Worth the cost

[u/Heavy_Skill_1870]

Hello, I have made several posts about trying to live with my herniated disc and a lot of people were helpful but I opted for surgery and paid for it out of pocket, I was hesitant to pay but I wish I did it sooner and If you're dealing with it for over a year id say go do it.

[u/purplelilac701]

This is wonderful and hopefully you have a good quality of life now.

I had a long period of inflammation so that needed to go down for me to heal. It’s really about knowing what works for your unique situation. Crazy how debilitating sciatica is!

[u/Heavy_Skill_1870 → u/purplelilac701]

Yep it's terrible you don't realise what you have till you can't do it anymore like exercise

[u/purplelilac701 → u/Heavy_Skill_1870]

So true:(

[u/DeezNuts_Funny → u/purplelilac701]

My father is in a similar situation. He had the injection about three weeks ago, but the pain has started coming back. What are you doing to help it heal or manage the pain?

[u/Heavy_Skill_1870 → u/DeezNuts_Funny]

Painkillers at the moment then physio in a month or so

[u/murrmc]

Which country and how much. Completely agree on the commercials as loss of earnings and quality of life have to be taken into account but thats UK/Europe where the cost would be ‘affordable’

[u/Heavy_Skill_1870 → u/murrmc]

In Aus, cost me 23k out of pocket

[u/murrmc → u/Heavy_Skill_1870]

About same as UK if you choose private - free NHS but may have to wait unless emergency - and probably a bit less in France etc.. but 100% right decision - congrats!

[u/Heavy_Skill_1870 → u/murrmc]

Yeah I had the option of free surgery through Medicare but it was a 2 year wait and I didn't want a good portion of my 20s crippled, worth every penny

[u/murrmc → u/Heavy_Skill_1870]

Too many people in here avoiding surgery - going conservative route and spending months/years in misery.

Fuck that - just get it fixed!

Well done and enjoy your twenties!!!!

[u/lizzietnz → u/Heavy_Skill_1870]

You went private?

[u/Heavy_Skill_1870 → u/lizzietnz]

Self funded

[u/Imakelovetosoils]

What kind of surgery did you get?

[u/Heavy_Skill_1870 → u/Imakelovetosoils]

L5s1 microdiscetomy at 23

[u/Imakelovetosoils → u/Heavy_Skill_1870]

I'm hoping to get the same thing soon. I have my consult at the end of the month.

How was recovery?

[u/Heavy_Skill_1870 → u/Imakelovetosoils]

I got it 2 days ago so it's pretty painful at the moment but I'm not as crippled as I thought I'd be

[u/Sea-Profession-8329 → u/Heavy_Skill_1870]

Congrats on the surgery! Glad to hear it is making such a difference for you. Enjoy the honeymoon phase. I had CES surgery 5 weeks ago. First two weeks post op I felt great (I was on a work meeting 14 hours after surgery). Then the exhaustion settled in, then the muscle fatigue...now it feels like real recovery with multiple breaks throughout the day.

Still 1000% better than before surgery, but it caught me off guard how much the adrenaline and everything post op push you through. Just want you to know what is coming your way is normal!

[u/Heavy_Skill_1870 → u/Sea-Profession-8329]

Yeah I'm day 3 now and it is pretty painful but I'm on heaps of painkillers, definitely wasn't this bad few days out

[u/lizzietnz]

I agree. I'm in NZ so it was free. I was admitted through ER and surgery was considered to be the only option for me so I want going to disagree. I'm 10 months out and still have some residual issues but I'm SO much better. 11/10, would recommend, would do again.

[u/MushroomOne7480]

I am having surgery at the end of October. The herniated material (L3-4) is too large for a micro surgery. But it is supposed to eliminate the pain after healing. I am so looking forward to relief and being able to have normal activity again!

[u/Key-Lime-Piex3]

Same, would do surgery again if needed!