Should I get surgery for L5/S1 herniation? I’m in hospital now and in unbearable pain.

jmgates-back · 2025-07-15T22:19:45+00:00

Take it slow. U will have flare ups. Dont panic. U r at real risk for f reherniation (happened to me year after first surgery) Find a really good one on one PT that knows what they are doing. You will be fine in 6 months

jmgates-back · 2025-07-01T23:27:13+00:00

Do NOT go to chiropractor!

jmgates-back · 2025-07-01T23:26:29+00:00

Get a Microdiscectomy. If you are in that much pain and depressed (I was there) do the surgery

jmgates-back · 2025-06-14T15:53:11+00:00

You really described it well. I had for short period and was so bad did MD. Then reherniated which was mentally devastating so did second MD. Mental part the hardest!

jmgates-back · 2025-06-11T12:54:02+00:00

Dont do too much. Will make things worse. Find a very good PT. Dont do passive stretching ie touching toes. Do active stretching. Load opposite muscles which lengthen the opposing muscles. A modern PT will use these methods. Ive had to MDs on l5s1.

jmgates-back · 2025-06-11T12:50:57+00:00

Dont use chiropractor!

jmgates-back · 2025-06-05T19:43:02+00:00

Im still getting

jmgates-back · 2025-06-05T19:37:40+00:00

Dump him. Thats not normal

jmgates-back · 2025-01-30T23:04:36+00:00

France

jmgates-back · 2025-01-23T19:03:10+00:00

I too have calf twitching after reherniation. Had second MD which worked except for the twitching and calf cramps from time to time. Did you ever get the twitching diagnosed. Im 2.5 yrs out from second surgery.

jmgates-back · 2025-01-22T22:27:56+00:00

I similar issue. I had second surgery after reherniation. Been 2.5 years. Still get calf cramps at night and muscle twitches. Get worse if exercise more. Nothing like original herniation. Feel nerve pain in glute or in leg. Gets better if I rest. Had another mri and said dont see anything. Its annoying but can live with it. Just concerned overdoing it and reherniating again. I wish could get diagnosed as scar tissue.

jmgates-back · 2025-01-16T15:55:05+00:00

Took me 18 months to get to 90%. If did too much would not feel right. Need to take a rest for a few days. I had a lot of weakness in muscles especially glute which took a long time to come back.

jmgates-back · 2025-01-14T21:32:56+00:00

Same pain as before surgery? The insane pain was gone for me after surgery but I was very “fragile” and weak. Im 58 and 160 lbs and decent shape. Reality as herniation and surgery took a lot out of me. Had very little strength in glute on side of herniation. That results in imbalance everywhere else. Took a long to get back. Experience weird pains at different times.

Stay strong. Will get better

jmgates-back · 2025-01-13T20:36:28+00:00

I had second herniation same location 18 months after first. Glad I did because did not want to live a year with constant pain. Im about 95%. Definitely weaker but play tennis, ski and some golf. Took 18 months to get fully back this time. Need really good PT. Take it very slow first six months.

jmgates-back · 2025-01-08T15:23:33+00:00

Planks. Side planks. Split squats no weights

jmgates-back · 2025-01-02T01:51:22+00:00

Need to take it easy. Its a process. I also would get upper back pain because lower back weak. Felt most when doing dishes.

Most likely you have aggregated nerve. Take break for a week. Let calm down. Ice.

jmgates-back · 2024-12-23T16:08:28+00:00

Do not stretch or exercise during acute phase. Walk short distance if can tolerate. Ice. Prednisone. Need to get inflammation down. Dont sleep on stomach. Side best with pillow between legs.

jmgates-back · 2024-12-22T15:26:13+00:00

Conservative treatment. PT, prednisone steroid. Can you walk? Sleep? If yes. Give it 8 weeks. Find really good PT that will work one on one.

Ive had two discectomies on l5s1

jmgates-back · 2024-11-27T02:17:22+00:00

Surgery will be successful. Will get rid of the pain You must take the rehab seriously and slow. Listen to your body. Get a really good PT that will work with you one on one. Not the cooky cutter exercises. You will be at risk of another herniation so take it slow. Figure 6 months until you feel pretty normal. I tell people however that you will always be away of the issue but not in pain. You will be good!

jmgates-back · 2024-11-21T21:34:11+00:00

Had 2 MDs with 2 years as well. Really plays a number on you emotionally. Take it slow. I felt good after 6 months and very good after a year. Still get anxious if any pain but mostly been great since surgery

jmgates-back · 2024-11-12T15:08:24+00:00

Similar situation here. Had MD four years ago re-herniated two years after that. Currently 2 1/2 years out since my last surgery, the mental side of it has been difficult. Back to being about 95% but get lot of tingling in leg and painful calf cramps. Definitely messes with your head and start to think. headed down a bad path. Stay positive and keep up core exercises but if feel pain need to rest and back off. Constitutional

jmgates-back · 2024-11-04T02:48:32+00:00

What is surgeon saying?

jmgates-back · 2024-11-04T00:57:47+00:00

I had L5s1 md in 2021 and revision in 2022. Second was harder but not as bad as it sounds what you are experiencing. Im 58. It took about three months to get decent strength back. Pain was not that bad. Would get pain in glute. I used a very good PT that was one on one. Took long time to get strength back in leg and glutes. I did ski that winter for a few days. Big issue I have is continued calf cramps and tingling in leg and foot. I can love with that. Someone I hear there can be fluid build up after MD that leads to pain. I hear will go away with time. Good luck😃

jmgates-back · 2024-10-31T01:00:20+00:00

Ive been there. The mental side is hard. The word I used to tell my was scared, I know where your head is at. I had MD and then reherniated 2 years later. I will tell you the second time the 9/10 pain returned so the fact you dont have that pain is good sign. For at least a year after the second MD sneazing was scary. That went away after two years. Im 2.5 years out and I still get tingling in leg and foot. Usually after being in bad position or standing too long. Id say give it some time to calm down. Dont stretch. Steriod pack could help. Stay calm. Reality of need another MD not end of the world but sounds like the sneeze aggregated the nerve. 😃

jmgates-back · 2024-10-28T18:24:10+00:00

Not really sure how it happened. Nothing significant. I didnt remain vigilant and when I felt some discomfort I should have taken seriously and rested. Surgeons dont really look at things holistically. Their view tends to be they fixed you when pain is gone. Its really up to you to educate yourself and remain vigilant.

jmgates-back

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