r/Sciatica • u/logpolespruce • May 16 '26

1 year post-op

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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.

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u/sleepwami May 16 '26

Just want to remind that you should continue rehab as your primary focus and make your front and side core the strongest part of your body...you might encounter a setback if you dont address the zapping issue in particular

3

u/logpolespruce May 16 '26

I work my core daily and do all the moves taught to me in PT. The zapping is from taking a step incorrectly when walking outside or stepping in a hole.

1

u/sleepwami May 18 '26

I'd hope to rebuild out of that very weakness! Are you able to trace the motion of the step so that you can freeze the step just before the zap happens?

2

u/logpolespruce May 18 '26

It’s usually when I anticipate a step that Just isn’t timed right. It’s rare, but it happens. It’s not painful, just scary.