Anyone had a slipped disc operation (human)?

Birker2020

Birker2020

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Could do with some advice re: recovery after prolapse disc surgery for those that ride especially those that jump their horses.

Following an MRI scan a couple of years ago I was diagnosed with a slipped disc between L3 and my Sacroilliac. It was described by the consultant as ' a large prolapse'. Initially when I saw the consultant I was given the choice of having an epidural type of injection into the spinal cord or an operation which was 60% to 40% sucess rate. Within the 40% failure rate was 1) the operation woudln't make a difference 2) the operation could make it worse 3) one in five hundred people become paralysed.

There were also risks associated with the epidural type injection so at the time because I'd got over the initial pain I didn't feel like it was an option at that time in my life to go with either the injection or the operation. Now I am beginning to think maybe I should have tried the operation.

I had to have about 6 weeks off riding when I first did it (following four consecutive falls from my horse landing on my right hip/pelvis over a period of approx 14 months). I couldn't muck out for about 3 months, Dad was going down to the yard every day to muck out for me god bless him. I couldn't drive for about three weeks.

I started a course of Naproxen (anti inflammatory) and Co-codamol and it helped that I was going to pilates on a regular basis. However in the last few weeks I've noticed quite a dramatic change with my back. It is constantly sore, at night when I get out of bed to go to the loo it spasms and sometimes it takes me ages to get up from a chair/sofa/floor. It is also extremely sore when I ride especially if I jump - the same day or next day after jumping my horse (even just a couple of jumps) my back is in agony. I must admit I don't take pain killers anymore only every now again. Should I take them regular really?

Has anyone had an operation for slipped disc(s) and are you able to still ride and compete? I showjump, dressage all at unaff riding club level and also do one day events. My horse is very active behind and this hurts my back also, as does jumping. I have a gel pad I sit on fixed to the saddle, and also flexi stirup irons but it doesn't help much.

How did you recover after the operation and how long were you unable to ride for??
 
Can't help re the operation but I had a bad prolapsed disc this year which stopped me riding for about 4 months and I had the injection. That worked really well but from people I know it is very varied as to whether it works, how long for etc. I have been told that if it the problem happens again then the operation will be necessary. When I say that it worked really well what I mean is that I still have some restrictions upon what I can, for example, picking things up off the floor is difficult, but it reduced the pain level almost totally. Good luck with whatever you decide as disc problems are really painful.
 
My mum had a laminectomy (operation to remove part of a ruptured disc that was pressing on her sciatic nerve) in the late 1980's. There was no option for her really, as the injury was starting to cause her right leg to waste away!
Her surgeon was excellent and her aftercare very thorough. She wore a supportive corset for several months after the procedure and now sleeps with a board under her mattress. Her surgeon recommended exercises to strengthen her stomach and other core muscles to help with her overall recovery long-term.
Although mum doesn't ride, she is very active and has not had any real problems following the surgery. She is careful, always bends her knees to lift things etc, but I would say that her back is probably in better shape than mine!
Good luck with whatever decision you decide to take.
 
Hi Applecart14,
I had a surgery- discectomy- in April of this year and started back riding (slowly hacking for short periods) in August.
Since then I've returned to my usual routine of hacking, some flatwork & jumping lessons, completed & passed the BHS stage 2 (which including work without stirrups, SJ etc) last month & went back hunting my VERY strong hunter. I also muck out, walk dogs, lift shopping etc, etc
I had two bulging/herniated/slipped disk at L4/L5 level and L5/S1 but was oly operated on the L4/L5 one because that was the big one, causing all the problems and the consultant maintained this L5/S1 disc would heal itself when the one above it was operated on.
Overall I am very happy with my experience of the operation. However as I said, my hunter is VERY strong and having had two full days this season on him, I am considering looking for a lighter, snaffle-mouth horse that will not be so hard on my back. OH will then get my hunter for his use, albeit with very strict instructions!

Here's a link to another thread where I have a blow by blow account of the recovery as I experienced it: http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=8950055#post8950055

Feel free to ask any more questions.......

PS I'm not sure toughening it out through the pain without medication is a good idea. I presume you are on painkillers & anti-inflammatories? They can help with reducing muscle spasm which is one of the worst things I thought to deal with. But I know that they can also make your stomach sick so maybe a balancing act between taking them and not taking them would be best?
 
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I have had the operation and the injection. For a number of years I suffered from back pain. I saw a Consultant and had an MRI, he said I had a prolapsed disc and suggested we try the painkilling jab. he said that it would give pain relief and should make the disc shrink a little and hopefully take pressure off the nerve. I was warned I might feel wobbly legged after the jab. I was knocked out for the procedure. I woke up felling fantastic. No pain, no funny sensation. The ONLY bad part, was that it only lasted for 5 weeks. After that I was back to square 1. Some people find they can have this jab and it puts them right, others have it once a year. We are all different.

I went back to see my surgeon and he said he thought the only operation that would fix me and give me a good prognosis was to remove the disc and put a cage around the front of the vertebrae, filling that with donor bone chips and screwing the vertebrae together. Spinal Fusion. There are always risks, and every surgeon will warn you of them, but at the time I could not stand, sit or ride comfortably. I could not drive my car. I could not find a position to get pain relief.

I had the operation and it was a bit uncomfortable for the first 2 days. I was home on day 4. I had to walk or lie down for the next 2 weeks and then I had to try and build up the time I could sit up, all the time, plenty of walking. I rode my horse after 8 weeks. No problem with sitting trot at 12 weeks. A year later I would say it was the best op I ever had. I have no side effects, I have no pain. I have no loss of mobility.

I do take care lifting heavy things and I made some adjustments with regards to the horses. Buy a much longer mucking out fork. Do not dig anything with a shovel. I use a sack barrow to move things around.
 
I had a micro-discectomy about 15 years ago. I'd never had a back problem and it literally prolapsed overnight, pressing on the sciatic nerve - that's hellish pain, even by my standards. :eek: The op was the best thing ever, I think I had 4-6 weeks of not riding then was pretty much back to normal and would now never know I'd had it done, other than the tiny scar.
 
I am 4 weeks on from having a disc removed (C4) from my neck and am sitting at work writting this !!!

I had terrible back pain for 2 years but always thought it was to do with riding and driving the lorry etc etc .... until i started to get Pins and needles in my fingers and toes and my physio basically made me go and see a consultant !!

Wednesday 20th October i saw the consultant

Wednesday 27th October i had my MRI Scan

Friday 29th was called back to see my surgeon who proceeded to tell me i was to see a NeuroSurgeon

Monday 1st November - i was told about the bulging disc in my neck which was pushing on my spinal cord and i was in risk of paralysing myself if i had fallen off (not good after i had just broken in the 3yo)

Tuesday 9th November - operation to remove the disc and replace with a Carbon Fibre one

immediately up and feeling a lot better came home on Friday 12th - i was basically pain free (well compared to the pain i had before this was nothing)

Could drive after a week and should of come back into work last week though i got snowed in !!

I have driven the lorry, mucked out, tacked up - i havent ridden and was told not to until March and i dont have anything to ride at the moment anyway but i am sure i could do if i wanted....

any other info let me know x
 
Back surgery is toughy. Varied sucess rates. I work in neuro surgery and have seen different outcomes. I have a herniated disc at L5/S1 and my surgeon's advice was that he wouldn't go down the surgical route unless I'd had unbearable pain for 6 months. The reccomendations were to "strenghthen my core" through pilates/ exercise etc- so far so good (touch wood).
One of my best friends has had 2 micro discectomies done and ended up having a spinal fusion- she is eventing again at a high level, hunts etc.
My advice would be to try every other option before the surgical one, the surgeons themselves will tell you that back surgery sucess is variable.
 
Sorry I am no help really with regards to the operation, but would also be interested to learn how others deal or managed with it, as I am facing similar situation...after years and years of pain and not being able to do very much I am facing the operation to fuss my two disc's together...
 
I manage my back pain by being aware of how I do things. Sounds very basic but it works for me (thus far!). I'm a nurse too so it's a terrible combo- horses and all the lifting I do at work. I take analgesics when I need to, I have a very good matress on my bed, I am aware when my back is "good" and don't abuse it!!!
I manage to event and hunt on good days. On bad days I have to accept it...
When really bad I set my alarm for 30 mins before I have to get up, take analgesia, wait for it to kick in , then i get up. I found mornings the worst due to my back spasm overnight.
it's a case of what works for you. I don't see a chiropracter now as it was made worse as all they wanted to do was release the spasm in my lower back but the spasm heped my disc stop bulging!!!
 
I had a discectomy L4/L5 just over a year ago. I still get pain now, but it seems to be from the muscles, which haven't got out of the habit of protecting the damaged area, rather than from any disc problems. Before the operation, exercise made my sciatic pain much worse, now it makes it better. I've been riding normally all summer and I'm pretty sure I would be jumping if that was what I normally did (just scared, nothing to do with my back!).
 
soloequestrian said:
I had a discectomy L4/L5 just over a year ago. I still get pain now, but it seems to be from the muscles, which haven't got out of the habit of protecting the damaged area, rather than from any disc problems. Before the operation, exercise made my sciatic pain much worse, now it makes it better. I've been riding normally all summer and I'm pretty sure I would be jumping if that was what I normally did (just scared, nothing to do with my back!).
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Thank you so much for all your wonderful replies. :) I have had a brief read as I am at work! I will have a good read over the next day or so when I have access to a computer at home as I am about to leave for the day.

It certainly seems like the operation and/or injections have worked out very well for people.

Thank you once again, really useful.:)
 
Had the op 18 months ago, I had a badly prolapsed disc and severe narrowing of the spinal canal on L4 & 5. Even though the op was quite hard going for the 2 wks after it has all been good ever since. I get no pain at all on the right side which was the one i had the sciatica. I would agree with the muscle pain though but this can be reduced with exercise. I would definately do it again, I couldn't walk or stand for longer than 5 mins before the op, 3 days after the op i walked for 15 mins non stop.
 
Having a discectomy was the best thing I ever had after being bedridden for 4 weeks unable to move because of the pain and nerve damage.
Was allowed to drive after 4 weeks and rode after 6 weeks although started gradually only in walk and rising trot.
Also had epidural while in hospital waiting for op and it made me 10 times worse.
Haven't had much trouble with it since occasionally aches a bit but nothing too much , had it done 4 years ago.
 
Hi, I had a micro-discectomy in 2002 to deal with a prolapsed disc that had somehow tethered itself to the sciatic nerve so couldn't correct itself. I had almost immediate relief to a point but the final recovery probably took around 2 years, to it settling completely. I can ride as normal and for very long periods of time without problem, I do still regularly 'slip' discs but now just manage it when it happens, it is usually slightly higher than the original one and recovers after a few days rest, I would have surgery again if I felt it was the only way to live normally
 
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