Disc degeneration and herniation are common back problems leading to surgery. However, "it's important that patients get "back in the game" during lumbar discectomy recovery as quickly as possible," Dr. Liu says. Living with a pinched nerve causing both leg and buttock pain can be agonizing. Epidurals x3, PT 4 mos, some relief, but constant foot pain and numbness continued Microdiscectomy 6/6/03 9/5/03 still have foot pain and numbness but recovered fine from surgery 1/19/04 I am 7 mos post op. However, if the pain persists or gets worse over time, there might be some other issue at play, such as apinched nerveor sciatica pain. But what if you start experiencing long-lasting pain that persists for weeks and months after your surgery? It is our goal to provide the highest level of care and service to our patients. If this service is not available, try to do activities at home that mimic your daily work schedule to develop muscular conditioning and a reserve for the initial days at work. Microdiscectomy in the Low Back: What to Expect at Home In some instances, it may become necessary to pursue surgical management in the form of repeat microdiscectomy. The diagnostic process including imaging, nerve conduction studies, musculoskeletal examination coupled with provocation maneuvers, palpation, and the musculoskeletal differential diagnosis of buttock pain is illustrated . Is sciatic leg pain after a microdiscectomy normal? - MedHelp The loss of this pain after surgery is a good indicator that the nerve is relative free of compression. Spinal discs are gel-filled capsules located between the spine's bony vertebrae. If the source of your discomfort wasn't accurately diagnosed, a nerve that sends signals to your legs may still be compressed. This condition is regarded as a major healthcare problem that should be considered a public health crisis according to researchers. Veritas Health, LLC, 520 Lake Cook Road, Suite 350, Deerfield, IL, 60015, Pain Management After Microdiscectomy Surgery, Microdiscectomy Spine Surgery: Risks, Complications, and Success Rates, Microdiscectomy Surgery Video: A Spine Surgeon Explains the Procedure, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Postoperative Care for Lumbar Microdiscectomy Surgery, Lumbar Microdiscectomy Recovery: Discharge to 14 Days, Lumbar Microdiscectomy Recovery: Weeks 2 to 6, Lumbar Microdiscectomy Recovery: Weeks 6 to 12, What Causes Buttock Muscle Pain and How to Relieve it, Piriformis Syndrome: When the Symptoms Indicate a Medical Emergency, Massage to Reduce Buttock Muscle Pain from Piriformis Syndrome, Suffering from Lumbar Spinal Stenosis? Most disc herniation occurs in the lumbar spine, causing debilitating pain in your buttocks, thigh, and calf areas and is referred to as sciatica. With our numerous combined years of experience, we are confident we can design the optimal pain management plan to address your individual needs. These can include: blood loss. This is called recurrent disk herniation. Spinal intervertebral discs are the bodys shock absorbers, allowing the back to be strong, highly flexible, and resilient. While pain medications may not be needed by 4 to 6 weeks after lumbar microdiscectomy surgery, some patients may need to continue with pain medications for much longer. ITs sitting that brings it on. 1.4 Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2. Minimally Invasive Lumbar Discectomy | Johns Hopkins Medicine Just to mention, even before surgery, I never had much leg pain. Adjacent segment syndrome (also known as . Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books. The explanation and descriptions are easy to follow and so helpful in understanding the a variety of conditions covered.Thank you Dr Corenmen for providing such a valuable directory of information. Within 24 hours of surgery, you should be up and moving around. The good news is that many patients have significant pain relief from a microdiscectomy and can quickly return to their normal lives, generally in 4-6 weeks. Leg pain is definitely secondary to problems in back because there is a spinal cord from brain to the tail tip which gives branches to the legs and arms at d. Back pain can grow progressively worse and more disabling, depending on the cause. You should report any numbness to your surgeon immediately after surgery. Ususally, movement of the low back reproduces pain in the buttock. I know it would be best to still be on sick leave, but this is not possible. The Content on this Site is presented in a summary fashion, and is intended to be used for educational and entertainment purposes only. A reherniation after microdiscectomy may occur in the immediate postoperative period, a few weeks to few months after the surgery, or within years following the surgery. Weeks 4 and 5 I started noticing improvement. Sciatica pain after lumber decompression surgery? This site is for educational purposes only; no information is intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Sometimes this is a temporary condition as the nerve root or roots take time to heal. Oh and also, before surgery, I did have right side thigh pain, but not for long, as I decided surgery was my best option pretty soon, so I guess it didnt have time to develop. I haven't worked since the end of May and my time from work that I have available to remain off work and not lose my job is getting real close. For example after: Lumbar discectomy - The disc is not as strong after back surgery and it is possible for new piece of disc to break off, herniate and pinch the sciatic nerve. Never disregard the medical advice of your physician or health professional, or delay in seeking such advice, because of something you read on this Site. Over 200,000 lumbar discectomies are performed in the United States each year, most of which are microdiscectomies. The doctor took out pieces of bone that were squeezing the spinal cord and nerves. You will beaskedto keep theareaclean and to cover it while bathing or showering. If it's similar or slightly improved to your pre-op pain, then I wouldn't panic. after undergoing a lumbar microdiscectomy procedure. Microdiscectomy is a minimally invasive procedure with an outstanding track record for relieving pain. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON. If the source of your discomfort wasn't accurately diagnosed, a nerve that sends signals to your legs may still be compressed. We strive tooffer services to our patientsthat are efficient and professional, deliveredwith integrity and honesty in a cohesive, family-like environment. We strive toofferefficient and professionalservicesto our patients, deliveredwith integrity and honesty in a cohesive, family-like environment. I was always treated with respect and explained everything throughly, that made it easy for everyone to understand. Hi, I am new to the forum, I suffered gunshot injury to my left buttocks and I have a footdrop, numbness on the foot and on the parts distal to the nerve Its been 6months of physical therapy. I will keep going with my phyisical therapy, perform gentle stretches additionally and contact my surgeon again if things havent improved after 12 weeks? Get Veritas Health Newsletters delivered to your inbox. You can clean the incisionsitewith a towel, but care must be taken to prevent the surgical tape from coming off. Sleeping properly is highly recommended as it is key to rest and tissue recovery. They can perform the surgery in a couple of ways: An open diskectomy is done with a cut in your back . "Research has shown that microdiscectomy has a success rate as high as 90 percent in alleviating nerve pressure and eliminating pain," Dr. Liu says. Give us a call today at (919)-787-7246. Hi guys, Exactly 1 week ago I had a microdiscectomy on l4/l5 to remove s herniated disc crushing my spinal cord. Lumbar Discectomy or Microdiscectomy Surgery for a Herniated Disc - WebMD The risk of falling is too great and I'd hate to damage what good has already been done. However, if leg pain continues after 2 or 3 months, talk to your doctor or surgeon.The Initial Diagnosis Might Have Been IncorrectAccording to Spine Health, the top reason for leg pain after a microdiscectomy or similar decompression procedure is an incorrect initial diagnosis. Usually, the first signs of healing appear within the first 2-4 weeks after the procedure, and after 12 weeks, the patient should be able to return to everyday life. "Endoscopic microdiscectomy is the modern approach to repair herniated discs," Dr. Liu states. Objective: To compare the speed of recovery of different sensory symptoms, pain, numbness, and paresthesia, after lumbar nerve root decompression. For example, your surgeon may perform a lumbar microdiscectomy to remove the herniated portionof a lumbar discin your lower back. We strive toofferefficient and professional. Can't wait to try the steroid pack. In a large-scale study, 95 percent of Barricaid patients didnt undergo a reoperation due to reherniation in a 2-year study timeframe. I received 2 spinal injections to try to calm the inflamation and nothing worked. At Wake Spine & Pain Specialists our goal is to relieve your pain and improve function to increase your quality of life. Ifback and leg pain from disc problemsreturnafter surgery, your surgeon will need to determine where the pain is coming from and take the necessary steps totreat the problem. There is close to 10 cm line in my right buttock that is tender to the touch. Leg Pain After Microdiscectomy L5-s1 - PainReliefTalk.com Buttock Pain After Discectomy Surgery | Inspired Spine The first 3 weeks were rough in terms of inability to walk longer than 20 minutes without tiring, night hip pain and constant incision stiffness. Although most patients enjoy noticeable pain relief immediately following the surgery, nerve recovery after a lumbar discectomy is dependent on a variety of factors. Piriformis Muscle Syndrome, Post Discectomy: a - SpringerLink In addition to medication, ice packs and/or heat wraps may be used. How to best prepare for it, if there is a way? The "no pain, no gain" adage does not apply," Dr. Liu says. Rest is crucial during the first days after the surgery. I, for sure, do not want to have a fusion-I have heard from others what a night-mare that procedure is. Amicrodiscectomyis a procedure used to remove all or part of a herniated disc when damaged discs are causing pain, numbness, and weakness ina patientslegs and back. I do daily stretches, one of them being lifting legs straight while lying down. In this instance, treating the secondary source of pain may involve massage therapy, medication, and similar nonsurgical options.It Could Be Due to Scar Tissue or Other PossibilitiesPostoperative leg pain is sometimes caused by the formation of scar tissue. Although it isnt very large, the incision site will probably be covered with surgical tape strips and will take about 10 to 14 days to heal. "Because the procedure is minimally invasive, it results in less tissue destruction and leaves fewer reasons to restrict a patient's activities following surgery and a quicker discectomy recovery.". Although symptoms are varied and can become more severe with movement, they typically include: Leg pain and weakness Mild to severe pain in the lower back or buttock area Feelings of numbness or tingling in the leg or foot