I had a laminectomy/discectomy on Aug 8th L4L5 and L3L4 (about a month ago) and am going crazy with the recovery! Not only are my problems WAY worse than they were pre-op, I have also reherniated my L3L4 (I had another MRI last week post op) - and the dr. says this is nothing to worry about and that PT will fix me...hopefully. However, my symptoms change and I cannot tell if it is due to my recovery from the surgery, or the new disk herniation! The MRI said the new herniation is a "persistent large central disk protrusion"

My new symptoms (they started more than a week after the surgery)
1. horrible pain in my hip and pelvis
2. stabbing pain in my knees
3. new tingling sensation in my "private parts"
4. a really cold feeling in my lower legs and buttocks
5. hands are very tingly and numb feeling, really hard to grip anything (could be from the steroids they put me on)
6. Horrible itching in my lower legs and feet

That is just a short list! I just want to see if anyone else has these problems post-op, or if it is anything I need to worry about.

I am just frustrated with my doc because his only answer is, just go to PT, you'll be fine, however when I go to PT they say I am too weak to do any therapy and they just hook me up to the electrode things and shock me!

Sorry this message is so long, I just need some advice from people who may actually know what I am going through!!!! Thanks so much!!!

If my doctor was telling me that kind of thing after a discectomy (I've had 2) I would immediately get another doctor to look at, preferably a neurologist.

emilysusan,

Sorry that you are having such a rough time. At least when I re-herniated I waited almost 5 months, but had better response from my docs, even though they were general ortho and neuro's. I had to learn the hard way (becoming temporarily paralyzed) before I found a true blue spine specialist. If you are not familiar with the difference, please use the advance search feature on the top of the board and find my post "how to find a spine specialist in your local area".

Would highly encourage you to find yourself a spine specialist, now and not later, and maybe things can be stabilized and you not have more problems. Also encourage you to go to the web site in a post at the top of the threads, by Bionic Witch, about new info for lots of you. That site that is referenced there is excellent and you would be able to find out lots of info on the artifical disc replacements, the Dynesys system and solid fusion. The adr's and the dynesys would certainly be something to inform yourself about to discuss with a spine specialist as these retain "normal" movement.

You can be your own best advocate by informing yourself, asking lots of questions, and many posts on here can share and learn from other's experiences so you can ask your doc questions and avoid problems others had.

Sure hope you will find a more concerned and informed specialist instead of generalist who isn't going to be up on the latest techniques for the spine.

Best wishes and do let us know how you are doing.

how did you guys reherniate your discs?

My first herniation happened as I got out of bed; no legs to hold me up as it went in against the spinal cord. Reherniation five months later I was simply walking through my home office and the legs gave way. Thank goodness for carpet instead of being out in the drive way or some public parking lot. Just don't have to be doing anything spectacular at all.