[Artificial Disc Replacement / Lumbar] New Member (ProDisc L5-S1, ~4 weeks post-op)

[odriscoll]

Hello All,
I'm Paul, 52 years old, recently the new owner of a Prodisc prosthetic disc at L5-S1. I am almost four weeks post-op, and while my back feels great, I am having a lot of leg pain, both legs, feels much like growing pains in my calves, and also discomfort while sitting. Currently doing nerve glider exercises, though I 'm not sure if they are helping. I'm going to read other posts, and then come back with some questions. Nice to be here!

Paul

[trkdoc714]

Paul,

Welcome to SPS!

I think, hopefully, you're experiencing distraction pain. I had the same after surgery. It wasn't as intense as the pre-op pain, but it did get my attention. It slowly lessoned over the following few months to almost nothing. I've read others posts that had distraction pain for up to one year following ADR.

I still have sensations in my legs but I attribute this to the permanent nerve damage from waiting too long for surgery.

It's good to have you here. Heal well!

Bob

[KBear]

I agree with Bob, sounds like distraction pain from surgery. I had never had leg pain with my back pain, but after surgery I had it bad. My legs hurt like crazy and I would have shooting pains. I imagine that some of it was what restless leg syndrome feels like. It really scared me since it was a new symptom, but it did resolve. I can't remember exactly how long it took to go away, but I'm thinking between 3-6 months.

That's awesome that your back pain is gone so quickly! It's a great feeling waking up pain free!

Kathy

[odriscoll]

Thanks Bob and Kathy,
I appeciate both of your comments. My doctor didn't warn me at all about these pains. I guess I just figured after the operation my legs would never hurt again. The pain is similar to pre-op, but somewhat different, and far more bi-lateral (both legs) than previous. Shooting pains, hot feet, etc, and my calves feel tight: anyway, it doesn't help to go on and on about it. I think I will post in the general post area (if I can figure out how to do this!!) and see if the wider readership has comments. I guess I'm trying to convince myself not to be disappointed or alarmed.

Thanks again!
Paul

[Justin]

Hi Paul,

Welcome to the Spine Patient Society.

Hello All,
I'm Paul, 52 years old, recently the new owner of a Prodisc prosthetic disc at L5-S1. I am almost four weeks post-op, and while my back feels great, I am having a lot of leg pain, both legs, feels much like growing pains in my calves, and also discomfort while sitting. Currently doing nerve glider exercises, though I 'm not sure if they are helping. I'm going to read other posts, and then come back with some questions. Nice to be here!

Paul

Congratulations on being on the other side of surgery! The pain you describe sounds like "distraction pain," as mentioned by Bob and Kathy above. The burning, shooting and tight calves & hamstrings should calm down over time. With the increased disc height (more accurately restored disc height), your nerves and surrounding structures are stretched and become irritated at their new length. Distraction pain can be down-right annoying and you might find yourself having quite a time finding a comfortable position, as the pain is more or less constant.

Can you describe the nerve glider exercises you are doing? I'm just curious.

We're happy to have you here at SPS and thanks for sharing your story with us! If you have time, it would be great to read your spine history, conservative treatments you tried and what led you to finally having a ProDisc artificial disc replacement device implanted in your spine.

Be well.

[ajj1001]

Welcome to the forum, good to have you here and hope things settle down soon.

alison x

[Cindylou]

Hi Paul, Glad you found us. Yep, I'm putting my vote on "the distraction pain" train as well. As the others mentioned, it will eventually calm down. Could take some time though. In the meantime, perhaps you should ask your doctor about putting you on a nerve-pain medication like Lyrica or Neurontin. That would definitely help calm it down and make it more bearable. Forgive me if you already mentioned this or have been put on it already. You might then need an adjustment in dose until you reach a therapeutic level. Good luck, Cindylou

[odriscoll]

Thanks Cindylou, for the suggestion regarding nerve meds: I had NOT thought of that but it's now definitely on my list to question my surgeon about: my first post-op appointment is in two weeks but I may call to see if I can't move it forward if I don't start getting better sleep.

Justin, the nerve glide exercises I refered to are extrememely simple: I lie on my back with my legs bent, feet flat, I raise one foot as if doing a hamstring stretch, bringing my foot towards the floor. As SOON as I feel hamstring tension, or even just before, I move my foot in one of three directions: for example, I may point the toes outward and away. I hold this for 10 seconds, then do the other leg. I'm doing 10 reps in each of 3 directions, both legs, so it takes awhile.

The point of the exercise is to get the sciatic nerves to be gliding in their protective sheath without mechanical binding, as far as I understand it.

I am awaiting the contact information from my physiotherapist for a massage therapist in my area that has taken advanced training on dural (nerve) binding. I'm hoping this helps too.

Meanwhile, my insteps feel like I am walking on hot coals at times, and my calves feel like I've done a hundred stair-raises. Still positive though!

Thanks to all for their comments and suggestions: it makes such a huge difference to have this resource and not feel alone in this.

Paul

[Cindylou]

Thanks Cindylou, for the suggestion regarding nerve meds: I had NOT thought of that but it's now definitely on my list to question my surgeon about: my first post-op appointment is in two weeks but I may call to see if I can't move it forward if I don't start getting better sleep.

Justin, the nerve glide exercises I refered to are extrememely simple: I lie on my back with my legs bent, feet flat, I raise one foot as if doing a hamstring stretch, bringing my foot towards the floor. As SOON as I feel hamstring tension, or even just before, I move my foot in one of three directions: for example, I may point the toes outward and away. I hold this for 10 seconds, then do the other leg. I'm doing 10 reps in each of 3 directions, both legs, so it takes awhile.

The point of the exercise is to get the sciatic nerves to be gliding in their protective sheath without mechanical binding, as far as I understand it.

I am awaiting the contact information from my physiotherapist for a massage therapist in my area that has taken advanced training on dural (nerve) binding. I'm hoping this helps too.

Meanwhile, my insteps feel like I am walking on hot coals at times, and my calves feel like I've done a hundred stair-raises. Still positive though!

Thanks to all for their comments and suggestions: it makes such a huge difference to have this resource and not feel alone in this.

Paul

Glad to help you Paul, in any way we can. Were you able to bump your appointment up any earlier to address some of your questions, or are you still about a week out for your appointment? I've been thinking about you and hope you can get your distraction pain addressed soon through nerve medication. It should really help calm things down a bit for you, so you can save your energy for healing. Hope things are as well as to be expected for you, Cindylou

[odriscoll]

Hello All,
Well, it's certainly time I posted something. I'm now 12 weeks postsurgery from a disc replacement (L5 S1), and I'm doing very well. My back feels very solid, so much so that I'll be skiiing and snowboarding this weekend.
The nerve distraction pain in my legs continues to improve, it is only an annoyance now. The best treatment for it was therapeudic massage, from a therapist who had extra training relating to nerves.

On a scale of 1 to 10, my surgery is a solid 8.5, maybe a 9: when the nerve distraction pain resolves
completely it will ba a 10.

My weight has climbed up since my surgery, and my dieting (high protein, no white flour our sugar products) has commenced: a few weeks and I should be back to sub-200 lbs.

Anyway, I would like to thank the contributors to this site for being so supportive to each other. This is a great resourse.

Paul