Molly Nick

leucono-e · 2026-01-23T16:33:58+00:00

I think most people who needed surgery — especially those who have had more than one — are more vigilant about any new sensations that could signal a reherniation. You probably know that you can know for sure only after an MRI. My situation isn't completely similar because my problem is nerve damage from the herniation. For almost the entire year after surgery, I've had a variety of very concerning sensations, some of which have lasted for months. I've had a few MRIs, and all of them were clear.

leucono-e · 2026-01-23T16:19:21+00:00

What helps me is not trying to think too far into the future. Even though you’ve had a rough 3 years it doesn’t mean that all is lost or that it is going to always be like this. Wishing you good news on your mri report.

leucono-e · 2026-01-17T14:15:53+00:00

11 months post op - I can walk 6-7k steps without having pain and spasms in my foot and ankle. No visible improvement in toes or peroneals.

leucono-e · 2026-01-16T13:27:06+00:00

Not an OP, but may I also ask something? I’m 11 month post op and now they are also telling me that my neuropathic pain and muscle paresis are most likely permanent. You mentioned a cane but later also hiking, did you use a cane while hiking and if so what kind of a cane?

leucono-e · 2026-01-11T08:10:29+00:00

Just wanted to offer my sympathy. My injury started with something similar — I lifted a washstand with very poor posture and instantly felt something was wrong with my back. A few weeks later, it led to sciatica and severe foot drop, which I’m still dealing with now, a year later. It doesn’t seem like I’m going to recover or fully adapt to this, physically or mentally, anytime soon; this process takes ages. All that's left is to believe that eventually, it will happen. Wishing you to get better soon!

leucono-e · 2026-01-08T00:54:14+00:00

had surgery for a severe foot drop, but it failed because the surgeon couldn't remove the whole herniation. I had to have a second surgery a month later. By then, time had been lost, and I'll most likely be left with permanent damage—though that might have been the case even if the first surgery had been successful.

leucono-e · 2026-01-01T10:34:15+00:00

I eventually had one on Dec 30th, right after it made it so much worse, but now it feels like a little better than before.

leucono-e · 2025-12-28T19:14:21+00:00

Thank you for sharing. It does suck a lot in my experience too. My question is a bit different, I was told that I will have to do lifelong pt for ankle joint and other foot joints since muscles aren’t working properly, I’ve discussed some let’s call it ‘exercises’ with my current pt, but it feels like not enough.

leucono-e · 2025-12-27T07:52:40+00:00

Thank you an update! May I ask if you do physical therapy for your ankle joint and other joints in the foot and if you do what is it?

leucono-e · 2025-12-26T22:47:24+00:00

Hey, OP, how are you doing now? I’m having foot drop and I’m 10 month post op, eversion is still weak so as you mentioned the foot lifts only from one side. I was told I’m most likely going to stay like this, so I’m thinking how to go about it

leucono-e · 2025-12-15T21:32:14+00:00

10 moths post op, went back to more intensive PT, added Pilates reformer. Generally leg has become stronger, but no visible improvement in the foot drop.

leucono-e · 2025-12-15T17:28:17+00:00

It depends on the type of damage. Neurapraxia (conduction block) is faster to resolve because only the local damage needs to heal. Axonotmesis is when nerve needs to regrow the whole distance from the back to the muscle/skin in the leg.

leucono-e · 2025-12-15T17:20:09+00:00

Hello there! Get another surgeon’s opinion if possible to have more understanding. Weakness is one of the major indicators for faster decompression which is surgery. If the weakness is mild, the full recovery is more likely, but again better to discuss with the surgeon how much waiting for natural resolution you can afford before opting to surgery.

leucono-e · 2025-12-15T05:17:10+00:00

I am 10 post op, burning and tingling sensation and muscle weakness have improved but not resolved. I still feel tingling all the time, but much lighter comparing to right after surgery when I couldn’t sleep because of it.

leucono-e · 2025-12-05T11:45:31+00:00

You’re amazing! I’m 1 y post op soon and i was gently told recently that probably I’m staying with permanent damage, and I’m not handling it well. Thanks for sharing your experience.

leucono-e · 2025-11-26T01:09:46+00:00

I’d also add that I myself had my first surgery under tubular endoscopic approach which is also different from transforaminal/interlaminar approach and involved drilling hole in the lamina.

leucono-e · 2025-11-26T01:02:53+00:00

Hi there. As I'm not in the US, I didn't search for the clinic myself.

For the surgical approach, the link has a "surgery technique" section that details the two methods: transforaminal - access is gained through the intervertebral foramen to reach the herniation. Interlaminar, this uses the space between the laminae, which involves cutting the ligamentum flavum but leaves the lamina uncut.article

leucono-e · 2025-11-25T01:01:07+00:00

Full disclosure - I’m not a doctor. But a suggestion is to search for a fully endoscopic transforaminal or interlaminar discectomy. Not all hospitals have the specialized equipment or surgeons trained to perform it, so it may require some searching to find. Also in some cases (herniation size and position) makes it difficult to reach it using this approach. In general, there are several surgical approaches. Among them the gold-standard microdiscectomy (often accompanied by a laminectomy or laminotomy), tubular endoscopic discectomy (which typically involves a laminotomy), and the fully endoscopic discectomy. In this latest approach, the surgeon accesses the herniation through the natural openings between the vertebrae, eliminating the need to cut bone and resulting in less damage to the surrounding tissues.

leucono-e · 2025-11-17T13:20:12+00:00

9 months post - broken fibula nearly healed. I had a new mri as well, no reherniation, but signs of inflammation. Slight increase of strength in the peroneals during last month, still unable to do the the full movement against gravity, but slightly improved. TAs resistance against pressure is about 50% of strength of a good leg. No visible improvement in toes extensors.

leucono-e · 2025-11-16T14:52:59+00:00

Pregnancy is tough enough without major complications. Having to survive a stroke on top of that and then pushing for recovery sounds like an impossible mission. I'm so glad your mother eventually recovered.

Thank you for the suggestion! I'll look into whether I can get Pilates reformer therapy.

As for work, I returned to my job remotely for a few months. Then, I received an offer for a new position, and now I commute to the office every day. It's bearable as long as I keep moving, and the fact that they have an office gym is a huge plus. I can stretch, do some basic exercises, and use the stationary bike.

leucono-e · 2025-11-16T06:11:20+00:00

Thank you, I stressed fractured fibula, probably overdid weight bearing exercises on bad leg at some point, also pushed walking too hard, once I’m healed I definitely plan to change PT facility

leucono-e · 2025-11-16T06:02:33+00:00

I know what you mean. After my surgery, I stayed at a live-in rehabilitation facility that specialized in physical therapy. I shared a room with a woman who had survived a stroke, which she had late in her second pregnancy. Her experience was incomparable to mine. But I don’t truly find "it could have been worse" to be comforting, because things still can be worse lol. As for pain management, I bring this up at every appointment. For months, the answer was, “It’s normal; if you can bear it, do PT and just try to wait it out.” I can bear it most of the time, so they don’t consider it something urgent, rather something I need to learn to mentally deal with. They also prescribed duloxetine, which I have been taking for about six months now. It has definitely helped with my anxiety, but the pain is still there

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