How long does leg pain last after Microdiscectomy?
Most patients notice an immediate reduction in the nerve pain down the leg. In some patients all the nerve pain goes immediately but in most patients it is greatly reduced and tails off over three to six weeks.
What pain is normal after Microdiscectomy?
Some postoperative pain is to be expected. Common complaints after microdiscectomy include an ache in the legs caused by healing nerves, pain caused by inflammation and muscle spasms. Sitting can also be uncomfortable for the first few weeks after surgery, so try to get up every 15 to 20 minutes and walk around.
How long does Microdiscectomy pain last?
You can expect your back to feel stiff or sore after surgery. This should improve in the weeks after surgery. You may have relief from your symptoms right away, or you may get better over days or weeks. In the weeks after your surgery, it may be hard to sit or stand in one position for very long.
How long does it take for leg pain to go away after back surgery?
Sometimes this is a temporary condition as the nerve root or roots take time to heal. This can take days to weeks. If the pain is still there after 3 months, it is unlikely to improve on its own.
How do you know when nerves are healing?
How do I know the nerve is recovering? As your nerve recovers, the area the nerve supplies may feel quite unpleasant and tingly. This may be accompanied by an electric shock sensation at the level of the growing nerve fibres; the location of this sensation should move as the nerve heals and grows.
How should I sleep after Microdiscectomy?
It is generally OK after back surgery to sleep in whatever position is most comfortable. Some prefer to sleep on one side or the other with a pillow between their knees and/or behind them to support the back.
Why does the nerve in my leg hurt?
Nerves in the leg may become inflamed, compressed, or degenerated as a result of mechanical or chemical irritants. Nerves may also become damaged due to associated conditions such as diabetes or nutritional deficiencies. Depending on the cause of nerve damage, the specific leg symptoms may differ.
How to stop leg pain after back surgery?
In the early postoperative period (3 to 12 months), medications such as Neurontin may help limit back pain or leg pain, and exercises can help free up the nerve.
What to expect after microdiscectomy surgery?
After the microdiscectomy, the pain will be reduced almost immediately, even though the complete healing process of the nerve can take several months. Other symptoms, such as numbness and muscle weakness, will also take longer to subside but the pain relief is almost instant.
What causes leg pain after surgery?
Nerve damage during surgery. A much less common cause of leg pain after surgery is nerve damage at the time of surgery. Nerve roots are generally tough and difficult to damage with a common surgical procedure. Scar tissue. A really rare cause of postoperative leg pain, if it ever happens, is scar tissue.
What causes leg cramps after back surgery?
Piriformis syndrome is another cause of back, hip and leg pain after surgery. This syndrome is caused by the sciatica nerve being pressed by the piriformis muscle.