I just needed some advice please. I had a lumbar disectomy L3-L4 & L4-L5 just 7 weeks ago. I am back to work fulltime. I sat at my desk yesterday for many hours and when I tried to get up my back went into spasm pulling my ribcage (right side) and making me walk funny. It radiated to my lower back and felt like burning. I took a hot bath and that eased the muscles and also on voltaren.

I feel better today but still walking a bit funny.

Is this a reherniation? When I had herniated discs this happened all the time. I spoke to my surgeon and he said it is not a reherniation, but I don't understand then what it is. How do you know if you reherniate anyways?

Thank you!

Aussie

Aussie, that is quick back to work and the sitting, I bet there are inflamed nerves to the muscles that sent unhappy signals.

The nerves are recouping from surgery poking proding, then the sitting, the muscles sound like they spasemed to create a brace, or splint, wrapping around, thus the spasm and jolting pain.

it is a catch 22 , if you stand too much, if you sit too long, try to break up the sitting frequent stand and mild stretch like a yawn. BRING your feet up from the floor too. The hanging legs can be a contributor.



Lean to the wall back against it,
Do you have a good lumbar cushion or support, I have one of the mesh ones I take with me and then at home I use a foam molded in the recliner.

Any one position for a long time is going to be a problem.

My last spasm, I had to fall sideways onto the bed, get the knee to chest and let if fall a bit to the opposite side, Hot shower bent over letting the hot water just hit it. BIOFREEZE, knead the spot, moist heating pad. or ice, try both.

But it seems the work chair needs some help, and breaks in position. I would not worry much about the re-herniation as much as inflammation. You did not have a new fall, or accident, just a huge flare up.

If you are in a tight mode too, flight or fight, tense, tensing the muscles, it does not help. Relax, think of each limb relaxing and support under the knees,
I tried one day to kneel and lean over a huge play ball that dgs has, that let me stretch gently and rock to loosen the stress from a long drive.
The driving is killing me with new work I am doing.

I use valium for the truest muscle relaxant. Nothing else seems to help.
You are still recouping too so be gentle, and relax, focus on the spasm relaxing its nasty grip.

Hope it improves, keep an eye, if something really feels not wrong, always follow up at the surgeon,
Best hearing from his mouth, the second guessing.
di

Yeah I have come back to work so I can continue living I guess. I am on my own so have to make a living. If you think this is an inflammation and not reherniation that makes me feel better. The surgeon said it was not a reherniation as well, but he is a fence sitter and hasn't been tooo nice to me after operation was done. I just dont know at what point one goes for help, if you know what I mean?

Thank you very much for help.

Hi Aussie ~ Believe me, if you reherniated, you would KNOW. That pain is DEBILITATING. It's the kind of pain that almost brings you to your knees!!

Don't you remember herniating the first time? Boy I do!! I was in the basement, doing laundry, and I bent to pick up an EMPTY laundry basket, and BANG - I herniated a disc -- and there I was alone in the house, in the basement. I was trying to figure out how I was going to get upstairs! LOL Actually it was kind of funny, but the pain wasn't. I got upstairs on my fanny, writhing in pain the whole time. The stupid dog wouldn't leave me alone, & kept licking my face -- he was as big as a barn and he kept knocking me over!

Anyway -- just know that you will definitely realize when/IF you reherniate. I hope you never do. God bless. Hugs, Lee

Hi Leesa,

Thank you for helping me again. My back has been playing up and not knoiwing what is going on is the worst, especially after an operation. If this happened before my operation I don't think it would trouble me, but having the operation, then getting whiplash, and then throwing my back out...well how much can a kolala bear......LOL

We must always try to laugh a bit I guess.

I have started swimming and it feels sooo good. I am in such sad shape right now physically and this is the only exercise I can do at the moment. How have you been going with your back? You guys are in Spring right now right? I hope you have something nice planned for the weekend.

Aussie