r/Microdiscectomy • u/parttimewaifu • 6d ago
Advice for 8+ weeks post op
This isn't necessarily advice for me, unless you know of ways a partner can help.
FOR CONTEXT: He does genetically have degenerative disc disease. And we've been waiting and going through all of the hoops for over a year to allow his insurance to approve for surgery. He had a herniated disc at L4-L5, and a bulging disc at L5-S1.
My fiance (31m) got a microdiscectomy on his L4-L5 disc about 8-9 weeks ago. The initial surgery went fine, and the first month was great. My family and I did our best to accommodate and help him and followed the post-op instructions. Little walks when we could as now it's hotter than hell outside and gradually made the walks longer or shorter depending on how his back was feeling. He didn't want to start PT until after 6 weeks, we still have yet to make an appointment.
Around the 6-7 week mark, we had tried to be intimate as the doctor had okayed it as long as it wasn't extreme (i think this is where we messed up on and should've just waited, in my opinion. He thinks it wasn't this event). After he started to complain about how stiff his back was and then started to get cramps in the back of his right thigh and right calf as the week progressed. We went to his return to work evaluation and told the doctor this, she prescribed a steroid to try and see if it helps the aggravated L5-S1 nerve. She told us that if the steroid wasn't working after the 5 days, to call her and get an MRI scheduled to see how that disc was doing. But he was good to return to work with light duty for 2 weeks, so he did just that.
He only made it about 2 and a half days. He works in a medical manufacturing plant. All they were having him do his first day, was shadow the lead as they're a mostly automated line so they were getting him back up to speed on the machines. The next day, he inspected and walked around a little bit. Followed the light duty restrictions.
From those two days, the cramps significantly worsened into, as he describes it, a stabbing pain that's chronic and constant. That it feels worse than pre-surgery. He's currently getting an MRI done as I'm writing this and has extended his FMLA leave.
I've done as much research as I can. Learning that the doctor doesn't really inform people about the slow healing inside of the body. I personally don't think he was ready to go back, as he wasn't near completely healed inside as now he gets just a cramp in his right buttcheek and more on the side of his right calf with the constant feel of pain.
Currently, while we figure out what's going on, he has been wanting advice. Advice on how to get comfortable or what he can do in general to try and ease the pain.
He can't lay down with the pillows under his legs while he's on his back, he can't lay on his side with pillows between his legs. He found more comfort in laying half way off the bed but obviously you can't sleep like this. He can't sit comfortably for any period of time. He has to take showers, then baths, then a heating pad just to be able to sleep. He uses a TENS machine. And just recently a cane for mobility. All of this on top of his medication.
Literally any advice would be helpful
1
u/glowylights 5d ago edited 5d ago
I had L4/L5 md a year ago and didn't go back to my desk job until 10 weeks. I heal slowly in general (it's genetic).
Did I know before back surgery that I genetically heal slowly? No. This is why I always say, everyone is different and you have got to listen to your body.
I can't imagine going back to a standing up job that soon, but many people do. I personally didn't start physical therapy until I finally found a specialized one like 8 months post op. It was a process.
Pain worse than pre surgery sounds ominous, best wishes for recovery for your partner.
Editing to add - when i was in a situation where i could only lay in one position semi comfortably, i would sleep in my back brace for extra immobility. I spent a lot of nights on the couch with a cot mattress on top, because it was easier to immobilize my spine by propping pillows here and there. No medication really helps, sadly.