Has anyone ever had or know someone who has had a Micro Discectomy or Laminectomy?

[nickerjones]

Well we are almost 2 months post op and things are going pretty good. I was able to go back to work about a month after surgery... although I got shipped to Colorado for the forseeable future.

The back has it's days now and again which I am guessing is just part of the healing process. 95% of the time I am pain free but I keep myself out of situations that would cause the pain previously ( reaching for books , twisting for books in the courthouse etc). Sometimes if I sit in certain chairs or positions I can feel some pain down the leg. I am not sure if its phantom pains/my imagination or if it's true pain. It could also be the nerve healing still etc. A lot of things I have read and even the doctor said that depending on the severity/length of the impingement it could take up to a year to 18 months to completely heal.

That being said I have been able to ride an exercise bike for 10-15 minutes a time without any pain afterwards. My doctor says in a couple more weeks I will be able to bump up to 30 mins for 4 -5 days a week. At this point I can start a strengthening program so that I can get back to more activities. He says if people re-herniate it usually happens a majority of the time within the first 3 months. That's why he has been having me take it so slowly.

Other than that everything has gotten back to normal. My sleep , my temperament , my appetite ( which isnt good since I cant exercise much). I have gone completely off meds. I take advil ( the good Canadian stuff) when i feel sore. So all in all I guess my decisions to get the surgery done was a good one for me. I hope anyone who has exhausted any other options but is afraid of surgery will consider it after seeing my results.

[Allos]

Nice to hear that you are doing better, Nicker! Keep it up!

[nickerjones]

Just thought I'd toss up an update.

I just had my 4 month post op check up. Doc says everything is good and the small pains I feel are normal.
I have actually been back to playing ( see I'm American and can't really skate good) hockey 2-3 times a week for the last 3 weeks. I had a bit of mishap playing in Calgary. I played twice. The first time I had ZERO pain. The 2nd time I had a sharp burning in the middle of my back 3 shifts in so I shut things down. I was ok the next day. My doctor said that's just my muscles getting used to the way things are now.

The only rules I have now is: do whatever you want and if it hurts don't do it. I really want to get in the gym to get some of the weight off that I have gained through the ordeal. The doc said he does recommend not doing things like squats where I have to load weight directly on my spine.

Overall things are going well, I still have to second guess things I do . For example when I play hockey I worry about twisting when I transitions from front to back. Also when I bend over to get something I have to force myself to bend with my knees and not twist.

[GrrlGoalie33]

This is great news Nick! Sorry I missed you at Christmas, but super happy to hear things are getting so much better for you!

[TorqueDog]

Laminectomy - the act of removing laminate flooring from one's house to replace with proper hardwood or tile.


Glad to hear you're doing well after your procedure.

[woob]

Hey Nick - Just read the whole thread as I must have missed it before. Glad to hear you're having such great results. Sounds like life has gotten 1000x better for you since the procedure!

[nickerjones]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

Laminectomy - the act of removing laminate flooring from one's house to replace with proper hardwood or tile.


Glad to hear you're doing well after your procedure.

HAHA ... It ended up actually being a Micro-Discectomy but I had already started this thread. Or maybe I mixed up which thread I put my results in. I just ran with it. ... Maybe I can changed the title..

[nickerjones]

Originally Posted by woob

Hey Nick - Just read the whole thread as I must have missed it before. Glad to hear you're having such great results. Sounds like life has gotten 1000x better for you since the procedure!

and thanks.. yes I am doing a lot better. I still have some odd pains. I had a couple accidently run into me while I was looking the other way at a pickup on Monday. They way they rolled into me I tried to keep standing but eventually went down. It contorted my leg ( the one with the nerve pain) in a weird way when i went down. I had some deep gnawing pain all day yesterday but I iced last night, woke up and it was gone.

Also.. another weird thing I noticed when I'm playing hockey I can turn left normally outside edge on the left foot inside edge of the right before I cross over but if I turn right.... I can't get on the outside edge of that right skate anymore. It feels like I'm not putting any weight on it and when I try to purposely do it.. I hit the ice. The right leg is the one that had the nerve problems. My therapist has said that there was some weakness in that leg from the complications , I wonder if this is why.