Buttock pain after a minimally invasive keyhole discectomy procedure is most often nerve-related. Burning sensations can also be the result of nerve issues in the spine. Finding the actual source of your discomfort following an initial microdiscectomy may involve: It Could Be Due to Scar Tissue or Other Possibilities. Dr. Liu offers the following lumbar discectomy recovery tips: There are not many permanent restrictions after a microdiscectomy. Aspineinjury mayalsolead torecurrent disc herniation, such asthosecaused byrigorous sports activities or motor vehicle accidents. Symptoms are generally more severe than inflammation above but dont necessarily have to be. . with afellowship-trainedorthopedic surgeon. after undergoing a lumbar microdiscectomy procedure. my doctor recommended surgery. The great thing is that there is NO pain in my back!!!! A. is an outpatientsurgicalprocedureperformed under anesthesia to remove all or part of a herniated disc. We offer this Site AS IS and without any warranties. Sciatica is the type of pain that originates in your lower back and typically radiates down one or both of your legs. Avoid lifting heavy objects until you are fully recovered and given the O.K. One of the main things that you may have to do is to get a discectomy, where they go in and put the discs back where they need to be. So, possibility of a seroma aside, a swollen nerve could mimick the same (but in my case less severe) pain from the herniated disc because it would swell at the same place where it was pissed off for months? When returning home from lumbar microdiscectomy surgery, patients are usually prescribed medication to help manage the pain. The foot drop thing is exactly what isgoing on. Herniation can occur due to back injuries, undue spinal stress from heavy lifting or participation in sports, and even the normal aging process as the spinal discs dry out and become more brittle, forcing a disc's outer membrane to crack and its inner core material to ooze out. If the entire disc is being removed, discectomies are typically coupled with a fusion procedure (in which the adjacent vertebrae are fused together for stability) or a disc replacement procedure (in which an artificial disc is placed in the spine). Suffering from lower back, leg, or buttock pain? A microdiscectomy is a fairly common type of spine surgery, and its one that often produces beneficial results, including a noticeable decrease in discomfort. By ignoring the pain, you mayalso be neglectinga serious issue that could cause long-term damage. On the other hand, be careful not to overdo it. While doing so, be sureto avoid anymajordiscomfort that could interfere with the recovery process. Longer-term problems can occur after spine surgery. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your answers. These patients may benefit from a minimally invasive surgery called microdiscectomy, which is considered the gold standard surgical treatment for disc herniation. Prescription non-compliance can cause side effects and other consequences that place your health and wellbeing at risk. Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 18 total). I have not spoken with him since right before my surgery that a.m. in the operating room. Note:Reherniationdoes not occur with total discectomy because the entire disc has already been removed. A microdiscectomy is aminimally invasiveversion of the surgerythatcan be performed on various parts of the spine. Repeat the exercise for 10 to 15 repetitions. Yet another reason why a patient may experience pain in their lumbar region is reherniation after laminectomy. Usually, the first signs of healing appear within the first 2-4 weeks after the procedure, and after 12 weeks, the patient should be able to return to everyday life. Return nerve pain after a microdiscectomy can originate from three issues; nerve inflammation, re-herniation or seroma formation. In the weeks following your procedure, contact your surgeon right away if your numbness or pain increases significantly. For now I am taking pain mediciation to cope with the pain. Return nerve pain after a microdiscectomy can originate from three issues; nerve inflammation, re-herniation or seroma formation. Sometimes this is a temporary condition as the nerve root or roots take time to heal. Most patients are gradually weaned off opioids over a period of 1 to 2 weeks. I think swimming is just fine. By 6 weeks post-surgery, most patients discontinue pain medication, however, it is still possible to have painful flare-ups or stiffness that requires medication. What would cause movement-releated pain that is otherwise completely gone in some situations (like standing up straight) but another obstacle that is touching / disturbing the nerve? This seroma should resolve in 2-3 months. We strive to. Areherniationafter microdiscectomymay occur in the immediate postoperative period, a few weeks to few months after the surgery, orwithinyears following the surgery. All rights reserved. Any activity that causes the leg to bend at the hip (hip flexion) with the leg straight (no bent knee), will stretch the sciatic nerve and the hamstring muscle at the same time. However, if you have lingering pain for days after your doctor told you it should be subsiding or the pain is getting worse, you should letthemknow. Microdiscectomy is surgery to remove part or all of a bulging or damaged (herniated) disc in the lower spine. "The bottom line: use common senseeverything in moderation. Some pain in the back or buttock region post-op is completely normal. Went ahead with microdiscectomy and surgery was successful. The management of a re-herniated disc is much like the primary disc prolapse. But what if you start experiencing long-lasting pain that persists for weeks and months after your surgery? In addition to those resulting directly from the surgery itself or a spine injury, these lifestyle choices can increase ones likelihood for reherniation after microdiscectomy: As you can see, patient compliance plays a major role in ensuring ahealthier, more completerecoveryafter undergoing a lumbar microdiscectomy procedure. Most disc herniation occurs in the lumbar spine, causing debilitating pain in your buttocks, thigh, and calf areas and is referred to as sciatica. If you or a loved one suffer from backor neckpain, call The Spine Center today at(847) 628-8147toschedule a consultation. Before using any new medications or going back to old medications, it is important to check with the doctor or pharmacist to reduce the risk of adverse drug interactions or serious side effects. I have been careful with avoiding sitting. If this service is not available, try to do activities at home that mimic your daily work schedule to develop muscular conditioning and a reserve for the initial days at work. While most people who experience sciatica will not require surgery, if all other treatments . Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books. The best posture for someone with back pain is lying on their side in the fetal position. Peekawho is right..you probably need a dose pack of steroids..I had the same problem after my discectomy..they put me on a dose pack, and after the first pill, the pain in my butt and down my leg went away..hang in there..my surgeon explained it this way"the reason you are experiencing that pain, is because the nerve that has been pressed on by the disc for so long, is extremely "pissed off" and needs time to cool down.."it did finally cool down, with the help of the steroidsYes, be firm with the officegood luck..did you have foot drop?..if so, how severe?..and has it improved? I havent sat for longer than half an hour at a stretch after surgery and I wonder whether this pain will aggravate once I go back to work in two weeks, as I have a sitting/office type job. This website is the stand out source for me. Peekawho is right..you probably need a dose pack of steroids..I had the same problem after my discectomy..they put me on a dose pack, and after the first pill, the pain in my butt and down my leg went away..hang in there..my surgeon explained it this way."the reason you are experiencing that pain, is because the nerve that has been pressed on Finding the actual source of your discomfort following an initial microdiscectomy may involve: Specialized nerve tests Diagnostic injections to see if numbing other nerves in the same area relieves your leg pain Discussing your symptoms in greater detail Image diagnostics or procedures such as using a special dye to track nerve pathwaysThere May Be a Secondary Pain SourceLeg pain stemming from a spine-adjacent nerve may still continue after surgery if a secondary source is causing discomfort. The current used is determined based upon the nerve injury. The best wayfor them to diagnose the problem isthrough physical examination findings correlated with imaging studies (MRI, CT scan, X-rays, etc.). The procedure involves a surgeon making small cuts in the patient's back and then, while peering through a lighted endoscope, carefully removing herniated tissue or portions of the offending bone protecting a nerve root. thank you, I truly appreciate your answer. My back was inflamed afterwards, and I had some hip pain the following day, but I didnt think much of it, because those episodes happened during my previous recovery and would resolve with rest>rest in 2 days max. As an aside, lingering pain is one of the classic signs of re-herniation after a microdiscectomysurgicalprocedure. More than one nerve of mine is "pissed off"HA!!!! The disc may press on the spinal nerves and cause pain and numbness in the buttock and leg. I am aware it might not be a positive test, but I was just wondering whether it meant anything. For the average patient, there are no permanent restrictions after a microdiscectomy. When the root swells, some return of symptoms can be expected. Christopher J. Bergin, M.D. Immediately following the surgery, she developed severe pain in her right foot; 3 months later, she underwent an additional decompressive procedure. Be sure to check in with your healthcare provider before starting this exercise to ensure it is safe for you to do after your lumbar laminectomy and discectomy surgery. It's not always easy to precisely diagnose the symptoms related to nerve irritation around the spine. The loss of this pain after surgery is a good indicator that the nerve is relative free of compression. Common symptoms of post-laminectomy pain syndrome include the following: Dull, aching pain in the neck, shoulders, arms, fingers, back, buttocks, or hips Pain levels similar to what you felt before surgery Pain in your arms or legs, which may be either constant or radiating Is there a way to increase my physical fitness before work, so that the chance of having pain during the workday stays minimal? Ive been reading through many of these questions and respons 38 year old male, 5'8 165 pounds. I know it would be best to still be on sick leave, but this is not possible. If you need spine surgery, consider an Inspired Spine procedure. Otarbo Home Search Home Search buttock pain after microdiscectomy (2022) June 9, 2022 . Also known as spinal decompression surgery, laminectomy enlarges your spinal canal to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves and is typically performed on patients with severe symptoms or those with symptoms that are worsening dramatically. Can;t wait until Monday a.m. to call his office again. Summary of background data: Lumbar radiculopathy is characterized by different sensory symptoms like pain, numbness, and paresthesia, which may resolve at different rates after surgical decompression. Usually, patients are discharged either the same day or the day after their surgery. Spinal discectomy surgery is a minimally invasive keyhole procedure in which a surgeon removes all or part of a disc in the patients spine. Is this straight leg testof any relevance for determining whether its a reherniation or not? With our numerous combined years of experience, we are confident we can design the optimal pain management plan to address your individual needs. If you haven't seen them, here are two videos I made in which I explain how I feel during the first day and third day after surgery: I took muscle relaxants for the first two weeks or so for the initial microdiscectomy recovery period. Will let you kow how things go. Exercise about a half-dozen times daily for six weeks or more after surgery. Microdiscectomies can be performed using 3 main techniques: Microdiscectomy is usually very effective at treating leg pain, with about a 90% success rate in relieving pain in the leg and/or buttocks. My health is my most important concern, will just have to see how things go. Post-Surgery Inflammation Shortly after a discectomy or a less invasive microdiscectomy is completed, you may not immediately notice any pain until the anesthesia wears off. Doc agrees it is probably permanent nerve damage. Acute pain is more likely the result of recurrent disc herniation following a shift in weight distribution across the vertebral levels. Before surgery, I couldnt do this without there being a sharp, stabbing pain in my back, when lifting either leg, especially on the right side. Could it be that the nerve is just waking up and healing? I received 2 spinal injections to try to calm the inflamation and nothing worked. I highly recommend Dr. Corenman and the Steadman Clinic. Have very little movement or ability to flex my ankle. Asa patient,thereare five classicsymptomsto watch for: When experiencingrecurrent discreherniation, a patient might also report pain in a different location, intensity, orrelated tophysical activity. "Do what's comfortable. Thank you for input on this. Contacted the answering service for my Dr. this a.m. and still no response. Discectomy, or microdiscectomy, is a procedure during which the surgeon removes a small portion of the disc that is compressing the nerve. Should I increase my walking? If you or a loved one suffer from backor neckpain, call The Spine Center today at, once per month - call 847-628-8147 to confirm, Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF), Total Disc Arthroplasty & Total Disc Replacement, Non-operative Treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis, Treatment of Degenerative Spondylolisthesis. 1.1 Recurrent lumbar disc herniation. A lumbar laminectomy removes most of the bony arch, or lamina, of a vertebra when other medical treatments fail to relieve back pain. to our patients, deliveredwith integrity and honesty in a cohesive, family-like environment. Important Facts & Symptoms to Know Spinal stenosis is a condition in which the spinal canal narrows, placing pressure on the nerves that travel Correcting Your Posture & Protecting Your Spine It's no secret that good posture is important for our overall health. The doctor put surgical tools through the . "But with force transfer after spinal fusion, the SI joints can move a couple of millimeters," he says. Objective: To compare the speed of recovery of different sensory symptoms, pain, numbness, and paresthesia, after lumbar nerve root decompression. Mild to severe pain in the lower back or buttock area, Feelings of numbness or tingling in the leg or foot, (nerve pain often radiating down the leg), When you are experiencing any of these warning signs onan ongoingbasis,its best to. You can develop a seroma (a collection of fluid post-operatively) that temporarily will partially compress the nerve after surgery. Below are a few reason why leg pain may . Did I understand that correctly? Microdiscectomy is an advanced surgical technique that is much less invasive. The good news is that many patients have significant pain relief from a microdiscectomy and can quickly return to their normal lives, generally in 4-6 weeks. For example, in addition to the herniated disc that was treated with a microdiscectomy, you might also have nerve irritation related to inflammation near the sciatic nerve. At some point, your doctor may suggest surgery as one of the alternatives. This surgery is designed to relieve pressure on a pinched vertebral nerve..Microdiscectomy surgery may be suitable for patients who experience leg pain for at least 6 weeks who have not found sufficient relief from conservative therapies. Understanding why this might be normal would be really helpful to keep going without loosing hope. We disclaim all responsibility for the professional qualifications and licensing of, and services provided by, any physician or other health providers posting on or otherwise referred to on this Site and/or any Third Party Site. For example, your surgeon may perform a lumbar microdiscectomy to remove the herniated portionof a lumbar discin your lower back. Ifback and leg pain from disc problemsreturnafter surgery, your surgeon will need to determine where the pain is coming from and take the necessary steps totreat the problem.