Surgery? Discectomy

[kmdietri]

I was just wondering if anyone on here has had a discectomy surgery and was it worth it?

I have a surgery consult in a week and I can't decide how to proceed.

I have an bulged disc (L4-L5) and an extruded disc (L5-S1).

I've just got back into lifting after about 6 months off and the pain is pretty much managed now.

I really just don't know if surgery is worth it.

Thanks for any advice.

[jimmyinkedup]

I was just wondering if anyone on here has had a discectomy surgery and was it worth it?

I have a surgery consult in a week and I can't decide how to proceed.

I have an bulged disc (L4-L5) and an extruded disc (L5-S1).

I've just got back into lifting after about 6 months off and the pain is pretty much managed now.

I really just don't know if surgery is worth it.

Thanks for any advice.

I have mixed feelings on this exact topic.
I have a cousin that had the surgery and it failed. He has never been right since and is on narcotic pain killers for life.
On the other hand I have a friend that i go hunting with ..had the surgery and can only say he wishes he did it years ago. He is a new man.
I know that prob doesnt help much.....

[lovbyts]

I have had surgery on L3-L4 and L5-S1. 2 different surgeries almost exactly 2 years apart. 1st one I had lived with the pain for 20 years until it got to where I could only walk or stand for 10 minutes at a time if I was lucky. OMG it was great, same day I felt 99% better and was that way until I ruptured L5-S1. Worst pain ever. Paralyzed from the waist down 99%. Could only get up, stand, walk for 30 seconds at a time then more or less pass out from pain. I couldn’t even sit on the throne to take a sh*t, literally.
After sugery I was 80% better. I still have pain and discomfort but it's manageable.

I would say if you are getting better and not worse then NO, don’t do it. Look for alternatives such as strength training, PT, acupuncture, deep tissue massage and Prolo therapy. Another one that has good results is the decompression tables where they stretch you out but it's a specific way so it's mainly the problem area. You can also just try an inversion table but be careful; that is how I blew out L5-S1. my back was sore and I got on an inversion table and after about 30 seconds decided to do an inverted sit-up. Big mistake. Snap/pop BANG!!! That was it. I BARLEY got my feet unhooked due to the pain.