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Back surgery pros/cons/recovery

milehighgolfer

milehighgolfer

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I have been fighting sciatica pain in my back/leg for the past month. Finally got through the wait for an MRI and my diagnosis is the S1 disc is compressing my spinal cord/nerve. My options are:

Door #1: Do nothing except take meds and rest

Door #2: Physical therapy and injections/meds to encourage the nerve to "calm down"

Door #3: Minimally invasive surgery to clean out that vertebra (micro laminectomy)

Factors affecting my decision:

I need to be able to work without restrictions

I leave for a 2-week trip to Ireland in 28 days. This has been rescheduled 3 times so far because of Covid so we are determined to go this year. However, it will require quite a bit of walking which I can not do right now.

Finally, I have a golf trip booked to Myrtle in 7 weeks.

So my questions to the THP family is who has been through this? Did it help? Recovery time?
I am leaning toward the surgery and have it scheduled for April 8th. I have a small window of time to change course though. I have had a similar procedure before on my L4-5 disc six years ago. However, I do not remember how long I was sidelined from it. The PT and injection route does not offer any guarantees of success and I can not continue to work much longer with this pain. So it would be a gamble especially with the clock ticking on those upcoming commitments.
 
I fought pain at L4-5 and L5-S1 for years. PT worked some but no much at all as it got worse. ESIs worked until they didn't, radio frequency ablations worked until they didn't. For both, the second worked less time than the first and so on. By the time I got to probably the 3rd ESI, even with it, it was rare that I played on back to back days. If I did, I paid dearly for it. The RFAs helped with pain but I wasn't testing it much at all with golf. I was playing at most 6-8 times a year at that point. I had a fusion. I don't remember a laminectomy being discussed as an option. I wish I had gotten the fusion earlier. I missed on a lot of things, not just golf, that could've been avoided by not kicking the can down the road.
 
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Thanks for the info. Luckily a full disc removal and fusion is not needed for me. I'm glad things worked eventually worked out for you.
 
Insurance isn't requiring you go the PT/injection route first?
 
Bus said:
Insurance isn't requiring you go the PT/injection route first?
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Thankfully not. Some of them do and that is BS. Prolonging a person's pain looking for the cheapest option for THEM. PT costs me $40 for each 1 hr session.
 
milehighgolfer said:
Thankfully not. Some of them do and that is BS. Prolonging a person's pain looking for the cheapest option for THEM. PT costs me $40 for each 1 hr session.
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Yeah, i had to do it first even though 2 different docs told me it wouldn't do anything, so dumb.

I got immediate, significant relief from my L5S1 discectomy, but my doctor warned me I was signing up for a subscription service. I'm 10 years or so out now, and other than tweaking it snowboarding this year it has been pretty good. Don't remember how long it was before I could play golf after.
 
You interested in a Chiropractor? I've been seeing one for years now because I have compression issues in the L's. I'm not gonna say it's a complete or quick fix but I don't want any surgeries if possible. He's helped me more than anything else. When it really flares up or over the summer while playing golf I may see him a couple times a week but he generally fixes me up and makes it where I can enjoy life and play some golf. He will also have his massage therapist work on me maybe once or twice a month if needed. Stretching, specific exercises and a tens unit also help. I also bought a Teeter Inversion table that I think helps a little to keep the legs stretched out and not so darn tight.

I'm also looking into the injections to possibly give them a try.
 
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I've got degenerative disc disease and significant bulging (from a car accident) at L4-5 and L5-S1. I haven't had an injection in about 5 years. I did three rounds, one with a pill to make me loopy. Two with no intervention. Between those, and an amazing PT (I can give you his info, he's in Denver now) I live mostly pain free and active.
 
KY Golfer said:
You interested in a Chiropractor? I've been seeing one for years now because I have compression issues in the L's and have suffered for a years now. I'm not gonna say it's a complete fix but I don't want any surgeries if possible. He's helped me more than anything else. When it really flares up or over the summer while playing golf I may see him a couple times a week but he generally fixes me up and makes it where I can enjoy life and play some golf. He will also have his massage therapist work on me maybe once or twice a month if needed. Stretching, specific exercises and a tens unit also help.
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I tried chiro with my previous problem with limited results. The problem here is the stenosis will always be there pushing on the nerve.
 
So I had a pretty big herniation in my L5 S1 at the beginning of December, basically couldn't function. Couldn't stand or walk for about 3 weeks. Medications didn't really help with the pain much, I was finally able to get an injection which definitely helped bring the inflammation down where I could walk and stand and sit some. I had pretty much all back pain and no sciatica or leg pain at the beginning. After the shot wore off in a couple weeks all the pain was in my butt and legs when sitting or transitioning from sitting to standing. It would feel like someone was stabbing me for about 2 minutes in he butt and leg before I could stand or walk normal. I had a 2nd MRI done and the herniation actually doubled in size after 2 months so it was not getting better with rest and PT.

I couldn't take it anymore and just had surgery on 3/25 laminectomy/microdiscectomy and have no more nerve pain. For only being a few days out I am still a little sore in the back but I am walking normally an not having any issues sitting or standing yet. Not sure if recovery will continue like this but I was told no real bending, twisting or lifting more than 10lbs the first 2 to 3 weeks depending on recovery and then to start PT again in weeks 3 and slowly increase weight and some bending and stretching but can walk as much as I want. Was told sports can usually happen again anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks again dependent on recovery but I will caution on the longer side for golf, never want to have this pain again and want to be fully healed even though it is already killing me. Was told chipping and putting can happen around 4 to 5 weeks which my game needs practice so will at least do that.
 
Sciatica started for me about 2.5 years ago. Didn't really do much about it until I had a week of hell. Eventually went to the doctor, got an MRI and discovered I have a bulging disk resting on my sciatic nerve. Your situation sounds worse than mine, but I have only done PT. In fact, I haven't stopped doing my PT exercises for almost that entire time. So I'm a big believer in strengthening your core and stretching.

Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of luck!
 
djt311 said:
So I had a pretty big herniation in my L5 S1 at the beginning of December, basically couldn't function. Couldn't stand or walk for about 3 weeks. Medications didn't really help with the pain much, I was finally able to get an injection which definitely helped bring the inflammation down where I could walk and stand and sit some. I had pretty much all back pain and no sciatica or leg pain at the beginning. After the shot wore off in a couple weeks all the pain was in my butt and legs when sitting or transitioning from sitting to standing. It would feel like someone was stabbing me for about 2 minutes in he butt and leg before I could stand or walk normal. I had a 2nd MRI done and the herniation actually doubled in size after 2 months so it was not getting better with rest and PT.

I couldn't take it anymore and just had surgery on 3/25 laminectomy/microdiscectomy and have no more nerve pain. For only being a few days out I am still a little sore in the back but I am walking normally an not having any issues sitting or standing yet. Not sure if recovery will continue like this but I was told no real bending, twisting or lifting more than 10lbs the first 2 to 3 weeks depending on recovery and then to start PT again in weeks 3 and slowly increase weight and some bending and stretching but can walk as much as I want. Was told sports can usually happen again anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks again dependent on recovery but I will caution on the longer side for golf, never want to have this pain again and want to be fully healed even though it is already killing me. Was told chipping and putting can happen around 4 to 5 weeks which my game needs practice so will at least do that.
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I told my group that I'm still definitely going on the golf trip but I might only chip on and putt every hole. The hopeful thing for me is it isn't a discectomy just trimming the lamina to enlarge the area around the nerve. Glad you're on the road to recovery!
shanewu said:
Sciatica started for me about 2.5 years ago. Didn't really do much about it until I had a week of hell. Eventually went to the doctor, got an MRI and discovered I have a bulging disk resting on my sciatic nerve. Your situation sounds worse than mine, but I have only done PT. In fact, I haven't stopped doing my PT exercises for almost that entire time. So I'm a big believer in strengthening your core and stretching.

Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of luck!
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That sounds hopeful to you but mine is affected by the bone narrowing (stenosis) and PT will not make that go away. If it was only the disc bulging then definitely chiro, injections, and PT would be my 1st choice. This will definitely push me to get off my ass and do the exercises I need for my core. Perhaps I come back stronger! Can't get worse right?
 
I feel for you. I am going through a bout of sciatic since November when I tore some stuff in my left hip and stopped swinging a club for about a month in order to heal the tear and get treatment.

Mine is related to a hockey incident when I was 15, so 50 years ago. It flared up really bad about 15 years ago but luckily I played golf 2 days in a row in Costa Rica and the swinging loosened up the scar tissue surrounding my L5/L6, both of which have cracked and fallen thus a lot of scar tissue. Over the years many specialists have told me that golf is my best therapy because it keep the scar tissue loose thus less pressure on the nerves. Generally I go through each winter despite there being lots of snow outside I will swing an iron in the basement 15 to 25 times every day sometimes morning and night just to keep the lower back loose.

Unfortunately the episode this past winter because I didn’t even swing a club for over a month has been very challenging and PT and chiropractor have not been able to fully loosen up the scar tissue. I walk every morning to try and stay fit and work the hip/lower back area although I was at the point a month ago I would have to get off the treadmill after 5 minutes and stretch for 2 then re-start my walk.

Fortunately I am now up to 10-15 minutes before I have to stop and stretch so there has been some progress. As I have started to swing a club daily and played a little golf a week ago down in Virginia, it is slowing improving. Plus I am on some pretty high strength anti inflammatory meds.

I am going in for a MRI in another month as they want to see what is going on back there but I am hoping with golf kicking off here in a couple of weeks I can hopefully loosen up quickly.. They have talked about various treatments but want MRI to get a better look as it has been so well for many years. My biggest issue is walking but I need to walk to prevent full lock-up.

I would look to the specialists for the best option. I have had good luck on other parts of body re. Cortisone shots but it sounds like they are not doing the job for you. I wish you all the luck, I know how difficult it is sometimes to function and even sleep with sciatic.

One another point I did find is that I have had some success over the years with my chiropractor where she is able to manipulate my hip position to free up joints in the back.. Unfortunately with this episode lasting the last four months she has not been able to get much movement so I am trying other treatments with minimal success.

I do know that for some courses if you have a doctors note and you arrange ahead of time they’ll actually let you use a power cart. if you can make that happen that might allow you to play more golf because for me what prevents me playing is the walking and sounds like you are in similar boat. Anyway, I wish you all the luck and hope you’re able to come up with something, allow you to enjoy the trips to the fullest. Let us know how you make out. Best of luck.
 
Self medicated with half a shaker of Old Fashioned and a cigar in the hot tub. Feel great but I doubt that's a long term solution. Short term it's awesome though. :p
 
Before the knife I would work with a airrosti provider for at least a few weeks.

They’ve done some magical stuff for me that traditional PT/chiropractors could only treat symptoms and never dream of fixing.
 
dirty-d said:
Before the knife I would work with a airrosti provider for at least a few weeks.

They’ve done some magical stuff for me that traditional PT/chiropractors could only treat symptoms and never dream of fixing.
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Had to Google that
Thanks
 
If you've had good success with a similar procedure that's the direction I would lean. Soundsl like you know the injections aren't guaranteed to help. They didn't for me. And things haven't been flawless but I don't regret a surgical fix. I'd absolutely do it again.
 
Had an L4-L5 lami in 2012, got bucked off a horse.

Tried everything…PT, steroids, chiropractor…traction was the only relief but it was temporary.

Went to see the neurosurgeon, he looked at my MRI and said there is no way it fixes itself, surgery was the only option. Went in that Friday, the nerve pain was instantly gone and surgery pain was nothing.

Since traction worked so well, after healing up I bought an inversion table and it changed my life. 5 minutes a day and I no longer had any back issues. Still doing it daily, along with a stretching routine.
 
MudFlap said:
Had an L4-L5 lami in 2012, got bucked off a horse.

Tried everything…PT, steroids, chiropractor…traction was the only relief but it was temporary.

Went to see the neurosurgeon, he looked at my MRI and said there is no way it fixes itself, surgery was the only option. Went in that Friday, the nerve pain was instantly gone and surgery pain was nothing.

Since traction worked so well, after healing up I bought an inversion table and it changed my life. 5 minutes a day and I no longer had any back issues. Still doing it daily, along with a stretching routine.
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Sounds like you had a great experience, that’s awesome. After surgery, how long was recovery before you could play golf?
 
Bus said:
Insurance isn't requiring you go the PT/injection route first?
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Mine did not require it. I still did it. It helps but it wasn't a solution long term sadly.

My fear was that surgery is a last resort and it is not something that you can go back on.

I did the PT route first and I struggled for a couple of years before just going for it.

#1 is out - 100% not an option.

#2 is fine if it works but like you and others have said it's not a guarantee.

#3 is really the solution, whether we like it or not and as long as we accept the risks of it.

Get the surgery then do the required work after and don't skimp.
 
Nobody I know has ever had back surgery with positive outcomes. Most concerning to me is my wife, who has had multiple surgeries (laminectomies) to no avail. She does the inversion table, marijuana route, reverting to prescription opioids only on the worst days. She vows to never have another back surgery because they are pointless. Her opoid use went down by over half when she started doing just a couple tokes each night or two before bed.
I have "severe degeneration" in numerous facet joints. Thanks to random drug testing and because the our Government, my employer, is run by absolute morons ( Joe thinks weed made his kid a crack head, not an addictive personality or crack itself) I only have the option of prescription opioids or agony. So much for concern over the opioid crisis........
Inversion tables are not quackery, they are great for decompression.
Prednisone offered me good relief, needing much less pain medication but recently started raising this old mans blood sugar. Dr and I are looking at steroid injections, which he says shouldn't cause blood sugar issues.
I do have TENS units that fits in your pocket and offers good pain blocking relief, but that I am so active the pads frequently come off.

For me "rest" is the worse thing. The less I move the more it hurts. That's why I continue to golf and watch my game degenerate in concert with my spine.
 
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I have an aversion to Surgery due to my Sister's terrible experience with 3 Surgeries, each causing more pain.
My 1st experience was in my 20s due to running down a hill and cat hing my foot in Groundhog hole. It caused me to collapse with pain without notice. Had MRI and found bulging Disc. Not sure if it was due to my Workout ethic (7 days a week @ 2hours) but I felt better after 2 months and never had Sciatica.
Forward to 9/22 moving into New House and moved/unpacked an entire 2 Garage of boxes in 1 week. Extreme Back pain but got better within 2 weeks so went outside to remove old Tree Stump (stop rolling your eyes). So began extreme pain and Sciatica on Drives any longer than 1.5 hours. After Doctors making me try diff drugs they finally listened and I got my MRI. "#4 compressed and #5 compressed and torn. 2024 and only play 14 holes before I start the Gary Player Walk during Swing. Good news is it only takes a day of stiffness and pain then I'm good enough for Workouts.
Should I get an Operation, maybe, but if its screwed up you can't go back.
I have an Appointment pre set with my Fabulous Back Doctor who understood I needed MRIs for beginning of Dec to do another MRI and see how I'm doing. Will decide then if I have no other option.
Do not mean to scare you away from Operation, sometimes there's no choice.
 
1860VS said:
Nobody I know has ever had back surgery with positive outcomes. Most concerning to me is my wife, who has had multiple surgeries (laminectomies) to no avail. She does the inversion table, marijuana route, reverting to prescription opioids only on the worst days. She vows to never have another back surgery because they are pointless. Her opoid use went down by over half when she started doing just a couple tokes each night or two before bed.
I have "severe degeneration" in numerous facet joints. Thanks to random drug testing and because the our Government, my employer, is run by absolute morons ( Joe thinks weed made his kid a crack head, not an addictive personality or crack itself) I only have the option of prescription opioids or agony. So much for concern over the opioid crisis........
Inversion tables are not quackery, they are great for decompression.
Prednisone offered me good relief, needing much less pain medication but recently started raising this old mans blood sugar. Dr and I are looking at steroid injections, which he says shouldn't cause blood sugar issues.
I do have TENS units that fits in your pocket and offers good pain blocking relief, but that I am so active the pads frequently come off.

For me "rest" is the worse thing. The less I move the more it hurts. That's why I continue to golf and watch my game degenerate in concert with my spine.
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Hate to hear that. I’ve had great results from both my lumbar (as has my wife) and cervical fusions. Back pain sucks the joy and fun out of everything.
 
milehighgolfer said:
Had to Google that
Thanks
Click to expand...
Yeah I don't think they are nationwide yet, and initially insurance didn't know how to handle them. But now it's pretty common in the sportsmedicine world for soft tissue injuries to focus on fascial tissue, there may be similar providers in other regions that do the same stuff. Airrosti is great for knocking out long term chronic stuff. I had 2 similar car accidents about 5 years apart that messed up my upper back, the first one I went to a chiropractor for 2 years and eventually gave up assuming I would only be at 90-95% forever. The second one I went to airrosti (I had found them on a achilles tendon issue a few months before) and was done and felt 100% in like 3 or 4 visits. The best part is the exercises/ stretches you can do forever if things start to go south again in the future, you can save a trip by going back to your old rehab in your patient portal.
 
Here is my experience and thoughts for what they are worth.
I have grade 1 spondylosis in my SI L5 joint. From a wreck. I went to MRI's and two surgery centers. One Dr wanted to schedule the surgery the next day. The other said I am too young for fusion surgery. I was 43 at the time. Once they are fused no going back and likely in 10 plus years doing the next one because of stress. I've heard from people who have done it. They say it's in 1/3's 1/3 says it's the best thing, next say it didn't change and the last 3rd say it's worse afterwards.
He recommended lose my gut (still working on this one) stay active and find a good chiropractor. When I sit around and do not much on the weekends my back hurts. So I try to stay active. My chiropractor has became a good friend and I see him at least once a month more if needed. I try to golf once a month some months I go 3 times.. if my back feels good I go chiropractor says it probably helps with the movement. Get a stim unit they help way more then drugs. And good inversion table for flare ups. PT and maybe a chiropractor. However I have worked with a few guys that have had the same thing you have and are way better now then before.. sorry for the long post just wanted you to know of options you might not have heard of yet.
 
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