Has anyone successfully recovered from lumbar disc surgery? I have a herniated disc in my L4/L5 area that's getting pretty serious with sciatica all the way down my left leg. I have a consult with a surgeon on the 21st. I've been trying to avoid surgery as I have consistently scored a 290-300 on my APFT for years, and I'm big into weightlifting. I am still able to dead lift 385, squat 385 and run in the 13-14 minute range. So I'm pretty mobile but the pain is getting bad. I give that back story on physical fitness to ask how many of you have had lumbar micro discectomy and have gone back to that level of mobility? I'm concerned about my career. I've had a pretty good career to this point and I'm just hoping it isn't all for naught and getting medically retired at 13 years or so... My PA is telling me he's never met someone who has fully recovered from back surgery so I'm a little worried :/

Posted on Dec 27, 2013

Has anyone successfully recovered from lumbar disc surgery?

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I have a herniated disc in my L4/L5 area that's getting pretty serious with sciatica all the way down my left leg. I have a consult with a surgeon on the 21st. I've been trying to avoid surgery as I have consistently scored a 290-300 on my APFT for years, and I'm big into weightlifting. I am still able to dead lift 385, squat 385 and run in the 13-14 minute range. <div><br></div><div>So I'm pretty mobile but the pain is getting bad. I give that back story on physical fitness to ask how many of you have had lumbar micro discectomy and have gone back to that level of mobility? </div><div><br></div><div>I'm concerned about my career. I've had a pretty good career to this point and I'm just hoping it isn't all for naught and getting medically retired at 13 years or so... </div><div><br></div><div>My PA is telling me he's never met someone who has fully recovered from back surgery so I'm a little worried :/</div>

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Posted 12 y ago

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Responses: 13

CSM (Join to see)

Posted 12 y ago

SFC,

There is light at the end of the tunnel. I have had several surgeries durning my career. Five to be exact. The most difficult to bounce back from was lower back surgery (L4-L5/L5-S1). I waited three years before allowing the surgery to take place. I consulted several surgoens and other healthcare personel. Before you agree to surgery talk to as many doctors as you can. Remember, surgeons want to operate, General Practitioners want to medicate, Therapist want to provide exercises or stretches, etc... Choose what fits you and your life style.

I chose surgery but would not allow the surgeon to fuse my vertibre. We argued but it was my decision. In the end I had a long recovery (nearly 3 years) until I was back in good shape. Since surgery I have completed the Batton Death March at Whitesands (heavy category), Assessed and was selected for AWG, and am currently preparing for a Tough Mudder this summer. I score 288-295 on my APFT consistantly. Recovery was a slow process but it is possible to return or even improve your fitness level. Core, Core, Core!!!

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CSM (Join to see)

12 y

I PCS'ed immediatley after my surgery. I had surgery in Portsmouth, VA but my therapy and post surgical care was in EUROMED. Not far from your current duty station. The only thing I would do differently, if I had to did it again, I would have the entire procudure and post care at EUROMED. Best medical facility I have ever encountered.

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CW2 (Join to see)

12 y

SGM, thanks for the response and I apologize for the delay in my response.

That's about where I'm at. It's been a few years. I don't know what specifically has triggered this bout that I've been dealing with for several months, but it's gotten to the point now where I can't sleep, and can barely walk at this point.

Of course the military medical system is ridiculous and I still have three weeks to go (from my original six) just to meet the spinal doc for the first time.

And that will be the first "real" doc I see as the rest have been PAs.

So how bad will one NCOER in my career hurt my chances at promotion if it says PROFILE? I am due an APFT in March but haven't been able to take one a) due to deployment and b) now this back thing and I'm going to be over the year mark come April, so my next NCOER is likely to say PROFILE. All of my other NCOERs have shown a lowest score of like 272, most of them are 295+

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CSM (Join to see)

12 y

The PROFILE bullet should not hurt you. But if your worried about it ask the Doc when
you see him that you want "Pain Management" before surgery. I am always against surgeries (although I
have had 5). If there is any way out of
getting surgery that is my first choice.
If you convince the doctor you want Pain Management I would also ask for
Physical Therapy as well. The Pain
Management is a series of localized NSAIDs placed directly at the afflicted
area. They use a needle and inject the
meds directly where your pain is. When I
went I was allowed 4 shots a year.
Although the meds wore off before the 3-4 month interval I was able to
take an APFT. I am not in any way
telling you to go that route. There is
always the possibility that you could do more harm than good. This was a choice I elected without my
doctors approval. I felt as you appear
to feel, that I wanted to push myself to achieve the standard. I think I scored 205. Much less than my normal but I did not push
myself to hard. I was worried I would hurt
my spinal cord or worse which would end my career. When I made it to Germany after the surgery
the EUROMED surgeon placed me on a very strict workout regimen that he
supervised. I am not in MUCH better
shape than I was before the surgery. I
still do many of his core exercises today.
Lastly, I would suggest you drop weight.
I was always a “Corn Fed” big guy.
Before surgery I stood 75” and weighted around 230lbs. Since surgery and with my new found training
focus, I am 73” (give or take ½ in) and weight 194-197 consistently. My surgery was 7-8 years ago and I have had
only one relapse in all this time. Stay
focused on your recovery and remove your ego from the equation. After my surgery I could not lift a gallon of
milk without great pain. Take it slow
and remember this type of recovery is a marathon and not a sprint to the
fastest recovery. Good luck

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CW2 (Join to see)

12 y

SGM thanks again.

I have already done physical therapy, epidural steroid injections, acupuncture, you name it. Including a gram of naproxen a day for three years.

I'm at the end of my pain management rope :(

I'm also definitely against surgery as well but it's seeming to be the last option. Even on Percoset I'm still in pain but it's manageable at least.

As far as the weight I'm at about 10% body fat, I'm a pretty solid guy and not terribly heavy. I'm about 5'9" and 185.

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SFC (Join to see)

Posted 12 y ago

Battle as as Senior Medical NCO I will tell you that every person heals different.<div><br></div><div>From what you describe, you are a pretty fit person, and in my experience those are the Soldiers who have a high success rate in recovery.  One of my friends, SFC, stud, started to experience the same as you, had the surgery, and bounced back and seven months later he just won a muscleman competition.  He is back to running the whole nine yards.</div><div><br></div><div>Me on the other hand, I was average PT.  I was affraid of surgery so I did the epidural space injections (ESI) through the pain clinic (what CSM is talking about), went on a walking profile for five years, and it wasn't until now that I have gotten back to running. </div><div><br></div><div>I had all the same symptoms as you, but worse, I could barely walk anymore.  It got worse cause I kept on pushing (like you're doing).</div><div><br></div><div>I would definitely get a few different opinions from two different surgeons.  There are several tests that are done.  They have to check you and make sure you don't have degenerative disc disease, and test the stability of the discs above the affected ones.  A lot goes into the decision. </div><div><br></div><div>I have seen people get medically retired, I didn't let it happen to me.  I am now running faster than some of my younger Soldiers.  Still have a little soreness and it bothers me, always will.  But I'm good now.</div><div><br></div><div>Good luck to you.  Get informed about it, read up, have a lot of questions ready for the Docs.  PAs are great but don't know everything.  Take care of yourself.  I was a SSG when it this all started and I was selected in the secondary zone to SFC.</div>

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CW2 (Join to see)

12 y

Thanks for the good advice. A couple things from your post...

1. I do have Degenerative Disc Disease :(

2. I have had one ESI on 4 Dec, getting another one on 15 January

I just saw the head PA yesterday. FINALLY someone that understands the pain I'm in and willing to get me to the 21st. Gave me Hydrocodone (the Tramadol wasn't cutting it anymore) and a med for neural pain, and something to replace the naproxen. All worked mostly. The key was they got rid of the pain entirely in my leg which is the worst part. My back still hurts like a mofo, but it was the constant leg pain that was killing me. The constant ACHING that kept me from being able to stand up sometimes or put on socks.

I am pretty dedicated and yeah I'm pretty fit. I usually go to the gym six days a week (less since my way bad flare up). Even Christmas Eve, Christmas, and the day after I was in the gym.

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SFC (Join to see)

12 y

Glad they got you in to the pain clinic.  I had five of those shots within a year to get rid of it without it coming back on me.  Then I did a lot of pool PT and core with physical therapy.  I opted for that just because I wanted surgery to be the very last option.  <div><br></div><div>I went through the same thing you are experiencing my friend, I feel your pain! My philosophy on pain meds is if you need them, take them, just be careful in the process.  Docs were freely throwing Percocets my way but I fought against it because I felt it was just masking the situation.  So I got more aggressive with physical therapy and toned it down to Tramadol and slowly leaned off of it these past five years.  </div><div><br></div><div>I rarely have to take it now unless I pull my back or something crazy happens.</div><div><br></div><div>There's hope brother.  Stay positive and stay fit.  Best advice.  My wife is a Nurse with the VA and I can't believe all the retired vets with this very same condition. </div><div><br></div><div>I wanted to make sure I could function and work for a living after I got out.  At the time I couldn't even play with daughter or go out with my family cause the sciatica was so severe I could barely walk.  At that time all I wanted to do is walk normal again! Almost like being put under water all you want to do is breathe.</div><div><br></div><div>I have faith either route you decide to go just Commit to that path and part of that commitment is going through the rehab portion, swallowing the pride of not running for a little while, allow yourself to adapt to other forms of exercise (cycling/swimming/something with less impact).</div><div><br></div><div>Good luck! </div>

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CW2 (Join to see)

12 y

Thanks so much man, you really make me feel so much better. Yeah, I have a history of drug addiction in other family members (not me) so I'm always conscious of it.

So right now I'm supposed to take up to four Percosets a day, but I don't take more than two so far which is mitigating it so far.

I wonder what this is going to end up putting me at for disability % at the end of my career :/

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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca

Posted >1 y ago

Yes, had the exact same condition. I had a mesh screen inserted during outpatient surgery and walked out of the hospital the same day. Prior to that the pain was excruciating. It would take me 30 minutes to get going in the morning - crawl from the bedroom to the kitchen, get myself up using the counter and stretch just to walk. After 2 months of PT I was good to go The docs cleared me and I was off to Iraq. Never had another issue since - going on 9 years now, knock on wood!

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SFC Mark Merino

>1 y

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca Is that the "Cage" I hear about? Do they remove it later in life?

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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca

>1 y

SFC Mark Merino, Not sure if they are the same, but no it stays in there permanently.

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CMC Robert Young

Posted 12 y ago

SFC J., my boss had the same procedure several years ago (twice in three years). He recovered well the first time and went back to PTing with the crew in under six months. He had good flexibility and strength after the surgery. However, the second time was worse, and his recovery wasn't as fast or complete. The second set of discs effected were a little lower in his lumbar spine, and had been more severely damaged. It may depend on the specifics regarding location and damage to your back.

Best of luck to you. Hope you get the relief from this that you need.

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PO1 Thomas B.

Posted 12 y ago

I had a laminectomy and discectomy on my L4/L5 in 2002 and while I don't risk golfing or anything else that requires major trunk twisting, I've been much better off than I was. I used to have major sciatic pain down both legs and some numbness on my feet. Once in a while I would have an "episode" where the pain was so bad, the only way to get out of bed was to roll out and try to crawl around. The surgery relieved/removed all of that and I have not had an "episode" since. I do most exercises, ride 30 to 50 miles at a time on my bike, etc. I am still very careful with anything that can cause a lot of spinal compression or major twisting though.

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CW2 (Join to see)

12 y

Do you weight lift at all?

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PO1 Thomas B.

12 y

Nothing major involving the back. Legs, arms, shoulders, etc are fine just nothing like squats, deadlifts, etc.

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CW2 (Join to see)

12 y

See I definitely squat and deadlift...I can't imagine not lifting again

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CW2 Joseph Evans

Posted 12 y ago

Relax, you need the relief and it appears that this is the only way to get it (you have tried backing off the PT to see if it would repair that way, right?)
There are Physical therapists and sports medicine physicians that have been able to bring people from near paralysis to full function again. Hawaii may not be a bad option when looking for a therapist compared to Bliss, either. Keep in mind, that this will probably be a private therapist/trainer that won't be covered by Tri-care (Army Sports medicine is getting better, but still has a long way to go).
Secret from what I understand is stay positive, stay focused, set reasonable goals/expectations and stay with it. (Can't speak first hand, but have chatted with a few success stories).

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CW2 (Join to see)

12 y

I'm trying to stay positive but it's definitely difficult. Thanks for the encouragement. Although Hawaii will probably go away if I get surgery. You can't PCS from Fort Bliss while red in MEDPROS.

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CW2 Joseph Evans

12 y

Tucson is probably the closest metro area with a pool of therapists to look at, and with your doctor's prognosis, not sure how good asking him will do. Still, he said "full" recovery, which a lot of people are happy with the lame duck profile and reclass, so there might be a good therapist in the area, with a bunch of bad clients.

At this point, I'd say damage done is done, make the PCS, and then seek medical advice is probably better that what you'll get at Bliss (Navy/Army/Air Force Facilities on the island) and commuting to a therapist in Honolulu will be easier than Tuscon or Dallas. More money there to attract physicians/therapists with better reputations as well.

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CW2 (Join to see)

12 y

Well El Paso has 500k people so you'd think I'd get decent medical care, but it's pretty terrible. I can't PCS on profile, unfortunately...before I was going to try to PCS then get seen at Tripler, but at this point I can barely walk this morning, and I'm not sleeping. So I'm going to have to make a doc appointment and they're gonna have to put me on profile...sadly, because I just got my orders for Hawaii....

You can PCS *TO* Fort Bliss red in MEDPROS but you cannot clear Fort Bliss while red in MEDPROS.

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CW2 Joseph Evans

12 y

Are orders in hand? Time to cash in some leave and consider an early report. You can use the most recent deployment to get around the APFT requirement on the NCOER. Take a little and do what's right for you, so that you can be a better leader in the future.

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SSG (Join to see)

Edited 12 y ago

Posted 12 y ago

SFC,

Not to increase your worry, but yes it can be difficult to bounce back from that surgery. I've been a surgical tech for 17 years and Ortho/Neuro spine was one of my specialties. You have to commit to your physical therapy, follow your doctors advice and recommendations. And most importantly, leave behind any unrealistic expectations. Look for pain relief, and be able to accept that your days of smoking the APFT may be over.

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CW2 (Join to see)

12 y

I can live with not being able to smoke the APFT. But I'm really hoping to not end my career. From what I read the recovery is about two months without a fusion.

I also fully expect to be able to lift weights again. Maybe not 400lb squats but I'm hoping to be able to lift.

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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025

7 y

CW2 (Join to see) If my younger son heats me complaining about my shoulders, he responds that I should be proud of being a ‘has-been’ rather than being a ‘never-was’!!

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SGM (Join to see)

Posted 12 y ago

SFC Jones……I'm so sick of hearing about your disks…suck it up and drive on…j/k. Hope everything works out before you PCS.

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CW2 (Join to see)

12 y

Omg, I'm going to beat you when I see you at Fort Bliss for USASMA :/

It's gotten worse since we were at CNS :(

PS - I finally changed out, had my COR 3 Dec...you too?

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SGM (Join to see)

12 y

No not yet……two more months. I keep hitting up my CSM about it but there doesn't seem to be anyone stepping up to the plate.

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SSG (Join to see)

Posted 5 y ago

I would stay away from the va doing it. I haven't had it done but are considering it. Still consulting with surgery professionals. I,m long retired from service and I believe I was injured on active duty. But I was told I was fine of course I wasn't, but suffering tremendously that's why I am considering it. I wish I knew someone with first hand knowledge I don't. My father had surgery, and was great but it more serious but it took him long time to find a competent surgeon. All I know.

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SPC Mike Lake

Posted 8 y ago

My mom had it in November had 4 buldging discs they fused her L4-5 and she is doing amazing

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Has anyone successfully recovered from lumbar disc surgery?

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