What I remember about my microdiscectomy surgery: pre-op, intubation, recovery, etc.

[@Keetzzzz]

I stumbled upon your channel today and I must say your videos gave me a ray of hope in life . Lots of love and strength to anyone going through this worse L5-S1 disc herniation like me🙌🏼

[@MB-wx4gp]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for taking the time to post this! I know time is precious for you as a busy mama with your precious kids! Going to watch now!

[@user-xyz12364]

Don't worry. Be careful when choosing a good surgeon. I've heard that for a herniated disc, most doctors suggest fusion

[@elizabethking5308]

@MB-wx4gp Here you go! ♡

[@MB-wx4gp]

Thank you so much again for posting your recollection of that day. It was really setting and reassuring and I’m feeling better about the no shower thing for a couple of days! 😂 Your babies are so adorable and funny too! Needed that chuckle at their sweet antics towards the end! ☺️😄 Blessings to you and your family.

[@tony112292]

Thank you so much for posting these videos. I was recommended to have this same microdisectomy, but I am worried I won’t be able to weighlift and play sports anymore. Just asking for your honest opinion, do you think I would be able to weightlift and play sports, like basketball, again? (I don’t do deadlifts, back squats, nor the leg press.)

[@elizabethking5308]

Everyone fairs differently, of course, and I'm not a medical professional, but I would hazard to guess that you could regain complete function and live the active life you want to. As you probably know from my videos, my disc did reherniate at some point, but I have slight lumbarization of my S1, (meaning my back is a bit too flexible in that region), and I am 6ft tall and have little kids, so I am *constantly* having to bend over, lift, and twist during my everyday life. Adding the joint-loosening hormones of pregnancy and a fairly sudden, fairly drastic weight gain implicit in pregnancy, I think it was the perfect storm. I would just say, DO NOT RUSH RECOVERY! Take lots and lots of time being very careful of your movements and very intentional about slooowly rebuilding strength and mobility. Listen to your body and STOP when something feels uncomfortable. I wish you all the best as you face surgery and recovery! Feel free to ask me anything.

[@tony112292]

Thank you so much for replying and for your advice. You’re so helpful and kind 😃

[@yasin08]

Thank you for making these videos. They are very helpful💚. I had a MD for L4-5 herniation and unfortunately reherniated 6 weeks post op . I have watched your previous video which you explained your reherniation and that it healed naturally. Were you symptom free in this last year after making that video?

[@elizabethking5308]

I'm so sorry you're dealing with that! At least my 2nd ordeal was years removed from my surgery, so I felt that it was still a certain sucess. I'm sure you are disheartened. 😣 To answer your question, I have had no sciatica. Some days when I do too much (or even just a little bit of certain things the wrong way--like pushing my kids on the swing with bad form), I'll experience pain in my low back, but it can be managed easily with OTC medication, and I seem to always feel better after a good nights sleep. I really hope you experience healing too! (Maybe more quickly than I did. 🙃)

[@julia-cellar7784]

Hi Elizabeth, how are you feeling lately? I’ve watched all of your videos and they were helpful for me pre op, I had my L5/S1 microdiscectomy on July 19 this year and recovery has been super hard. I got a follow up MRI last week and it says “suspicious for recurrence or residual disk”. I’m waiting to talk to the surgeon but I feel pretty devastated but I instantly thought of you and how you reherniated but then the pain went away. I’m curious how your back pain is now. P.s. your kids are ridiculously adorable!

[@elizabethking5308]

Ugh. I'm so sorry to hear that your struggles have continued. As for me, I feel good every morning and throughout most days. I would say probably once every 10 days or so (totally arbitrary guess--I just know it's what I would consider relatively infrequent) I over-do it or move badly and then am very uncomfortable by the evening: not sciatica--all in my low back and with a feeling of general weakness/inability to move how I'm supposed to. Activities that seem to consistently bother me: cleaning the house (especially vacuuming), pushing my kids on the swings, if I get cocky and try to lift them out of the bathtub instead of just offering them a hand. Haha. But again, it is not sciatica, ibuprofen helps a lot, and I truly do feel better every morning when I wake up! So I count myself blessed. I really hope your meeting with the surgeon is encouraging. If you ever have more specific questions or just want to share or have a friend pray for you, please continue to think of me. ♡

[@julia-cellar7784]

That is so helpful, thank you. What is interesting with me is that I never had sciatica until after the surgery. I had searing low back pain that had basically disabled me. When I woke up from surgery, I had sciatica for the first time. I still can’t feel my toe some days! Hearing about your reherniation and how you’re managing it gives me hope. I will definitely let you know how it goes with the surgeon, it is nice to have someone that truly gets it. ❤ I also know it’s helpful for others to read different experiences so I’m happy to share as well.

[@thk936]

Thank you for sharing! Very helpful. Did your MRI report say how large your L5-S1 disc herniation was? was it more than 5mm?

[@elizabethking5308]

Had to look back in my files: "...superimposed large central and left subarticular recess disc extrusion which extends 9.5 mm caudally and 10 mm posteriorly causing significant mass effect on the thecal sac and severe narrowing of the left subarticular recess deep to the remote laminectomy..." The reports *always* sound scary. 😅

[@thk936]

@@elizabethking5308 Thank you, Elizabeth! Much appreciated.

[@elizabethking5308]

@@thk936 I got mixed up a bit. Those stats were for me *REherniation,* but the initial herniatio was similar: 10mm.

[@thk936]

@@elizabethking5308 thanks again for sharing :) 10mm lumbar hernia is a lot to go through twice! Stay healthy :)

[@Bikkufootballtalks]

Hello, sis i'm suffering from L4 L5 and disc bulge it's been 2 years. My pain at the beginning was painful but after in 1.6 year in remaining 4months i visited chiropractor and physiotherapist i have not that much pain in my left side but recently i have urine frequency but i can hold my urine and also pain shifted to my right side. I still have nerve pain in my left side ankle and can't stretch forward too much. Can you please help me little to understand it.

[@elizabethking5308]

I am sorry for your struggles. Good for you for seeking help via chiropractic care and physiotherapy. I have no idea what to tell you, though. I'm sorry.

[@AntonyWrightOfficial]

Hi Elizabeth, I’ve just have mine done. I can’t put weight on my left leg. Really painful. 12 years of radiating pain into my left glute, however now I’m in so much pain, it’s 23:47 now. I’m in the uk and it’s Sunday tomorrows, so doctors generally don’t work, ontop of that the junior doctors are on strike. I watched your video and it seems you were okey. I don’t know if I should demand to see a doctor? I am aware it’s approx 7 hours before now, so I’m hoping I catch you at a good time. What do think? Thanks in advance, Tony

[@elizabethking5308]

I'm so sorry for your pain. 😔 Are you saying that you had a microdiscectomy recently, and since the surgery, your pain has become much worse? If that is the case, I would certainly ask to be seen again; I'd probably request a new MRI for comparison purposes, and maybe have a new doc look at the pre- and post-operative MRIs.

[@AntonyWrightOfficial]

@@elizabethking5308 Thankyou for reaching out. I came out of theatre Saturday. I have made some simple videos about my journey thus far. Feel free to free to listen to me ramble on. That’s a great idea about the mri’s and different consultants to have a look. 👍🏻

[@elizabethking5308]

@@AntonyWrightOfficial Given that your surgery was so recent, I would probably give my doctor a call to explain your post-op symptoms, but maybe give it a week or so before starting to worry or seek further care, as it's possible the nerve is irritated from being touched/moved during the procedure. Still, I know a week can feel like an eternity when one is in agony. Godspeed!

[@AntonyWrightOfficial]

Thanks mate. It’s slowly getting better. The diazepam is helping with the spasm and the pregablin is helping with the sciatica. I appreciate your input and couldn’t agree more. So are at full strength and vigour now?

[@elizabethking5308]

@AntonyWrightOfficial Oh, I'm so glad to hear things are improving for you. Here's hoping that good trajectory continues! And yes! I am doing very well. Some days when I overdo it (certain things like pushing my kids on the swings or doing lots of vacuuming are common issues) my back will feel weak and sore by the evening, but I always wake up feeling good, and I haven't had sciatica-type symptoms in a long while. ♡

[@audreyfahdy3247]

Can you tell us please about your re herniation, i had a distectomy L5S1 8 months ago and suddenly i suffer again with sciatica, MRI confirms the disc is again compressing the nerves.. Thanks for sharing..

[@elizabethking5308]

I'm so sorry. 😔 That is such discouraging news. I have another video that goes into more detail about my reherniation; maybe you can watch that, and then if you have any additional questions, I'd be happy to share.