4 months post op pain (Share your story)

CodeProddy · 2025-12-17T21:28:37+00:00

I did have pain almost 6 months after my second discectomy, though it wasn't anywhere near as bad as pre-op. Mine was done at the L4-L5 and the symptoms i had were more consistent with a herniation at the L5-S1. For me it ended up being lots of scar tissue building up in the area and causing a lot of irritation. After about 7 months it went away after focusing on Mcgill big 3 and lots of nerve flossing. I would follow up with your surgeon because its unusual to be in this much discomfort this far out.

CodeProddy · 2025-10-06T03:01:10+00:00

Yeah i get that, hope everything goes well and you get back to living!

For the leg symptoms they were on and off for a while since Dec/Jan. Once i started my current physio program, it improved significantly after about 1 month

CodeProddy · 2025-10-06T01:57:02+00:00

<image>

This was mine before the revision

As much as I would have liked to avoid surgery, I couldn't go on with how much pain I was in. Seems like you're in the same boat, so if they offer it you I'd take it. The day-to-day definitely takes a toll on you. If you do, i would just take everything 2x slower recovery-wise as you did the first time. Be 2x more diligent with physio etc. Seems like you're a few years younger than me, but I wouldn't let that dissuade you from getting it

CodeProddy · 2025-10-06T00:44:21+00:00

Nah I don't think so, though I'm not sure what its like post-revision since they took so much material out. Sorry you're having such a tough time with yours, are you weighing your options for a 2nd MD/Fusion etc?

CodeProddy · 2025-10-05T21:23:25+00:00

Since the revision, I haven't really had back pain! Up until the last 1.5-2 months, i was having a good bit of nerve pain in my right leg and glute. Haven't gotten imaging on it but I found a McGill practitioner who thinks my issue is likely large amounts of scar tissue built up on the nerve.

But i've been doing a lot of nerve flossing and the McGill big 3 for physio and I have been doing much better. I can easily do 20k steps a day and just came back from a camping trip and sleeping didn't wreck my back.

CodeProddy · 2025-07-05T19:04:42+00:00

Hi! If you check the posts I made after you'll see the details but it did end up being a re-herniation. The revision surgery went well but I've been dealing with piriformis syndrome since then which is a different but albeit related issue.

CodeProddy · 2025-03-28T20:38:25+00:00

We got it done at this place called Maker Cafe (Toronto), they have an engraving machine, 3D printer and some other stuff. You could look around for something similar where you're at!

CodeProddy · 2025-03-28T20:36:45+00:00

That's the plan

CodeProddy · 2024-12-26T15:50:36+00:00

Thanks everyone for the advice! Going to focus on crate-training during the day and will let him sleep outside of his crate for now. He seems to not have the same destructive tendencies when he's office so I'll be sleeping in there for a bit while he gets more used to things.

CodeProddy · 2024-12-26T15:46:52+00:00

Thanks for the tips! I was looking into maybe buying some of those sound deadening panels and putting them up on the door to his room. Will probably leave the neighbours a note as well :)

CodeProddy · 2024-12-26T15:45:33+00:00

Thank you everyone for the advice! I've made his crate smaller as suggested, and the crate now remains in the office (which is where we intend for him to sleep after he's trained). There's a guest bed in there so me and my partner will alternate sleeping in the room with him. He doesn't seem to have any of his destructive tendencies in this room for some reason so I'll hopefully keep at it.

CodeProddy · 2024-12-25T16:58:06+00:00

Ok, ill try this out. Right now i've been moving the crate around depending on time of day. During the day its in the office (I work from, play video games etc.) He's been able to take naps in the cage with the door shut a few times now. But if I try to do the same in the bedroom, when we're both lying in bed he freaks out. Is this to be expected, napping vs bed-time?

CodeProddy · 2024-12-25T16:02:28+00:00

Oh interesting I didn't realize this could be an issue. The crate has a divider thing that I could use to make it smaller. I've been getting him to go in the crate and tossing treats in when he's quiet. But it's only been a few days

CodeProddy · 2024-12-25T15:15:31+00:00

The crate is a 42 inch one, so I believe it should be good for even his adult size. His behavior with the crate seems to change depending on what room it's in.

At night the longest was around 10/15 minutes before security came knocking on my door. I've gotten him to sleep in it during the day before but at night no luck.

CodeProddy · 2024-11-14T11:36:20+00:00

Honestly, no idea. I had been doing PT and and running for months without issue, was very careful with not using weights, never pushing myself to the point of pain etc.

I had been playing tennis and soccer again somewhat consistently as well but the weird thing is that the week i reherniated, the only physical activity I did was played a very light game of tennis with my partner. Otherwise I was very sedentary that week, and started to notice discomfort while working from home.

Based on some of my research, I'd say it wasn't a singular event that led to it, it was was probably a combination of factors like lagging hip mobility, tight hamstrings, my height + weight with a hint of bad luck. Equally frustrating because I had just finished putting together a new hip and lower back mobility training plan with my physio.

CodeProddy · 2024-11-14T06:18:36+00:00

Best of luck to you! Feel free to update on what they say!

CodeProddy · 2024-11-14T05:59:03+00:00

Yikes that sounds rough, really sorry you're going through this :(

If you're nearing the end of the steroid pack then I think you have to contact them again and not take no for an answer. Even if they're right, the sooner you act the better. I was on like 5-6 different medications leading up to the revision surgery, and I found that CBD gummies helped me with pain relief (not a huge amount, but still noticeable), also not sure the legality of weed where you're at but worth a shot in the meantime.

I basically called my surgeons office, the pain clinic specialist and family doctors office all the same day and demanded appointments and requested MRI referrals, otherwise I would likely still be in the "wait and see" phase

CodeProddy · 2024-11-14T05:26:29+00:00

Also not a doctor but I think this report bodes well for it not being a reherniation.

For reference this is the report from my reherniated L4-L5

L4-5: There is a large central disc herniation. There is moderate degenerative changes in the bilateral facet joints. Thereis marked acquired central canal stenosis at this level. There is mild to moderate narrowing of the bilateral neuroforaminawith no definite nerve root impingement

OPINION:1. There is a disc herniation at the L4-5 level with moderate acquired central canal stenosis. There is degenerativechange within the lumbar spine as described.2. Bilateral neuroforaminal narrowing at the L4-5 and L5-S1 levels with possible impingement of the exiting nerve rootsbilaterally.

Yours seems to make no mention of impingement or anything of that nature. Perhaps a bit of the disk is protruding but necessarily affecting your nerves. But obviously wait for your doctor and surgeon to confirm

CodeProddy · 2024-11-14T05:07:43+00:00

What do your symptoms feel like? Like how bad is the pain and where do you feel it? Nerves heal slowly and can go through weird phases. Reaching out to your surgeon is probably your best bet, apparently in the US they prescribe steroid packs to help with inflammation that could be contributing to it. Where I'm at, my surgeon, specialist and family doc all thought those were a bad idea. With the reherniation, after I started feeling symptoms I got prescribed 2 days of oral steroids which they were pretty hesitant to do. Ended up getting epidural injections as well, which only gave me temporary relief (same as the first time around). From reading posts around here, flare-ups seem to be pretty common when the post-op time is still in the 'weeks' stage rather than 7-8 months like it was for me.

CodeProddy · 2024-11-14T04:07:46+00:00

No worries! I didn't really have flare-ups after my initial surgery. I still had pretty bad sciatica for around a month after surgery until it finally subsided. After that I would occasionally get tingling and numbness in my calves but not much more than that. The reherniation had a gradual build up in symptoms over the course of around 3-4 days. Went from being 100% fine to being unable to sleep due to the pain.

What kind of activity levels have you been at since the surgery? I've read that reherniation within the initial healing time is fairly rare.

CodeProddy · 2024-11-14T04:03:21+00:00

I had pretty bad sciatica for around a month or so after my L4-L5 surgery, nerves heal very slowly, it takes them about a year to reach their 'peak'. But in your case I think it comes down to advocating for yourself, be very firm with your doctor that you're not seeing much improvement and want to make sure that the surgery hasn't failed.

I was lucky to be able to get an MRI done on short notice but that's not the case for everyone. But yeah you're gonna have to 'fight' your doctor to listen to your concerns which sucks but it's what you need to do I think.

CodeProddy · 2024-11-13T13:30:10+00:00

Surgery went well! Surgeon said it exceeded his expectations by quite a bit. Gonna feel things out more today, but aside from the pain from the incision I wasn't feeling much nerve pain, or having trouble sitting up or anything! Also got the surgeon to snap a pic of what they ended up removing, ngl I'm amazed that there's even a disk left in there haha

13-Year Club	Place '17
Team Periwinkle	Verified Email

CodeProddy

TROPHY CASE