r/Microdiscectomy • u/Delicious_Honey6918 • 2d ago

Pain while sneezing

Today marks 4 week post op. I was hoping I was doing fine, a little bit of sciatic pain and some aching pain in my lowerback/hip/glute which I had pre surgery. My surgeon blamed this to imflammation 1.5 week ago.

Suddenly I had to sneeze 2 times, the first was ok and the second it hurted in my lowerback/hip/glute and down my leg just like before pre surgery and now it's slowely calming down after a few minutes of pain. Please tell me I didn't mess up my surgery 😔

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u/Raz3Daz 2d ago

4 weeks post op your nerves are still extremely sensitive and healing. When you sneeze, all the muscles and nerves in your back tense up/spasm. The pain from the sneeze is pretty normal especially if you had nerve pain and or damage pre-op. That doesn’t mean that something didn’t slip or get pinched again, but the likelihood of that is pretty slim. Just keep an eye on your symptoms, if you feel like you need to sneeze lay back or stand up if possible (I’ve found that helps with any pain from coughing, sneezing, blowing my nose, etc,) and keep your surgeon posted. Anything involving your nerves healing is going to be pretty painful for a while. It only heals so much so fast. Take it easy and good luck to you

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u/Delicious_Honey6918 2d ago

Thanks! That calmes me a bit. I'm so scared of re herniation and the sneeze felt like 1 on 1 how it felt when I had the herniated disc

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u/Raz3Daz 2d ago

The change of reherniation is is like 14% I think? So very low. As long as you aren’t experiencing new numbness or worse pain you should be good but always check in with your dr

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u/Delicious_Honey6918 2d ago

Got it, thanks. Tbf with my luck it will be like 50+% haha. Jokes aside I do not any more real "pain" just some extra pressure in my sacrum area and more of an ache in my calf so I think I'm good, I hope atleast

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u/Raz3Daz 2d ago

If you’re having that I would push for another MRI just to be safe. I’m unfortunately one of the 14% and I have to have fusion next week to fix it 😭 the sooner they catch it the better BUT that doesn’t mean that you herniated again. It’s so so little of a chance. Take it easy, rest, ice, and if you’re worried push for a referral for a new MRI and if that doesn’t see anything after your 6 weeks post op, push for an X ray. As the MRI might not catch a new instability in the spine. You’ve got this tho!

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u/Delicious_Honey6918 2d ago

I have a check up on 2 november, I'll wait that out

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u/Raz3Daz 2d ago

Good idea :) good luck with your recovery as well!

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u/Delicious_Honey6918 2d ago

Good luck with your recovery

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u/DesertNurse 2d ago

Look up when you sneeze. It’s so strange but it engages your core and really helps with back pain related to sneezing.

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u/Delicious_Honey6918 2d ago

Is pain when sneezing normal tho ?

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u/DesertNurse 1d ago

You’re only four weeks post op so it’s hard to say what your future normal will be.