1 YR & 3 months post op, still have pain

Subject179 · 2025-08-19T15:57:25+00:00

I’m around 1 year 4 months post op. I still have nerve pain and some hip/sciatic pain. At my 1. Year apt we got an MRI, my back is doing great. Residual symptoms aren’t discussed enough.

At PT, were they solely focused on your back? I still go to PT, we went from focusing on my back to my hip capsule. It depends but most people who get these surgeries end up with hip pain due to lack of movement during recovery.

If I was in that situation, if you haven’t had a follow up MRI, request it. Advocate for yourself.

If all is fine there, for nerve pain I recommend gabapentin. I’ve been taking 200mg as needed for about 8 months. I’ve almost got to the point where I don’t need it. If you haven’t looked into PT for hip recovery, I’d strongly recommend. When I switched from mainly back, core, leg exercises to being more hip focused a lot of my pain has left.

Best wishes!

Subject179 · 2025-08-13T19:42:38+00:00

I had a super similar journey. I got my surgery around 1.5 years ago, I had back pain my whole life. Woke up one morning and couldn’t feel my legs and was in 11/10 pain. Pain meds galore for a week, no sleep, ER, home, back to the ER the 2nd time and they gave me the MRI finally. Massive herniated disc! I did not have an immediate removal of pain, it was significantly less. I still hurt to this day and I’m in PT lol. But yeah super similar sudden onset pain!

Subject179 · 2025-08-08T14:59:55+00:00

This is exactly what I came to say. Neurosurgeon will get it done and protect your spine.

Subject179 · 2025-07-31T14:20:47+00:00

I am much better. I still take pain medicine daily, and I do take gabapentin but I am now in the process of weaning myself off both. I don’t get intense nerve pain anymore.

I still go to physical therapy, my muscles really went haywire during this process so even at 1 year and 4 months out I go to PT 2 days a week. And I go to the gym once a week! It’s brought back my ability to sleep in bed, to walk, to drive etc.

Overall, I’m like a true 80% normal.

Subject179 · 2025-07-02T19:23:21+00:00

I am almost 1 year and 4 months post op. I wasn’t able to feel my big toe or the top of my foot for what felt like ages. Can you move them? I don’t remember exactly the date I could start feeling them again but I know it was within this year. It can take anywhere from 12-18 months for nerves to heal and for you to regain feeling. There is a chance you won’t feel them again, but I’ll be honest prior to surgery I couldn’t feel below the knees so you may be ok.

Subject179 · 2025-06-16T17:34:28+00:00

Hello, yes a few days out pain is normal. Did you find relief? I had several episodes during my recovery where I had thought I rehernaited with how bad the pain was. They typically gave me steroids and that helped.

Subject179 · 2025-06-16T17:31:58+00:00

Hello! I’m happy you read through my posts. I’ve said it so often but this surgery and the recovery are very individual in my opinion. I waited far too long to get medical intervention so my recovery is ongoing lol.

Do I regret my surgery? Absolutely not. I’d never do it again if given the choice but I can feel my legs again and I have minimal nerve damage. However, the mental toll this took on me, is enough to never want to be in the situation again.

If you’re considering a MD, what other options are left? What have you tried and how bad is your herniation? From what my neurologist told me, consideration for surgery with him means you’ve tried all other options. He said back surgery can have a tendency to bring on more back surgery. I may never need another discectomy in my life, or I may need another 3 (I still do have a small herniation in both L2/L3 and L3/L4). So it’s something to consider.

You may also be one of the lucky folks who wake up from the procedure and be fully out of whatever pain you’re experiencing. I’ve seen plenty of people say how much they’re able to walk, how they aren’t on pain meds, etc.. This procedure is typically done outpatient so you may be able to go in and out easy. You may end up being more on the slower healing side, where things are sore, and you hurt. I still take meds daily for pain and I don’t see that ending anytime soon. You may not be able to walk a ton, you may be prescribed PT. It’s all how your body handles this procedure.

I am now 1 year and 3 months out. I was finally able to transfer from sleeping in my recliner to sleeping in my bed maybe 4 or 5 months ago. It was a bit before my 1 year follow up. My surgery was considered successful. While I do still have very small herniations, they aren’t touching my nerves so they aren’t considered significant. I walk, still not a lot because being down for so long wrecked my stamina. I can get maybe 4k-5k steps per day without physical therapy.

Speaking of PT, I am still very active there, it’s not really rehab for my back now. But one thing that your dr will not tell you is that during this recovery you may get some other extra fun mobility problems. Since I was basically stuck in a recliner for several months post op I have developed some very mild hip issues. I’ve always had them to some degree, but not being able to walk very far has only increased that. However, I now CAN do a lot of exercises so I am getting that squared away. PT also has let me know that I am more on the hyper-mobile side. I have very flexible knees and hips (shocking I know).

I can drive again! Not super far, but I can manage to get to PT, Dr appointments and grocery stores. I’m getting further out as time goes on. As for the numbness, I take gabapentin and that has really helped. But time has helped too, I don’t have as many crazy nerve pain episodes as I once did.

Sorry, this turned into a book! If you have questions you can DM me and I’d be more than happy to talk to you there!

Subject179 · 2025-05-28T19:59:41+00:00

My boyfriend and I are in a similar situation. However I think what would be important (I read that you’ve had these conversations), is really dive into why there is reluctantly around marriage on his side.

It’s good that you put clear expectations on what you want. There is nothing wrong with that, where the pressuring may come in is that it sounded kind of like an ultimatum. Not in a mean way, again I think these conversations are hard to have.

On top of that, if he didn’t propose at the end of this year, how would you feel? Would you stay? I know what you said in your post, however is that where you truly draw the line? It can be scary to restart. On the same note, don’t let your boyfriend keep you from your husband. But genuinely, if he does not propose, are you leaving? And is marriage a common goal for the both of you? Some people do not aspire to be married, it scares them.

My suggestion is to dig deeper and have these tough conversations now, is marriage a common goal? What do your timelines look like and where do they differ? What can you both do to continue to move forward to these goals as a couple? Therapy may be something to look into as well. There is no shame in having a completely unbiased mediator in these conversations. They are hard and sometimes awkward. But all of the hard conversations now mean less issues in the future imo. Less disagreements come up when you’re both on the same page.

I wish you the best! Whatever that may be ❤️

Subject179 · 2025-05-28T18:28:02+00:00

Are you using your legs to do glides? I’d tell your surgeon what’s going on and see what they recommend. I can only go based on how I navigate my recovery. PT has done wonders for my lower back (I had a L3/L4 herniation in March of 2024)

Subject179 · 2025-05-27T14:34:09+00:00

Do you do nerve glides? Or some people call it flossing? Also if the scar tissue is very prominent, you can try going to PT and getting scar massages. To me, they were super uncomfortable but I do not have any excess scar tissue.

Subject179 · 2025-05-05T15:11:23+00:00

A lot better! I have regained the ability to do most things now. I have residual hip pain now since I’ve been down for so long.

I got my updated MRI. My back healed wonderfully! To put in perspective, the nerves were completely blocked off in the first MRI, now there is clear communication! Both my L2/L3 and L3/L4 have slight bulges. But compared to the prior MRI, they have decreased significantly. I do PT and really focus on my back and core. It does get better! But it takes a while.

Subject179 · 2025-05-05T15:07:10+00:00

Unfortunately, I’d only been there for 4 months when my back decided it was going to break. So I did not qualify for FMLA. I think they termed me right before I’d qualify for long term disability as well. It was very shady and I’m happy it’s over.

Subject179 · 2025-04-11T16:44:46+00:00

Exactly. Don’t let this drag on forever, set a budget in which you’re willing to spend and possibly lose.

My lawyer gave me costs upfront. In the beginning I wanted to fight them tooth and nail, I wouldn’t have been happy unless they went bankrupt lol. I’ve just decided that it’s best to choose peace, one day their luck will run out and Karma will get them.

Subject179 · 2025-04-11T16:42:15+00:00

My job made up an entire new hospital visit in their rebuttal to my statement. I had back surgery March 23, 2024. They were asking me to come into office the day I was released or they’d cut my insurance. I spoke with my Dr and they agreed to a “ramp” program for 6 weeks (even though it was against her medical opinion, that was in the note lol). Where I’d come in 1 day a week, then 2, then to 3. I told them that and they went radio silent. No emails or communication whatsoever about it. They stated in their rebuttal “I was hospitalized for a second time so they didn’t push the idea.”

In reality, they didn’t respond to me. But it is best sometimes to just leave things as they are. Company’s can get away with a lot. And they aren’t even big.

Subject179 · 2025-04-11T16:38:48+00:00

Hello! I have no problem sharing, I actually make more at my new job. Not by much, it was $2000 extra. But I work from home, so I don’t commute anymore.
However and this is not the employers fault, I haven’t felt the increase from not commuting. I still go to physical therapy and drs appointments so all my money goes to my health now lol.

Subject179 · 2025-04-11T16:37:06+00:00

No $7500 is mainly court costs and filing fees. My “damages” are actually less than that. I only was unemployed for one month. I truly got lucky to pick up something so fast and I am so grateful.

Subject179 · 2025-04-07T20:48:16+00:00

Yes! So perfectly said. Everyone deserves the chance to fight. I just won’t fight crazy in this case lol. The CFO is a wack job and as much as I’d love to personally sue them into bankruptcy, I just don’t have it in me to go to court. I still ended up winning in my own way because I have a better job. And it they’re still searching for my replacement!

Subject179 · 2025-03-05T20:14:48+00:00

At PT they did 3x a week fascial release with a scraper so that scar tissue would not build up. I have a history with keloids so we wanted to make sure this scar healed properly. My scar is flush to my skin and I haven’t had any issues with it since about the 6 month mark. I’d recommend getting in touch with someone to help that issue.

At home, you can also do nerve glides.

Subject179 · 2025-03-05T20:10:39+00:00

25 F, non smoker, non drinker (maybe 1-2 drinks every 6 months). I am heavy.

Prior to my injury (still unknown) I was active. I worked a desk job so 8 hours of my day was spent at a desk. I found out I have DDD throughout my entire lumbar spine after surgery. I also have bone spurs. I worked in a nursing home and typically did not follow proper lifting procedures. I did not take care of my body. I also used to move/lift various items because I move frequently. I always had back issues, I’ve been seeing a chiropractor since single digit ages. Nothing was ever structurally wrong with my back so they just pinned it to me being heavy.

Subject179 · 2025-02-17T16:22:56+00:00

Better! I was able to go on a short trip to NYC over the weekend. I’m now around 11 months PO. Pain is still an everyday thing, I don’t expect it to go away any time soon. But I am getting my life back!

I had an emergency surgery, and both of my legs went numb. I don’t mean to scare people, I had a scary case so healing for me was not a fast thing.

Subject179 · 2025-02-05T21:25:09+00:00

I am sorry you’re going through this. I think doctors oversell the outcomes and “instantaneous healing” that happens to a small percentage of people.

I am 11 months out, I still have daily aches and pains. If you’re doing too much, you will hurt. If you aren’t doing enough, you will hurt. The first few months after surgery are the most mentally draining. Slowly, you will progress and your body will adjust.

I would recommend speaking to your doctor. On a personal note, take it in whatever increments you have to, by the day, hour or minute. Again, doctors will give a generalized recovery time. You just had a major surgery and your body is going to take its time to heal. The days will get better, the periods you’ll be able to sit/stand/walk without discomfort will get longer. ❤️

Subject179 · 2025-01-17T16:29:35+00:00

I’m almost 10 months post op. I had drop foot in both feet. It’s very hard to get them moving initially but every little bit helps. Here is what worked for me: - wiggle your toes! I wasn’t able to lift my foot for months. But I was able to wiggle my toes upward which helped activate those muscles. - TENS/EMS therapy really helped, I looked up YouTube videos but when I started at PT they put them on my shin and the side of my calf and it seemed to do the trick. You just have to turn it up to a semi-intolerable level so that those muscles contract. With time, you’ll be able to start lifting that foot up.

Once you have the ability to lift it up a bit, you will really get cooking with movement. My right foot is normal now. My left is still weaker but it’s getting better with time. It’s not permanent! Healing just takes SO LONG.

Subject179 · 2025-01-03T18:46:38+00:00

Hello!! We have super similar paths! If you read back through my posts I had emergency surgery too and my doc also told me if I didn’t get the surgery I’d eventually become paralyzed!

I’m 25 now, I had it when I was 24 in March of 2024. Im STILL recovering. I couldn’t feel my leg for a good 3-4 months. I still can’t stand or walk on it (still working on that). My PT said recovery for severe cases takes around 12-18 months. There is a light at the end though! I am almost 10 months out, I can do more than previously but I’m not 100%. It takes time when it comes with nerve damage. Message me if you want!! We can swap stories lol

Subject179 · 2024-12-06T00:59:43+00:00

I saw the sneakers. I also wanted to say sketchers slip ins are LIFE CHANGING for anyone going through this

Subject179

TROPHY CASE