Post Microdscectomy

[nainey]

I am 8 weeks post microdiscectomy.

I had a disc prolapse at L5 S1 level that was operated on 8 weeks ago.   I, unfortunately during the surgery had a CSF leak which was repaired during surgery.   I was advised wrongly that the stitches in my wound were dissolvable and they were in far too long (i.e. 22 days instead of 10 days) they were removed but I was left with a very sore red wound.  Two day later the wound started to leak and the surgeon noticed that there was a hole (sinus) at the bottom of the wound and performed a swab on the wound.   The results of the swab was a Staph aureous infection.  I was put on antibiotics for two weeks and had the wound dressed on a weekly basis for three weeks.

I saw my surgeon at 8 weeks on Monday and she has said that my recovery has been delayed somewhat due to infection.

My symptoms to date are that I cannot sit without pain building up in the lower right hand side lumbar region and my leg aches from the thigh down to my little toes on right foot.   My leg has weakness and I am suffering from severe calf cramps.  The sitting is quite depressing as I cannot sit for longer than 15 mins before it becomes too much.  I am doing physio exercises and see them on a two weekly basis at the moment.   My surgeon has said that if at 12 weeks the pain has not got better they will order another MRI to see what is happening inside.

Can you tell me if the pain and symptoms are normal or if you thing there may be something else going on inside.

I did not have leg weakness prior to the op just pain and slight numbness.

[Jrsygrl109]

I had a l3-4 microdiscectomy and a l1-l2 laminectorny done (outpatient surgery) for blown discs and never recovered (not to be a naysayer) I hope your recovery goes better than mine - I am over a year post-op with no relief and actually have more pain now than before.  I used to be able to sit but at approximately six months post op I could no longer sit for more that 15 - 20 minutes without a lot of hip and leg pain. I found that if I half recline in a recliner that is the best position but when I do get up my feet burn (another post-op symptom) and I do use a lot of heat in the lumbar region - but you might want to wait until the doc or PT says its ok to use heat because of your infection. I've had three operations and the first two they used disolvable stiches which worked wonderfully but I think since they had to re-open a previous scar line the used non-dissolvable stiches the last time around - and true to my luck - a piece of stich was in my back for over six months until it got infected and came to the surface. My doc had me wired up to an EMG machine during the operation so he could tell if any of the nerves were afftected.  My right leg weakness did not improve after the surgery but it was noted there was no improvement during the surgery - I think the nerve is damaged because the disc was herniated for 1.5 years before I had the surgery done.
curr age = 49
2005: l4-l5 fusion for bi-lateral recess and spinal stenosis - good results
2007: c4-c6 fusion for severe instability - not so good reults
2009: outpatient surgery for l1-2 laminectomy and l3-l4 microdiscectomy

[Vickynella]

Hi I've had same op several times and to be honest it sounds like u will need some kind of redo I have exactly dames problems but not to your extreme and I'm only 3 weeks post op but as it is my 3rd I know this isn't the usual.. Hope u feel better soon :(