- A limited discectomy approach leads to a higher risk of reherniation10 when compared to a more aggressive removal of disc.
- That said, an aggressive discectomy can deflate the disc, resulting in loss of disc height over time (disc collapse), ultimately causing stiffness, pain and instability.
Subsequently, When should you get a Microdiscectomy? You may need this surgery if you have a herniated disc in your lower back that is causing symptoms. The symptoms may include weakness, pain, or tingling in the back area and in one of your legs.
When is L5 S1 surgery necessary? The most common indications for L5 S1 fusion include: Low back disc degeneration Slipped disc (spondylolisthesis) Spinal Bone Fracture Recurrent Disc Herniation Pain radiating down leg (Sciatica ) Curvature (Scoliosis) Narrowing of the Canal (Stenosis) Failed Spine Surgery with Instability.
Yet, Can L5 S1 surgery success rate? There was an overall 80% fusion rate for all patients who underwent anterior lumbar fusion at L5-S1. Average age was 34 years, with average length of disability from low-back pain of 11 months.
Can you live a normal life after Microdiscectomy? What Not to Do After Microdiscectomy. For the average patient, there are no permanent restrictions after a microdiscectomy. And although recovery from lumbar microdiscectomy is quicker and less painful than more invasive types of back surgery, you will still need to take some precautions.
Who is not a candidate for Microdiscectomy?
If you are seeing the results you need with your current non-surgical treatments, you may not be a candidate for a microdiscectomy. Most patients who receive this treatment have been experiencing pain for a minimum of six weeks with no results from conservative treatment.
Does Microdiscectomy weaken the disc?
LMD can weaken your disc. In a few patients this can cause pain or instability. If this happens, you may need more surgery to fuse the weakened disc.
Can Microdiscectomy make you worse?
Few patients get worse after microdiscectomy. Patients who have been unable to work for a longer period of time, despite a fairly good functional level, should be informed that they run a higher risk of deterioration.
Can you run again after Microdiscectomy?
When your surgical procedure was less invasive and relied on micro-surgical techniques, you’ll be encouraged to start walking immediately. You may be able to return to running, even competitively, within six to eight weeks.
How long after a Microdiscectomy can I drive?
Patients may begin driving when the pain level has decreased to a mild level, which usually is between 2-10 days after surgery. Patients should not drive while taking pain medicines (narcotics).
Is herniated disc surgery worth it?
In a study of people who had sciatica caused by a herniated disc, the chances of having no symptoms or almost no symptoms 3 months to 2 years later was a little higher with surgery than with non-surgical treatment. But overall, most people felt better with or without surgery.
What are the risks of Microdiscectomy?
The main risks with microdiscectomy surgery are:
- nerve injury leading to weakness or numbness.
- tear of the dura (the protective sheath around the spinal nerves), which can cause a leak of spinal fluid.
- infection.
- post-operative bleeding.
- blood clots (deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism)
- pneumonia.
Is L4 L5 disc bulge serious?
Most importantly, an L4-L5 disc bulge can lead to prolonged pain and other, more serious conditions like spondylolisthesis if you delay treatment. Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which a vertebra shifts or slips, and can cause significant pain that may require surgery to fix.
Can L5 S1 heal itself?
Walters showed him the source of his pain — a large disc herniation at L5-S1. She explained that with conservative treatment, the herniation might heal on its own. If it did not heal, Leon would probably need surgery.
How long after Microdiscectomy can I walk?
Within 24 hours of surgery, you should be up and moving around. Although taking multiple short walks daily is encouraged, walking too much immediately after a microdiscectomy procedure can cause a setback to your recovery.
What can you not do after a Microdiscectomy?
Avoid strenuous activities, such as bicycle riding, jogging, weight lifting, or aerobic exercise, until your doctor says it is okay. Ask your doctor when you can drive again. Avoid riding in a car for more than 30 minutes at a time for 2 to 4 weeks after surgery.
Is it normal to have sciatic pain after Microdiscectomy?
Only a minority of patients experience complete relief of sciatica from the time of the surgery. Most patients notice that it is much improved but there is still some aching in the leg because the nerve has a “memory” for the pain and remains slightly irritable. This usually resolves within a matter of weeks.
How serious is a L5-S1 disc herniation?
A herniated disc at lumbar segment 5 and sacral segment 1 (L5-S1) usually causes S1 nerve impingement. In addition to sciatica, this type of herniated disc can lead to weakness when standing on the toes. Numbness and pain can radiate down into the sole of the foot and the outside of the foot.
What are the symptoms of L5-S1 nerve damage?
Common Symptoms and Signs Stemming from L5-S1
- Pain, generally felt as a sharp, shooting, and/or searing feeling in the buttock, thigh, leg, foot, and/or toes.
- Numbness in the foot and/or toes.
- Weakness in the leg and/or foot muscles and an inability to lift the foot off the floor (foot drop)
What nerves does L5-S1 affect?
We think that large, extruded L5-S1 disc herniations may affect the superior hypogastric plexus or pre-sacral nerve which is situated anterior to the last lumbar vertebra, the middle sacral artery, the lumbosacral intervertebral disc.
