topic Re: Herniated Disc Surgery? in Wellness

Herniated Disc Surgery?

conlt — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 16:35:33 GMT

I have a history of herniated cervical discs and for the past 2 weeks I have numbness in my left arm/hand. I am sure it is the discs because the numbness is positional. For instance, when I sit and lean to look at the computer and when I lay on my right side. 10 years ago, I was almost headed into surgery with this but PT helped and they did not do surgery. I have a doctors appointment this week and I fear surgery is going to be an option for me. Has anyone had back surgery lately? I am interested in the recovery time? I work at home so I don't have to drive. I am curious how fast I can get back to work. I have a new job that I want to keep. Thanks for all your thoughts and input in advance.

Re: Herniated Disc Surgery?

Still Raining — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 16:41:18 GMT

Don't jump the gun. There is a lot room between numb and surgery. Right now my pinkie and ring fingers are numb, but we are treating it.

Re: Herniated Disc Surgery?

Shelbelle — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 16:50:50 GMT

My DH had mircrodiscectomy surgery in 2004, he had no other options, he was totally immobile. Surgery was outpatient , we were back home in just a few hours and his recovery was literally a piece of cake, and no problems since. I wish you luck!

Re: Herniated Disc Surgery?

RedTop — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 17:01:10 GMT

I too would not be thinking surgery just yet.

My former co-worker had surgery for herniated disc 2 years ago; procedure was on Monday, and she came home Wednesday. The hospital was a 2 hour drive from where she lives, and she tolerated the car ride very well. She was quite sore, moved at turtle speed for 3 weeks, and was not mentally prepared for as much pain. My friend learned quickly to take the medication and stay ahead of the pain! Somewhere around week 4 was when she began to feel more normal.

Re: Herniated Disc Surgery?

chrystaltree — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 18:39:37 GMT

I think there are a many things they might try besides a discectomy, which I assume is the surgery you are referring to. See the doctor first and find out what your next steps and options are. Also, have a discussion with him. Let him know that at this point, with a new job recovery time is a factor for you.

Re: Herniated Disc Surgery?

pieman — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 18:43:34 GMT

Not sure where you reside but here in FL we have BioSpine.

People come from all over.

Its less than 1/4 inch incision and you come home the same day/

They say in 3 days you are back in business.

Getting ready to do it myself....

Re: Herniated Disc Surgery?

conlt — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 21:05:10 GMT

@pieman Oh wow, I just looked the Biospine Institute up. It seems like they have it going on. Of course I don't want surgery, I just know from my past experience that surgery is going to be an option. I am sure they are going to have to do a MRI to see what is going on. I am miserable right now depending on how I move my body my lower L arm; and hand get numb. I have a long history of herniated discs. It is no fun. I actually live only 1 1/2 hours from Orlando. I know my doctor told me once that if I ever need spinal surgery that I am going to a spinal surgeon out of Baptist Heath in Jacksonville. He has had surgery himself 3 different times from this doctor. I know the doctor is highly rated. It is a lot to think about. I remember 10 years ago, the neurologist told me that I was not going to be able to avoid surgery forever. At the time it was a neurosurgeon at the University of Florida, Gainesville who suggested PT. The PT worked for me, the neurologist was not happy. I could also see a doctor in Gainesville, at UF, I also have the Mayo Clinic very close in Jacksonville.

Re: Herniated Disc Surgery?

10sluvr — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 22:05:32 GMT

my son, 41yrs. just had op surgery for bulging disc pressing on sciatic was in pain and numb in lt. arm and leg. his surgery was in the am and he was home by 4pm. he is doing great and back to work, on light duty.

Re: Herniated Disc Surgery?

hckynut — Sun, 12 Jan 2020 00:34:29 GMT

@conlt

One's body changes a lot in 10 years, as do the medical procedures and treatments. You say "cervical discs" and you ask about "back surgery", which are the "lumbar area of the back". My friend specializes in both, and he does all the Micro surgeries in his Spinal Group of Doctors.

You didn't mention anything about a recent MRI, and without having that done, I doubt any reputable surgeon will make a decision on what is in your best interest. If any surgeon says "surgery" without seeing one's latest MRI? I would be out the door.

I have 3 Crushed Vertebrae in the Cervical area of my neck. This happened back in the early 1970's, and I have dealt with them without surgery for decades. Another good friend of mine, who has since died, was a Chiropractor and he was able to get me through some very tough and painful times.

For the most part, now they only effect me seriously, very rarely. I've worked all these years on strengthening my neck muscles, and also keeping them as flexible as I can. My left arm still goes numb on occasion and I do have some shoulder pain.

I have had 2 back surgeries over the years. The 1st to remove my ruptured L-5/S-1 Lumbar Discs, the 2nd to remove a ruptured L-3 Lumbar disc. Have not effected me in any way from living my high paced and active lifestyle.

My Spinal Surgeon friend has done an MRI and asked me if it really was painful enough to surgery. I said, not yet. He told me with my situation surgery, at best would be 50-50. For me it is not worth it unless it starts to effect my present active way of life. If so, then I will decide.

As for recovery? Everyone is different because of age/physical condition/health/their normal activities, and on and on. My latest surgery was a Hernia Surgery. My Surgeon told me 4-8 weeks before ice skating. My 1st follow up visit I talked him into 2 weeks, and I did just fine. Didn't skate "all out" but it was just a matter of not pushing it. My next visit he gave me the "all clear". He said if you can handle the pain, it won't disturb the surgery.

Keep us posted.

hckynut

Re: Herniated Disc Surgery?

Katcat1 — Sun, 12 Jan 2020 00:51:27 GMT

@hckynut I had back surgery L5-S1 and I was in constant pain. I did not want to believe I had a hierniated disc. The only option was phys. therapy which ended up pushing the disc out more and then I needed emergency back surgery. Lucky me had the Director of Neurosurgery at U of CA in San Francisco. I never had any problems and the pain was gone. When the disc pushed out more from PT, tingling started in both feet and then the left leg up to the knee was numb and then the right leg was numb. It's scary when you lose feeling and have non stop tingling. The only thing that usually is an option is PT. You need to have a dr. you have faith in too.

Re: Herniated Disc Surgery?

hckynut — Sun, 12 Jan 2020 01:58:13 GMT

Hi @Katcat1

My discs were already completely ruptured when I was admitted to the hospital. This was in 1974 and things were much different than today. They had no MRI in that era and used only a Myelogram to base their procedures. I spent every day on bed with "traction/valium and Demerol shots every 6 hours".

Each day they took me to PT 2 times a day to stretch me and a few other different types of techniques of therapy. I was in the hospital for 22 days, only 5 of it was after the surgery, the rest was trying to see if they could avoid surgery.

My surgery was fast, as my doctor said when he made the incision, most of the disc material flew out on it's own. That is what badly ruptured spinal discs did, according to him.

Took me about a month before I could resume my running once again. Before that I was walking 3 miles 3 times every day, and doing 45 minutes of abdominal and stretching exercises twice each day. Within 6 months I was back playing hockey again.

My Sciatic Nerve is so damaged from those ruptures that my right leg still goes numb occasionally when I am ice skating, mostly when I am doing my speed work. My legs never went numb prior to surgery, it was just constant sharp pain. I wish the would have gone numb as that is preferable to me than that excruciating type of pain.

I still have my full flexibilty and lots of strength I need for my ice skating. I do abdominal and stretching exercises every single day. Each for at least 20-30 minutes, along with my balance exercises for about the same.

Both my spinal surgeries were successful and I worked very hard to keep my flexibility and core strength at its Maximum, and I plan on continuing to do so, until I can't, should that time ever come. Same with my ice skating, falls and all.

hckynut

Re: Herniated Disc Surgery?

Sage04 — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 02:14:27 GMT

@RedTop, do you know if your friend had Cervical Spine Fusion? If so, she should not have had any pain after the surgery. I had two fusions done at different times C3-4 and C6-7, Only spent one day in the hospital for both and didn´t need any pain medications after the surgeries.

@conlt, that was also my problem. Couldn´t sit and the pain went from my let arm down to my leg. Couldn´t take that anymore and was so happy after the surgeries. I have two incisions about an inch long in different parts on the front of my neck, but you can hardly see them.

Get an MRI done before you make a decision about surgery, and if you do, you would be ok.

Re: Herniated Disc Surgery?

RedTop — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 20:12:18 GMT

@Sage04,

No, my friend had surgery on bulging discs; my SIL had cervical fusion surgery a few months ago.

Re: Herniated Disc Surgery?

sfnative — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 06:39:25 GMT

@conlt

I had cervical fusion at C 5-6 in 1994 and my husband just had it at the same level April 30, 2019. His recovery was 6 weeks, whereas mine was 3 months. I was placed in a tall soft collar and he was placed in a hard plastic collar. I had to wear mine 24/7, whereas he was allowed to take his off for a certain number of hours per day.

Back to you. Regardless of the symptoms you present with at this time, the one diagnostic tool required is a cervical MRI to truly rule out a number of things and to also determine where you are a surgical candidate. Plain films (x-rays) are NOT sufficient to make a final diagnosis, so if your doc orders A/P and lateral films, then makes a pronouncement without an MRI, find another specialist.