The butt pain is as bad, if not worse than, the original pain I was having in my lower back. 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. It depends upon the caliber, velocity, distance from the muzzle and the path of the bullet. The first month after my microdiscectomy was pretty much all about recovering from the surgery itself. Suffering from lower back, leg, or buttock pain? You must be logged in to reply to this topic. 1.2 Inflammation of the membranes that surround the nerves of the spinal cord. This could signal another, more serious issue. Now considered the gold standard treatment forremovingherniated lumbar disc tissue, a microdiscectomy procedure is an ultra-precise method that requires only atinyincisioncausing minimal disruption to surrounding healthy tissue. We offer this Site AS IS and without any warranties. Its not painful. The nerve root when decompressed, can swell. This surgery is designed to relieve pressure on a pinched vertebral nerve..Microdiscectomy surgery may be suitable for patients who experience leg pain for at least 6 weeks who have not found sufficient relief from conservative therapies. PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. Some days, i have quite persistent soreness in lower back and bum no matter sitting, standing or lying down. I, for sure, do not want to have a fusion-I have heard from others what a night-mare that procedure is. Avoid lifting heavy objects until you are fully recovered and given the O.K. Recovery may not take place but read this to understand the type of nerve damage that can occur and how muscles recover from this injury. I had L5S1 ALIF fusion 10 days ago. A burning sensation after spine surgery can be the direct result of these muscles and ligaments repairing themselves during the healing process. One reason for continued pain even after a discectomy could be a misdiagnosis. Any activity (like walking) can stretch the root. My, Nerve injury from a GSW (gunshot wound) is highly unpredictable for recovery. procedure may eventually be discussed and recommended. I found this: faradic current having short pulse duration cannot be used to stimulate dennervated muscles as dennervated muscles require pulses of longer duration for having its effects. This treatment is done immediately following the discectomyduring the same operationand doesnt require any additional incisions or time in the hospital. A seroma is a fluid-filled pocket at the surgical site that develops after surgery. "Patients leave the hospital the same day or the day following the procedure and can begin microdiscectomy recovery immediately.". Same as you, the right foot is fine. Could this new pain be a sign of a still existing compression, or is the nerve just saying hello, I am alive? Minimize your risk forreherniationby not smoking, watching your weight, and eating a balanced, back-healthy diet. At some point, your doctor may suggest surgery as one of the alternatives. Some pain in the back or buttock region post-op is completely normal. Otarbo Home Search Home Search buttock pain after microdiscectomy (2022) June 9, 2022 . I'm not sure what you mean by foot drop, but I do have problem with my left foot and legthat I did not have before surgery, being that I walk feeling as if I'm dragging my left foot-this has gotten a little better. Incision Drainage Issues. This seroma should resolve in 2-3 months. Sometimes after a discectomy, scar tissue forms near the nerve root and can cause extreme burning or nerve pain even if the surgery was successful in relieving the initial pain. please update to most recent version. After surgery, your surgeon may recommend visiting a physical therapist toimprove your recovery quality. This is usually done when there is leg or arm pain that radiates from the spine, caused by compression of the nerve. to our patients, deliveredwith integrity and honesty in a cohesive, family-like environment. Following microdiscectomy surgery, patients may undergo a physical therapy program for stretching, increased strength, mobility and aerobic conditioning to prevent recurrent back pain or disc herniation. Discectomy, or microdiscectomy, is a procedure during which the surgeon removes a small portion of the disc that is compressing the nerve. This seroma should resolve in 2-3 months. We have a strong commitment to excellence in diagnosis and treatment of spinal injuries and conditions spanning all age groups. A herniated disk can irritate or press on nearby nerves. In addition to those resulting directly from the surgery itself or a spine injury, these lifestyle choices can increase ones likelihood for reherniation after microdiscectomy: As you can see, patient compliance plays a major role in ensuring ahealthier, more completerecoveryafter undergoing a lumbar microdiscectomy procedure. You can clean the incisionsitewith a towel, but care must be taken to prevent the surgical tape from coming off. After my basketball season. 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 According to a study in the Journal of Neurosurgery, outpatient microdiscectomy is 75 to 80 percent effective at eliminating sciatica pain caused by disc herniation. Below are a few reason why leg pain may . Diskectomy is surgery to remove the damaged part of a disk in the spine that has its soft center pushing out through the tough outer lining. During this surgery, your surgeon removes your damaged disk to relieve pressure on your nerves. Acute pain is more likely the result of recurrent disc herniation following a shift in weight distribution across the vertebral levels. Pain that develops gradually after back surgery is suggestive of scar tissue impinging or tethering the spinal nerves that innervate the lower back and legs. If you need spine surgery, consider an Inspired Spine procedure. If you or a loved one suffer from backor neckpain,call The Spine Center today at, once per month - call 847-628-8147 to confirm, Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF), Total Disc Arthroplasty & Total Disc Replacement, Non-operative Treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis, Treatment of Degenerative Spondylolisthesis. A lumbar microdiscectomy surgery is typically performed to alleviate the symptoms and signs of sciatica in the lower back and leg caused by a lumbar disc herniation. There have been a couple of times as I've been walking that I have fallen forward from lack of control of my foot and almost fallen. I still have the same foot pain as before surgery. Tagged:leg symptoms after a lumbar microdiscectomy. This surgery uses smaller cuts (incisions) than an open lumbar discectomy. An MRI will be able to determine if this is your cause of pain. Iron Neck for chronic pain caused by foraminal stenosis? I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to have an answer to my question from you. Here are somereherniation-prevention tips for microdiscectomy patients: At The Spine Center, were dedicated to providing you with high-quality, personalized back and neck care. Scar tissue forms with all surgeries, but it sometimes becomes an issue if it forms around a nerve root. Fit and muscular. I am aware it might not be a positive test, but I was just wondering whether it meant anything. Post-Surgery Inflammation Shortly after a discectomy or a less invasive microdiscectomy is completed, you may not immediately notice any pain until the anesthesia wears off. In some instances, though, another herniated disc surgery procedure may eventually be discussed and recommended.Although microdiscectomy surgery is generally a very successful procedure, a hole is left in the outer wall of the disc. Herniation can occur due to back injuries, undue spinal stress from heavy lifting or participation in sports, and even the normal aging process as the spinal discs dry out and become more brittle, forcing a disc's outer membrane to crack and its inner core material to ooze out. Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. One more thing gritch..DON'T OVER DO IT!! As an aside, lingering pain is one of the classic signs of re-herniation after a microdiscectomysurgicalprocedure. When the root swells, some return of symptoms can be expected. Can't wait to try the steroid pack. The Affected Nerve Root May Need Some Time to Heal, The Initial Diagnosis Might Have Been Incorrect. One of the main things that you may have to do is to get a discectomy, where they go in and put the discs back where they need to be. The most common is inflammation. Is there a way to increase my physical fitness before work, so that the chance of having pain during the workday stays minimal? We strive toofferefficient and professional. any advise? One possibility is the surgeon could have accidentally missed a piece of bone, or a particle of the herniated disk. My sciatic nerve was crushed and I have been unable to walk and have been in constant agonizing pain for six months. During the physical exam,your surgeonmay look for pain during specific movementsand performa power/sensory examination of your lower extremities. is 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 had a discectomy done in 2000..I had a severe herniation in lower level (L4/L5)..the discectomy helped, but I went back to work too soon, over did it, and ended up having to get it fusedIt ended up, bone on bone, so they fused itI had the same symptoms as you, with the pain in my butt after surgery..it was so bad, I could hardly take it..my doc put me on a 5 day dose pack of steroids, and boy o boy did it workit sounds to me like you definitely have the foot drop thing going onfoot drop develops from the nerve being pinched in your back, cutting off the mobility in the lower leg and footI had it so bad, that I was tripping, and falling alotthe classic test to do to see if you have foot drop is to stand up against a wall, feet, legs, butt, back, shoulders touching the wallonce flush against the wall raise the front of your feet, keeping your heels on the groundtry to get the front of your feet as high as you can, keeping your heels on the groundMy doc did this test with me, and my right foot went up, but the left stayed on the floor..he told me that my case of foot drop was the worst he had ever seenfortunately, after the fusion, it came back, and now It's back 100%some people aren't so fortunateit does however take time to come back..some cases up to a yearyou have to be patientI really think you have the symptoms of foot drop..has your doc mentioned this to you/and or explained it?the tingling is from nerve pinchingthat nerve is super pissed off, hence the pain and tinglingmake sure you mention to your doc the oral steroids..if I were a betting woman, I bet that would relieve your pain, and reduce the swelling of the nerveplease keep me posted, and good luck with itif you don't have one already, I suggest using a cane to walk around with..I used one, and it helped me so much..especially with the foot dropkeep me posted.. Went ahead with microdiscectomy and surgery was successful. Stronger painkillers, such as opioids, are typically used in combination with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In some instances, it may become necessary to pursue surgical management in the form of repeat microdiscectomy. This problem is often resolved with physical therapy, although minor surgery may be needed in some situations. You may not have a high pain tolerance but you do have a high pain medication relief level. Common symptoms of post-laminectomy pain syndrome include the following: Dull, aching pain in the neck, shoulders, arms, fingers, back, buttocks, or hips Pain levels similar to what you felt before surgery Pain in your arms or legs, which may be either constant or radiating 2 days after my surgery my pain came back full throttle and worse than before. "Endoscopic microdiscectomy is the modern approach to repair herniated discs," Dr. Liu states. The doctor took out pieces of bone that were squeezing the spinal cord and nerves. Betteryet, get someone to help you. It's not always easy to precisely diagnose the symptoms related to nerve irritation around the spine. Finally, seroma formation can occur. 1999-2023 Veritas Health, LLC. Note:Reherniationdoes not occur with total discectomy because the entire disc has already been removed. Microdiscectomy is surgery to remove part or all of a bulging or damaged (herniated) disc in the lower spine. You can expect your back to feel stiff or sore after surgery. Lumbar Decompression Back Surgery. Sleeping on your stomach or flat on your back puts significant stress on your spine. Its not uncommon for patients to return to work about two weeks post-surgery, although others may needan entiremonth ofhealing. As fellowship-trained physicians with over50 years of experiencetreating spinal conditions, we offer patient recommendations for treatment, including conservative care, non-operativetreatment, and sophisticated, customized surgical solutions. Dr. Liu offers the following lumbar discectomy recovery tips: There are not many permanent restrictions after a microdiscectomy. What should I do now. We strive toofferefficient and professionalservicesto our patients, deliveredwith integrity and honesty in a cohesive, family-like environment. Sciatica pain starting 3 weeks after discectomy. I am going back to work in roughly 10 days. 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. If you or a loved one suffer from backor neckpain, call The Spine Center today at(847) 628-8147toschedule a consultation. Piriformis syndrome after lumbar spine surgery was defined as persistent or newly developed sciatica after surgery, sciatic notch tenderness and induced sciatica, and positive Freiberg sign. Microdiscectomies can be performed using 3 main techniques: Microdiscectomy is usually very effective at treating leg pain, with about a 90% success rate in relieving pain in the leg and/or buttocks. Your surgeon will start with conservative treatment options in the form of pain medications, physical therapy, and activity modification. Re-herniation can occur and can happen to 10% of individuals who have a herniation (no matter if surgery occurred or not). Its not extreme. If you have trouble falling asleep, your doctor can prescribe sleep-improving medications. The best wayfor them to diagnose the problem isthrough physical examination findings correlated with imaging studies (MRI, CT scan, X-rays, etc.). The Affected Nerve Root May Need Some Time to HealOne reason your leg may still hurt after microdiscectomy surgery is because of the way compression can affect nerve roots. However, your doctor will advise you on how quickly you can return to these activities. 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. Prescription non-compliance can cause side effects and other consequences that place your health and wellbeing at risk. All me back pain was home as soon as Hey All. If you try to work through the pain, you could be causing yourself more harm than good and risking recurrence of herniation." There is close to 10 cm line in my right buttock that is tender to the touch. AtTheSpine Center, were dedicated to providing you with high quality, personalized back and neck care. Our physicians serve as innovators in technology,actively participate in national and international research studies,and are on the forefront of medical knowledge. If youhave diabetes, practice good blood glucose management. Before going home,someone will instruct youon how to care for the incision site, along with activities to avoid. The goal of this surgery is to improve leg pain, restore function, and enable a return to normal daily activities. You can develop a seroma (a collection of fluid post-operatively) that temporarily will partially compress the nerve after surgery. If you or a loved one suffer from backor neckpain, call The Spine Center today at, once per month - call 847-628-8147 to confirm, Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF), Total Disc Arthroplasty & Total Disc Replacement, Non-operative Treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis, Treatment of Degenerative Spondylolisthesis. Also known as spinal decompression surgery, laminectomy enlarges your spinal canal to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves and is typically performed on patients with severe symptoms or those with symptoms that are worsening dramatically. It's not always easy to precisely diagnose the symptoms related to nerve irritation around the spine. Unfortunately, even with a well-done surgery, the patient may develop similar symptoms due to inherent problems with his or her spine. 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. This site is for educational purposes only; no information is intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. In the weeks following your procedure, contact your surgeon right away if your numbness or pain increases significantly. Thankfully, only minor complicationsusuallyresult fromalumbarmicrodiscectomy. Could it be that the nerve is just waking up and healing? . A lumbarmicrodiscectomymay become necessarywhen a herniated lumber disc affects one side of the body. If you haven't seen them, here are two videos I made in which I explain how I feel during the first day and third day after surgery: I took muscle relaxants for the first two weeks or so for the initial microdiscectomy recovery period. i was so confused and lost about which procedure i should treat my back pain with.Dr.Corenman is just so kind to make time from his schedule to help me :')! I was always treated with respect and explained everything throughly, that made it easy for everyone to understand. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON. Once those visits start, its imperativeto see your physical therapy all the way through. The two year anniversary of my microdiscectomy recently passed and I thought I should write an update on the long term effects of a microdiscectomy! 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. A. is an outpatientsurgicalprocedureperformed under anesthesia to remove all or part of a herniated disc. ITs sitting that brings it on. Microdiscectomy is aminimally invasiveoutpatient procedure thats performed underanesthesia. As was mentioned earlier, the type of surgical technique used during the initial procedure and type of herniation strongly influence whether or not there will be a recurrence. However, there can be limitations to L4-L5 surgery as it is one of the lowest weight-bearing discs of the body. 1.4 Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2. If I lived in the US, I would certainly choose you to be my doctor. In the meantime, I hope you dont mind me asking another question. If those dont do the trick, an epidural steroid injection may also begivento manage the symptoms. Disc degeneration and herniation are common back problems leading to surgery. By 6 weeks post-surgery, most patients discontinue pain medication, however, it is still possible to have painful flare-ups or stiffness that requires medication. You stated that you went back to work too soon-what time frame are you speaking of? Contact us today with any questions about these surgeries, or find a surgeon near you who is trained in Inspired Spine methods. I, also, had a discectomy done due to a severe herniation in lower L4/L5. So, possibility of a seroma aside, a swollen nerve could mimick the same (but in my case less severe) pain from the herniated disc because it would swell at the same place where it was pissed off for months? Since you are only four weeks out and better than prior to surgery, the nerve is probably still swollen. Return to light work duties when you are able. About 2 weeks after lumbar microdiscectomy, most patients begin to experience significantly less pain and higher energy level. This is quite normal and should not be cause for alarm.