Discectomy - After the Operation

[GlassyFax]

And I have finally been brought down to earth as the ombudsman isn't going to investigate my case.....I suppose they mean its actually okay to wait nearly 3 years for your promised surgery to take place. Now no job, no chance of getting a job, no treatment and constant pain I can barely deal with. Can only say that at least I went down fighting. Very depressed, disillusioned, disappointed.....any more?

 

[invakantart]

I'm gutted for you Melza!!

You 'have' given it a bloody good go, but I am do sorry it's come to this!!

Just one one thought though, have you tried your MP?
It's a long shot I know, but worth a try, maybe?

All the very best wishes

SPINELF

 

[hitlady]

Hi Melza

Haven't posted for a while but do try and keep up with evryones progress. I am so sorry to hear about your disappointment. Who makes these decisions - they obviously have no idea what pain and suffering can result from your condition. I know it has affected your life completely and you have my sympathy and I agree - maybe you should try your MP.

Regards

pennylane

 

[knowledge_dispenser]

Thanks for your sympathy folks, needed some kind words. My MP would be a good option...except its O Letwin....what can I say? Seems to me I was just whingeing about nothing, I really am imagining this pain! I was totally devastated yesterday but now thinking I should move to another area, would that help? If I've lost my job and don't have a chance of getting other work here...there's nothing to hold me back. Only have my daughter at home and she's old enough to sort herself out. Hmmm! Other than that I have no prospects whatsoever and have to depend on state benefits.

It will be an upheaval but better than rotting in this bloody flat! What about Bristol or Bath?

 

[loves2cook]

Hi there new to list and very scared.
I have had lower back pain and sciatica for the past 14 years and nothing was done about it till I moved house and changed doctors about 2 years ago and have now had numerous tests done, including an EMG on my leg, Isotope bone scan, MRI and have had a root nerve injection that only numbed it for a few weeks.
I have been reading all your comments and am now petrified as I am due to have a discectomy very soon.
I am hoping that everything is going to be ok. As the nerve has been trapped for so long will it actually heal? one doctor said that the pain in my back will never go away and I'll only get about 90-95% use back in my leg.
I am wondering if the operation is actually a good idea. The pain all started when I was 25, and I am 41 now so quite a few years of suffering.

Hope everybody gets pain relief soon. x

 

[Beavertailguy]

You are suffering for long period of time. Longer you wait - less chance you have for long-term surgery success and calm life.

You have got an ESI or transforaminal injection that is just buying time for you, pain free life while this medicine "works" can be tricky, you can harm yourself because you nerve is still compressed.

I suggest that you explore your options, and possibility of minimally-invasive procedure for your disorders, as it has many advantages over traditional discectomy... For example less blood loss, less scaring, less post-operative pain, quicker recovery and return to daily activities, etc.

 

[kmqzxxnx]

Melz ...............
I just don't know what to say....... Well i do but it would just be a line of *#! & so on. I really do feel for you hun. The NHS never fail to amaze me. I had my renewal come through for my PIN number back in April & have until mid July to renew it. But after everything i have been through & seen the posts from others on here I really don't know if I want to be part of it anymore. Perhaps we should all write to the minister for health & suggest they read this forum. Mel you know where I am, keep in touch & rant away all you want. If only i hadn't got so many children I'd offer you a room at mine so then you could be seen by my local ortho hospital.

I've had a bit of a blow again today, I got called into the doctors following my recent blood tests to tell me my liver function is 3 times what it should be, didn't really surprise me as i went to the doctors to ask if my red blotchy palms & little spider naevie spreading by the day was due to the amount of medications i'm on affecting my liver

Take care

Tracey xx

 

[Kevin Martin]

Hi Kim
Please don't be petrified. I know it is easier said than done. I too was completely petrified before my operation. In complete honesty, it was nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be. Without having had the operation I would be in a much much worse situation than I am now. I do not regret having the operation at all. I would say I have 95% function back in my leg and for me, I am happy with that. I had about 20% before my op, so for me it's been a good outcome. Good luck and don't be frightened, we on this forum have been there too.

Melza - we all know that none of us imagine this pain!! How are you going today?

 

[Pompal 09.]

Hello everyone
havnt been online for a while,so thought i'd pop in n see how everyones doing.

im now 3 1/2 months post op
and i was doing/have done really well.
Surgeons signed me off after having 2,6 and ithink it was 10 wk post op checks.
all gd, mobility gd no lower back pain,no sciatica no pre op symptoms at all. Woohoo .

or is it ?
Driving
hurts in my shoulders.
sitting ,i fidget about n cant stay in one position very long at all.
im bettter flat on my back(resting) or up and about on my feet moving/walking.
anything in between is not pain ful as such but uncomfortable.

ive had several kidney infections since the op so have been on nearly permanent antibiotics but that seems to have cleared now

but what im experiencing atm is worrying me.
pain ranging from a dull ache to shootin sharp pains in my right top of shoulder and top of arm,
a real dull ache in my shoulder blade area of my back but very different pain to before ,almost as if it behind the back rather than the actual spine if that makes any sense ?
it all feels bruised kind of as if ive received a sharp blow n been winded.
and if feel short of breath,like my chest is being squashed /restricted.
on attempt to excercise or go up stairs,my breathing iis almost as if im having an asthma attack,only i dont have asthma .

been given peak flow meter,chart and ventolin to try n releive the restricted breathing whilst i await chest xrays n spirometry is it ?

my dr dosnnt seem overly concerned and says its likely to be general unfitness since surgery,muscular or nerve pain.

i however am very concerned!


i dont want to freak out unesacerily but my mother had a pulmanory embolism aged 28,so i know abit about them and what they can mean.i guess thats why this is bothering me.
usually im fit ,active,physically strong .
im taking in to consideration ive had back surgery,so not expecting to run marathons just yet, but id like to be at least getting somewhere on the rd to normality,if indeed i will ever return to how i used to be activety wise ,i dunno,We'll take that as it comes i guess.
but i dont like feeling weak and breathless
esp considering i was doing so well.
am doin physio,have applied to join a pilates class,i walk the dogs very gently most days and lower back is feeling fine.
but im bothered about these new symptoms
and considering i did pre op and post op pain (managment/grin n bear it) on only paracetamol and brufen because i cannot have opiate based meds.. i know what its like to really bloody hurt n not to be able to numb it out.
i knew that it went,had gone and is back now but very very different and in a different place.
i had accupuncture monday ,which usually i respond to really well,not this time,the pain has not gone away


has anyone experienced similar post discectomy?

 

[Seti I]

On reading back I see several people talking about DLA. If anyone wants help or advice filling in their DLA forms, feel free to drop me a PM.

I've completed 5 in the last year for different people with different problems and had 100 per cent success :
2 first application,1 on appeal and 2 went to tribunal but we did it
The claiments got what they deserve and DSS had to pay up.
One of these cases was for CFS (chronic fatique syndrome) which many people try and make out doesn't even exist..that was the one that went to tribunal but as advised, the claimant was escorted to the tribunal and spoken for at the tribunal because a lot of times if you grin and bear it, make yourself get to the appointment no matter how much pain it causes, force yourself to stand up and speak, going over many personal and often upsetting or frustrating symptoms, situations, limitations etc.
As far as the "people" at the DLA see, you CAN travel, you CAN present yourself, you CAN sit, stand, communicate etc etc and all that gets noted on paper.
They observe EVERYTHING from the moment you enter the tribunal building.
One client told me they have cameras watching the car park, seemingly for security, but not..to "observe" how claimants arrive, if they are escorted, are they carrying/lifting anything, have they driven, do they use their aids all the time or just when they know someone is watching...because there are too many people out there who "blag" the system, bleed it for every penny they can, these people are the reason DLA has tightened up so much
unyet they are in no pain, just fraudsters and very good actors.

So a few years ago I made it my buisness to find out about DLA in detail, how,what,why,when and everything else besides, my aim, to help the people who should be in receipt of it get it.
Because when faced with physical or mental illness,we're not always at our best to be trying to fill in forms that are so big they scare many people from the onset.
Medication alters our perception of things, abiilities, limitations etc yet still we battle on and try and do things for ourselves a "we dont' want to bother anyone".

With determination, honesty and good support, DLA can and does get paid to the right people sometimes, but so many people "give up" because they hit hurdles time after time after time and eventually you tire and give up hope (I think that's the hope tbh,to reduce pay-outs, but it's so wrong).
They often pay out to the undeserving and completly miss or diss the really deserving and that makes me cross!

Good luck to all of those in the application period atm and remember, fill in your forms on or about your worst ever day because that's what they need to know. NOT what you can do on a good day or after your painkillers or what you force yourself too do..your WORST ever day..describe it, then it might get the message accross to them that we do actually go through hell and back before even contemplating making a claim for what we are perfectly entitled to.

Sorry for the long post. I hope it helps the people that need it,
wishing every one a better day tomorrow,
x

 

[peculiarpup]

Hi Subi and Tracey, still alive but feeling pretty drained (and crap). Was reading the message from camptress and think she explains what I've been doing all this time. Making the best of things,trying to manage, too independent because I'm used to managing on my own....not always a bad thing, unless you have something wrong with you. No matter how much pain I had I walked to the docs, or shuffled. Got the bus to the occy health appointments I HAD to keep. Can see where I went wrong and think I have to change my ways. It's so difficult asking for help dont you think? I who wants to be a pest when there are so many really sick people out there....really. I have a couple of positives though. A surgery date for July 12th....yay! And as the neurosurgeon refused to treat my lumbar spine I'm going to really struggle with walking to the pre assessment (28th June)....have a real bad feeling about going to that hospital again but choices are limited. Also finished that damned 2 year course thats taken nearly 4...did a really bad final essay so not sure if I passed, but at least something got finished eh.

And today my daughter was told cost cutting is going to be severe at her job, great!
Might get finished and then we'll get even poorer. Is it just me or does everything in this country seem pretty bleak at the moment.

Thank you for being there folks, no one else understands. xxx

 

[~?~]

I used to be just like that but eventually realised i was pushing myself too hard,being too proud if you like and in turn was making my pain more and doing further damage to my body by carrying on that way.
Only since my back has been real bad have i learnt the word "no" and the words "i cant at the moment im sorry".
Im a mum of 4, the youngest is 2 and its been really hard being unable to do things with with them
(still cant ,or am to scared to pick the 2yr old up)
and as a single mum,to watch the house generally start falling apart as chores were going undone.
Thats been one of the hardest bits for me,admitting to myself ,that i am one of those sick people atm and there fore need to learn to accept help when offered and to ask for it when needed.
its not easy after leading an active and independant life is it
but you need to be kind to yourself,more now than ever as the body has to work extra hard when its fighting somthing dosnt it.

congrats on finishing your course
and gd luck with hopital.
Hope you see bright sunlight at the end of the tunnel soon

 

[Prerpuropsy]

I came across this site while looking up how other people recovery has been since having the operation. And I feel very lucky that everything so far recovery wise has gone really well .
I began with pain in January in my leg mainly obviously turned out to be the compression from the prolapse causing siatica at only being 23 at the time not as common in my age group, I seem to be in a lucky position at the moment as I am living in Germany with my husband in the army and the german healthcare seems a hell of a lot faster and better than the NHS.
The only reason it took so long to sort out is my husbands courses away is why the op wasnt done. Over here they first see physio then MRI (which showed a pretty large prolapse) scan cofirm prolapse wait 12 weeks too see if all the other measures of trying to correct the prolaspe works if not off to neuro surgen and within say two weeks pre-operation done two days later operation!
The better thing about the german system is that they keep you in hospital longer, 5 days minimun and up to 7 days if are in alot of pain which can only be a good thing in your recovery to be rested well.
So far so good:

Day after the op I could get up and about, get my self dressed didnt need painkillers very often only really in the mornings while waking up but im guessing that was just due to stiffness and if I walked around a little too much but you where told that you should be lying down flat in bed the majority of the day and not too do too much within hospital!

Well as soon as the op was done I can now straighten my leg fully which I couldnt do before the pain is very minimal, the wound if nearly fully healed although still a little swollen and sore!

The only things what really affected me after the operation and some still do are:

1 Tiredness for about a week after the op even more so the more I walked around the house.
2 It becomes uncomfortable while sitting for more than 40 minutes or so, needing to lie flat for a while.
3. I still have numbness on my bottom and back of legs and get some pains in the leg although they are manageble without painkillers.
4 A little bit of muscle weekness in the leg while climbing stairs ect

So so far so good, I know I have a long way to recovery still to get make up to fitness but compared to what I was like living on painkillers and diazpam its brilliant to be nearly painkiller free already!!

Hope this information helps anyone who is thinking about having the operation

 

[Cesc Fabregas]

Well done craigycarter and Kay2010! Its good to hear about positive outcomes on here. I hope you continue to recover and maybe give an update every now and then. And don't make the mistake of other post oppers (maybe me) and get complacent, give your selves a year before you can relax completely.

Melza

 

[Shard F]

Hi. I'm feeling a little guilty as I have been reading this forum for a while now, taking everyone's good advice & I haven't actually posted anything myself!

I had a L4/L5 discectomy on 26th Feb after suffering what the consultant said was a huge central prolapse of the disc. I'm 37 and felt about 70! I'd suffered for just over a year & went through the physio route first which didn't help. Then went to a Chiropractor (all before being referred for a mri scan!). Now I'm sure many people get immense relief from chiropractic, in fact, mine was recommended by a colleague who thought he was great, however, I'm convinced he finished me off! I was in agony and unfortunately as it was a central prolapse it was pressing on both sides of the nerve and gave me pain in both legs & my backside. I had an MRI in November last year and then had to wait for my referral. I could barely walk when I finally saw the consultant who advised I should have a discectomy & fusion of the 2 vertebrae. That was a shock - thought I was going to get fobbed off again! If I had a £ for every time I heard "it's sciatica, it'll get better. Do pilates/swimming/walking" I'd be rich! It's not as if I wasn't active - I walked, did 2 dance classes and a body conditioning class as week but had to stop as the pain was too bad. Anyway, he booked me in for 4th May which, funnily enough, was exactly 18 weeks after my referral appt - talk about hitting targets! However, things took a turn for the worst & the disc started pressing on the cauda equina nerve & I couldn't pee! Was also going numb around the saddle area. Went to GP who sent me straight to A & E. Got seen within 30 mins by one of my consultants team and they wanted to operate that night but for some reason didn't but I was booked in for 2 days later as an emergency. I went in at 8.30am and was back on the day ward by midday (no bed at the inn!). As soon as I woke up I noticed that all the pain in my legs had gone - wow! That has to be one of the best feelings ever, even if I was a bit high on the drugs! I was up and walking to the loo as soon as I was on the ward and was discharged at 4pm! Home by 4.30! I know some people on here have had a really bad time with the NHS but I couldn't fault them once they'd realised something was actually wrong.

One thing that concerned me was that when I'd read this forum most people said they'd been given a couple of exercises straight away. My consultant told me I had to wait until my follow up appointment 6 weeks later. Didn't say why though & my physio's now think it's a bit odd!

I was signed off work for 7 weeks. Spent the first week at my mums just lying around watching daytime tv - blimey, that's mind numbing! I had hardly any pain in my back and none in my legs. My stitches and staples started pulling but once they were out & I could shower properly it was fine. Couple of things nobody warned me about though. I was very emotional for a few weeks after the op & even cried at 'cash in the attic' - weird! I seemed to have a reaction to the drugs they give you during the op and, lets put it this way, I lost 1/2 stone in 1 week! Don't have anything to eat that's sloppy - very difficult lying on your side (or stand up but eat quickly as you can't stand for long periods!) I also had bad withdrawal symptons as I was on Tramadol and Amytriptiline and paracetomol. I stopped them in one go which I shouldn't have done. Felt sick, shakey & couldn't sleep.

I started going for walks in the second week, short ones at first and then built them up. Went back to work on a phased return basis and started full time about 4 weeks ago. That's when I realised that this is going to take a long time to recover from. My left leg gets achey by the end of the day, some of the numbness reappears & I get pins and needles in my toes. My back also aches. Having said that, it's nothing like before and I rarely take pain killers now. I've been seeing a physio since week 9 and have just started a back rehab exercise class, which again has made the nerve irritated. The physio said that the nerve has a memory and it remembers pain so if you move it slightly differently then it will flair up again. So I make sure I do all my exercises & stretches every day, I'm walking up to 3 miles at the weekend now & I've bought a gym ball to work on my core muscles.

I must admit that when I was reading through this forum, some of the posts terrified me but I think you have to remember that most people are like me, read the posts, have the op which goes well, so don't write. Melza & co - you all have my sympathy and I sincerely hope that things improve very soon.

All in all, at the moment, I think having the op was the best thing I could have done. I am mindful that I'm still in recovery and need to take things slowly but I would say that I am 85% recovered and looking forward to living again (which I wasn't before).

By the way, my Dad had the same op 13 years ago and is fine still. And I've since met 2 people who had the fusion op and also said it was worth it. There are success stories out there.

Sorry for going on for so long!! Thanks for reading!

Take care x

 

[Nunitak]

Hello everyone, I stumbled on this forum by chance. I was desperate to get all the info I could before my surgery. I am here in the US and also in the military. I served in Iraq and Afghanistan and nothing brought so much fear in my life than to find out that I had a bad back causing so much pain. I read the threads and replies here for a solid day and a half, even up to the last 30 minutes before surgery to find comfort or a piece of mind.

I think I hurt my back initially in Iraq our body armor to include ammo and other items can put alot of weight on the back. It started as being unusally sore. I was told by the docs there that my body was not use to the weight and it would surpass. It eventually did after several months. The pain through out the years were not bad, for four years I would have to take it easy but did not have the radiating pain, or nerve pain running down my leg. One morning several months ago, I hurt like never before, it was after a chiro appointment and no matter how I tossed or turned it hurt. I dreaded sleeping. Shortly I began to experience difficulties walking, I walked like a elder person suffering from arthritis, although it was nerve pain running through my hip and butt, down the left leg to the toes eventaully with numbness. People looked at me funny, buddies would open doors or help making me feel crippled at the ripe age of 27.

I went to my PA and begged for a second opinion since the idiot evaluating my MRI could not tell something was wrong with me. She did not agree but agreed to use the military resources to start assesing why I was in so much pain. I went for another MRI, and a few days later was told to see a specialist over at Ortho. I met with the DR and he mentioned that my L4/L5 had material blocking the opening on the left side, and that they were going to conduct a Discectomy on the left side of my L4/L5. I was all for it, until I had a nerve block a month before the surgery. I felt that after the nerve block I had was good to go, that my body would absorb this and I would be fine. I went on walking tall, with no problems, and felt that all had been cured.

Eventually the day came when I had to travel for my surgery. Oh, what a stressfull time! I felt that I was great from the nerve block, but could also tell that it may of started wearing off. I got on Google and looked through everything I could pertaining to the surgery, and thats when I met you all. I was hooked, I read the good experiences, bad ones, felt happy and sad and wondered what laid ahead for me. I was on the bed before the IV in the hospital yesterday and the doctor had came to talk to me, I almost turned down the surgery just out of fear. I was afraid I would be worse off, and require more corrective surgeries down the road. Those who gave inspiring stories of success motivated me to continue forward. They even put me to sleep before running the IV since I have an anxiety towards those. I woke up after the procedure and wiggled my toes like everyone else here. There is no pain at all, a slight numbness in the left foot but nothing major. The surgical site, is a bit sore, but NOTHING I was afraid it would be. I know it has not even been a full day yet but I feel very positive that things will be better off then before. For those of you about to go for surgery I hope the best for you, like I said before I have been to two combat zones, and never had such anxiety and fear. My horrid imagination almost cost me an incredible opportunity, I cannot say that everyone will be sucessfull as you see their stories posted here, but for me I am glad I went through with the procedure now I am looking ahead for possibly a brighter future. I would like to thank those who shared their positive stories that inspired me to go further, and for those who have not had a good outcome I will keep you in my prayers that relief may find you soon as it did for me.

 

[mntchegirl98]

Thank you debcott and angry sarge for your success stories, its obvious to me that the positive outcomes far outnumber the negatives, what a relief! I feel guilty for being such a misery for so long on here....apologies. I think angrysarge (I get lovely images of the person behind that name) got it right when referring to the fear and anxiety involved. That is the very worst part, its a pain we can't see or understand...and we can only hope to find someone who can put it right. The isolation most people experience is also difficult to deal with , either by having to stay alone at home or the people who are around not understanding how we feel.

The biggest problem for me is continually getting pushed to one side, and also having to deal with two completely different hospitals for two injury sites. I cannot tell you how frustrating this is for me, I'm sure they would rather I get myself a mobility scooter and get out of their lives.....but I'm just not ready for that! Anyway, surgery on the cervical spine on the 14th July and I'm going to make the lumbar problems very obvious when I go too. This is my cunning plan, one of the many I've had over the past 3 years.

As you know I've been so very depressed and miserable at the way my life has been taken apart by all this....but for all the people still struggling through the process, you have to find the strength to stay positive. Look at all these success stories! They can be yours too one day. Oh what joy! X

 

[myopic]

Hi
I am new to the forum, i have had back pain on and off for about 20 years now. was eventually referred to a back specia;list in november lst year as the symptoms were different from anything that i have ever suffered. he said was the sacroilliac joint and would need manage the pain, referred me for physio and she suggested accupuncture - the thought of which terrified me as i dont like needles, after a few sessions i saw some improvement and then in february someone drove into the back of my car. initially starte with whiplash and continued accupuncture. however few days later symptoms dramatically changed and accupuncture didnt work at all, i started sleeping less and less and was referred back to the specialist and went for MRI. I have been diagnosed with slipped discs at L3/4 and L4/5 with the latter pressing on the nerve, was referred to a neurosurgeon who said that i need surgery to fix this. he put me on his urgent list. been waiting 7 weeks now. before diagnosis was managing on just paracetamol and ibuprofen as i have anxietys and big phobias of tablets, pain was so bad that had to give in, went onto naproxen which ninitially helped then the leg pain but wasnt long before didnt touch it, by this time i was sleeping for less than an hour on a night, doc gave me amitryptiline and for few nights started to sleep but leg pain, and sensations in leg got worse and worse, couldnt move in bed, couldnt sit or settle anywhere, not been at work since easter. leg pain chnged again with burnng, numbness, cold, tingling at times my leg and foot feels wet. cant stand up for long or walk far. so was given tramadol as well. did settle into where it is bad but i can manaqge cos i slept better. doc still wouldnt sign me back ti work. last week the pain is increasing i am on the limit of paracetamol, tramadol and naproxen. i have incresed amitryptiline and still am not sleeping well. i am feeling really low at times, dont have much life with this and it driving me crazy! i am absolutely terrified about surgery but really want it to work, i need my life back!! there still isnt any news on a date yet and am losing hope of getting it soon. i have read posts from people and my thoughts are with you all, some of you have suffered for years with it, and although i have had back pain for 20 ish years myself i has only really gotten like this since august and worse again in february after car accident.

 

[theycallmerabbit]

Hello jayeff, sorry to hear you have so much pain and misery but at least you know you're not on your own now. I agree with you about the medication but suggest you ask about a low dose diazepam for now, it really helps. They don't like prescribing it anyway and I found just taking one at night helped a lot, talk to your doc.Diazepam is a muscle relaxant. The Tramadol was a miracle drug for me that eased all the burning in my legs, especially the soluble one. Was never able to take two though as they stopped me sleeping, doc asked if it was giving me a 'high' and I just gave him a blank look...I don't know what a 'high' is.

Also chase a surgery date, talk to the consultants secretary and tell her how desperate you are. Be very annoying! Or get through to the admissions clerk who can probably give you some idea when you'll be given a date. You describe the nerve pain I have in my legs and I know its like a form of torture, I even have a 'cold' water bottle near my bed to put on my feet at night. Lying flat out on my back helps ease it too. The hardest part is trying to keep my body relaxed so the muscles don't get tensed up, I'm sure that makes the nerve pain worse.

Now go and annoy some people, and don't stop until you succeed. Good luck!

 

[Waffle Waffle]

Hi Melza
thanks for the reply. i have been hassling the hospital and have again phoned tody and they havent got a date for me yet and the surgeon hasnt got back to the wqiting list manager. i feel like am pestering them but i guess it has to be done.
i have been given the diazepam as emergency for over a weekend several weeks ago but was scared to take it as well as everything else. it is so frustrating not being able to function as normal, not being able to walk far and having constant pain. am upping the amitryptiline and the doc said that if tgis didnt work that next step is ora-morph!! os there something before it gets to that?
I cant lie on my back in bed and cant lie on my left side, i do get some relief on right side but have to move constantly. people who havent been through it just dont fully understand what you go through.
i am scared that the op wont work but most times i do manage to stay positive about it, i cant see how the pain can be any worse than what this has been.
up until last week when the pain has increased, i did have a period of about 2 weeks where i felt that i was getting some relief and was co9nvinced that it was getting better itself. was gonna go to docs and go back to work, cancel the op come off painkillers. I am so glad that i didnt do any of those!! i did go to work last week on a half day and pain has increased since then. and i have an office based job. have been off weeks now with no sign of getting back soon.