I posted almost 2 weeks ago about my fear of reherniating L4/L5 after getting up from a squatting position. I'm 3 months post op. Saw the ortho and he said exercise, stretch, etc. and assured me that everything was fine.

Well, I don't feel fine!! I'm still in pain 24/7. Leg felt like a toothache last night and had to take vioxx to sleep. Some improvement in the last 2 weeks, but still having lots of hip, butt and calf pain. Also, stabbing pains in toes sometimes and occasional tingling. Can't stand or walk for long. Sitting is better, but not always. Even laying down is painful. All this after feeling pretty good for several weeks.

I'm really starting to get discouraged and feel like there is something more going on and the doc just wasn't taking me seriously. He didn't order another MRI. He basically kept blaming me for my pain. Well, all this stretching, etc. doesn't seem to be doing much.

Should I expect to see continued improvement? Is this normal and the nerve is still healing??? Or should I insist on another MRI? I got the feeling the doc doesn't want to know anything now that surgery is over. Made me feel like an a**, and if I just did my stretches everything would be perfect. :rolleyes:

Also noticed on MRI report that I have a hemangioma at L5. Anyone know anything about it or if that could be part of the problem?
I'm starting to get very depressed and wonder if I made the right decision to have surgery.

Paula,
I am so sorry you're having pain again! It does sound like it's time to get another doctor if your current doc isn't taking you seriously. You should have another MRI done to see if the disc has reherniated or if there is scar tissue disturbing the nerve. Or maybe the nerve is still healing, it can take a very long time, depending on how long it was compressed before surgery.
I don't know anything about hemangiomas, but I'm sure others on the board do. Good luck, keep positive, and keep us posted on how you are doing! :)

Jessie

Geez, I am in the same boat. 2 months microdiskectomy post op myself and also depressed. [ removed ] It sounds like you have a sciatic problem. I don't know what you had go wrong, but I had a rupture at L4/L5 and the disc compressed the nerve causing same symptoms you have.

I was told by doctor that the nerve regrows at one inch a month and those of us with nerve damage are in for a long recovery. the good news is, if it is the sciatic, then pain is good, because that means the nerve is coming back. No pain means nerve is not coming back from what I understand.

I too get scared. I have yet to start PT because I'm terrified of reherniating. My tear is huge and I have to be especially careful. I HATE the butt pain especially. The leg pain is on and off now. I go 5 days with little leg pain, then it flares up for two days real bad and I can hardly walk, then eases off.

But the butt pain is constant. I guess we have to be patient. They say 4-6 weeks to recover. yeah right. I guess if you didn't have nerve problems originally. I'm hearing more like 3 months to a year to heal. It's horrible, isn't it? I"m still on percocet once in a while for the pain. It's 4:00 in the morning which is why I'm on here. can't sleep from pain.

What concerns me about you is that you got better then got worse. Maybe it's the stretching? But maybe pain is good, meaning nerve coming back? Or simply stretching those muscles out after all this time cramped? Can you ask your doctor this? Ask him to clarify to you better what is going on. Ask why why why!!!!

I see mine Friday and have a list of questions I've written out and I don't leave his office until they are all answered in a way I can understand. Good luck! [ removed ] I don't know what's worse; being in pain or being terrified of reherniating! Or worse, being stuck like this forever!

I have always contended that when a doctor stops paying attention to you, after he has done surgery, it is time for another opinion. These are the guys who have "fixed" you and don't want to even think something might have gone wrong.

At 3 months post op you should be feeling better than this, so I would make an appt. with a new doctor and see what he thinks is going on.

Lots of good luck wishes coming your way.

Carol

There is nothing more frustarting than a doctor who is so quick to dismiss your pain as normal or expected. Dont be discouraged, I experienced pain for up to 12 months post op, all be it was a more radical surigcal procedure in those days (1990)

Ongoing pain can be so discouraging, but hang in there and explore the option of a second opinion. Its better to know than to cause yourself stress and the assoiciated muscle tension which often exasperates the level of pain you feel.

Hang in there, all the best

Losy

I have one thing to suggest, dont' worry about stretching, that actually could be causing more pain and problems than good. My PT told me it can cause hypermobility. He (plus others) said the best thing to do is to keep your back strong as well as you abs. So, maybe give the stretching a rest and just walk or do whatever you do to get your heart rate up (hold your tummy in and squeeze those buttocks!) and do core exercises. Take Ibuprophen, it will help with the inflammation. Hope this helps a bit. If you still don't get relief, get a new doc who will do the MRI. Good luck!
Oh, and what IS the RIGHT way to spell "stretching??"

Paula,

I am now 5 mths post op discectomy, i had the same symptoms as you at 3 months in fact some are still present. I was in the same boat did not know if normal or something wrong and did worry. The pain in butt comes and goes now, still getting pins and needles in legs and feet sometimes go numb. back ache on and off and pain in hips on and off. Calf still tender. At 3 months the pain in calf was really bad and leg ached just like yours. Has got better over time though. You do get pain in the nerve as it is healing. I have just gone back to specialist as worried like you and he tested the nerve reflexes in leg and said they are normal and no herniation. I asked if worth doing an MRI again and he said no i have not reherniated. Said just nerve regenerating and inflamation around disc and tissues still present. Now booked in to have an epidural injection next week just to move things along a little quicker and then some more phisio to get the leg stronger.

Must say the exercises i was given to help stretch the sciatic nerve did definately help me a 3 months with the calf and toothache pain in leg. They were all very gentle exercises perhaps the ones you have are too much at your stage.
Only stretch to the point of pain never go further. lots of little stretches are better than a few big ones.
If you want to know the exercises i did that helped let me know and i will post.
Stay positive it is a long recovery.
Oh and i would just like to say i was the same felt good for a while and then the pains and symptoms started coming back. This is not anything to worry about.

Lorraine