I am two months post op now. I have extreme stiffness in my back that limits my range of motion, side to side as well as forward and backward. I cannot pick things up off the floor or tie my shoes. I went to PT yesterday and he tried Trigger Point Dry Needle therapy. Very much like accupuncture. It did not relieve any pain. He wants me to go back to the neurosurgeon. My question is, has any one else experienced prolonged stiffness and mobility issues 2 months post op? Just wondering if maybe this might go away eventually. If I lay flat on my back on the floor there would be no way I could get up on my own. Also, I still have that pins and needle feeling in my left calf and left outer foot.
The following user gives a hug of support to tdiorio: Serial (03-31-2012)
I am experiencing the same exact thing. I can't accept it. I have put two calls to the doctor with no response. I am going to call again. Mine was in January and i feel worse now than before.
Mine was Feb. 03, 2012. I just called Neurosurgeon and the receptionist said she would order a new MRI and set me an appt. for the 10th of April. PT said I should not have such difficulty getting up from a chair. He should see me get out of bed!! ha ha. I can't imagine what is wrong. This pain is putting me into a very deep depression. I have actually been told by a loved one that I have a $hi&&* personality ever since my back pain started way back in July. Working is miserable but there is no alternative that I can see.
I had my surgery March 5 and thankfully feel pretty good with the exception of some pain down my leg once in a while . But that I could resolve with Naprosyn . I also have been doing a lot of walking that was recommended by everyone online and by my doctor . Also Ice . It really helps when I'm feeling stiff or achey . I hope you get some relief . Were you always stiff after surgery or is this something new ? I haven't started PT my Dr wouldnt let me till after 4 weeks .. I hope that PT helps and not worsen the situation ..
I have been stiff from the first day I was post op. I may have had one or wo good days, but never pain free and I have never woke up feeling good. Mornings are the worst for me. I can barely walk. I relax a little after a shower, but the stiff sore muscle feeling never goes away and allof my motions need to be careful and slow. Sneezing hurts like the devil.
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Posts: 701
Re: pain after a microdiscectomy
I concur with your opinion on sneezing. Sneezing a month after fusion hurt worse than the vomiting I had six days post-fusion.
If mornings are the worst, how are you sleeping? A pillow under the knees (on back) or between knees (on side) can be very helpful. I spent some decent money on a tall foam leg wedge for back sleeping. I find that a couple of knee-to-chest stretches help before I get out of bed. I also try to walk around the house slowly to get my back muscles firing again when I first wake up.
If the shower helps, you might try using a heat pack. Are you still log rolling in and out of bed? I see no reason to stop. I can get up from the floor, but only through log rolling.
Good tips, SweetPea. Probably any position that is maintained for a period of time will make you feel stiff. Try to vary your sleeping positions during the night, if you are not already doing so. Just avoid sleeping on your stomach.
Log rolling has become a permanent way of life for me. And, why not continue if it puts less stress on the discs? When I do my "back exercises" on the floor, I turn over on my side and then onto "all 4s" and then get up from there.
I'm not sure why you feel so still since none of the muscles would have been cut with a microdiscectomy.
I can not offer any advice or sucsess story's after more time. Because I'm just beginning to explore what options their are. PT, at least when I had the MRI it validates some of what I was feeling. Do you think the sucsesses are no longer on a sight like this or are surgical option of limited sucsess. It is interesting that they consider return to gainful employment the only measure of sucsess, or at least that was the impression I got from research.
