I'm Home From My Microdiscectomy ~ Day 1 recovery

I'm practicing pain management, and I'm sleep deprived, but I'm home sweet home!

We drove slowly and carefully through the snow packed roads on Friday and made it to the hospital for my microdiscectomy back surgery for my herniated L5 S1 disc.

Prepping me I was a little nervous and caught off guard when they couldn't get my IV line started in. The anesthesiologist/vampire went for my neck. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. They numb you up pretty good and actually suture it into place. You are left looking like a borg with tubes sticking out of your neck.

I remember being told take a few deep breaths and next waking up in recovery. I have no recollection of being rolled over onto my stomach onto the special $70,000 back surgery table at Mercy hospital.

My surgery was scheduled for 1:00pm. Wheeled into my hospital room, I was stunned to see it was dark outside and it was already 6:00pm. Times flies when you're unconscious.

The nurses and nursing aides were awesome and took such great care of me! Although I didn't get any sleep, they made me as comfortable as possible. I had leg wraps that inflated and expanded automatically to keep my blood circulating. I was hooked up to the IV and a pulse oxygen monitor. That wasn't so pleasant because I kept setting off the alarms on the machines if I even moved an inch.

I became frightened in the wee morning hours when my leg pain came back with a vengeance. Instead of it being my upper hamstring area, it was my lower leg/calf/foot. It felt like it had been dipped into fire and the flesh was being burned off. I was in tears thinking I had made a huge mistake having this surgery. Once again the nurses were awesome doing everything within their power to help me. They helped me walk the halls and that helped a little. They also gave me morphine which took the edge off.

My nurse also took the time to settle my anxiety. She pointed out to me this pain was happening where I had previously experienced numbness. She suggested it was my nerve waking back up.

When I saw my neurosurgeon the next morning, he told me he had to remove "A LOT" of disc material, more than he usually sees in patients under going microdiscectomies. Some of the herniated material had actually dropped down and curved around my nerve so he had to go at it from multiple angles. No wonder why my nerve was so pissed off at me!

I'm happy the burning pain has gone away and I'm praying it stays away as I recover.  Coming home today felt so good! Even though I was offered to stay another night by my neurosurgeon, I want to be with my family and be in my bed. I will miss being able to walk the long hospital hallways, but I'll walk around my house, doing laps.

I'm in pain, mostly back, but I have oxycodone and for a short while Valium to help reduce muscle spasms. I can lay on my back for a short while but I'm most comfortable getting up and walking slowly. This is what was recommended to speed recovery and reduce scarring.

I'll return in 10-12 days to remove the stitches and then I can begin taking an anti-inflammatory once again. In the mean time, I am going to try and avoid sugar, dairy and grains to reduce inflammation, and I have my ice pack to lay on. I'll drink lots of Sleepy Time tea too!

Today is Day 1 of my recovery and I'm hopeful my body will improve each day, bringing me to my goal of being active once again. I can feel the love, support, prayers and positive thoughts from all my family and friends and it is helping me a great deal. THANK YOU!!