Just came out of surgery

[Elie]

Hey guys, just had back decompression surgery on L5 S1 disc, it was painful as the disc was bulged hitting the left sciatic nerve. Finally I made the decision to have surgery and all is good so far.

The disc however has gone from it's normal thickness to only a cm thick or less. Not sure if discs normally regenerate or I am screwed for the rest of my life with whatever disc remains.
The other discs in my spine are perfect.

Cause? Well primarily from excessive Aikido training, hopefully I can go back to light training, we'll see.

My main concern, is the disc itself whether it regenerates or not.

Anyway, hoping the pain from the incision will subside and resume my normal operating parameters

[cjolley]

Get well soon.

[Dr Mordrid]

Hope you heal well and fast

Listen to your physical therapist and remember: no-pain, no-gain. The >movement strengthens you and stimulates the bone to heal.

Discs don't regenerate. Usually they use either metal fixation or take a piece of bone or packaged bone graft material (an osteoconductive scaffold - shaped/sized bone with the tissue removed) and fuse L5-S1 together using it with as close to normal spacing as possible. That or they can put in an artificial disc which has more flexibility. Takes a few weeks for any of these things to solidify though. Real bone grafts are getting scarcer though because of the longer surgery required to saw off a piece of the pelvis to use.

Artificial disc (core is polyethylene)


Metal fixation


Osteoconductive scaffold

[Elie]

Thanks guys
Doc that artificial disc looks promising, at least I have an option in case what ever remains of disc further decreases in size to the point where the bones touch.

Don't really like the fusion option because it limits movement and impact the above discs as they now have to absorb impacts that normally L5 S1 does.

Cool!!

[KRSESQ]

A friend of mine had fusion surgery about 20 years back. Blew out a disk installing elevators. Today he has no pain, no problems, and is happy as hell he did it.

Kevin

PS: Get well soon!