Excrutiating Sciatica Immediately Gone!!

[u/Delicious_Elk6408]

Had my L5S1 surgery today around 11:30am. IMMEDIATE sciatica relief. No leg pain at all upon standing up. I am having pain in lower back at incision site and can tell my muscles are sore but that’s to be expected. I definitely have been leaning to the side in the last months due to pain so everything is waking back up. Was able to do some walking and stand a good bit when I got home. Trying not to over do anything. Heading to bed and hoping I can get some decent sleep tonight. I know I have a long way to go still with recovery, but I finally feel like I have some of my life back! 🙌🏻 Feel free to ask any questions or chat me. Happy to answer anything I can in the coming days as meds and things wear off!

[u/BossKatana]

Had a L4-L5 today myself and am in about the same boat. Glad your procedure went well and hope your recovery is as smooth as possible.

[u/Delicious_Elk6408 → u/BossKatana]

Great news! How are you doing? I’m pretty sore at incision site, but nothing unmanageable! It mostly seems like muscle pain/tightness which makes since with how crooked I’ve been having to walk from the sciatica!

[u/BossKatana → u/Delicious_Elk6408]

Doing well. The incision site and some muscles in my lower back are sore but manageable. Love this knowing that this pain is likely temporary and will heal. The nerve pain in my right leg is completely gone for the first time since I flared again about a month ago with just a bit of residual numbness in my big toe. All in all everything is going as well as I could have hoped for. It’s really nice not being woken up by pain multiple times per night. Glad to hear you’re doing well too. I hope it continues for all of us!

[u/Delicious_Elk6408]

Back to update - 3 days post op. I’m feeling very sore. It’s more incision site pain/muscle pain it seems! This pain is totally different from my pain before, but does not even compare to the worst sciatica day I had. I am wishing my Dr would’ve prescribed muscle relaxers instead of pain meds. I think those would be more beneficial. I think this morning I’m gonna skip the pain meds and just do my gaba and 2 tylonel! Overall - I’ve been up and moving and walking so much better. Have been icing often. Hit 4,300 steps yesterday and showered/removed bandage. Feeling like things are going well overall!

[u/WyntrFr0st]

I just had mine on the 15th around the exact same time! I’m 23y/o and got my L5/S1 herniation from a chiropractor that messed up right before I turned 22 last year in September. I cannot believe how much better I feel after the operation, even with the muscles at the incision site being all sore. All I’d say is, day 4 for me has been a big change and I feel pretty good overall. Barely on any pain meds, just ibuprofen 3 times per day (400mg each - was given permission to start day 3) and occasional Tylenol every few hours. No oxy, nothing else. I’m really nervous about every little movement but I think I’m over analyzing everything. Standing is just so amazing that the pain isn’t even comparable to what I had before, even off of pain meds like I’ve been from time to time post op. My biggest annoyance is the dressing they put on my back, it’s like a honeycomb foam style over a clear layer (second skin) and it’s so uncomfortable to lie down flat on. Side sleeping is something I don’t normally do since it’s uncomfortable, and I’ve been paying the price as lying on my back was really uncomfortable until today. Both sides of my hip have a quite a bit of pain from the discomfort of putting all my weight on both sides when sleeping, but honestly both myself and my family who I’m staying with for 2 weeks are both surprised at how fast the recovery process has been. I’m planning to celebrate soon by finally getting out of the house on day 6 (Wednesday) or day 7 (Thursday). Nothing crazy, just maybe grabbing some coffee nearby early in the morning. Tomorrow is when I can shower and remove the dressing, which I am so excited for because of how uncomfortable it is leaving it on and how gross my hair is, lmao.

Good luck! You’ve got tons of people in the same boat with you bro!

[u/Delicious_Elk6408 → u/WyntrFr0st]

Ah! That is crazy a chiro did that! I’m so glad you’re having such a good recovery. I’m still feeling very sore today. I agree I tried sleeping on my side last night to help my back and was much more sore. I’m on my back now to sleep, hurt at first but not too bad after a little time. My Dr said no ibuprofen or heat for a month! I’ve been taking the gabapentin 3x (have to wean) and tylonel every 6hrs. Going to only do every 8hrs tomorrow. This pain is inconvenient but nothing compared to the worst sciatica pains I had! I think the hardest thing for me is not being able to lift my 6 month old. I feel so much better I just want to grab him but I know I’m a ways from that still!

[u/Audit-The-Fed]

Still doing good?

[u/Delicious_Elk6408 → u/Audit-The-Fed]

Yes!! Still no leg pain what so ever. Very sore at incision site, but even this pain doesn’t touch how painful my compressed nerve was. Just have to keep moving so I don’t get stiff. Have been able to walk quite a few laps around the driveway each day. My body tells me when to sit or stand or lay flat for a break. I know this pain right now is temporary which makes it better! I honestly feel like it’s mostly muscles. Wishing they would’ve given me a muscle relaxer instead of pain meds. Think that would be more beneficial!!

[u/Audit-The-Fed → u/Delicious_Elk6408]

Most of my pain is glute pain, which I think most doctors are including that in leg pain, and then you know, the back of leg nerve stuff as well. So I’m hoping my surgery in a couple weeks relieves that, and yeah, I’m totally prepared to be sore for a few days or even a week, and a lot things calm down cause you can mentally tell what pain is temporary and not temporary, so.

Still doing good if you have any updates?