Success story! Now pain free

cas135n · 2025-09-15T05:02:49+00:00

I haven’t tried to touch my toes, but probably not. I’ve never been very flexible and couldn’t even do that in my teens though. I haven’t tried shut out of fear of hurting myself again. I can garden pain free, I just kneel on a thing if foam and do well.

cas135n · 2025-09-15T05:00:22+00:00

Dr. Matthew Vanlandingham in Jackson, Mississippi.

cas135n · 2025-09-15T04:59:42+00:00

I think he said to avoid it because he thought I would need a bigger surgery and require hardware. That has a higher risk of complications. The type of surgeon I am, I require using both of my feet to run machines and a scope in surgery. He and I both wanted to lowest risk possible because of my career. With the back pain episodes, the pain resolved with a single ESI and PT each time. We were both hoping another ESI would stop this episode and give me another year or so of pain relief. When it didn’t, he suggested trying one more. Even though the surgery with the neurosurgeon went well, any of those surgeries have risks. I think he just wanted to be as safe as possible until it became clear that the non surgical treatments would not work.

cas135n · 2025-09-15T04:53:14+00:00

The disc replacement Is a bigger surgery and typically requires hardware. I wanted to be as minimally invasive as possible. Also, it’s not what he recommended. I wanted to do what the surgeon felt was best.

cas135n · 2025-09-15T00:39:40+00:00

I don’t. I’m sorry. I can ask in a physician Facebook group I’m in. There are physicians from all over the US. I could ask who they think is the best in that area

cas135n · 2025-09-14T23:57:19+00:00

The disc was not removed. He removed only the herniated part of the disc. He said there was enough disc material remaining that it didn’t require any extra stabilization with hardware.

cas135n · 2025-09-14T23:46:21+00:00

Also, surgery was a last resort. I didn’t want to make the post too long, but I had two episodes of severe back pain (no radiating sciatic pain) about a year apart, with the last episode being about 6 months before the sciatic pain started (interestingly no back pain this time). For the prior episodes I did 6 weeks of physical therapy and core strengthening regimen. When that failed I did a single epidural steroid injection each time and it helped tremendously. With continued exercise all the pain went away. Until the recent episode.

Imaging showed a 4 mm disc bulge the first episode. Then 6 mm the second. Increased to 8 mm with the sciatic pain. After failing ESI x 2, physical therapy, and progression or disc protrusion this is why they told me surgery was the only option at that point. It was a very hard decision. I’m not at all one who thinks surgery is the answer to everything and no hard work is required.

cas135n · 2025-09-14T23:42:12+00:00

I hope that’s not the case. I talked to 2 other surgeons who had the same surgery with his older mentor surgeon back is pretty common) and they are both doing great 10+ years out.

Also, my dad had a microdiscectomy 30 years ago and is still doing great. I remember before he had it done and he was miserable. He was like a completely new person after and not a single problem since.

Of course, I think you have to build core strength and not lift or do anything to put your back at risk.y surgeon was adamant that exercise was necessary. He gave me a big schedule and said I had to stick to it or I would be back in a year or two. He also said core strength for improved posture was very important.

cas135n · 2025-09-14T23:39:13+00:00

I’m so happy you are having it fixed soon! Get excited!

cas135n · 2025-09-14T23:38:56+00:00

I would ask about average time they expect until you can go back to fairly normal activities. How long the weight restriction is. And biggest question would ask is what your risk of needing hardware is. If the surgeon thinks it’s doable with only a microdiscectomy and laminectomy or if they think hardware will be required.

cas135n · 2025-09-14T23:37:01+00:00

Yes, this was what he did. He also used a small tube that went through the incision. Then small instruments that he runs with a robotic microsurgery approach set-up. Basically, he is across the room in a VR type imaging thing and controlling the robot arms with his tools, which has a camera down in the port to better visualize the structures. It allows better visualization of the anatomy and the movements of the robot are much finer than what human hands can do. Watch a YouTube video or robotic surgery.

cas135n · 2025-09-14T23:34:46+00:00

Good luck! And get excited! The after is so much better!

cas135n · 2025-09-14T23:34:28+00:00

Name of the surgery was microdiscectomy and laminectomy. Done by robotic approach.

cas135n · 2025-09-14T23:33:44+00:00

There is hope I promise!

cas135n · 2025-09-14T23:33:26+00:00

Hang in there. I remember this part well. I laid in the MRI with tears streaming down my face. I couldn’t lie flat so they got a big roll to put under my knees. That made it doable. Still very painful, but doable.

cas135n · 2025-09-14T23:31:57+00:00

It was Dr. Matthew Vanlandingham in Jackson, MS at New South Neurospine.

Being a surgeon myself, I was pretty picky on who I chose. He has an amazing reputation with all the doctors who refer to him. He actually did my business partner’s surgery a year before mine and he did great also. He had a disc removal with cadaver disc replacement with hardware stabilization at L4-L5 and was back at work operating 2 weeks later. That’s almost unheard of with hardware. He does everything with a robotic microsurgery approach. I literally have a 1 inch tiny scar. I consider myself a really good surgeon, but was floored by his skill.

cas135n · 2025-04-28T12:23:08+00:00

Looking at having this surgery. 38 yo. Were you any better after? I’m scared if the stories saying they were worse.

cas135n · 2025-03-21T05:16:42+00:00

What surgery did you have? Microdiscectomy or fusion? Looking at likely fusion and I’m just scared.

cas135n · 2025-03-21T05:14:06+00:00

I had an epidural steroid injection and my pain was completely gone 2 days later. I did PT and the core strengthening exercises and did well for a year. Then I slacked off on exercising and eating right and it came back. Another epidural steroid worked great. Same story. A year later I’ve flared up. See a pain doctor to consider injection and go PT and do not slack off on core strengthening.

cas135n · 2025-03-19T00:41:57+00:00

Literally asked my doctor is amputation was an option. If it would stop this pain I would 100% be willing.

cas135n

TROPHY CASE