As a Physical Therapist with almost 11 years of clinical experience and as the co-founder of Online Spine School I am very passionate about sharing my experience and information so that others can prevent this from happening to them or help manage the pain they may be suffering from.
In the summer of 2002 I started to notice a slight burning in my right buttocks that I just shrugged off as "piriformis tightness". I tried some strecthes but the pain very quicly started going farther down my leg. I continued to do some exercises on my own and put it off. However it was when I started losing strength in my right calf and lost sensation down my right lateral lower leg that I finally came to accept that I probably had a disc bulge or herniation before even having any tests done. As a Therapst I tried for 6 very long and difficult months to treat myself with McKenzie Extension Exercies, Heat/Ice, TENS and more. The extension exercises helped but only when I was in that position. Tried Motrin and a week of Steroids with some slight improvement but not nearly enough. The pain was really starting to interfere with my life and I had enough of it. Finally had the MRI which confirmed a Disc Herniation at L5-S1 and then consulted with a neurosurgeon. She agreed that I needed surgery and I went ahead and had a Partial Discectomy.
I can still remember very clearly waking up in the hospital bed and the first thought was the fear of moving but the the second was the realization that the pain was completely gone from my leg and butt. I went home the day after surgery and was quickly off all meds by my own choice within a day or 2 after surgery. The most difficult part after surgery was not being able to lift for 4-6 weeks (and this is where I think most people mess up their surgery and like to blame their surgeon instead) which meant no picking up my newborn daughter. I followed the no lifting and no sitting for greater than 15 minutes at a time very strictly and it has really paid off.
It is now 6 years later and I am 100% painfree unless I do too much of something that I should not be doing. I have not had any butt or leg pain since before surgery. I am able to run, play tennis, golf, lift weights and have no problems but am very smart about how I do things.
I now feel it is my job to share this story and help others who may be going through this same thing or even better to prevent someone from having to go through something like this.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I hope it is helpful and may you please help me pass it on to others.
