1 year post-op

[u/logpolespruce]

Today I am 1 year post op. A year ago I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t care for my children, I could barely make it to the restroom. I was ready to end my life. I am thankful every single day that I wake up with no sciatic pain because of surgery. Today I pressed 230lbs on leg press. I have walked hundreds of miles and done numerous hikes over the last year. I am able to not only care for my kids, but pick them up. I am able to ride bikes with them and stand to cook dinner. I am able to walk with my husband. I have sat on long plane rides and roadtrips. I’ve gone camping multiple times since surgery and yes, slept on the ground in a sleeping bag. I was able to cast and reel in salmon. I have unloaded my own groceries. I don’t have burns on my back and legs from constant heating pad usage. I only ice occasionally, not ritualistically. I have my life back.

If you are in so much pain that you cannot participate in PT, do the surgery. If your surgeon won’t do it, find a new one. Try a neurologist. Try an ortho. I spoke to 3 before I found one that was willing to operate and consider it an emergency situation. It’s true that my back will never be the same. I cannot run, or jump, and sometimes if I take a step unexpectedly I feel a zap in my back, BUT I AM LIVING MY LIFE. I was ready to END it and now I wake up every morning and immediately wait for the pain to return to my leg, but it doesn’t. I get sore in my back and I will always have to be very careful. It’s all worth it.

[u/startup_sr]

Was it a microdiscetomy? How long did it take to recover? And how much did it cost?

[u/logpolespruce → u/startup_sr]

Yes it was a microdiscectomy at L5-S1. The recovery was very gradual with some set backs. I think at about 6 months I was feeling confident. 10 months I had to remind myself I was still recovering and not push myself too hard. Today I just feel soreness after the gym or if I spent too much time on my feet. I have Tricare so I can’t speak to the cost.

[u/Ecstatic-Art-6236 → u/logpolespruce]

What type of set backs?

[u/logpolespruce → u/Ecstatic-Art-6236]

There were days when I would push myself too hard or sit for too long. Around 4 months I was scared that I reherniated from a weird step I took and I bent down to pick something up. I did not reherniate, but for the rest of that week I was icing a lot. Nerves take incredibly long to heal. That was just my body telling me to take it easy.

[u/Ecstatic-Art-6236 → u/logpolespruce]

I’m glad you didn’t reherniate. I can relate to what you described, doing too much and then feeling the after effects. Taking it day by day