Disc protrusion 3 discs?

Question

I have 3 discs in lower lumber area fucxx and doc has told me only way to fix is large op, im in constant pain in my legs and back side, i have pins and needles in both legs, some times worse than others, ive been like this for over a year now and im due to see the specialist in Glasgow for the op. What is the successe rate, whats the risks, is there anyone who has had this done? Email me if you like.

Answer 1

I had a prolapsed (slipped disc) and had an operation in 2004 after months of constant and draining pain. Your symptoms suggest that you have sciatica which is caused by a bulge in your disc or rupture (where the jelly in the disc pops out) and which is rubbing and agrivating your sciatic nerve.

As I understand it, there are two types of operation. The first is a discectomy (which is the one I had). It involves pincering off the bulge or ruptured material so it no longer rubs on your nerve. Recovery time is about 4 weeks although I was up on my feet on the same day but felt delicate for a few weeks. Primarily I didn't feel safe going out incase I was bumped or knocked by accident. I was a little sore after the operation (like a bruise) although straight after the operation they gave me morphine because it hurt a lot. Sometimes they will remove a small bit of bone in the vertebrae to get to the bulge. The risks are that the operation itself can do some damage to the nerve. I have some numbness down the back of my right leg. I have got used to it now and it is much less troubling than the pain before the op. I recall that the success rate in 2004 was about 75%. This may have improved. Talk to your consultant. I do get occasional back pain but it lasts much less time than it used to and isn't as hard to cope with. Like you, I have more than one disc causing problems so I don't know whether it is another disc or the same disc causing problems again. I have only had to take pain killers once for this.

The other operation is called a fusion and involves fusing two or more vertebrae together so that they do not put pressure on the disc which makes it bulge or 'pop'. My gran had this op many years ago and she has lived a full and happy life. The downside to this is that you will lose flexibility if you have this op. There is also a risk of nerve damage in this op too.

Personally, I would choose the discectomy if I had a choice. It turned my life around.

If you want to read up on this, I would recommend a book called 'Back Pain for Dummies'. It is written by an american and they use slightly different language and terminology but it gave me a chance to read through options and get ideas for things to ask the doc. It was my bible!

MOST IMPORTANT: If you do get this op done, give up smoking (if you do) as the success of the operation is seriously affected by smoking. Don't lift anything heavier than a cup of tea for a few weeks and make sure you do any exercises you are given. After a year of pain, the muscles around the area will working abnormally so you will need to strengthen these up to ensure your back is supported in the future.

Good luck and I hope things work out well for you.

Answer 2

hi I'm going through the same problem at moment ,waiting for the operation called laminectomy its quite a common back surgery they trim a small part of your backbone to widen spinal canal so that they can create more space for spinal nerves..even though it is major surgery most places now do it by keyhole which helps with recovery time...some doctors recommend intensive physio first to see if this reliefs pain and pushes discs back into place...but this will take time its not a quick fix ..has with all surgery's there are always risks anaesthetic and permanent nerve damage are just two,my brother had the same op last June which has made small improvement but not fully, but that's not to say it wont work for you,talk it over with your specialist about the pros and cons only you can decide in the end ..good luck i know only too well how painful it can be

Answer 3

I have a problem too, and have been so bad with it that I have not been able to walk or move for weeks at a time. I know the agony well. I was on the verge of having the spinal fusion but the 50% success rate put me off. I didn't go ahead with it and was taking loads of painkillers just to get through the day. I eventually got some back rehabilitation through Rehab Works and it has made so much difference! I still have pain but its at a manageable level and I no longer pop pills every couple of hours.