After nine months of trying to recuperate from a herniated disk that finally hit a point of no return, I am going to have arthroscopic surgery to remove part of the disk and bone matter that is pressing up against the nerve. Has anyone here had this surgery? How was the recovery time? Any future issues with the back? Any info that you can provide would be greatly appreciated. I’m ok with the idea of doing it. I’m just a typical triathlete who insists on over-analyzing everything!
I’m not sure, but it sounds like you’re having a microdiskectomy. If that’s right, then you’re going to have to be patient with the post-surgical process. Listen to your doctor’s recommendations. Do your physical therapy and stretching. Dont equate “feeling better/no pain” to “good, its time to train!”. It may be a few weeks before you’re allowed to do ANY physical activity. Just take it slooooow.
I had a microdisectomy in Feb 04 and I am back to training pretty heavily. I still have some flare ups but not nearly like it was, especially when it herniated. My biggest piece of advice is to take a year off of any training that can hurt your back especially running. I tried to push things too soon and I think it made things worse. I would just plan on taking things easy for a while. I had foot drop pretty bad from the nerve damage and that is also healed very well. My calf muscle in that leg still gets sore pretty easily but I am very happy with the results so far. Good luck and remember to listen to your Dr.
I had a discectomy and laminectomy in July '03 to relieve a herniated disc with severe nerve compression. Mine was of the degenerative nature, but luckily I didn’t have any symptoms until the very end. It went from “ow” to total incapacitation within 3-4 weeks. I was unable to run for 3 months post-surgery, but 9 days after surgery at my first post-surgical visit the doctor said I could get back into the pool - granted I was doing a modified workout that included treading water and using the buoy and had to limit my distance (which was a challenge given I love to train - but believe me, if I overdid it, my back told me so). Also shortly after that he encouraged me to bike and said the position I’d be in would be good for my back. I’d always cross trained before, but honestly it wasn’t until I recovered from the surgery that I did my first triathlon (sprint) in June '04 and I just did my first half ironman at Devilman in NJ on May 15th.
But, like the previous reply, listen to you surgeon and your Physical Therapist to the letter, everyone’s recovery is different. I was doing everything within 3-4 months but had to be careful not to overdo, and honestly, it took about 1 year to be completely pain free. I’m better than ever now, stonger and fitter than before the surgery.
I too had the surgery but recuperated quickly. I was able to swim just a couple of weeks afterwards (minus the flip-turn of course.)
Follow the advice already given here. One thing though, I had a numb spot between my big and second toes from the nerve in my back being compressed. Didn’t really affect anything, just felt weird. I thought it would be that way the rest of my life but just the other day I noticed it just tingles now, not completely numb. This is 3 or 4 years after the surgery. Funny thing the body…
Be careful my wife had a discectomy / laminectomt for a herniated disc in December and has not had one pain free day since,best surgen in town (Tallahassee Fl) more MRI tell reherniation,but other tests tell disc fragment, A trip to Shands four different pain Drs four shots in the spine,so we travel to Johns Hopkins 16 hours away something is pressing on her nerve,onother pain Dr, We are supposted to return to Johns Hopkins in two weeks for a reexploration of the aera,I can not tell you the greeve she has been through,has not worked in months has been flat on her back at home for months. Try everything before getting surgery,she sure wishs she had,if you need more info let me know we have tons.Randall
I had a laminectomy in the mid-90s; lots has changed since then but it sounds like this part hasn’t.
A disc is made up of two parts, the **nucleus pulposus **and the annulous fibrosis. The NP is the squishy inside, the AF is the protective outer part. Lots of disc problems involve the AF having an inflammed bulge, which can heal with enough patience and treatment, but more severe ones involve a rupture where the NP material partially comes out of the disc. I think your surgery will simply cut away the part of the disc that has escaped and is irritating the sciatic nerve. Its a simple surgery but there are two important things to remember about recovery:
Your disc will still be like a cream filled pastry with a bite taken out of it, very vulnerable to more NP being squeezed out and causing you the same problems, unless you are very careful, take it easy and do what you are told until scar tissue forms over the opening.
You will feel better than you have in ages soon after surgery (probably much more so than I did if you’re not being cut open as much) and the temptation to return to the activities you’ve missed will be great. Don’t give into it.
I’ve never had any real “future issues”; it was a few years after the surgery that I got into tri and it was never a factor.
Do what the doctor and therapists tell you to do post surgery, no matter how good you feel. Good luck!