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Back surgery - who's had it? (1 Viewer)

Judge Smails

Judge Smails

Footballguy
As stated in my Sciatica thread, I've been a gimp since April 9th.  Felt a tweak on my 2nd hole playing on Master's Sunday.  Done everything I can think of, including:

  • 4 chiropractic sessions, including STEM and ice
  • Probably 8 deep tissue massages
  • 2 acupuncture sessions
  • XRay and MRI
  • Epidural 
  • Multiple physical therapy sessions, and doing the stretching exercises daily
  • Bought an inversion table and using that twice a day.  Feels great - supposed to help with with spinal compression
http://www.fitnesszone.com/product/teeter-contour-l5-ltd-inversion-table.html?source=googleps2&gclid=CJqa3b2wttQCFQFofgodJpMB8w

It's been really challenging.  Terrible sciatic pain mostly down the front and outside of my right thigh down to the shin.  Have the spot in my lower back that is problematic and it radiates to my glute and hip, but the real problem is my leg.  It's basically dead.  I can bend, rotate, sit, etc.  Can actually play golf (though I've shut it down).  I just can't walk much without it hurting. I've got a bag full of meds.  Lidocaine and anti-inflammatory topical creams, other anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxers and then finally when flare ups get too bad I have Norco.  Mostly I just use ice and heat.  I took all of the above during my golf tourney a few weeks ago and when I went for a checkup now my blood pressure, which was 116/76 during my physical last October, was 150/106.  I got it re-checked when I saw my GP on Friday and is was down to 130/96, but it's still elevated.  Getting a blood pressure cuff to monitor.  He thinks it's 90% related to my body dealing with the pain and loss of flow in my leg and is not concerned, but will put me on a temporary blood pressure med until we get through this if it doesn't go down. Obviously less exercise is not helping my blood pressure either.

The epidural didn't work.  Basically I had 1 day of pure bliss, but this was just the pain killer.  The steroid part did nothing.  It was back on day 3.  The plan now is just to do physical therapy, start some cardio again with a recumbent bike, and then see where we are in a month.  If no progress then it's referral to a surgeon. My GP says with what I have (spinal stenosis, L3-L4 and L4-L5, very narrow on both right and left sides but only pain in right for now) it's very, very likely that surgery will be needed. Even though the spinal specialist who does injections is with the famed Kerlan-Jobe Clinic I'm investigating all doctors in So Cal with my insurance to try and find the best.

When I first started this I was in the mindset that surgery was absolutely the last resort.  But I'm seeing zero improvement in 2 months.  I can avoid flare ups by not walking (usually walk my chocolate lab twice a day for over an hour combined each day I'm not on the road, love it), not going to the gym, not golfing, not having sex, etc.  But I sorta like all 4.  So if I have to do surgery to fix this I will.  

So if you've had back surgery please share your experience/recommendations.  One golfing friend said his wife had the exact same scenario as me, she did an outpatient procedure and walked out of there like new - instantly.  I've also seen the Steve Kerr/Tiger Woods stories.   I'm looking for a specialist who does minimally invasive procedures.  Likely a laminectomy to create space but not sure if a fusion will be necessary to make the space permanent (otherwise can reoccur with arthritis, and I have some of that being 55). Heard a regular laminectomy has a much longer recovery time.

 
Sorry - board acted up and gave me error messages 3 times in a row so I didn't think it was posting.  Deleted the other 3

 
My dad did when he turned 70. I won't scare you with the details but he didn't drive again for 9 months. 

But he was worse off than it sounds you are. It was his second surgery, first was about 15 years ago. 

Eta: all I mean by that is to be sure to get second and third opinions, explore options and go minimally invasive.  You're a smart dude, and you refer to such in the op, the back is not something to trifle lightly. 

 
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I've had similar chronic problems over the years.   I know the drills and the pain.   Don't have much to add other than good luck and I hope it works out  if you opt for the surgery.   

For some other pain relief ideas.  Check some of the cannabis rubs or cremes that have the 1:1 ratio of THC to CBD.   

 
urbanhack said:
I've had similar chronic problems over the years.   I know the drills and the pain.   Don't have much to add other than good luck and I hope it works out  if you opt for the surgery.   

For some other pain relief ideas.  Check some of the cannabis rubs or cremes that have the 1:1 ratio of THC to CBD.   
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Thanks.  A friend of mine just recommended a similar cream.  I'll give it a try.

 
I feel for you. I had a massive flare up of sciatica that lasted a good 6-8 months. Was walking like a gimp and it killed me just getting out of bed. I was able to hang in with PT and stretches until it settled down. Now, only occasional pain. I had an L4-5 disk blow out with the bulging disk impinging on the nerve root. What really helped me was hanging upside down on an inversion table.

never had surgery, but have helped with many. My recommendation is to find a neurologist, not an orthopedist, to do your surgery. That's an oversimplification, I'm sure there are qualified othopods doing spinal surgery, but based on my experience- I'd find a neurologist. I agree with trying to go minimally invasive, and trying to stick with a debridement, rather than a fusion, if possible. But, again, I'm not an MD, and don't know your specifics, so get a couple of opinions and best of luck.

 
Hey Smails

Is this the first time the sciatica has bothered you? Are you under more stress lately than usual? Does your career reguire you to spend a lot of time seated? Do you exercise?

 
Herniated L4-5.  Dodged surgery. 

Drop the heat.  Lots and lots of ice.  Get horizontal and rest.  You doped up and played golf just a few weeks ago, fer chrissakes.  Your season is over, imo.  You need rest and get the inflammation down.  Cuz once you go under the knife, you will never be the same, successful surgery or not. 

In a month, come back to the PT.  Drop the other quacks (chiro, acc).  Good luck.  

 
munga30 said:
Herniated L4-5.  Dodged surgery. 

Drop the heat.  Lots and lots of ice.  Get horizontal and rest.  You doped up and played golf just a few weeks ago, fer chrissakes.  Your season is over, imo.  You need rest and get the inflammation down.  Cuz once you go under the knife, you will never be the same, successful surgery or not. 

In a month, come back to the PT.  Drop the other quacks (chiro, acc).  Good luck.  
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This is great advice.

 
I always had some back pain but wrote it off as "normal" until In 1995 at work I bent over to pick something up from the floor and felt like someone knifed me in the back and I lost all feeling in my legs and fell... After a few minutes the feelings in my legs came back but my back was in extreme pain...

Turned out the bottom 3 discs were either ruptured or bulging. It was so bad that within seconds of sitting my left leg would lose feeling.. After 8 months of therapy, cortisone shots, physical therapy my doctor determined there was no recourse other then a back fusion.

I have a Solid fusion where my spine is fused to my tail bone. At that time I golfed 3 days a week and had a 7 handicap but had to give it up :(  

It was a long 8 months of recovery, but it was the best decision as my back is better now then it was before the incident.

 
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Sorry that you are having so much pain.  I have probably been in at least 1500 back surgeries during my time in the operating room.  We had surgeons who would knock out 6 to 8 of these a day.  Neuro Surgeon doing the exposure of the spinal nerves, and an Orthopedic Surgeon doing the hardware.  I know a lot of surgeons who do the entire procedure by themselves, but I would rather have 2 sets of eyes on my back if I ever had to have surgery.   Also, one of the anesthesiologist that I work with who is a very fit guy runner, golfer, crossfit all that and probably has 15% body fat.  He started having sciatic pain going from his right butt check (which he said felt like it was on fire) down into his right quadriceps, and just below his kneecap.   When this guy found out he had a compressed nerve he went straight for the diskectomy.  I asked him why he didn't try all the non surgical interventions, and he said, "I knew that surgery would work!  It will take me around 6 weeks to heal and I will be good as new.  Those other treatments can last up 2 years and if they don't work I still have to have the surgery."    GL 

 
Go to a rolfer, not sure how many times it will take me to tell you before you do it. It is nothing like a deep tissue massage and I really think it has good shot of helping.

 
RokNRole said:
Hey Smails

Is this the first time the sciatica has bothered you? Are you under more stress lately than usual? Does your career reguire you to spend a lot of time seated? Do you exercise?
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First time I've ever had sciatica, though I've had various tweaks over the years.  Not under more stress.  I usually manage that pretty well.  As for career, I do work from a home office and sit on planes (planes/luggage etc do kill me) and purchased a standing desk.   I'm usually at the gym 4 days a week.  60 minutes of cardio, 30 minutes walking on treadmill and 30 minutes on an elliptical.  I do some machines but mostly body weight stuff, core and stretching.  It's my way of releasing stress and clearing my head (along with golf).  I'm not a couch potato

 
Judge Smails said:
First time I've ever had sciatica, though I've had various tweaks over the years.  Not under more stress.  I usually manage that pretty well.  As for career, I do work from a home office and sit on planes (planes/luggage etc do kill me) and purchased a standing desk.   I'm usually at the gym 4 days a week.  60 minutes of cardio, 30 minutes walking on treadmill and 30 minutes on an elliptical.  I do some machines but mostly body weight stuff, core and stretching.  It's my way of releasing stress and clearing my head (along with golf).  I'm not a couch potato
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Personally my sciatica came back with a vengeance since I moved to Dallas. Had to be a combination of stress and being immobile because it's improved by 90% since my layoff. Sometimes you don't realize how stressed you are.

Best advice I can give based on my experience is to stay active and stay positive, but if everything you say is true you may have a bigger problem or you don't realize how stressed you may be and/or aren't as active as you need to be.

 
Thanks for all of the advice guys.  I'm not taking surgery lightly.  Still a last resort and I am willing to tough it out awhile.   Horizontal and 2 ice packs now, one on the back and one on the thigh.  I would like to be done with it vs the "I am only in pain sometimes now" option where flare ups are frequent.  Unless space is created it sounds like I would just be waiting for the next shoe to drop.  Not thrilled about that choice.  Fun getting older....

 
Sucks man. Good luck. I'm a big believer in chiropractic/acupuncture but based on your description I've never dealt with something like you are now. Just try to stay positive is my advice. It'll get better. Hang in there.

 
2 months?  I'd hang in there longer with PT etc before going under the knife.  I had a large herniation, couldn't sit for more than 15-20 minutes at a time, left thigh was numb to the knee.  It was like that nearly 6 months, but I did PT etc and it did resolve.  Next time I saw my primary dr. a few months later he admitted he was pretty surprised that I was able to get through without surgery because of the size of the herniation.  

Good luck man, back pain is such a #######ed #####.

 
First off good luck back pain sucks.  I've had back pain my whole life got really unbearable March 2013.  I've done everything you have done and more.  Really sucks, I have spinal stenosis in L4-5 area,. I finally found a chiropractor who helped relieve some of the pain.  I usually have both hips adjusted and then the chiropractor will use the drop table and press down on my hips, then he tries to relieve pressure on my back.  This helps a lot for me.  I would at least try this.  Also I recently purchased a purple mattress which has been great.  Never been able to sleep on my back due to back pain and now when I'm having back pain I can go lay down on it and it relieves my back pain, although not sure how long it will last.  Good luck.

 
bucksoh said:
First off good luck back pain sucks.  I've had back pain my whole life got really unbearable March 2013.  I've done everything you have done and more.  Really sucks, I have spinal stenosis in L4-5 area,. I finally found a chiropractor who helped relieve some of the pain.  I usually have both hips adjusted and then the chiropractor will use the drop table and press down on my hips, then he tries to relieve pressure on my back.  This helps a lot for me.  I would at least try this.  Also I recently purchased a purple mattress which has been great.  Never been able to sleep on my back due to back pain and now when I'm having back pain I can go lay down on it and it relieves my back pain, although not sure how long it will last.  Good luck.
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Thanks. So on a typical  day, after the chiropractor,  etc what percent of your previous normal do you feel? It's the "relieve some of the pain" I'm struggling with.  If you've struggled with back pain your whole life I'm curious why you haven't gone the surgery route.  

 
I've had nerves burnt but other than that they don't know what else they can do I was ran over when I was two and I don't have much bone in my spinal cord.  I've been to countless doctors.

 
bucksoh said:
I've had nerves burnt but other than that they don't know what else they can do I was ran over when I was two and I don't have much bone in my spinal cord.  I've been to countless doctors.
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So sorry to hear man.....Sounds like you are doing everything possible to deal with it the best that you can.

 
Judge Smails said:
Sort of a fascinating article that speaks to what a lot of you guys were referring to, asking about stress, etc.

http://straightshothealth.com/what-everyone-needs-to-know-about-back-surgery/
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Stress is definitely a huge concern. I've only experienced a "real job" within the last 3 years and it ruined my physical health. I'm starting to think a lot of common pain , like sciatica, is within the mind and can be controlled in the same way.

This is coming from someone who's sciatica pain started before I was 21 and under the same circumstances as my recent work 12 years later.

Have you focused your mind on fixing the pain?

 
What kind of bed are you resting on?

I switched to tempurpedic about 2 years ago and it was a game changer.  I actually watch tv on it now instead of my couch because very few couches are back friendly. 

Doctors said my discs weren't bad enough yet for fusion and some of the other options mentioned.

good luck man and keep us posted, I have a feeling I'm going to be going down this path eventually.

 
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ProstheticRGK said:
I feel for you. I had a massive flare up of sciatica that lasted a good 6-8 months. Was walking like a gimp and it killed me just getting out of bed. I was able to hang in with PT and stretches until it settled down. Now, only occasional pain. I had an L4-5 disk blow out with the bulging disk impinging on the nerve root. What really helped me was hanging upside down on an inversion table.

never had surgery, but have helped with many. My recommendation is to find a neurologist, not an orthopedist, to do your surgery. That's an oversimplification, I'm sure there are qualified othopods doing spinal surgery, but based on my experience- I'd find a neurologist. I agree with trying to go minimally invasive, and trying to stick with a debridement, rather than a fusion, if possible. But, again, I'm not an MD, and don't know your specifics, so get a couple of opinions and best of luck.
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I had this also.  I had had back pain for 25-30 years but just figured it was a bad back; genetics, arthritis, years of being tough on the back, etc.

Back in October 2016, I started to notice I could not push off on my right foot.  Mentioned it in passing to my PCP when I saw him one day (I work at a hospital) and he immediately got me in touch with our organization's back specialist who immediately referred me to a spinal surgeon at the Beth Israel (of Boston, MA) Hospital.  (By "immediately" on all this, I mean that from when I first talked to my PCP to when I contacted the spinal surgeon it was a week.  This #### is that serious.)  One of the tests was an MRI (which comes into play below.

When I met with the spinal surgeon, he (again) immediately diagnosed a growing ligament in the spine (called a "lamina") was pressing on my spinal canal.  (A normal, healthy spinal canal is approximately 20ml in diameter; mine, where the lamina was compressing it, was 4ml.)  When the spinal surgeon saw this, he explained some of what results from this is the exact problem I was having with the nerves being compressed which made me unable to push off on my right foot.  He said, and this was very important, the longer this occurs, the longer the recovery; also, the compression can result in some VERY nasty other things like inability to control your bowels and bladder.  Nasty stuff.

So this spinal surgeon told me I needed surgery immediately.  Having had lots of other ortho problems, I figured, "Ok, it's going to be in a few months".  Um, no.  I had surgery 12 days later.

Surgery entailed a partial discectomy (partial removal of a disc at L4/L5 which was pressing on the other side from the lamina) and a double-laminectomy (2 of these lamina ligaments growing and pushing into the spinal canal; in fact, both were pushing into the spinal canal from the opposite side of the disc that was a problem).  It was a one-night stay at the hospital.

Recovery wasn't much fun.  I was out of work (I work in the software side of IT) for 3 weeks.  Sleeping sucked; sitting around sucked; moving around sucked.  When the surgeon was going over things for the recovery, I was told I could not carrying **ANYTHING** heavier than a gallon of milk for 3 months.  (It's tough to abide by this one as you'd be very surprised at how much everything weighs until you pay attention to it.)

Now, though?  The back is HUGELY better.  I think a lot of that is due to the discectomy but I'm not positive.  The ability to push off on the foot has come back a lot.  It comes back SLOWLY.  I was told that the amount of time it is between when the problem starts and when you have the operation is about the amount of time afterward that it could/should take to recover.  (So for me it was October when it started and February - Valentine's Day - when I has the operation.  That's 4 1/2 months; so it should be on the order of 4 1/2 months after that for the recovery to be complete.

Like I said, HUGELY better.

Hope this helps.  For those who think this was too long, I hope you never have the problems I had.

 
Update.  Almost 3 months in.  2nd epidural today.  We'll see if it helps over the next few days.  I am getting better with respect to pain.  At least managing it.  Good days and bad days. Doing heavier physical therapy and riding recumbent bike for 30 minutes several days a week.  Even though the right leg is totally dead it is feeling stronger.  Some improvement in mobility with the PT sessions.  THC cream has helped - thanks for the recommendations.  Have a consultation with neuro spine specialist at UCLA next Thursday.  Expert in minimally invasive procedures.  Hopefully I can avoid that route.  Been reading a ton to try to get as educated as I can.  Lots of studies that show PT is just as effective as surgery long term, but I know it's a case by case basis.  Blood pressure remains high though due to the pain and less exercise (have not gained weight though).  My 116 over 70 something from my last physical has gone to 130-150 over 100 or 90+.  Not good long term.  Don't know if surgery is needed to help get that down too.  Don't want to go on more meds.  Trying to get off of all of them, especially Norco which I use rarely now.  Ice helps.  Still doing massage, Teeter inversion table, TENS unit along with daily stretching and core exercises.  See some light at the tunnel - wouldn't wish this on anybody though.  I know that vs what others are battling this is nothing but still sucks.

Just want to do the things I love again - walking in general, working out, walking my chocolate lab, golf, 3 minutes of frenetic activity with Mrs. Smails, etc.  Won't take any of them for granted going forward.

 
GL Judge. I work for spine surgeons, and you are absolutely doing the right thing by exhausting all alternatives to surgery. Having said that, ours manage to stay busy. And yes, problems with bowel and bladder function is a surgical emergency.

 
munga30 said:
You doped up and played golf just a few weeks ago, fer chrissakes.  
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Agreed.  I don't think you've given it a chance.  

Did you only get one epidural?  I think I had to go two rounds to get full relief.

Mine is acting up again about 5 years later.  Although I think this time it is on the opposite side.

 
shuke said:
Agreed.  I don't think you've given it a chance.  

Did you only get one epidural?  I think I had to go two rounds to get full relief.

Mine is acting up again about 5 years later.  Although I think this time it is on the opposite side.
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Yeah, to be fair although this has been 3 months I did play a month ago and used all means necessary.  Been a boy in the bubble since.  This is my 2nd epidural. First one 6 weeks ago gave me great relief for 1 day.  Although I read that epidurals are often not effective with stenosis (vs bulging disc, etc) the DO from Kerlan-Jobe said she's seen it work so I gave it another try.  I'm trying to exhaust the non-surgical options.  The UCLA surgeon is very conservative (did a far more difficult surgery on a family member with a great outcome, and he pushed back on her for months).  If the pain is bearable I'm willing to keep doing what I'm doing for quite awhile longer.  As long as I'm not doing long term nerve damage to my leg and my blood pressure doesn't become a long term issue.  GP said he could put me on short term BP med while I'm going through this - he didn't seem concerned.  I do want the things I like doing back at some point but have to take the long view.

Interesting you mentioned opposite side.  I actually have very little room on both sides, but it's just the right that's been symptomatic.  That being said, I am experiencing twitching of the nerves down the left side now and getting similar feelings at the top of the knee.  May be just that I'm favoring the right and putting more weight on the left.  Or the pinched nerve affects both sides.  I dunno.

 
My father had 2 spinal stenosis surgeries.

One for the right and one for the left.

Slow recovery but he's 1000 times better

I think he grew an inch also :)

 
Give dry needling a try also.

Have had 2 bad back injuries in the last 2 yrs and still have 2 herniated discs.  Im maybe 80% right now.  Can coach my kids in sports, golf run around a little but not playing basketball at all or anything like that.

Worked my ### off in PT both times and also got dry needling both times to help get better.  I continue every day to stretch and work on core, hips back, shoulder exercises at the gym 

 
belljr said:
My father had 2 spinal stenosis surgeries.

One for the right and one for the left.

Slow recovery but he's 1000 times better

I think he grew an inch also :)
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Great to hear.  Is he 100%? No pain and full activity?  I'll go through the long road with PT etc if I can get to pain free and 100%. I'm not interested at my age to "live with it" "manage pain" "be at 80%".  If that's what the other option is I'm going surgery.

 
Judge Smails said:
Great to hear.  Is he 100%? No pain and full activity?  I'll go through the long road with PT etc if I can get to pain free and 100%. I'm not interested at my age to "live with it" "manage pain" "be at 80%".  If that's what the other option is I'm going surgery.
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Then have surgery now and don't waste your time with anything else. 

 
ProstheticRGK said:
I feel for you. I had a massive flare up of sciatica that lasted a good 6-8 months. Was walking like a gimp and it killed me just getting out of bed. I was able to hang in with PT and stretches until it settled down. Now, only occasional pain. I had an L4-5 disk blow out with the bulging disk impinging on the nerve root. What really helped me was hanging upside down on an inversion table.

never had surgery, but have helped with many. My recommendation is to find a neurologist, not an orthopedist, to do your surgery. That's an oversimplification, I'm sure there are qualified othopods doing spinal surgery, but based on my experience- I'd find a neurologist. I agree with trying to go minimally invasive, and trying to stick with a debridement, rather than a fusion, if possible. But, again, I'm not an MD, and don't know your specifics, so get a couple of opinions and best of luck.
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My L4 disk is gone (it is about 1-1.5MM at this point).  I went to two seperate ortho's for a consult: The first wanted to fuse the spine the second wanted to replace the disk with a elastomeric disk.  Thankfully I went for a third consult with a Nuero surgeon (i was 30 at the time).  He basically told me there is not a good answer.  Whatever they do will eventually result in the L3, L2 xxxx failing.  I have chronic back pain but it is better than the alternative.  Please see an Neurologist before you make any decisions.

 
Had a lumbar laminectomy in 2005 or 06. Herniated L3/4, 4/5 and 5/S1. Those are most common as everyone is saying. Went back to work in 8 weeks (firefighter). Probably rushed it because I love the job. 6 months later had the pain but it was worse and my back felt like it was quivering all the time. Tried everything. Went to a chiro who also did deep tissue massage, She could feel my lower back quivering and saw it ball up like it did at the physical therapist. She thought my scar tissue from the surgery let go and told me to mention that to the PT. He was thinking the same thing. I stuck with her and it definitely helped. Was back to work in another 8 weeks or so. Had pain and sore backs off and on but she always helped. Tried an inversion table a couple years ago and it is the best thing I've ever done. Bought one and use it probably once a week now. Was on it every day when I first got it. No more chiro since I got it too. I leave it at work and a bunch of the guys use it and all say it helps. A good muscle relaxer helps. I used Robaxin. I could function on it as opposed to flexerall. That stuff made me drool.

Tight hamstrings are a huge cause to lower back issues. Those muscles are stronger than your lower back and cause a lot of the pain. Try stretching them out regularly. Ive also found lifting and reaching at the same time is no good for me at all. I would try to put off the surgery but you can only take so much daily pain. Get a good Doc if you are going to do it. Was a day surgery for me. Good luck.

 
Judge Smails said:
Great to hear.  Is he 100%? No pain and full activity?  I'll go through the long road with PT etc if I can get to pain free and 100%. I'm not interested at my age to "live with it" "manage pain" "be at 80%".  If that's what the other option is I'm going surgery.
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Well he was for the most part he was Back Golfing and everything but now he's on his second knee replacement and about 50 pounds overweight so it's tough to tell right now where he is but as far as I know his back surgery was 100% successful

But I do know after he got it done how much better he felt

 
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I would concur with seeing a neuroSURGEON (as opposed to an orthopedic spine surgeon) if surgery becomes a necessity.  Neurologists don't operate.  Neurosurgeons do.

 
Judge Smails said:
As stated in my Sciatica thread, I've been a gimp since April 9th.  Felt a tweak on my 2nd hole playing on Master's Sunday.  Done everything I can think of, including:

  • 4 chiropractic sessions, including STEM and ice
  • Probably 8 deep tissue massages
  • 2 acupuncture sessions
  • XRay and MRI
  • Epidural 
  • Multiple physical therapy sessions, and doing the stretching exercises daily
  • Bought an inversion table and using that twice a day.  Feels great - supposed to help with with spinal compression
http://www.fitnesszone.com/product/teeter-contour-l5-ltd-inversion-table.html?source=googleps2&gclid=CJqa3b2wttQCFQFofgodJpMB8w

It's been really challenging.  Terrible sciatic pain mostly down the front and outside of my right thigh down to the shin.  Have the spot in my lower back that is problematic and it radiates to my glute and hip, but the real problem is my leg.  It's basically dead.  I can bend, rotate, sit, etc.  Can actually play golf (though I've shut it down).  I just can't walk much without it hurting. I've got a bag full of meds.  Lidocaine and anti-inflammatory topical creams, other anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxers and then finally when flare ups get too bad I have Norco.  Mostly I just use ice and heat.  I took all of the above during my golf tourney a few weeks ago and when I went for a checkup now my blood pressure, which was 116/76 during my physical last October, was 150/106.  I got it re-checked when I saw my GP on Friday and is was down to 130/96, but it's still elevated.  Getting a blood pressure cuff to monitor.  He thinks it's 90% related to my body dealing with the pain and loss of flow in my leg and is not concerned, but will put me on a temporary blood pressure med until we get through this if it doesn't go down. Obviously less exercise is not helping my blood pressure either.

The epidural didn't work.  Basically I had 1 day of pure bliss, but this was just the pain killer.  The steroid part did nothing.  It was back on day 3.  The plan now is just to do physical therapy, start some cardio again with a recumbent bike, and then see where we are in a month.  If no progress then it's referral to a surgeon. My GP says with what I have (spinal stenosis, L3-L4 and L4-L5, very narrow on both right and left sides but only pain in right for now) it's very, very likely that surgery will be needed. Even though the spinal specialist who does injections is with the famed Kerlan-Jobe Clinic I'm investigating all doctors in So Cal with my insurance to try and find the best.

When I first started this I was in the mindset that surgery was absolutely the last resort.  But I'm seeing zero improvement in 2 months.  I can avoid flare ups by not walking (usually walk my chocolate lab twice a day for over an hour combined each day I'm not on the road, love it), not going to the gym, not golfing, not having sex, etc.  But I sorta like all 4.  So if I have to do surgery to fix this I will.  

So if you've had back surgery please share your experience/recommendations.  One golfing friend said his wife had the exact same scenario as me, she did an outpatient procedure and walked out of there like new - instantly.  I've also seen the Steve Kerr/Tiger Woods stories.   I'm looking for a specialist who does minimally invasive procedures.  Likely a laminectomy to create space but not sure if a fusion will be necessary to make the space permanent (otherwise can reoccur with arthritis, and I have some of that being 55). Heard a regular laminectomy has a much longer recovery time.
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September/October '15 - sciatic pain started very slowly and got worse over time.  Tried much of the things you mentioned and my doc couldn't figure it out.

December '15 - End up going to urgent care because I basically can't walk.  Doc says yeah, I'll get you in for an MRI tomorrow.  Herniated disc.  Have a microdiscectomy late December.  Outpatient surgery, walk to the car, really not bad.  After a week or two I was fairly normal, no big deal.  Things were good for a while.

Late March '16 - Pain starts again.  Starts to get just as bad.  Another MRI shows the disc leaked out again, it's not going to fix itself like we hoped.

13 April '16 - Go in for 2nd surgery.  Lumbar fusion.  I have two titanium rods and four bolts in me.  Stay in the hospital for 2-3 nights.  Can barely sit up.  Go home and have to use a walker for a couple weeks.  Those few weeks were absolutely insanely painful and hard.

18 May '16 - go back to work (mostly desk job).  Still in pain and recovering, but it's getting better.  Biggest thing is loss of flexibility and difficulty bending over.

Today - normal activity.  Still have a little pain and get sore more easily, but mostly normal.  I play basketball, golf, disc golf, etc., normal activities.  Probably at 80-85% flexibility wise.  It was a very slow and steady improvement over the year.

Honestly, it is what it is.  The sciatica was some of the worst pain I've ever felt, including the post-surgery pain.  No regrets about having surgery.  I think it's going to be different for everyone though.

 
Worm said:
September/October '15 - sciatic pain started very slowly and got worse over time.  Tried much of the things you mentioned and my doc couldn't figure it out.

December '15 - End up going to urgent care because I basically can't walk.  Doc says yeah, I'll get you in for an MRI tomorrow.  Herniated disc.  Have a microdiscectomy late December.  Outpatient surgery, walk to the car, really not bad.  After a week or two I was fairly normal, no big deal.  Things were good for a while.

Late March '16 - Pain starts again.  Starts to get just as bad.  Another MRI shows the disc leaked out again, it's not going to fix itself like we hoped.

13 April '16 - Go in for 2nd surgery.  Lumbar fusion.  I have two titanium rods and four bolts in me.  Stay in the hospital for 2-3 nights.  Can barely sit up.  Go home and have to use a walker for a couple weeks.  Those few weeks were absolutely insanely painful and hard.

18 May '16 - go back to work (mostly desk job).  Still in pain and recovering, but it's getting better.  Biggest thing is loss of flexibility and difficulty bending over.

Today - normal activity.  Still have a little pain and get sore more easily, but mostly normal.  I play basketball, golf, disc golf, etc., normal activities.  Probably at 80-85% flexibility wise.  It was a very slow and steady improvement over the year.

Honestly, it is what it is.  The sciatica was some of the worst pain I've ever felt, including the post-surgery pain.  No regrets about having surgery.  I think it's going to be different for everyone though.
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I'm really going to slow down if somebody recommends a fusion.  I've heard most issues associated with this.  Permanent loss of flexibility and mobility.  Better than being in huge pain though

 
I've had a sciatic-like issue for over four years now. I've had surgery, numerous injections, deep tissue massages, physical therapy. Nothing has worked. I'm on doctor No. 7 now and her recommendation is an IV-drip like injection. If that doesn't work she said my only recourse may be another surgery where an implant is put in like a pacemaker that dulls the nerve signals which are sending the pain through my leg. I'd really like to avoid that. Nothing about it sounds enjoyable. 

 
packersfan said:
I've had a sciatic-like issue for over four years now. I've had surgery, numerous injections, deep tissue massages, physical therapy. Nothing has worked. I'm on doctor No. 7 now and her recommendation is an IV-drip like injection. If that doesn't work she said my only recourse may be another surgery where an implant is put in like a pacemaker that dulls the nerve signals which are sending the pain through my leg. I'd really like to avoid that. Nothing about it sounds enjoyable. 
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ughh.  Sorry man..I can't even imagine 4 years of this.

 
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