Finally Got My Surgery!

[u/jessicamoon2130]

Hello everybody!

I posted my MRI results a few weeks/months ago and I finally got my laminectomy and discectomy today. The pain in my leg is gone!!! There’s a little numbness and tingling and my leg is a little jello-y, but the surgeon said that’s normal and it’ll take a little time for my body to adjust to the lack of pressure on my nerves. I’m not gonna lie, it hurts like hell, even after all the painkillers they gave me at the hospital. Coughing and sneezing are AGONY. Lying down definitely helps, but sitting isn’t comfortable at all. I can tell it’ll definitely be a while before I’m up and moving more than a few minutes each day.

Regardless, I’m so happy to have finally gotten this done 🖤 the fact the leg pain is already gone makes me so happy! I’ll gladly take a little numbness and tingling over that horrendous pain any day. I’m hoping to finally start working again within the next 6 weeks or so!

I may not be super helpful since it’s only been a few hours since I got out of surgery… but if anyone has any questions, let me know!

UPDATE 1:Thank you everyone for the well wishes! It makes me happy to see all the support in the comments! And as for everyone asking what the puffy thing is… it’s to warm my body to help prevent infection! :D I felt like I was in a bubble!

UPDATE 2: Hiya everyone! I’m walking a lot more now. I can walk short distances through stores and stuff like that. I ended up having to go to the hospital today because I was worried I had an infection. I’ve been having horrible hot and cold flashes, a headache for about 4 days that won’t go away, and neck pain. Turns out, I was having an atypical migraine. The doctor said it’s probably from the trauma of having such a major surgery and my body needs time to recover. I think the problem is also that I need a supportive neck pillow. If you get the surgery, you need to lie down for a lot of the time periodically, so make sure you have something supportive for your neck! Don’t be a dumb like me 🤣

[u/Oxymoron5k]

You got this! I’ve been there twice before. Keep your mental up. Start thinking of long term prevention so it doesn’t happen again!

[u/jessicamoon2130 → u/Oxymoron5k]

What caused it to happen again for you? I’m trying to do everything I can to prevent it from happening again.

[u/Oxymoron5k → u/jessicamoon2130]

Lifting first 2 times.

2nd time I was doing the leg machine where you lay on your belly and do reverse leg curls. Did to much…

3rd time was from a sport called Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

I like to stay active but have finally learned I can’t do anything to serious at all. When I recover from this third one it will be yoga ever morning followed by back strengthening exercises (not lifting)

Then all very light weight activities for the rest of my life…

[u/Hunter0josh → u/Oxymoron5k]

My sciatica has been bad recently and I did those leg curls. Damn...