Disc Herniation Op

Hi
I am due to have an operation on my back in two weeks time. I have bulging discs in two places which are pressing on my sciatic nerve causing a lot of pain. The surgeon said he will be shaving bone as well as trimming the disc (can't remember technical terms)!
He told me there were risks which were low but real including brain bleed and nerve damage but I have no real alternative if I want to be pain free.

Has anyone on here had the op and what was the outcome.

Thanks Mick

Re: Disc Herniation Op

Hi Mick. My mother had that surgery and it was amazing. She was painfree from the moment she came round. I hope it works the same for you.

Re: Disc Herniation Op

This sounds very painful, i hope everything goes well for you and take care

Re: Disc Herniation Op

Hi
That's good to hear hopefully I will be the same, it's just the risks starting to make me nervous now it's getting near.
Thanks for reply.

PS : new to the forum but finding it helpful and interesting already.

Mick

Re: Disc Herniation Op

Try not to worry too much about the risks. It sounds as though your surgeon has been thorough in his/her information (which is a good reflection on him/her), but focus on the fact that these risks ARE fairly low. The majority of patients would not encounter such complications.

Oh, and DO make the most of phsyio exercises afterwards!

Re: Disc Herniation Op

Been there, done that, got the T Shirt. What you will be having I suspect is a micro endoscopic discectomy

Rather than rewrite it all in detail have a look here. All the gory details spread over several years.

Am currently on one of my overseas jaunts so it all was a great success. I have wonderful painkillers for when I overdo it. Pain now is limited to the back and the painkillers work well but are rarely needed usually only when I do something stupid like concreting

Re: Disc Herniation Op

Btw I read that page again for the first time for years. You will note that originally I only had CT scans, MRIs were only just coming in then. These days you go straight for an MRI rather than messing about with a CT scan.

I went back to my specialist toward the end of last year with a new MRI, there is some deterioration in the sheath protecting the spinal column but as it is not causing any symptoms he says to wait until it does when he will do something about it but it might never need treating. The damaged discs are hanging in there so no need for fusion yet either.

It is 15 years since the first op.

Re: Disc Herniation Op

Hi Mick, their all a good crowd you can talk about anything

Re: Disc Herniation Op

Good luck for you Mick. My ex had that op but went on to
do his back in again but doing some weight training.
Don't do anything stupid like he did.
If you too notice of all the side effects and risks you wouldn't
get out of bed so don't worry.
I had a op last year and they put some blue dye in me. Said
that someone had died from the dye and now they always have
reversible drugs on hand, lovely. Just sing Happy and tell them
before you go under to talk about nice things. It helps a lot.

Re: Disc Herniation Op

Hi Mick
Good luck with your surgery and hopefully you will be pain free. All surgery carries risks with it but we take that risk to be free from whatever our problem is.

I've just made an appointment with my GP to see if I can get any help with severe pain in my lower back. For years I've been given pain killers and had rubs which now do very little. I was diagnosed with arthritis and sciatica about 10yrs ago but nothing has been done since. I look forward to hearing how your treatment progresses.