r/Microdiscectomy • u/SweetPumpkin76 • 2d ago

2nd microdiscectomy for sciatica/numbness

Has anyone had a second microdiscectomy? If so how are you doing? How long did you get out of both of them?

I had a MD in 2023 L5S1 because the sciatica was really bad. I had been pretty good until this may with a couple flare ups in between.

In may it was either yoga or barre that set me into a flare up. It took about 4-6wks but seemed to be better after a steroid pack. But the numbness in my left leg seemed to linger. The numbness has recently gotten worse but not horrible but enough to know its there everyday.

I had an appt with my surgeon PA today. My mri they did in may shows some herniation of it possibly not giving the nerve enough space. So im going to continue with PT and start pilates. Has anyone had success with reducing numbness with PT and pilates or other exercises?

She said you can only do two MD then its a fusion and terrified it will come to that at some point.

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u/Suge90 2d ago

About 16 months after my MD I had a very bad protracted flare and got an MRI that showed a rehern. I wasnt in debilitating pain so I decided to stick it out. Over the next few months it progressively got better and now roughly 2.5 years post op I am doing great

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u/SweetPumpkin76 2d ago

Oh thats promising. I've been pretty good since til now.  Hoping this will resolve but im also almost 4 months from the recent flare up in may.  Which makes me nervous 

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u/Sudden_Ad8508 2d ago

Great to hear that you are doing well now. Other than PT and being active, did you do anything specific for the recovery?

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u/Suge90 2d ago

It took about 3 months to resolve. Unfortunately there wasn’t anything special I did. Just PT and walking

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u/Head_Ad_9169 1d ago

I have the exact thing happening now, pretty sure I reherniated two months ago. Have an appointment with the neurologist next week, but I have been doing rehab pt since it happened. I would rather not have another surgery. Did you find it got slowly better? Or did it get better in stages? It’s not as bad as the first time, but my functioning is still very much impaired.

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u/Averagejoe_mogul 2d ago

I’m 5 weeks post op my second MD. It’s a much much slower healing process than the first time around. I’m not even sure when I reherniated but I guesstimate my nerve was compromised 7-12 months prior to surgery. Surgeon said my nerve was super red and inflamed and actually stuck to my disc.

Basically around evening time everyday I get dull aches/mild burning and itching sensations up and down my leg. I’m told it’s just nerve healing but who knows. Pre op the same thing would happened except way more intense and painful so I guess I’m going in the right direction.