Re: Tina Marie

[Guest guest]

Tina Marie, thank you for your message. I'm now almost 2 weeks post-op and just

saw my neurosurgeon. He advises not to go to work for another two to three

weeks. I'm an engineer, so I do office work, and he says sitting is the worst.

I'm disappointed with that because I really need to get back to work. How long

was your husband off? You indicated that your husband has been pain free - not

even a minor twinge? Ocassionally, I still get a minor twinge of pain, but so

much less than before. Doc says to expect that up to 8 weeks post-op while the

nerve heals. But I'm off Vicodin - and so thankful because I'm out of the fog!

I also got the flu and that was worst than post-op! I am so happy for you and

your husband for his full and pain-free recovery! I know how horrible it is to

live with the pain, but it must also be tough on spouses. Your husband is

extremely fortunate to have you and for you to have such a strong interest in

understanding his condition and supporting the rest of us who are going through

what your husband is going through. Happy holidays to you, also!

Anne

Re: Post-op Microdiskectomy success

I wanted to thank Tina Marie again for your responses to my previous emails.

Your husband's success post-operatively was what I hung on to, as I approached

my surgery. Your prompt responses to my questions provided me with promise

also. I had my surgery last Thursday on 12/11 by a neurosurgeon. He is in so

demand, that originally, I was scheduled for a surgery consult on Feb 2004. I

called his office again and told them that if I was indicated to require

surgery, it would be better this year because my insurance changes on Jan 1 to

require a co-pay of $1000! They called me back the next day with a

cancellation, and so forth. I elected to have a general anesthesia but talked

to the anesthesiologist about my tendency to be nauseated, etc, so he used

Percocet and no nitrous oxide. The neurosurgeon did a great job! The incision

is no more than an inch and post-surgery, about a couple of hours later, I was

up and around, walking around my room. I had no side effects from the

anesthesia. I felt minor pain around the incision and could lay on my back. I

stayed at the hospital just that one night after my surgery which was all I need

because they never let you sleep because they're waking you up every two hours

to get your vitals.

Now that I'm almost a week post-op, I have minimum pain and numbness on the

left leg, definitely tolerable and not that noticeable when I walk. My doc told

me not to sit for a week so I didn't go to work. It is a world of difference

from before, with excruciating pain and not able to sleep because of the pain.

I'm so impressed with my doctor because the surgery must have been so minimally

invasive because I felt very little pain from the surgery. A microdiskectomy

vs. a laminectomy results in less vertebrae bone being removed; there is no

cutting of muscle; only the disc nucleus that ruptured is removed. He used a

microscope to do the surgery and that's why a 1 inch incision was only required.

I feel so hopeful this will surgery will relieve my pain forever and now,

it's up to me to strengthen my abdominal muscles, keep on working out, do

physical therapy and be careful, to prevent a future rupture. I probably wasn't

the best patient post-op, and I moved around too much because there was

literally no pain at the incision, and that probably wasn't a good idea, but

walking post-op is also good.

Anyways, I just want to encourage those of you that have a ruptured disc

problem with sciatica pain, to consider a microdiskectomy. If anyone has

questions, feel free to email me. Best of luck and my prayers are with you all.

Happy holidays!

[Guest guest]

He went back to work 2 1/2 weeks post op.....but his job is standing at a bench

(rebuilds transmissions), and his boss guaranteed he wouldnt be doing any

lifting sooo...maybe thats the difference (no sitting) Hes been completely pain

free, but His two toes on his left foot still have a bit of numbness .. that

could be because the nerve hasnt healed.....or it may just be permanent, time

will tell. It really is nothing though, and hes the same...just glad to be off

all those medications, he hated that the most. He was ordered to take 2 weeks

of physical therapy, but his neuro wound up letting him opt out of it, since dh

felt he didnt need it.

Hopefully that twinge of pain will disappear for you over time, and you can get

back to work soon. Enjoy the holidays!

~~TinaMarie

www.GoldenMagnolias.com

Re: Post-op Microdiskectomy success

I wanted to thank Tina Marie again for your responses to my previous

emails. Your husband's success post-operatively was what I hung on to, as I

approached my surgery. Your prompt responses to my questions provided me with

promise also. I had my surgery last Thursday on 12/11 by a neurosurgeon. He

is in so demand, that originally, I was scheduled for a surgery consult on Feb

2004. I called his office again and told them that if I was indicated to

require surgery, it would be better this year because my insurance changes on

Jan 1 to require a co-pay of $1000! They called me back the next day with a

cancellation, and so forth. I elected to have a general anesthesia but talked

to the anesthesiologist about my tendency to be nauseated, etc, so he used

Percocet and no nitrous oxide. The neurosurgeon did a great job! The incision

is no more than an inch and post-surgery, about a couple of hours later, I was

up and around, walking around my room. I had no side effects from the

anesthesia. I felt minor pain around the incision and could lay on my back. I

stayed at the hospital just that one night after my surgery which was all I need

because they never let you sleep because they're waking you up every two hours

to get your vitals.

Now that I'm almost a week post-op, I have minimum pain and numbness on

the left leg, definitely tolerable and not that noticeable when I walk. My doc

told me not to sit for a week so I didn't go to work. It is a world of

difference from before, with excruciating pain and not able to sleep because of

the pain. I'm so impressed with my doctor because the surgery must have been so

minimally invasive because I felt very little pain from the surgery. A

microdiskectomy vs. a laminectomy results in less vertebrae bone being removed;

there is no cutting of muscle; only the disc nucleus that ruptured is removed.

He used a microscope to do the surgery and that's why a 1 inch incision was only

required.

I feel so hopeful this will surgery will relieve my pain forever and now,

it's up to me to strengthen my abdominal muscles, keep on working out, do

physical therapy and be careful, to prevent a future rupture. I probably wasn't

the best patient post-op, and I moved around too much because there was

literally no pain at the incision, and that probably wasn't a good idea, but

walking post-op is also good.

Anyways, I just want to encourage those of you that have a ruptured disc

problem with sciatica pain, to consider a microdiskectomy. If anyone has

questions, feel free to email me. Best of luck and my prayers are with you all.

Happy holidays!