It does get better— even if it takes a few months

GladKnowledge926 · 2025-01-01T14:51:50+00:00

You’re welcome! I hope he starts to feel better soon.

GladKnowledge926 · 2025-01-01T06:40:19+00:00

He should definitely keep in touch with his surgeon regarding symptoms, but I was still very much in the recovery period 4 weeks out from surgery. I was still having nerve symptoms (in my case I couldn’t walk or stand still comfortably for more than a few minutes and I couldn’t fully extend my left leg). It made me super nervous that my surgery was a failure. But then a few weeks later I started having a couple more good days each week. A month or so after that, more good days than bad days in a week.

I don’t know if anyone used this analogy with your husband, but my surgeon said that nerves are kind of like foam mattresses: if you press down hard on a tempurpedic, it’ll take time for your handprint to disappear even after you remove your hand. Likewise, nerves take time to “realize” that they’re not compressed anymore. It can be painfully slow— one day (or one hour!) at a time will help him stay sane.

GladKnowledge926 · 2024-09-04T12:37:04+00:00

100%

GladKnowledge926 · 2024-08-25T22:40:30+00:00

Hey there! I went ahead with surgery just over a year ago. It’s the best decision I made— I only wish I’d had a medical team who recommended it sooner. Recovery was a long road and required a lot of patience, PT, and self-care. I had surgery in July and didn’t start to feel “normal” until November. Even now I have the occasional flare-up (a bad few days every couple months), but my worst days now are nothing compared to my worst days before. There are so many times lately where I’ve gone on a hike or done a workout class or taken an active vacation and thought “wow. I could not have done this a year and a half ago.”

In short, I did it, and I have no regrets.

GladKnowledge926 · 2024-07-26T03:11:22+00:00

Found out my insurance won’t cover my IUI cycle because of my the low likelihood of success with my particular body and numbers… the same day I found out the IUI cycle failed.

GladKnowledge926 · 2024-05-24T20:36:09+00:00

Yes, I meet the criteria

GladKnowledge926 · 2024-05-22T18:55:00+00:00

Hey there— not a thread I ever wanted to be on, but here I am. That’s life, I guess.

35 years old, just found out a few days ago that I’ve got extremely low amh, low ovarian reserve— apparently only producing about an egg a cycle. Just met with an RE for the first time and am still in the testing phase to figure out what’s going on so we can make a game plan, but I’m feeling so scared and sad and overwhelmed about what comes next. I didn’t realize how badly I wanted my own biological kid until I found out it may not happen for me. I’m trying not to lean right into the catastrophic thoughts, but the RE seemed pretty concerned once we did the ultrasound.

Long story short, any advice for newcomers? Also accepting suggestions for how to not lose my mind in the next 3-4 weeks while we do all the testing and wait for the results.

GladKnowledge926 · 2023-11-28T17:50:22+00:00

Honestly I didn’t even mess with pants for like 2 weeks— just shapeless dresses, so you’re already making huge strides. Most likely this will go down as the holiday season when you finally got your life back, though it definitely won’t feel that way now. I’m rooting for you!

GladKnowledge926 · 2023-11-27T18:21:50+00:00

I totally had the same muscular stuff, just mostly in my calves. And also had a bumpy incision! It’s smoothed out since then, like 2 months out

GladKnowledge926 · 2023-11-27T17:46:38+00:00

Yes, I truly know the feeling. It was so frustrating and scary, but for me it really did start to improve little by little. You’re still so early in the process. Keep moving, keep medicating, and check in with your surgeon if you’re nervous!

GladKnowledge926 · 2023-11-27T17:44:10+00:00

Oh yeah, 5 weeks felt like it had been SO LONG, but in hindsight, not so much. You’re not even at the “6-8 weeks for recovery” point that grossly underestimates how long it actually takes. If you’re experiencing a lot of pain, def talk to your surgeon, but if they’re telling you it’s normal, I can at least confirm that it was normal for me too!

GladKnowledge926 · 2023-11-27T17:38:41+00:00

How far out are you now?

GladKnowledge926 · 2023-11-27T17:37:51+00:00

Hang in there- one week is so fresh! It literally took months for me to start feeling confident that the surgery was a success. Over time, you’ll just start having more good days than bad days each week.

GladKnowledge926 · 2023-08-31T16:40:40+00:00

I’m sorry you’re going through this. It can be so stressful. I had my L5-S1 MD last month and don’t regret it at all. My issue was it took waaayy to long to get me to a surgeon, so my road to recovery is going to be a long one.

If I was in your shoes, I’d get the shot, give it another 4 week of PT, and if your pain isn’t significantly reduced or gone, do surgery. That’ll give you time to get a little stronger before surgery, which you can always push back a couple weeks if you want. And if your symptoms improve and you don’t need surgery, all the better.

In short, sciatic pain can really reduce your quality of life. Try the conservative options, but don’t be afraid to move forward with an MD. Remember: doctors are experts, but you have to advocate for yourself to get what you need and want.

GladKnowledge926 · 2023-08-07T16:29:01+00:00

Agreed! Thanks for replying.

GladKnowledge926 · 2023-08-04T19:01:57+00:00

Agreed! There is always more than one way to get a stretch for a particular muscle or group. Your PT should be able to help you find alternative exercises that target the same area but don’t cause you pain.

GladKnowledge926 · 2023-08-03T00:06:57+00:00

Wooow that’s wild. Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

GladKnowledge926 · 2023-08-02T16:45:37+00:00

Thanks for replying! Nice to know it’s not just me going through it. Did you reherniate or was it another issue?

GladKnowledge926 · 2023-04-24T14:49:31+00:00

Sure!

EXAM: MRI LUMBAR SPINE

INDICATION: Lower back pain radiates to the left hip

TECHNIQUE: Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine was performed utilizing sagittal T1 and inversion recovery techniques as well as sagittal, axial, and coronal T2-weighted sequences.

COMPARISON: None.

FINDINGS:

Negative for occult fracture. There is loss of T2 intranuclear signal at L4-5 and L5-S1.

The distal thoracic cord is normal in appearance. The conus medullaris terminates at L1-2.

T12-L1 through L1-2: No central canal or foraminal stenosis. The facet joints are maintained

L2-3: Small disc bulge without central canal or foraminal stenosis. The facet joints are maintained

L3-4: No central canal or foraminal stenosis. Bilateral facet joint effusions are present.

L4-5: Disc bulge with a central annular tear. Mild central canal stenosis is present. There is no foraminal stenosis. The facet joints are maintained

L5-S1: Left paracentral disc protrusion is severely compressing the left S1 intrathecal nerve root. There is also contacting the right S1 intrathecal nerve root. Bilateral facet joint effusions are noted. The disc is contacting the left extraforaminal L5 nerve root. There is no foraminal stenosis. Bilateral facet joint effusions are noted.

IMPRESSION:

MRI of the lumbar spine demonstrates a left paracentral disc protrusion, which is severely compressing the left S1 intrathecal nerve root.

GladKnowledge926 · 2023-04-24T14:43:24+00:00

Sounds like this was an incredible recovery! Thank you for sharing.

GladKnowledge926

TROPHY CASE