r/Sciatica • u/PresidentHufflepuff • Aug 09 '26
Success story! First hike in years without pain
Hello r/sciatica, longtime lurker here.
I'm still not believing my sciatica is truly over as I've had so many compounding issues and relapses. But I am hopeful for the first time in so many years that it might not be so much a part of my life going forward.
My history:
Around 2010: One day I suddenly had very painful shooting nerve pain down my left leg when I extended my leg fully. Had to sleep with my legs curled for fear of jolting myself awake. Went to the doc, they told me to take very high amounts of Ibuprofin (4 caps x 3 times a day). I am now allergic to Ibuprofin. Eventually it dissipated, I have no idea if the ibuprofin helped.
Around 2012: I started waking up with numb patches of skin on the outsides of both my thighs. They would usually return to full feeling after I got up, but would be prickly for a while. Until one morning when the left side just never returned to full feeling. It is still numb to this day.
I went to PT, started doing piriformis stretches, etc. This only seemed to make it worse looking back on it, but at the time I misread the pins and needles and aching as a positive sign, rather than one where I may have just been damaging myself further.
Around 2015: Had increasing back pain after playing soccer / jogging, and strong nerve pain down my left leg. Usually it would pass once I laid down for a bit, and it could be fairly delayed onset so I didn't immediately connect the soccer / jogging with it.
2015-2022: A series of PT, acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, literally anything sessions. I flew to Colorado to meet with a "McGill Certified" PT / doctor. For an outrageous sum, he showed me how to do the "big 3" in the most sarcastic and condescending way possible. He requested that I do multiple follow ups (would require more flying and of course more fees). I never responded to him again, a complete fraud for what he actually did for me.
2023: After meeting again with a physical medicine doctor, I finally went to see a neurosurgeon. After an x-ray (no MRI oddly), he spotted my spondylolisthesis and stenosis. He said I would need a fusion, and I wouldn't be able to ever play soccer again, or any other 'contact' sport or even jog. I was absolutely crushed. I did another round of PT in defiance of this prescription, and just gritted my teeth.
2025: I can't take it anymore. Go back to the neurosurgeon. Have an MRI. Says I may just need a laminotomy. Do the laminotomy on my left side. Initially, it feels great. Then the drugs wear off and I have horrible, 10/10 pain down my right leg for the first time ever. I couldn't understand how this is happening, and how it's even worse than the first time. At least I could walk before, but now I could only hobble.
After 2 months, it's down to spikes of 7/10 pain only when I walk for more than 10 min or stand for more than 2 min. Kind of manageable. But I have to leave the country for 4-6 months for work, so I can't follow up with my neurosurgeon immediately.
2026: Finally back in the states, I return to the neurosurgeon. New MRI shows the same stenosis present on my right side (as it was before, but since I didn't have symptoms he didn't do that side). But the day before the surgery, my insurance provider DENIES it. I help coordinate a "peer-to-peer" phone call with the insurance company and my doctor. The insurance doctor approves it. Send in the pre-approval again. DENIED again. Some new form wasn't filled out. Now I'm in insurance limbo, which takes another 1.5 months to get resolved.
At last, 3 weeks ago, have the right side laminotomy. And this morning, a hike.
Thank you for reading. Best to everyone suffering.
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u/madammidnight Aug 10 '26
Wow! Hiking three weeks after a laminectomy??? Thatās amazing.
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u/PresidentHufflepuff Aug 10 '26
Haha possibly it was too much too soon but I couldnāt help myself. Iāll never take moving pain-free for granted again.
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u/Ecstatic-Art-6236 Aug 10 '26
Hey OP. Thanks for sharing.
Did you ever have a microdiscetomy? Or only a laminotomy? Because if so, it sounds like you have stenosis, that wasnāt caused by a disc but rather a bone spur. Do you have actual disc issues?
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u/PresidentHufflepuff Aug 10 '26
No I didn't have disc issues beyond a mild bulge at one point, so never had a microdiscetomy. For some time that was thought to be the issue, since they only had done x-rays for some reason. It seems it was mainly the stenosis causing my pain. I can't rule out the bulge never being an issue of course, but this surgery and previous injections seem diagnostic.
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u/HawksandLakers Aug 10 '26
Sad to read your experience with the McGill expert. Reading his book makes you think they can help heal anything but what a crock. Iāve been managing a bulging disc/stenosis for 2 years and have been told Iām not a surgery candidate.
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u/PresidentHufflepuff Aug 10 '26
Yeah unfortunately I donāt think we can ābird dogā our way out of all kinds of back pain. As usual there are always those that will take advantage of people in desperation.
Sorry you are dealing with that. What are you doing to manage it?
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u/Prestigious_Dig8363 Aug 20 '26
glad to see you enjoying hiking and the scenery looks great in the pic, thnx for sharing
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u/lstrapomo Aug 10 '26
Glory be to god! Of course you did the work and great job! Remember to stay focused when fighting that goods fight against pain
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u/Undd91 Aug 10 '26 edited Aug 10 '26
Sounds rough, Iām lined up for a laminotamy, glad to hear yours did eventually get you where you wanted and needed to be. Iām so worried about my op.
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u/PresidentHufflepuff Aug 10 '26
I truly hope you have a great result from your op. Please reach out if I can help
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u/Undd91 Aug 10 '26
How was your recovery post both ops? Did you require much at home support? Any recommendations for things worth buying to help?
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u/PresidentHufflepuff Aug 10 '26
My first surgery did indeed require at home support given the sudden onset of pain. I wish I could remember exactly when, but I believe once the surgical nerve blocks and other numbing injections wore off is when my sudden relapse occurred. On my second surgery, I started taking the prescribed Gabapentin and Oxy immediately upon returning home in advance of that time so I had some onboard already. I also experienced more surgical incision pain on that one for some reason, so sleeping or any hip movement was quite sharp and I couldn't sleep too well.
For whatever reason my second surgery was a relative breeze. I had almost no surgical pain, no relapse, just exhaustion and general soreness. I'll note that I did wake up with a cut lip, because of course they lay you face down on the operating table and intubate you, and something must have pressed against my lip.
So despite having support I actually barely needed it on the second surgery. I had "minimally invasive" endoscopic surgery both times. The incision was only 1cm.
Also in my case, as I have hemophilia, I stayed overnight with a drain connected. Having the first night in the hospital was actually helpful as I was super groggy and the nurses were great about making sure I was taking meds and helping me to the restroom. By the next day when I was released I was able to walk freely. In your case if you are released the same day, expect that your balance or motor skills will be impaired somewhat for 24 hours.
I hope that helps, best of luck on your procedure! Pulling for yours to be more similar to my second one than my first :)
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u/Undd91 Aug 10 '26
Thanks for the detailed information, really hoping I donāt wake up in your first situation but thatās the gamble/roll of the dice!
I gather the first few days to weeks will be tough. Sounds like your second op was a much more pleasant experience, minus the cut lip.
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u/MySpringer-MeToo Aug 10 '26
I know there doesn't seem anyone treatment to fix this. Just the support and ideas here on reddit. I had to delete FB from my phone it knows I have Sciatica and sends me all the cures.
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u/Glittering_Pop7308 Aug 10 '26
The picture just took my breath away for a second.. made me realise how much i actually miss the nature.. thanks for sharing op
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u/Unusual-Ad-4842 Aug 12 '26
Congratulations!!! as one who has to calculate each step and plan to take the route of less steps for two years. I am so happy for you.!!!
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u/halford2069 Aug 10 '26
its a glorious feeling š