What is the healing process like after surgery for a ruptured disc?
i have multiple ruptured discs in my lumbar spine, and we have tried non surgical treatment and its not improving. i am now getting weakness in my legs and its getting very difficult to use them. there are points where they will go numb and i cant stand up or walk at all. so i am seeing a nurosurgeon next week to set a date for surgery to fix the problem. i am just wanting to know what the healing process is like. and since they are going to have to do some work on my nerves as well will i need physical therapy at all? and how long will it take my legs and back to be back to normal? please anyone with any information plz help answer my questions.
When you say ruptured, I imagine that you are referring to where the nuclear material has actually leaked out of the disc (called extrusion or sequestration) and is not simply herniated. Disc extrusion cannot be helped other than by time or surgery. Once the annular wall of the disc has been disrupted, the vacuum phenomenon in the disc has been destroyed and the contents cannot be replaced.
With time, the body might breakdown the contents that have leaked out, and the disc might make new nuclear material. Yet, if progressive leg weakness is occuring, you might be a candidate for surgery, and it is good you are seeing a neurosurgeon who is really the only to tell you if you require surgery. You certainly might require physical therapy if you have had surgery, but physical therapy at this time will not be of any particular benefit with an extrusion except to learn what exercises to do to prevent scarring on the nerve root.
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