shall need all the advise you can give me..i so value your input and knowledge and its greatly appreciated.
I cried tears of joy when i was told surgery is needed and im even more positive now i made right decision to agree..i know i have alot of hard work infront of me after surgery to keep what good work shall be done on my spine..i welcome the challenge that post op shall bring with it and think of each day as a new day and another day of recovery.
Thankyou again for your reply and yes i am so glad that now something is being done..some think i should still put in complaint to medical board at lack of support i have had over last three yrs..my thoughts at present is too concentrate on saving my energy at present and be stress free as possible for my long awaited surgery..
i look forward to hearing from you and read your valuable advise on what to do and how to get ready before im admitted to hospital.
You have been a great support to me more than you realise and been more than patient with my somewhat confusing posts as i have tried to unfold my suffering over these last three yrs..
i hope you have the patience a few more months once i start updating from post op as i shall need all the advise you can give me..i so value your input and knowledge and its greatly appreciated.
I cried tears of joy when i was told surgery is needed and im even more positive now i made right decision to agree..i know i have alot of hard work infront of me after surgery to keep what good work shall be done on my spine..i welcome the challenge that post op shall bring with it and think of each day as a new day and another day of recovery.
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kdlee
replied on August 10th, 2009
Supporter
Hi HOney..I saw yyour face on another post and was going to see about your seurgery date and here you are..Yeah..I am so happy that finally something is being done for you..We will have to pray that the surgery is long term and not a short term thing..I have heard people talk and it's 50-50 on how well the surgery is..We will think only positive for you honey..Please keep me posted..kd
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Users who thank kdlee for this post:
ioka
ayurcliniq_munnar
replied on August 10th, 2009
Experienced User
its okey! Ioka! i thought like that when i read ur post saying
"This is last chance for me and welcome the surgery with positivity as im own opinion negativity of any kind shall prolong progress. Ive exhausted any other options and waited for this to be the last road i shall venture down."
You should do surgery ,if u hav to!
As kdlee said, may the Almighty bless u with positive results in ur surgery,up to the extent of ur expectation!
May i ask u one thing! Have u ever been subjected to Treatment using traction either by hanging weight on ur legs? i did, may i know what was the result!
"This is last chance for me and welcome the surgery with positivity as im own opinion negativity of any kind shall prolong progress. Ive exhausted any other options and waited for this to be the last road i shall venture down."
You should do surgery ,if u hav to!
As kdlee said, may the Almighty bless u with positive results in ur surgery,up to the extent of ur expectation!
May i ask u one thing! Have u ever been subjected to Treatment using traction either by hanging weight on ur legs? i did, may i know what was the result!
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ioka
replied on August 11th, 2009
Supporter
hi there no i have never had traction and because of lack of help and hospital losing my files and scan for 11 months i went a full yr nearly with only morphine to take edge off pain..i live with pain 24/7 eat sleep and walk through pain which has been my life for past three yrs..ive been through depression and fought a hard battle to keep myself positive an motivated..
these have been very hard yrs and now i have a chance of real help and when i seen the mass size of prolapse its frightening to know i walk around every day with this in my body..i seen first hand 3 discs in sacrum are black due to above prolapse pressure..instead of a healthy light shade of grey. pelvic vision is just a huge black hole..sorry to be so detailed but its a vision that shall stay with me when you see a healthy spinal scan compared to mine.
these have been very hard yrs and now i have a chance of real help and when i seen the mass size of prolapse its frightening to know i walk around every day with this in my body..i seen first hand 3 discs in sacrum are black due to above prolapse pressure..instead of a healthy light shade of grey. pelvic vision is just a huge black hole..sorry to be so detailed but its a vision that shall stay with me when you see a healthy spinal scan compared to mine.
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littleonefb
replied on August 11th, 2009
Extremely eHealthy
Ioka no a problem. glad to help and will be here for support. I know what it's like to have no idea what to expect or to need.
I was fortunate enough to have a spine surgeon and his PA's to provide that info for me, explain everything in detail as to what I could and couldn't do post op and to provide me with the lists of things needed to do both pre-op at home and post-op as well.
I do know that not everyone has that kind of doctor and info provided, so am glad to pass it along, as well as what I learned along the way as well.
Sometimes, experience is the best teacher and my spine surgeon keeps adding things to his lists and how to get around various things that are problems for those post op spine patients as his patients tell him what they did.
So next post is the info.
Fran
I was fortunate enough to have a spine surgeon and his PA's to provide that info for me, explain everything in detail as to what I could and couldn't do post op and to provide me with the lists of things needed to do both pre-op at home and post-op as well.
I do know that not everyone has that kind of doctor and info provided, so am glad to pass it along, as well as what I learned along the way as well.
Sometimes, experience is the best teacher and my spine surgeon keeps adding things to his lists and how to get around various things that are problems for those post op spine patients as his patients tell him what they did.
So next post is the info.
Fran
|
littleonefb
replied on August 11th, 2009
Extremely eHealthy
Pre and Post op Spine surgery things to do and have.
FIRST THING THAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IS TO REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING WORDS, NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF SPINE SURGERY YOU ARE HAVING.
1.. NO TURNING
2. NO TWISTING
3. NO STOOPING
4. NO BENDING
5. NO REACHING MORE THAN ARM DISTANCE AT WAIST LEVEL
6. NO LIFTING ANYTHING HEAVIER THAN ABOUT 3-5 POUNDS AND THAT'S AT WAIST LEVEL.
How long those rules last, depends on the kind of spine surgery you have.
Even for just a microdisectomy or decompression surgery, those rules last at least 3 weeks.
So, with those rules in mind, before going into the hospital for surgery, you need to walk around your home, room by room to arrange things so that you can be functional, at least somewhat, do for yourself, and have a bit of independence.
You don't want to have to rely on someone to do the very simple things.
So one room at a time, pick up things to make it easy to walk around and not trip on anything.
Then, sit in the room and figure out what things you most commonly do in that room that would require breaking the rules.
Then proceed to rearrange anything you can, so that you can do those things you normally do in that room, without breaking the rules.
Do this in every room, including the bathroom and kitchen.
Remember, this is not a contest to make your home or your rooms "house beautiful", it's to make your home and every room in it that you use, easy for you to function in and live and keep those rules so you don't undo anything that was done in surgery.
Arrange that kitchen so that you can do some things in there for yourself, but not big things like cooking meals etc.
NOW, ONCE YOU HAVE CREATED HAVOC, AND DISASTER APPEARANCE IN THE ROOMS OF YOU HOME, SIT DOWN AND CRY ABOUT HOW BAD IT LOOKS. IT ISN'T GOING TO BE WHAT YOU LIKE, WHAT YOU ARE USED TO AND THE WAY YOU REALLY WANT IT TO LOOK.
SO GO CRY.
THEN ONCE YOU HAVE CRIED, WALK AROUND EACH ROOM AND LIVE IN THEM DOING WHAT YOU NORMALLY WOULD DO, EXCEPT COOKING IN THAT KITCHEN AND YOU WILL SEE THAT YOU CAN STILL DO MANY THINGS AND NOT BREAK THOSE RULES.
I PROMISE, YOU WILL NO LONGER CRY.
Next step is some shopping before surgery day. If you can't do it or need someone to go with you get that help.
first things to get are loose fitting clothes, especially if you are having surgery on the L4/L5/S1 area.
That is a nasty areas for surgery and many times that area will cause your butt to swell to about 1 size bigger than it normally is and it can last about a month.
That butt area can also remain tender to pressure of pants for quite a while after surgery, so you want loose fitting clothes to go over it.
You don't want to do to a friend or daughter, what I had to do to my daughter. Poor kid was running from one store to another to get me some underwear that was at least 1 size larger than I normally wear, because my underwear didn't fit me.
Too her 4 hours and 8 stores to find me anything in the size I needed. Not that they where any weird size, but just that every store had them sold out in that size.
You want loose fitting pants, elastic waist is good and loose. forget fashion for a while, it doesn't exist with spine surgery, comfort is what you want and need.
You want loose fitting everything, from just below the waist, nighties, shirts, pants, underwear etc.
You also want good fitting supportive shoes that will support both your arches, feet and ankles.
Now you need to get something called a grabber, a long handled tool that works with a pincher on the end to pick up things that you drop, cause you can't break those famous rules. Don't skimp and get cheap ones. You need at least one of these, but 2 would be even better.
Don't think you won't drop things. That was my attitude, I never drop things, and didn't bother getting one till after the fact.
then I was home alone, under the rules still and made myself some popcorn. Well you can picture the mess when my daughter came buy. It was a trail of popcorn around the house.
My daughter says "Mom, i thought they operated on your spine, not your arms or your brain. You never drop anything and now you leave me a trail of popcorn around the house so I can find you?"
Yup, when you can't pick up anything, that's when you realize that you do drop things and then they sit there cause you can't pick them up.
Also try and get one of those long handled grabber things to help put on socks and shoes.
Also, long handled wash brush to do your back and yes, those legs as well, remember no bending, no stooping, so you won't be able to reach them to wash.
You may or may not want a shower chair, and that can depend on the type of surgery you will have. A microdisectomy and you shouldn't need one.
Now, you need a couple of 12 inch wooden rulers and some duck tape. You may want to shave your legs and those rules are in the way again.
The best way around it is to get a schick intuition plus razor, if they have them in the UK or a razor with a fat handle.
Then tape the rulers together with the duck tape to the length you will need to shave your legs while sitting down. Then tape the razor to the end of the rulers and you are good to go on that one.
Long hair requires regular old fashioned rubber bands, ie elastics to hold back for the or. no metal can go in. once out of the OR, you can use what is comfortable for your hair.
Now, get yourself some extra handcreams, skin lotions etc, cause your skin will get dry and this will help.
Get a notebook and pens to that you can keep a record of information that your doctor gives you both pre-op and post op and have it all in one place. List all your questions that you think of in one section of the notebook. write them down as soon as you think of them and leave space between each one to write the answer down on.
Have stool softeners at home as pain meds can plug you up and this will help and you might want to ask the doctor about a laxative to use as well.
Get lots of easy type food to heat up for yourself and do as much cooking as you can before the surgery and freeze it in individual size serving packages, so all you have to do is pop from freezer to micro to be able to eat.
Have lots of water for fluids around as you want to stay good and hydrated to help with constipation post op and from pain meds.
Usually it is a good idea to have someone stay with you for the first week or 2 post op as well. That gives you someone to help you out at home during the initial post op time.
In your case, though, you could be in the hospital for 2 weeks, and may not need as much help when you get home BUT, see if you can arrange for someone to be with you for a week or 2 even if you end up not needing it.
Get some baskets to hold things for you when you go to bed, water, remote tv control, snack foods, magazines, cordless phone, etc. that way it is right there with you.
Have another one in the rooms you are mostly in when not in bed and do the same thing.
Have lots of ice packs for home to help ease pain when you get home, if needed, frozen bags of peas or corn kernels works wonderfully for this and can be reused over and over again. Just be sure to mark them not to eat. and moist heat as well.
I have a thread I started on how to make simple moist heat packets.
Remember though, with surgery on the lowest levels of the lumbar spine, you will not be sitting much, not good and not comfortable and you will want to do lots of short walks both outside and around your home as well.
You might want to think about satin sheets for your bed, especially if you end up having a fusion done. makes it much easier to get out of bed. I didn't have them, didn't have a fusion and found no trouble getting out of bed.
Oh, bring a large plastic garbage bag to the hospital or have someone bring it for you when you go home. Have someone put it on the seat of the car for you before you get in. Will make it much easier to get in and out of the car for you.
DAY BEFORE YOU GO INTO HOSPITAL FOR SURGERY.
Wash hair well and take a long hot shower.
Shave legs, if a woman, face if a man and you shave
Have all bills paid or write check out to pay bills so someone can mail them for you.
Don't think about a good nights sleep, it doesn't happen and it's normal.
Don't forget to bring the simple things to the hospital with you. comb, brush, elastics for long hair, toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, etc. all those little things.
AND, don't forget that notebook and pens. You want to be able to write down everything you are told and keep asking those questions and have that list of questions ready.
OK, off the top of my head, that's what I can think of.
Now it's your turn to ask questions. If I can answer them, I will. if not I'll tell you that or try to find the answers.
I'm just so glad you are on the way now, and getting the help you need.
Fran
FIRST THING THAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IS TO REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING WORDS, NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF SPINE SURGERY YOU ARE HAVING.
1.. NO TURNING
2. NO TWISTING
3. NO STOOPING
4. NO BENDING
5. NO REACHING MORE THAN ARM DISTANCE AT WAIST LEVEL
6. NO LIFTING ANYTHING HEAVIER THAN ABOUT 3-5 POUNDS AND THAT'S AT WAIST LEVEL.
How long those rules last, depends on the kind of spine surgery you have.
Even for just a microdisectomy or decompression surgery, those rules last at least 3 weeks.
So, with those rules in mind, before going into the hospital for surgery, you need to walk around your home, room by room to arrange things so that you can be functional, at least somewhat, do for yourself, and have a bit of independence.
You don't want to have to rely on someone to do the very simple things.
So one room at a time, pick up things to make it easy to walk around and not trip on anything.
Then, sit in the room and figure out what things you most commonly do in that room that would require breaking the rules.
Then proceed to rearrange anything you can, so that you can do those things you normally do in that room, without breaking the rules.
Do this in every room, including the bathroom and kitchen.
Remember, this is not a contest to make your home or your rooms "house beautiful", it's to make your home and every room in it that you use, easy for you to function in and live and keep those rules so you don't undo anything that was done in surgery.
Arrange that kitchen so that you can do some things in there for yourself, but not big things like cooking meals etc.
NOW, ONCE YOU HAVE CREATED HAVOC, AND DISASTER APPEARANCE IN THE ROOMS OF YOU HOME, SIT DOWN AND CRY ABOUT HOW BAD IT LOOKS. IT ISN'T GOING TO BE WHAT YOU LIKE, WHAT YOU ARE USED TO AND THE WAY YOU REALLY WANT IT TO LOOK.
SO GO CRY.
THEN ONCE YOU HAVE CRIED, WALK AROUND EACH ROOM AND LIVE IN THEM DOING WHAT YOU NORMALLY WOULD DO, EXCEPT COOKING IN THAT KITCHEN AND YOU WILL SEE THAT YOU CAN STILL DO MANY THINGS AND NOT BREAK THOSE RULES.
I PROMISE, YOU WILL NO LONGER CRY.
Next step is some shopping before surgery day. If you can't do it or need someone to go with you get that help.
first things to get are loose fitting clothes, especially if you are having surgery on the L4/L5/S1 area.
That is a nasty areas for surgery and many times that area will cause your butt to swell to about 1 size bigger than it normally is and it can last about a month.
That butt area can also remain tender to pressure of pants for quite a while after surgery, so you want loose fitting clothes to go over it.
You don't want to do to a friend or daughter, what I had to do to my daughter. Poor kid was running from one store to another to get me some underwear that was at least 1 size larger than I normally wear, because my underwear didn't fit me.
Too her 4 hours and 8 stores to find me anything in the size I needed. Not that they where any weird size, but just that every store had them sold out in that size.
You want loose fitting pants, elastic waist is good and loose. forget fashion for a while, it doesn't exist with spine surgery, comfort is what you want and need.
You want loose fitting everything, from just below the waist, nighties, shirts, pants, underwear etc.
You also want good fitting supportive shoes that will support both your arches, feet and ankles.
Now you need to get something called a grabber, a long handled tool that works with a pincher on the end to pick up things that you drop, cause you can't break those famous rules. Don't skimp and get cheap ones. You need at least one of these, but 2 would be even better.
Don't think you won't drop things. That was my attitude, I never drop things, and didn't bother getting one till after the fact.
then I was home alone, under the rules still and made myself some popcorn. Well you can picture the mess when my daughter came buy. It was a trail of popcorn around the house.
My daughter says "Mom, i thought they operated on your spine, not your arms or your brain. You never drop anything and now you leave me a trail of popcorn around the house so I can find you?"
Yup, when you can't pick up anything, that's when you realize that you do drop things and then they sit there cause you can't pick them up.
Also try and get one of those long handled grabber things to help put on socks and shoes.
Also, long handled wash brush to do your back and yes, those legs as well, remember no bending, no stooping, so you won't be able to reach them to wash.
You may or may not want a shower chair, and that can depend on the type of surgery you will have. A microdisectomy and you shouldn't need one.
Now, you need a couple of 12 inch wooden rulers and some duck tape. You may want to shave your legs and those rules are in the way again.
The best way around it is to get a schick intuition plus razor, if they have them in the UK or a razor with a fat handle.
Then tape the rulers together with the duck tape to the length you will need to shave your legs while sitting down. Then tape the razor to the end of the rulers and you are good to go on that one.
Long hair requires regular old fashioned rubber bands, ie elastics to hold back for the or. no metal can go in. once out of the OR, you can use what is comfortable for your hair.
Now, get yourself some extra handcreams, skin lotions etc, cause your skin will get dry and this will help.
Get a notebook and pens to that you can keep a record of information that your doctor gives you both pre-op and post op and have it all in one place. List all your questions that you think of in one section of the notebook. write them down as soon as you think of them and leave space between each one to write the answer down on.
Have stool softeners at home as pain meds can plug you up and this will help and you might want to ask the doctor about a laxative to use as well.
Get lots of easy type food to heat up for yourself and do as much cooking as you can before the surgery and freeze it in individual size serving packages, so all you have to do is pop from freezer to micro to be able to eat.
Have lots of water for fluids around as you want to stay good and hydrated to help with constipation post op and from pain meds.
Usually it is a good idea to have someone stay with you for the first week or 2 post op as well. That gives you someone to help you out at home during the initial post op time.
In your case, though, you could be in the hospital for 2 weeks, and may not need as much help when you get home BUT, see if you can arrange for someone to be with you for a week or 2 even if you end up not needing it.
Get some baskets to hold things for you when you go to bed, water, remote tv control, snack foods, magazines, cordless phone, etc. that way it is right there with you.
Have another one in the rooms you are mostly in when not in bed and do the same thing.
Have lots of ice packs for home to help ease pain when you get home, if needed, frozen bags of peas or corn kernels works wonderfully for this and can be reused over and over again. Just be sure to mark them not to eat. and moist heat as well.
I have a thread I started on how to make simple moist heat packets.
Remember though, with surgery on the lowest levels of the lumbar spine, you will not be sitting much, not good and not comfortable and you will want to do lots of short walks both outside and around your home as well.
You might want to think about satin sheets for your bed, especially if you end up having a fusion done. makes it much easier to get out of bed. I didn't have them, didn't have a fusion and found no trouble getting out of bed.
Oh, bring a large plastic garbage bag to the hospital or have someone bring it for you when you go home. Have someone put it on the seat of the car for you before you get in. Will make it much easier to get in and out of the car for you.
DAY BEFORE YOU GO INTO HOSPITAL FOR SURGERY.
Wash hair well and take a long hot shower.
Shave legs, if a woman, face if a man and you shave
Have all bills paid or write check out to pay bills so someone can mail them for you.
Don't think about a good nights sleep, it doesn't happen and it's normal.
Don't forget to bring the simple things to the hospital with you. comb, brush, elastics for long hair, toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, etc. all those little things.
AND, don't forget that notebook and pens. You want to be able to write down everything you are told and keep asking those questions and have that list of questions ready.
OK, off the top of my head, that's what I can think of.
Now it's your turn to ask questions. If I can answer them, I will. if not I'll tell you that or try to find the answers.
I'm just so glad you are on the way now, and getting the help you need.
Fran
|
ioka
replied on August 11th, 2009
Supporter
hi fran,
Thanks for the useful information once again and the great tips.
The handy maid as we call it in uk i already have ( hand gripper)
You pretty much covered the lot but i have still a bit of preparation to do that never entered my head like pre cooking my meals and re-arranging my home to waist level.. ive got a few questions for you.
1) Did you suffer any depression after your surgery?
2) Did you yourself suffer any infections after you were opearated on.?
3) Did you lose any height from your surgery?
4) Apart from the butt swelling did ankles stop swelling once surgery subsided and you recovered..
I ask out of curiosity really as i suffered bad depression at the start of my prolapse and my son asked me about losing any height.
Im going to keep a diary and write each day of any differences and maybe log it into the forum for others who may go through it after surgery..it maybe of help to others to be more positive in a way regards spinal surgery being their only option..what do you think.?
ioka.
Thanks for the useful information once again and the great tips.
The handy maid as we call it in uk i already have ( hand gripper)
You pretty much covered the lot but i have still a bit of preparation to do that never entered my head like pre cooking my meals and re-arranging my home to waist level.. ive got a few questions for you.
1) Did you suffer any depression after your surgery?
2) Did you yourself suffer any infections after you were opearated on.?
3) Did you lose any height from your surgery?
4) Apart from the butt swelling did ankles stop swelling once surgery subsided and you recovered..
I ask out of curiosity really as i suffered bad depression at the start of my prolapse and my son asked me about losing any height.
Im going to keep a diary and write each day of any differences and maybe log it into the forum for others who may go through it after surgery..it maybe of help to others to be more positive in a way regards spinal surgery being their only option..what do you think.?
ioka.
|
littleonefb
replied on August 12th, 2009
Extremely eHealthy
Hi ioka,
Let me respond this way to your questions
1) Did you suffer any depression after your surgery?
No, I didn't suffer any depression after my surgery. I was so low before the surgery, and trying to do anything and everything that I could to prevent spine surgery, that I went and got at least 6 other opinions and none of them where good answers to my problem.
None of the doctors made me feel good, made me feel comfortable with them and none of the other doctors I saw where interested in giving me any detailed explanations to my questions either. For that matter the attitude was more in line with "I'm the doctor and you don't need to know those kind of things. that's for doctors to know."
that doesn't set well with me at all. and I returned to my original spine surgeon for my surgery.
I had my surgery 4 months after my symptoms suddenly appeared over night. By the time I went into the hospital, the morning of the surgery, I was bordering on needing a wheelchair to go more than 20 steps. I dragged my right leg as if I had had a stroke. I couldn't bend my knee, had lost a lot of feeling in the leg and foot and the burning nerve pain was enough to want to die from.
I also had lost total bladder control the night before my surgery.
There where many days over the 4 month period that I just wanted to give up and die. I barely slept, could not get out of bed in the morning without help from my husband and the pain was enough to make me want to die.
Once I was out of bed, I was a prisoner in my own home. Couldn't go anywhere, do much of anything but sit and just to go to the bathroom was a major ordeal. I had to climb 7 steps to get to the bathroom and that would take at least 30 minutes to get up and about 20 to go down.
My surgery was scheduled and I was prepared to go in and my mind told me that if I got, at least 50% relief of pain and could live again, I could manage that. My doctor was sure he could get me far more than that, but his concern that morning was the loss of bladder control and that is an emergency situation that needs surgery within 24 hours to relieve the nerve compression or the bladder function loss can be permanent.
So that morning, entering the hospital, I was bound and determined to arrive to the pre-op area on my own 2 feet and legs no matter how long it took me to get in there.
We left an hour early for the hospital because it took me an hour to get there.
Once in, I was probably the most impatient patient they had ever seen or dealt with. I just wanted this over and get on to recovery and living again.
When my surgeon came into see me, all I could do was complain that it was taking to long "to get the show on the road". He laughed and said, "Patience, my dear, you don't want me to make any mistakes."
I kept complaining all the way into the OR about the length of time, when I realized that my surgery was scheduled for 8:30 and there I was in the OR looking at a clock that said 8:15. Had to stop complaining at that point.
Post op, in recovery, I was in tears as all the nerve pain and leg, thigh and low butt pain where gone. I was in tears and had a doctor with a nice grin on his face.
The huge grin on the doctor's face and even more tears from me came when I told the recovery nurse I had to go to the bathroom. Instead of getting me a bedpan, she went running for my spine surgeon so he could hear what I had said.
They came back and I was complaining that I had to pee and no one would help me.
the I realized what I had said and was in total shock.
I left the hospital, less than 12 hours after surgery. Yup, still complaining because they wouldn't let me walk out of the hospital. I had to be in a wheel chair till I got to the car. All I wanted to do was walk, walk, and more walk. I had no pain, my legs worked perfectly for me, my knee bent, I could climb the stairs and no one could believe that I was walking "like a normal person again."
It's funny how normal becomes the "weird" though. Only 4 months of living hell in pain and it became the normal. It took me about 3 weeks to get used to "being normal again" and being able to walk.
Sometimes I had to be reminded to walk and not instinctively drag my leg or go up and down stairs one leg at a time.
I took a bit for me to not have to call my husband to help me out of bed, be petrified to move to get up out of bed and chair.
habits are hard to break and it had been so bad that it became a normal part of life for us.
2) Did you yourself suffer any infections after you were opearated on.?
No, I didn't have any infection post op. I do know that spine surgery can have a higher rate of infection, but then orthopedic surgery, bone surgery of any kind does run a higher risk of infection than a lot of other types of surgery.
I don't know about how things are done in UK, but here, a very strong dose of a very strong antibiotic is started just before the surgery in the pre-op area. It is given through the IV and it runs post op for several hours after that.
One of the new things being done now by many ortho and spine surgeons is to do a nasal swap to culture to be sure that the patient is not a carrier of MRSA. It is done a week before surgery when all your pre-op tests are done, blood work, chest x-ray, EKG etc. If that swap is positive, then you are put on an oral antibiotic for a week or 2 and then the nasal swap is done again to be sure that there is no bacteria, either MRSA or something else in your body.
I didn't have that done when I had my surgery, as it is something new and I'm not even sure if my spine surgeon does that now, but there is a lot of pressure here in the states to keep infection rates way down and this is one way to attempt that.
Unfortunately, sometimes infections just happen and there is no rhyme or reason for it. I do know that there is a higher risk of infection when hardware is used in spine surgery, or any kind of ortho surgery.
3) Did you lose any height from your surgery?
I don't believe you lose any height from having a microdisectomy done. I haven't heard of it and I haven't lost any height since surgery.
Of course I wasn't standing up straight before surgery, so if someone tried to measure my height before surgery, it wouldn't have been done properly.
I had my routine physical a few months after my surgery and my height was the same as it was when I was in HS.
4) Apart from the butt swelling did ankles stop swelling once surgery subsided and you recovered..
Ah the infamous swelling of the ankles and feet. I don't know if that was part of the actual spine problems or the fact that I spent far more time sitting on my butt than I did moving around so circulation was not good or it was a combo of both.
But I didn't have any swelling post op and I didn't sit that much either. It wasn't very comfortable.
A couple of things I should mention though, Make sure you have good hard surfaces to sit on.
If your cushions on your sofa are not that firm, then you can stuff them with old newspapers to firm them up. How much to stuff depends on you and how it feels and something that you will have to figure out after surgery.
If your kitchen or diningroom chairs are wood, you may want to put a cushion on them for more comfort.
The old too hard, too soft game is what you will play and you have to find that one out on your own, after surgery.
Another thing to watch for are some side affects of spine surgery that just shows that every part of your body is connected to every other part.
First thing is your eyes. The position you are put in for surgery, which is done for you after you are put under anesthesia, is on your stomach, on sort of like saw horses that arches your spine and forces up the area that the surgery will be on towards the ceiling.
To do that, your head is lower than the rest of your body and it can put a great deal of stress and strain on your retinas.
There is nothing that can be done to stop that, but at the same time, you need to be aware that you could have some eye problems that would need immediate attention by an opthamologist.
Floaters are the most common thing to occur within a couple of weeks of spine surgery. If they come on suddenly or if you already have them, you need to see the eye doctor to be sure there isn't a tear of the start of detachment of the retinas.
I had that happen and have been under the care of the eye doc since. It is a common side affect of spine surgery, but not everyone has the problem, and an eye doctor will not tell you to not have the surgery because of the risk.
As a matter of fact, about a month after this started on me, my eye doctor called me to get the name of my spine surgeon because his sister in law needed to see him and she's an eye doctor as well. and yes she had surgery with my spine surgeon and yes, she developed the floaters as well.
Another thing that can occur is weird type pain in you ankles and sore feet. They feel like you where walking and slightly twisted your ankle but you never did.
If that happens, don't ignore it. It's your feet and ankles talking to you, actually screaming at you for having the surgery.
They got used to the "weird way you walked" and where quite happy. Now you messed them up by having surgery and they have to move and work properly and they aren't happy anymore.
So what you are doing is straining the muscles in the ankles, the arch of your feet and the ligaments and tendons and that is what you are feeling.
It's called Tarsal tunnel syndrome and is really the same thing as carpal tunnel syndrome in your wrists, but it's located in your ankles and feet.
Treatment is easy and works perfectly. You need to see an ortho that specializes in the feet and ankles. Get some PT and learn exercises for them and get custom made orthotics for you shoes.
Yup it happened to me, and I went through the treatment and those feet are fine now too. I just never go without my orthotics in my shoes, never wear those fancy shoes and always wear good support shoes.
Please don't panic about anything, iocka. you are going to be fine and do well. Do think about having someone stay with you for at least a few days once you get home. Even if you are going to be in the hospital for 2 weeks. Once you get home you are on your own with no one to help you.
OK. got any more questions? Just ask away.
Fran
Let me respond this way to your questions
1) Did you suffer any depression after your surgery?
No, I didn't suffer any depression after my surgery. I was so low before the surgery, and trying to do anything and everything that I could to prevent spine surgery, that I went and got at least 6 other opinions and none of them where good answers to my problem.
None of the doctors made me feel good, made me feel comfortable with them and none of the other doctors I saw where interested in giving me any detailed explanations to my questions either. For that matter the attitude was more in line with "I'm the doctor and you don't need to know those kind of things. that's for doctors to know."
that doesn't set well with me at all. and I returned to my original spine surgeon for my surgery.
I had my surgery 4 months after my symptoms suddenly appeared over night. By the time I went into the hospital, the morning of the surgery, I was bordering on needing a wheelchair to go more than 20 steps. I dragged my right leg as if I had had a stroke. I couldn't bend my knee, had lost a lot of feeling in the leg and foot and the burning nerve pain was enough to want to die from.
I also had lost total bladder control the night before my surgery.
There where many days over the 4 month period that I just wanted to give up and die. I barely slept, could not get out of bed in the morning without help from my husband and the pain was enough to make me want to die.
Once I was out of bed, I was a prisoner in my own home. Couldn't go anywhere, do much of anything but sit and just to go to the bathroom was a major ordeal. I had to climb 7 steps to get to the bathroom and that would take at least 30 minutes to get up and about 20 to go down.
My surgery was scheduled and I was prepared to go in and my mind told me that if I got, at least 50% relief of pain and could live again, I could manage that. My doctor was sure he could get me far more than that, but his concern that morning was the loss of bladder control and that is an emergency situation that needs surgery within 24 hours to relieve the nerve compression or the bladder function loss can be permanent.
So that morning, entering the hospital, I was bound and determined to arrive to the pre-op area on my own 2 feet and legs no matter how long it took me to get in there.
We left an hour early for the hospital because it took me an hour to get there.
Once in, I was probably the most impatient patient they had ever seen or dealt with. I just wanted this over and get on to recovery and living again.
When my surgeon came into see me, all I could do was complain that it was taking to long "to get the show on the road". He laughed and said, "Patience, my dear, you don't want me to make any mistakes."
I kept complaining all the way into the OR about the length of time, when I realized that my surgery was scheduled for 8:30 and there I was in the OR looking at a clock that said 8:15. Had to stop complaining at that point.
Post op, in recovery, I was in tears as all the nerve pain and leg, thigh and low butt pain where gone. I was in tears and had a doctor with a nice grin on his face.
The huge grin on the doctor's face and even more tears from me came when I told the recovery nurse I had to go to the bathroom. Instead of getting me a bedpan, she went running for my spine surgeon so he could hear what I had said.
They came back and I was complaining that I had to pee and no one would help me.
the I realized what I had said and was in total shock.
I left the hospital, less than 12 hours after surgery. Yup, still complaining because they wouldn't let me walk out of the hospital. I had to be in a wheel chair till I got to the car. All I wanted to do was walk, walk, and more walk. I had no pain, my legs worked perfectly for me, my knee bent, I could climb the stairs and no one could believe that I was walking "like a normal person again."
It's funny how normal becomes the "weird" though. Only 4 months of living hell in pain and it became the normal. It took me about 3 weeks to get used to "being normal again" and being able to walk.
Sometimes I had to be reminded to walk and not instinctively drag my leg or go up and down stairs one leg at a time.
I took a bit for me to not have to call my husband to help me out of bed, be petrified to move to get up out of bed and chair.
habits are hard to break and it had been so bad that it became a normal part of life for us.
2) Did you yourself suffer any infections after you were opearated on.?
No, I didn't have any infection post op. I do know that spine surgery can have a higher rate of infection, but then orthopedic surgery, bone surgery of any kind does run a higher risk of infection than a lot of other types of surgery.
I don't know about how things are done in UK, but here, a very strong dose of a very strong antibiotic is started just before the surgery in the pre-op area. It is given through the IV and it runs post op for several hours after that.
One of the new things being done now by many ortho and spine surgeons is to do a nasal swap to culture to be sure that the patient is not a carrier of MRSA. It is done a week before surgery when all your pre-op tests are done, blood work, chest x-ray, EKG etc. If that swap is positive, then you are put on an oral antibiotic for a week or 2 and then the nasal swap is done again to be sure that there is no bacteria, either MRSA or something else in your body.
I didn't have that done when I had my surgery, as it is something new and I'm not even sure if my spine surgeon does that now, but there is a lot of pressure here in the states to keep infection rates way down and this is one way to attempt that.
Unfortunately, sometimes infections just happen and there is no rhyme or reason for it. I do know that there is a higher risk of infection when hardware is used in spine surgery, or any kind of ortho surgery.
3) Did you lose any height from your surgery?
I don't believe you lose any height from having a microdisectomy done. I haven't heard of it and I haven't lost any height since surgery.
Of course I wasn't standing up straight before surgery, so if someone tried to measure my height before surgery, it wouldn't have been done properly.
I had my routine physical a few months after my surgery and my height was the same as it was when I was in HS.
4) Apart from the butt swelling did ankles stop swelling once surgery subsided and you recovered..
Ah the infamous swelling of the ankles and feet. I don't know if that was part of the actual spine problems or the fact that I spent far more time sitting on my butt than I did moving around so circulation was not good or it was a combo of both.
But I didn't have any swelling post op and I didn't sit that much either. It wasn't very comfortable.
A couple of things I should mention though, Make sure you have good hard surfaces to sit on.
If your cushions on your sofa are not that firm, then you can stuff them with old newspapers to firm them up. How much to stuff depends on you and how it feels and something that you will have to figure out after surgery.
If your kitchen or diningroom chairs are wood, you may want to put a cushion on them for more comfort.
The old too hard, too soft game is what you will play and you have to find that one out on your own, after surgery.
Another thing to watch for are some side affects of spine surgery that just shows that every part of your body is connected to every other part.
First thing is your eyes. The position you are put in for surgery, which is done for you after you are put under anesthesia, is on your stomach, on sort of like saw horses that arches your spine and forces up the area that the surgery will be on towards the ceiling.
To do that, your head is lower than the rest of your body and it can put a great deal of stress and strain on your retinas.
There is nothing that can be done to stop that, but at the same time, you need to be aware that you could have some eye problems that would need immediate attention by an opthamologist.
Floaters are the most common thing to occur within a couple of weeks of spine surgery. If they come on suddenly or if you already have them, you need to see the eye doctor to be sure there isn't a tear of the start of detachment of the retinas.
I had that happen and have been under the care of the eye doc since. It is a common side affect of spine surgery, but not everyone has the problem, and an eye doctor will not tell you to not have the surgery because of the risk.
As a matter of fact, about a month after this started on me, my eye doctor called me to get the name of my spine surgeon because his sister in law needed to see him and she's an eye doctor as well. and yes she had surgery with my spine surgeon and yes, she developed the floaters as well.
Another thing that can occur is weird type pain in you ankles and sore feet. They feel like you where walking and slightly twisted your ankle but you never did.
If that happens, don't ignore it. It's your feet and ankles talking to you, actually screaming at you for having the surgery.
They got used to the "weird way you walked" and where quite happy. Now you messed them up by having surgery and they have to move and work properly and they aren't happy anymore.
So what you are doing is straining the muscles in the ankles, the arch of your feet and the ligaments and tendons and that is what you are feeling.
It's called Tarsal tunnel syndrome and is really the same thing as carpal tunnel syndrome in your wrists, but it's located in your ankles and feet.
Treatment is easy and works perfectly. You need to see an ortho that specializes in the feet and ankles. Get some PT and learn exercises for them and get custom made orthotics for you shoes.
Yup it happened to me, and I went through the treatment and those feet are fine now too. I just never go without my orthotics in my shoes, never wear those fancy shoes and always wear good support shoes.
Please don't panic about anything, iocka. you are going to be fine and do well. Do think about having someone stay with you for at least a few days once you get home. Even if you are going to be in the hospital for 2 weeks. Once you get home you are on your own with no one to help you.
OK. got any more questions? Just ask away.
Fran
|
ioka
replied on August 12th, 2009
Supporter
hi fran,
I cried when i read your info because all the feelings you describe is what i want to walk normal again.
My right knee i walk with a twist and drag the leg, already suffer the painful feet and ankles and not had surgery yet..my surgeon picked up on this during the physical i had because of the three yr swelling to my right knee..thats when he told me the nerves need checking..i trip up often even earing flat shoes and he noticed where the tips of my shoes were all indented and scuffed..
your so right about the normal being wierd as now before surgery i think im the normal one and something wrong with other people..
this may sound mad but i have dreamed many a time i am walking normal again and then i correct myself to walk with a limp as its normal for me and wake up..
Its just a pity when we suffer such pain that the part of the brain also doesn,t shut down..my brain has been my enemy as it always reminds me of what i once was capable of doin..
no doctor takes how it affects you psychologically and trats the physical and ignores the mental..
i can relate so much to what you describe and thats why im determined to give 100% after surgery..
I NEED NORMAL EVEN PART OF IT BACK..
Your reply has not upset me fran but for once someone understands and can relate to this horriffic pain and you have given me what no doctor could which is a shoulder in need to lean on and it lets me know im not crazy..thankyou soo much..
I pray for same results as you and any more tears like you shall be of joy..50% is better than no surgery and living this way the rest of my life..
this forum is lucky to have you fran and like you even after surgery i shall keep up advising as i have done as without this forum and friends ive made i would be so miserable..
kind regards
ioka.
I cried when i read your info because all the feelings you describe is what i want to walk normal again.
My right knee i walk with a twist and drag the leg, already suffer the painful feet and ankles and not had surgery yet..my surgeon picked up on this during the physical i had because of the three yr swelling to my right knee..thats when he told me the nerves need checking..i trip up often even earing flat shoes and he noticed where the tips of my shoes were all indented and scuffed..
your so right about the normal being wierd as now before surgery i think im the normal one and something wrong with other people..
this may sound mad but i have dreamed many a time i am walking normal again and then i correct myself to walk with a limp as its normal for me and wake up..
Its just a pity when we suffer such pain that the part of the brain also doesn,t shut down..my brain has been my enemy as it always reminds me of what i once was capable of doin..
no doctor takes how it affects you psychologically and trats the physical and ignores the mental..
i can relate so much to what you describe and thats why im determined to give 100% after surgery..
I NEED NORMAL EVEN PART OF IT BACK..
Your reply has not upset me fran but for once someone understands and can relate to this horriffic pain and you have given me what no doctor could which is a shoulder in need to lean on and it lets me know im not crazy..thankyou soo much..
I pray for same results as you and any more tears like you shall be of joy..50% is better than no surgery and living this way the rest of my life..
this forum is lucky to have you fran and like you even after surgery i shall keep up advising as i have done as without this forum and friends ive made i would be so miserable..
kind regards
ioka.
|
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