Contents
- It’s already been three years since I had a microdiscectomy!?
- I have been so touched by the response to my microdiscectomy recovery experience.
- Three years after my microdiscectomy…I’m gaining weight…
- Physical activity and exercise three years after my microdiscectomy:
- My pain levels are at an all-time low three years after my microdiscectomy.
- I did feel sad this year because I continually catch myself being reckless…
- I saw a chiropractor for the first time since my surgery…
- All in all, I feel like I have recovered from my microdiscectomy.
It’s already been three years since I had a microdiscectomy!?
Time flies! I decided to write another microdiscectomy recovery update for people with sciatica or herniated discs who are trying to decide if surgery is a good option for them. I am doing this every year to address the long term effects of a microdiscectomy. I had an L5S1 microdiscectomy, and I hope this recovery update will give you a good idea about the microdiscectomy recovery time frame.
I am going to address my routine three years after my microdiscectomy and any compare my lifestyle with what it was a year ago.
This is my microdiscectomy success story!
If you haven’t already read them, I recommend checking out my other posts about my experience with a herniated disc and microdiscectomy recovery.
You can check out the separate page with all the posts here.
or
This one details my experience with sciatica before my microdiscectomy and all the treatments I tried before the surgery.
This one is about my surgery and the first year of my microdiscectomy recovery.
And this one is about my second year after my surgery.
Also, I am not a doctor or medical professional so I am not qualified to give you health advice. This is just what works for me, and it may not necessarily work for you. Talk to your doctor before doing anything. The time frame of my microdiscectomy recovery may be different than your own.
I have been so touched by the response to my microdiscectomy recovery experience.
I just wanted to share my experience as a blog post because my herniated disc/sciatica was controlling my life and surgery was the last resort. My microdiscectomy was a success, and I wanted to just share my experience so that other people going through the hell that is sciatica may find it helpful.
I never expected so many people would write to me or share comments about their experiences! My heart truly goes out to you readers who are dealing with the horrible pain.
Three years after my microdiscectomy…I’m gaining weight…
My doctor told me that maintaining a healthy weight will prevent re-herniation and help me make a smooth microdiscectomy recovery. It will ensure that the long term effects of the L5S1 microdiscectomy will be positive! But I also live in France and my three housemates and I consume a kilo of butter a week and all the fluffiest white bread you can imagine. And then…cheese.
I’m slowly trying to dump less olive oil on everything. But on the other hand I don’t want to be in a permanent, stressed-about-having-to-lose-weight state. One option is to just never leave my house and stop looking at Instagram because then I just compare myself to fewer people. Ok I’m kidding.
But you don’t need to be fabulously thin to prevent yourself from re-herniating. I am just trying to go back to the weight I was about a year ago.
Physical activity and exercise three years after my microdiscectomy:
My post microdiscectomy exercise routine hasn’t changed so much from what I wrote for last year (check out my year two post for microdiscectomy recovery exercises). I run twice a week, I make various attempts to strength train a few times a week, and I go for long walks and hikes. I have been doing more yoga recently as well.
Swimming has also been very fun!
I also played a lot of backyard ice hockey this winter with no problems!
My pain levels are at an all-time low three years after my microdiscectomy.
I feel stiffness, and in some positions I still have some pain. But I can manage this. I could not manage the pain before I had surgery.
Long travel days, sleeping on soft mattresses or couches, or sitting at my desk all day all seem to raise my pain levels. This has held true during my entire microdiscectomy recovery.
I still use my trusty balance disc when I am sitting at my desk all day. It helps me maintain good posture and keeps my core engaged. I seriously love that silly little hunk of plastic! It also seems like there is a cult of people who are obsessed with their balance discs…my friend’s husband even brings his when he works in coffee shops!
I did have a busy month where I completely stopped exercising this year. My pain was at its worst during that month! I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to have an exercise routine.
I find that even doing 15 minutes of low-impact strength training as little as twice a week and literally nothing else still does wonders when it comes to pain reduction. So make the time to do something! You will feel happier!
I did feel sad this year because I continually catch myself being reckless…
By reckless I mean in a post microdiscectomy context and NOT in a champagne cocaine sort of way.
It is amazing how we as humans can forget physical pain and suddenly three years after my L5S1 microdiscectomy I am twisting to reach to get dropped pencils and lifting heavy objects without thinking.
Part of it is because I live on a farm with three friends and they don’t act like pretty pretty princesses when we need to lift heavy firewood into the house. I want to participate to the fullest and contribute.
But come on I could contribute by making them all lentil soup or something.
After my surgery, I was so relieved to not be living the absolute hell that was sciatica that I promised myself I would never, ever do anything to jeopardize my recovery.
I guess it is nice to be free of the terrifying feelings I always had of re-herniating my disc. But I really do need to be more mindful or else I could do something stupid.
I saw a chiropractor for the first time since my surgery…
I have arm problems (not good since I am a musician) and a local clinic was offering a super cheap therapeutic massage if you made a health assessment with a chiropractor.
He was perfectly nice but I was terrified when he cracked my lower back. In hindsight, I wouldn’t let anyone do that again. I felt sore for a day and now I am back to normal.
He said it was fine but I am trusting my gut on this one. I have no medical expertise or anything to explain why I won’t go back, and so you can make your own decision if you want to see a chiropractor.
Should you go to a chiropractor after a microdiscectomy? You will have to make that decision yourself. I recommend talking to your surgeon about it.
I think that my experience with sciatica has made me very suspicious of chiropractors since several offered to solve all my problems and none of them did. Even the act of claiming to be able to easily fix all your problems makes me suspicious.
But I am a big fan of therapeutic massages! That always leaves me feeling great. I would recommend that to anyone, even if they aren’t dealing with sciatica!
All in all, I feel like I have recovered from my microdiscectomy.
I feel even more normal and able than last year. Having sciatica isn’t really part of my identity anymore.
I can’t blame my problems on sciatica, though my friends still get mad when I use back surgery as a half-assed excuse to get out of doing things I don’t want to do.
But I am still not going to lift heavy stuff, sorry.
Thanks so much for reading about my microdiscectomy recovery and I hope you will find the relief you need regardless of which treatment you choose. I will update again in a year!!
Hello my name is Tina. You’re story legitematly has made cry, fills me with hope, but already terrifies me about if I’m strong enough mentally to bark on the journey you have made. Just to give you back story. I was 25 years old when I injuried my L5-S1 disc at work transfering a patient. I am an Occupational Therapist and have been one for about a year. I am now 27 years and this injury has consumed me. I can’t tell my patents or friends about the everyday pain Im in (for reasons I can explain in another response). Im tired of going to PT’s, chiropractors, and some doctors telling me Im too young to have this problem or young it will heal. These statements make me fall into a deeper state of depression. Im left with the free of will I be in pain for the rest of my life, will I be able to travel the world, will I be able to run/exercises again, will I be a good wife and not a burden to my future husband, will I be able to pick my kids up if I have them, have I just single handedly ruined my career as an OT, and finally will I be able to live a full happy life pain free. Just one single action and a 1mm disc bulge at my L5-S1 has changed my life and who I’m so much.
Your story has been the realest story I have read. I’m so happy and greatful that you have documented this journey. It gives me the strength to continue to find the answers and the solution I need to move on.
With love and lots of tears- Thank you!
Wow Tina I REALLY identify with what you wrote…it really does change everything about your life and relationships and feelings. Thanks so much for taking the time to share and I really hope you find the relief you are looking for. It is so hard also because it is an invisible injury. Sometimes it felt like people didn’t believe I was in pain and I felt embarrassed! I have my fingers crossed for you!
Thank you so much for sharing this. I am at 9mos post microdiscectomy. I waited three years and one flare up that left me doing nothing but crying and lying in bed before doing it. I regret that I probably have permanent nerve damage as a result of waiting but I’m glad I finally did it. Coming up on a year I am terrified that I will have another big flare up this summer. I have had more pain recently. Nevertheless, changing my habits over the past week or so–working on losing some weight, exercising more, sitting less–has made a difference so I’m hopeful that it is just a flareup and not another rupture. Your story has helped ease my mind.
Hi Erin I wish you the best in your journey towards recovery and relief! Thanks for sharing your situation!
Thank you for sharing! I recently had a microdiscectomy and am so encouraged by your recovery story!
So my mom suffering in boundless sciatica pain till now i have consulted with doctor and spine surgeon advised to do microdesectomy . Really i am scared and worried about my mom health for operation it would be helpful or not
Well Babeesh, I’d like to say a big thanks for your posts and I hope you are long past all this pain by now.
I’ve found this and your other articles very informative and well written. You’ve really helped me to not only understand the whole discectomy process, but to realise that others like you have had the same experiences as I have regarding pain, depression, work, life and the attitudes of others
I had my discectomy 3 weeks ago after spending 5 years with an L5S1 herniation and at the risk of jinxing myself I have to say its been a great success. Just like you wrote, waking up without pain after the operation instantly made me feel like a new person.
I had put up with my pain for the 5 years, not doing the things I wanted and being generally grumpy and feeling sorry for myself. About 2 months ago the disk moved into my nerve canal and prevented me from walking so the decision to have surgery was made for me.
Just don’t know why I didn’t have surgery sooner! Like you say, lots of people saying I shouldn’t (including my first neurosurgeon strangely).
Here’s hoping I’m able to make a recovery like you did, although I’ve got a few years on you ,so healing is a bit slower for me. But already I can walk without much pain, I can sleep, I can get up with a smile on my face and look forward to the day!
Wow Morgan! 5 years of pain? I hope you are enjoying your recovery and that every day will bring the realization that something that used to be so hard and difficult to do is no longer a problem! I really appreciate you sharing your experience and I have my fingers crossed for a continued recovery for you!
Thankyou so much for sharing your story. I am in the UK and have just had emergency L5S1 discectomy decompression surgery which I think is similar to the procedure you had. The system here does involve a LOT of waiting and being given almost no information until you are practically under the knife. I am two weeks out from the procedure and am hunting for information on nerve healing and muscle strength. Even though I work as a massage therapist and professional dancer, I had never heard of disc herniation being life threatening; I had the impression it was a painful but relatively harmless condition. I’ve had back pain in various forms for about 20 years and can also identify with your descriptions of the pain being like the fish in a pot that goes from warm to boiling so you barely notice, and, I had a similar experience of a fall landing smack on my butt that left my coccyx in a lot of pain and started giving me the symptoms which I think eventually progressed to me needing surgery. I progressed to having excruciating sciatica but the trigger for the surgery was developing symptoms of cauda equina syndrome so I was rushed to theatre without a lot of prior warning. I really value your descriptions and your positive outlook 3 years later, and I hope to find more communities of people who have had the same condition and interventions who can share strategies for the best possible healing.
Was there anything you did other than the careful exercise and avoidance of strain you mention, that you feel helped your nerves heal? You mentioned the part of your leg that was slightly more numb on one side with the toothpick test… do you still have any numbness or loss of muscle strength now?
I would be grateful if you or your readers had any further comments or links to support groups if you know of any. For instance have you met any other musicians or performers with a similar condition?
Thanks so much for sharing and I look forward to tracking your progress.
Hello Briar!
Thanks so much for sharing your experience and I apologize that it has taken me a while to get back to you. I’ve been on the road for a long time without a computer and now am trying to read all the thoughtful comments people have left! To answer your questions, I do not have any numbness anymore. I do feel a little off balance when it comes to muscle strength…I mean, I feel like I can exercise both sides of my body adequately…I just feel like I don’t have a sense of secure balance that I had before I had my herniated disc. I am so sorry that you are going through this horrible horrible experience!
Hi briar same happened to me an year ago it was quada equina and after that surgery immwdiately its been an year and still feel a little numb ness and excruciating pain in my feet
Thank you so much for sharing your story! I suffered for 2 years before deciding to have an L5-S1 discectomy for a herniated disc. I am only 7 weeks post op and it so comforting to know there is someone out there who has gone through this and good outcomes are possible. I am very aware that I may have back pain forever but my pain is already down to a 2-4 on most days from a 7-8 that I was living with. Your story is real and inspiring. It gives me hope that I will run, work out, snow board and kayak again. Thank you for taking time from your life to educate and inspire others concerning your journey!
Thanks for sharing your experience, Christine! I appreciate you taking the time to read about my experience!
Hey Babeesh
Well it’s almost 2am and I am awake and reading posts on the normalcy of continued sciatic pain after having a microdiscectomy. My sciatica started very mildly about 8 months ago and got to the point about 3 months ago that I would dread taking my golden retriever out in the morning for his potty break. I would have to sometimes lay down on the side of the road after just 50 yards walking and let the pain subside. Fortunately I have a very understanding boy that didn’t pull too much to get back to his sniffing 🙂 My L5/S1 surgery was 3.5 days ago and I admit to thinking i would wake up feeling so much better. However in addition to the surgical site I now also had the incision to deal with. I knew that the surgery site would be much improved in a few days but the continued sciatica has really worried me. I’ve read SO many articles on it but yours has been the first long-term detailed account of what you went through. It has definitely comforted me and for that I am grateful. It is kind that you have taken the time to be so thorough with your story. It also is a pretty good read lol…J’aime le pain au chocolate et tout la cuisine de France! Merci beaucoup pour votre histoire et bonne chance avec votre musique!
Salut Karl!
Merci trop pour l’histoire! Like you, I had those evenings when I poured through blogs and articles online to try to find one good thing…the truth is that there’s just a lot of negative experiences floating around online! But I get it…the people who had positive experiences have moved on with their lives! I’m happy you found it helpful. I remember having to lay down on the floor in airport bathrooms just to try to relieve my sciatica spasms. It was horrible and I’m so happy you’re on the road to recovery!
Thank you for writing these updates! I had my microdiscectomy on L5/S1 19 months ago. For the most part, my recovery has been great, and I’m back to lifting heavy weights, doing yoga, and playing soccer, but every now and then an ache or a tingle freaks me out, and I scour the internet for blog posts like yours. It really helps calm me down a little. The current flare up as been happening since I tweaked my back a little two weeks ago, and I’ve been having a variety of mild symptoms. Have you had any flare ups since your surgery?
Thank you for writing these updates! I had my microdiscectomy at L5-S1 19 months ago, and overall, I’m doing really well, and I’m really active. But whenever I feel an ache or have a flare up of some sort, I search all over the internet for blog posts like this one. Stories like yours really help me calm down and keep a positive outlook. Have you had any flareups?
Hi Richard thanks for your comment! As you know from our emails I do occasionally have flareups, so for anyone else reading these comments the answer is yes! Sometimes I have flareups or stiffness, especially after long travel days on buses or plans, or when I sleep on a much softer mattress than usual or couch. If I keep a good exercise schedule I’m usually a-ok!
I stumbled across this blog and I’m extremely happy I did. It does give some hope and I love your positive attitude about the whole ordeal. I have the old l5/s1 herniation with sciatica in my left leg. It’s been a year now and I can’t remember what could have caused it but like you I thought it was a hamstring injury lol. After all the chiro visits and spending too much money I decided to get an mri and boom. There it was. I’ve tried PT, steroid injections, acupuncture, cupping therapy, and everything else. I’m taking 8 Advil a day just to numb the pain for a few hours and now it’s starting to affect my social and unfortunately my relationship with my wife and two kids. I feel like I’m all alone in this situation. Ughh, this sucks. I’ve been reading Dr. Sarno’s book about healing back pain without surgery but I’m not getting anywhere. Oh well…anyhow, I love your blog. God bless you!
Hi Billy! Thanks for your kind words! I am so sorry you are going through all of this! I hope you will be able to find relief soon so that you can get back to enjoying time with your family!
Don’t let any doctor talk you into Spinal Fusion. It’s all about money and you’ll be miserable for the rest of your life.. They make it sound so simple in the videos with smiling patients and nurses.. You will wish you died .
Hey, I’m Tina, and i’m 32. I started searching for recovery reviews, since my micro discectomy is scheduled for 4 days later. After a lot of intimidating reviews, I came across yours, which helped to relieve my anxious mind!
I got diagnosed with a herniated disc early last year, and the pain was mild but consistent. Since then I didn’t pretty much stop any of my exercise routines ranging from Yoga to Pilates and sometimes the Gym. With that and a hectic travel routine, a year later my pain has become worst and since the last 4/6 weeks, I’m incapable of sitting for even over 10 minutes, can only lie down on my stomach or walk a bit. Post my latest MRI i have been advised surgery, since they don’t expect my symptoms to improve considering I have done PT, painkillers et al before and not in a state to do any of that now. I am super anxious about what my life will be post the surgery and it really really helps to find someone so young like you, to have given positivity to the most of us here. I hope I recover well too and hope to read your stories further. All the best:)
Hi Tina! Thanks for sharing your story and experience and I wish you the best in your recovery!
Hi Babeesh,
Thank you for sharing your story. I have been pouring over the internet looking for information on what to expect post surgery. Your posts were very insightful and gives me a more optimistic outlook on what i can expect as I endeavor on my journey…I go in for my surgery in 10 days. I wish you continued success in your recovery and life.
Hi Kort-
Thanks so much! I’m glad you found my posts helpful! I wish you the best of luck and a fast recovery!
Hi Babeesh,
Thank you for sharing your experiences, it has helped me tremendously. I have been experiencing debilitating sciatic pain 4 months now and I thought it was getting better but 3 weeks ago the pain intensified and I am back on muscle relaxants and pain meds. My sciatica is due to a fragmented disc extrusion at L5 S1.Surgery was an option 2mths ago but I wanted to try physio first. I am seeing the NS on Friday and I am praying we will make the best decision to help me move forward. I really want my life back. The depression, anxiety and fear are not addressed when visiting the doctor. Physio has helped but I have noticed lying on my back which used to be a relief actually triggers off the pain. So frustrated but reading your blog has helped me stay positive. Keep moving and continue finding joy in life.
Thanks Alana,
I appreciate you reading and I hope you will find the solution you need. It’s the worst thing ever I know, and I remember being frustrated when my doctor didn’t have time to hear about the mental anguish this all gave me.
Hi Babeesh. First of all let me thank you for taking the time out and sharing your story with everybody. I just wish if I would have read your story in detail before having my microdiscectomy done. I took the surgery very light and did not took enough precautions and now I am paying the price for it.
I dealt with Sciatic pain for almost 2 years and finally decided to get the surgery. I had the surgery 5 weeks ago. One week after when the incision pain was significantly reduced, i was feeling great. leg and back pain was 99 percent gone and I was feeling like a brand new person. Two weeks after the srugery i had to go to downtown of my city and i made a stupid mistake of taking the train instead of a cab or an uber. The train ride was extremely bumpy. After the ride i felt that something terrible has happened and the pain came back. Now its 3 weeks after the ride but i am still having pain in my lower back and sometimes my left leg has a lot of numbness. I spoke to my surgeon abt this condition and he said there is a possibility of reherniation and getting another surgery. This makes me super depressed and i just curse my self all the time for why did i took that train ride. I will have my MRI done after a few weeks and i really hope its not the reherniation. For all the people who are reading here and are planning to go for the surgery I beg you PLEASE TAKE IT SLOW. HAVE REST AND DO NOT ENGAGE IN ANY ACTIVITY THAT CAN PUT YOU BACK IN PAIN. After all its a surgery and for the body it takes a long time to heal.
Right after the surgery it feels great and that creates a false impression that your problem is resolved but its not. The greatest challenge is to restrict your activities after the surgery and remobilize your self very slowly.
Oh no!!! I am so sorry this has happened! But please don’t beat yourself up because I understand the surge of excitement and desire to get back to a pain free life. I hope it all worked out. Thanks for sharing your story and your advice, I’m sure someone else will find it valuable!
I am so thankful you took the time to write this blog. I am 3 weeks post surgery. Your words give me hope and comfort that residual pain is not reherniation! You are a talented writer with a quite interesting life!
For those who may read the comments, my pain is much improved overall. I walk quite a bit daily which I was unable to do before. At my worst, the amount of walking it takes to pick up a prescription at a big box store was excruciating. Driving became very painful as well. So far, surgery has been a great thing!
Babeesh,
Thank you so very much for writing these blogs and leaving them posted on your site. I am in week 7 post-op, and your personal experience gives me an idea of what to expect. It’s invaluable! All the best, Jane
THanks for reading Jane I hope you have a smooth recovery!
Hi I’m Natasha from South Africa. I am having my procedure tomorrow and your in depth detail of the process gives me confidence to continue. Awake now with extreme pain which I am hoping to be long hone tomorrow. I am five weeks pregnant and I am hoping for the best result for both of us.