Got one today between l4/l5 for lots of back pain and sciatica. Woke up with most of the same lower back pain.

Doc said could take up to 2 weeks to feel better because the nerve root has been aggravated for like 10 months.

Anyone else had similar experience with relief eventually comes? Just feeling kind of nervous after hearing so many stories of microdiscetomys where they say things like "yeah as soon as I walked after surgery I felt immediately relief. "

Wife had it done 2 weeks ago. The dr took lots of disc material out. She had almost instant relief from the sciatica.

I'd give it a few month at least. There's likely swelling that needs to go down.

I had instant relief outside of the stiffness of post surgery. The pain was so terrible for so long, sometimes I imagine the pain and have to really focus to know if I am feeling a small about of the same type of pain or just in my head.

But 4 years post surgery and have never actually felt that sciatica pain down the leg since.

Had this done in 2019. Mine was due to my disc essentially exploding out of my back so relief was instant.

I was ready to end it all by the time I had surgery. Was about 6 weeks between disc blowing up and surgery. Lost feeling in my right foot and had "drop foot".

Had a neurosurgeon do mine and not an ortho which I recommend if you have to do this.

I'm 3 weeks post op and have my follow up tomorrow. I had instant relief and very minor soreness but doctor said could be because I'm younger. Hoping they release me to start exercising. Those who've had it, when did you feel comfortable lifting again?

I had it done in 2014 on L4-L5. I let it go so long that I have some permanent nerve damage. I had it done by an ortho because all the neuro guys wanted to only do fusion and I was having none of that.
My doc specialized in discectomy and gave me a regimen to follow to heal properly. Main thing he told me was for 8-12 weeks no sitting anymore than necessary.
Walk, stand, and only lie down to sleep.
Your biggest challenge is to not re-herniate the remaining portion of the disc. I'm 11 years post op. Just remember…you don't have the thick space between your vertebrae as you did before the disc herniated….so you don't have the cushion there as you once had.
I never lift heavy stuff as I used too….and don't lift and twist at the same time.
Also stay well hydrated…. your disc are dependent to stay healthy with having plenty of water. Google how your disc change from hydration during the day. It's an eye opener.
Good luck in your recovery.

blackgoldag11 said:

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I'm 3 weeks post op and have my follow up tomorrow. I had instant relief and very minor soreness but doctor said could be because I'm younger. Hoping they release me to start exercising. Those who've had it, when did you feel comfortable lifting again?

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I never really lifted much again after mine. Way too risky.
Switched to body weight exercises and calisthenics. Probably don't want to hear that but I would take the safe route.

I absolutely do not want to go through that again.