l-4 issues
 

hello all.

I am presently on the fence on having surgey or not. I have a l-4 and maybe l-3 disc herniation inpingin on that nerve root. I went from crutches because of pain to presently weakness on my right leg some numbing and minor back pain. Went thru injections which took the edge off. One surgeon says, because of weakness in the leg he recommends a laminectomy followed with a foraminotomy to open the canal giving the nerve root room and hopefully to alleviate the weakness and leg pain. The other surgeon stated that it is too early (3-4 months post injury) for even him to consider to cut me. He recommended 800 mg of motrin with performing exercise from a Mckenzie book called How To Treat Your Back. I tried the exercise and they certainly hyave reduced some pain in my back and have giving me more flexibility. The leg pain and numbness is still there but tolerable.
Didn't want to bore you members, but surgery decisions are around the corner. Has anyone had a laminectomy (open surgery)? If yes, what was the outcome. Will my leg continue to get weaker? Is Microendiscopic surgery better than Open surgery. I live in Las Vegas, Nevada.


Thanks

bumping up

taino-

Whenever you experience WEAKNESS, as you stated, it needs to be addressed. I would definitely lean towards a minimally invasive surgery to remove pressure from the affected nerve.

I've had 2 lumbar laminectomies (L3/4 and L4/5) both without fusion. The second one was done with an endoscope and the recovery time was much less than the first one.

joe