Signing Off - Microdiscectomy +96

I apologise. How neglectful of me not to update you for the past 7 and a bit weeks. But I must confess that it gets worse.... barring unforeseen circumstances this will be my last Microdiscectomy blog. For today dear reader, I saw my surgeon. He pronounced himself happy and discharged me from his care.

So that's that. It's now up to me. I have to listen to his sage advice. Get myself fit, lose some weight and make sure I warm up before doing anything more energetic than tying my shoe laces.

But I get ahead of myself....


Whistle while you work
In my last update I had just completed my first day back in the office and it was both traumatic and painful. It got better. The more I got used to walking the easier it got. Just walking to and from work now totals 50 minutes. 

Work have been very good. They booked a workstation assessment for me who recommended adjustments including a new custom made chair. They have facilitated me working from home two days a week, and travelling off peak on the others. Furthermore, just at the point at which I was  ready to increase my number of days in the office I was sent to a Doctor for an Occupational Health assessment. It was an odd situation for the Doctor, as he found himself telling me that I should come into the office less than I was planning to. I got the impression that he usually tells Work that their staff are fit for work against the wishes of the employees.


Let's get physio-cal
I saw my physio last week. He is very happy with my progress and he intimated that my appointment next week might be my last. I will be sad to end those sessions. He has been really helpful and gives the best massages.

He has been building up my core strengthening exercises. I now have the following added into the mix.

Forearm lift
Lying on my front, my arms tucked together underneath me in line with my body. Raising myself on my forearms and holding for 10 seconds.

this was later replaced by...

Back arch
Lying on my front, elbows pointing out to the sides and my hands flat together under my chin. Raising my upper body up (not too high) using my lower back. Holding for 10 seconds.


Superman
On all fours, stretching one arm out in front of me. Hold for 10 seconds. The removal of one arm propping me up just makes the back work to maintain stability. Repeat with the other arm.

this was later supplemented with..

Reverse Superman
On all fours, stretch one leg out horizontally behind you and hold for 10 seconds. This works on the same principle as the Superman. It also strengthens the glutes, and stronger glutes make for better walking. Repeat with the other leg.


Taking the field
Quite how far I have come was brought home to me at the weekend when I umpired my first cricket match of the year. Last season was a real struggle. Ambitions to umpire at a higher level had been put on hold due to sciatica. Little did I know that the sciatica was caused by a herniated disc. 

Some weeks I was ok. Other weeks I needed tramadol to get through the games. Bending to pick up bails was a problem as was my general mobility. 

On Saturday I was helped by having two understanding teams (Eaton Bray and Newport Pagnell), the captains of whom were happy to allow me to do what I needed to do to get through the game. I was on my feet for 6 hours. I ached a little and by the end I was a bit stiff, but I felt elated. I had come through the match with minimal discomfort, and the discomfort I suffered was from muscles being worked hard and not the pain of an injured back.

Going forward
And so there we are. Life is returning to normal. I will continue to strengthen my core. I will try to help my back out by giving it less to carry. 

Am I glad I had the surgery? Even if I never progress beyond how I feel now it will have been worth it. I hope that I will get stronger and stronger. The numbness is now unlikely to go from my leg and foot but I can live with that.

The surgeon was very positive today. When he told me I needed the operation he told me it would be 6 months before I could consider playing golf. Now he says that with a good warm up I could consider playing it again. In fact apart from heavy lifting or sudden movements with cold muscles, the surgeon says I can pretty much do what I want now. I plan to still take things carefully until my back feels strong again. It feels like a lifetime since I had the op, and I now have a better lifetime to look forward to thanks to the op.

Thanks for reading my blog, and thanks for your company when I was stuck at home earlier in my recovery. Any blogs from now on will be your common or garden variety ramblings. You have been warned ;)

Posture Nazis - Microdiscectomy +46 (6 weeks ish)

The end of the beginning
So it's been a fortnight since I last blogged. In that time there has been more physio (more on that later), steady progress with my recovery, and last week just 2 days short of 6 weeks since the op my Doctor said I could return to work on a phased basis.

This means that I will be working mostly from home to start with, and a couple of days a week in the office. They will be short days to start with as I can't sit for too long and I need to keep exercising. The commute to the office will be off-peak to avoid being crushed or having to stand on my journey to and from work.

I have to say at this point, that work has been very supportive both before and since my operation.

So how did I feel about going back to work? Well it was a milestone for sure. I didn't know if I was physically ready but I was sure mentally ready to return.

I am 6 weeks into a 6 month recovery. Churchill put it very well when he said:

"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning"

Of course, the operation he was talking about was a military one. But a turning point is a turning point.

Physio has been good. Nice and structured. A couple of new exercises have been added:

Hamstring stretch

Sit on the edge of the bed or sofa. One foot on the floor. The other leg lying flat on the bed or sofa. Then lean forward and try to grab the ankle. Feel the hamstring stretch and hold.

Then reverse and do the other leg.

Spinal loosening

Take a bath towel and roll it into a sausage. Then lie down with it across your spine. Start midway up your back. Relax. Feel your spine bend around it. Then move the towel up and repeat until it passes your shoulders

At one point it will feel like your spine must snap. But relax. Allow the vertebrae to articulate. Popping/cracking sounds are ok.

Refinement of glute bridging and core activation exercises

It sounds odd, but I now have to flap my arms up and down with these. I can't remember why this is a good thing, but apparently it is.

Sitting exercises.

I asked for some exercises I could do in long meetings. So I was told I could:

- rock my hips back and forward

- cross my legs in the figure 4 and it will provide a gentle stretch.

- clenching my buttocks

- Doing the core activation exercise but in a sitting position

Posture Nazis

So I went to the office for the first time since the op today. I had asked the train company if I could sit in 1st class where the seats are better for my first few trips. Despite them having had 6 weeks of income from me for nothing, they claimed I was trying to ask for something for nothing. They said I would have to buy an entirely new ticket for each trip, despite already having a season ticket. I couldn't even upgrade. So thank you First Capital Connect for your total lack of understanding that your overcrowded standard class coaches are not good for people with recently sliced open backs.

Getting off the train I reflected that before the op I had needed to hold the hand rails on the stairs at Farringdon station. Now I didn't. This is progress. This shows the op making a tangible difference. I like such things.

When I got to work at 11am I was shattered. The train journey plus around 30 minutes of walking had taken it out of me. But it felt good to be back. My beard caused a stir in some quarters but was generally approved of. I brought the back support from my car and attached it to my chair. That made sitting down relatively comfortable and promoted a good posture at my pc.

I met each of my staff for a catch-up and I compared how I felt talking to them before the op and now. My mind felt so much more alert. I have catching up to do, but not being drugged up on painkillers makes a difference.

I asked my team to tell me if I was stooping as I stood/walked. I need to make sure my posture is good. Dave said "So you want Posture Nazis?", and then in the way that he does, he took a slightly surreal leap "That sounds like something you see advertised on daytime tv. Is poor posture getting you down? then buy Posture Nazi from JML. 'It changed my life' "

You know, that's not such a crazy idea though. Some sort of motion sensitive device should be able to alert you to poor posture. Anyway I digress...

When I left work I could feel soreness in my lower back, particularly to the right. It got worse as I walked. I walked less fluidly. Shorter steps. Slower. Then I realised that I could feel a tightness in my groin/inner thigh. What the hell? This had to be the result of walking oddly. By the time I got to Farringdon I was in a lot of discomfort. I got a seat on the train and whipped out my back support. It did the trick. By the time I got to my home station my back was more relaxed. But the 8 minute walk home took 15 minutes, and as I came in the door I was shattered.

Thankfully salvation was at hand in the form of a lovely hot herbal bath and a very good book. After the bath I felt relaxed. The pain and soreness had largely melted away. 

mmm bubbles

My first day back was not an unqualified success. I probably stayed in the office longer than I should. 

The first is the worst said a friend on facebook. I hope he is right. I have 2 days at home now, but I'm back into London on Friday for a conference and then a friend's birthday in the evening. I hope the second is better than the first.

Onwards and upwards!

Microdiscectomy - One Month on

One month after surgery for a herniated L5-S1 disc, here are some FAQs answered, and a digest of my experiences for the benefit of anyone considering such surgery.

Firstly a caveat. These are my experiences of surgery to my L5-S1 disc and my observations relate solely to my experience. Your experience may differ.

How long will I be in hospital?

You can be out of hospital the same day. I was the first person operated on that day and was on my way home less than 12 hours after entering the operating theatre. However, if your operation is later in the day or your reaction to the anaesthetic is less problem free you may well find you spend one or maybe two nights in hospital.

You should plan to spend at least one night in hospital

How long will I be off work?

I was advised 4-6 weeks before my operation. 

You are well enough to answer emails etc within a couple of day or two of the operation. So if keeping in touch with the office is critical then you can do it. The problem is that sitting for long periods will cause you discomfort. Bad discomfort for the first couple of weeks, getting better progressively. Let's face it, if you are putting yourself through this surgery you need to put yourself first for a while. 

After 4 weeks I felt ready to work, but my back was still not deemed strong enough by the doctor and a further two weeks off work were certificated.

After that 2 week period a phased return is in the offing with a combination of home working and limited travel to work. Gradually getting back to normal patterns of work.

You should definitely plan for a 4 week physical absence from work. Any work you can do remotely should not involved prolonged sitting, and you should take advice re: home office ergonomics.

How long before I am back to normal?

One of the aims of the op was to relieve my sciatica symptoms. It could take up to 6 months to see if this is a success.

My back pain is gone. I can bend without the pain I had before the op. But the strength isn't there. It could be 6 months before I am able to lift any significant weight.

I should be fit to umpire a cricket match after 12 weeks, and fit to resume playing more active sports after 24 weeks (6 months).

Don't expect to be fully recovered (or as recovered as you will be) until 6 months have passed.

What is the operation like?
You are under a general anaesthetic so you won't know anything about it. The operation takes anywhere from 1 to 2 hours. Because you are on your front for the duration of the operation you will have red marks on the front of your body and your face. These will fade. I was taken to the theatre just before 9am, was awake in recovery by around 11.30 and back on the ward by midday.

How will I feel directly after the operation?
You are clearly still full of drugs. I was told I could have various painkillers right up to liquid morphine if I needed it. I didn't. I was stiff and achy, as if I had freshly injured my back (which in a way I had), but apart from some soreness I was not in too much discomfort.

A couple of hours after the op I was able to walk to the toilet to urinate. Upon my return I was able to dress myself.

Depending on when you have your operation and how well you respond to the anaesthetic determines when you will be released from hospital. I was fortunate enough to have been first in theatre that day and was released in the evening.

The 1 hour drive home was not too uncomfortable. Make sure you have soft pillows available to support your back on the journey home.

Plan your journey home with comfort in mind.

What medication will I take?

You may be prescribed a painkiller such tramadol, and make sure you have a supply of ibuprofen at home. The ibuprofen will help to reduce inflammation as well as ease pain. Gabrapentin may also be prescribed if you have neuropathic pain such as sciatic symptoms. I was given two gabrapentin tablets to take the day after the operation and was advised by my doctor that I could have more if I felt serious sciatic pain as my sciatic nerve came back to life.

For a while I took a tramadol and a diazepam tablet each night in order to give me a good start to my night's sleep.

What pain will I be in?
Discomfort and soreness characterise the pain you feel in the first week. If you sit for too long you get sore and stiff. If you walk too much you are sore and ache. There is no getting away from the soreness. But it is manageable with ibuprofen and tramadol.

In the second week I developed more localised pain in my left side. This is the side that the disc was bulging. It may have been a side effect of the exercises I was doing, or a natural reaction to increased activity in general. Within a week this pain had passed.

It is likely that within 2-3 weeks of the operation, any pain you are in will be significantly less and more sporadic than the pain you had before the operation.

After about 10 days, around the same time my mobility real increased. I developed pain and spasms when turning in bed. In order to ensure at least a partially good night's sleep I took tramadol  for the pain and diazepam to relax my muscles. These spasms lasted for 10-14 days but gradually became less frequent.

After 4 weeks you will feel very good in yourself and pain will come and go depending on how well you look after yourself.


Listen to your body and manage your pain



What will my wound be like?
The wound is around 2 inches in length. Neatly sewn with dissolvable stitches. At first look you wonder what kind of scar you will be left with . The sewn up incision is significantly raised. The wound is tender at first but never excessively so.

From 48 hours after the operation significant bruising emerged. It looked blotchy and red. Due to concerns about infection in the wound area I had it checked by a doctor, but it was just natural bruising in reaction to the operation and sitting still.

The dressing on the wound must stay on for 48 hours after the operation. After that there is no increased risk of infection from showering (though a bath is not possible). You are not supposed to soak the wound due to the stitches. I used the antimicrobial wash that I had to bath with pre op. Spread it over the wound and then by the time I had washed my hair I was ready to rinse the wound site and then immediately dry (patting with a towel rather than rubbing).

Scabs will form on the wound. It might itch occasionally, but resist the urge to scratch. Serious itching may be due to infection so keep an eye on the wound (I took photos each day to check if the wound checked in appearance).

In just over 3 weeks the wound was clear of scabs, smooth and well healed.

Look after your wound, keep it clean and if you are concerned about an infection get it checked asap.

Are there any unexpected side effects?
What they don't tell you is that a common side effect of this surgery is that you often get constipated. That's not usually such a big deal, but when your lower back has been sliced open, it is not much fun trying to persuade your body to expel several days of waste.

Try to avoid getting a cold. You don't want to sneeze. For at least 3 weeks this would be very painful. 

When will I be able to drive?

There are several things you need to be able to do consistently and without causing pain before you can drive:

Twist - This is especially the case if you need to reverse.

Emergency Stop - you need to be able to stamp your foot hard onto the brake.

Sit for periods of 30 mins plus - I tried a short drive 12 days after my operation and it left me sore. 4 weeks after the operation I have driven for 40 minutes with no ill effects.

Operate the pedals without discomfort - for obvious reasons.

It may be 3 weeks before you can cope with a drive of 30mins plus with negligible side effects.

What exercises will help?

You should try to be active from your first day at home. Certainly, sitting around all day does nothing to benefit your back. Don't sit for too long. Set an alarm to prompt you to get up regularly. Initially sit for 30 mins and get up for 5. Build to 60 mins with a 10-15 minute period of activity. I filled that time with a rudimentary step routine on my stairs. 50 steps.

A set of light exercises provided by the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals are designed to gently stretch you and maintain flexibility were part of my programme. It said to so them 3 times a day but I didn't get to that level until into my 2nd week. Take advice prior to starting any stretching exercises.

Later I walked with a book balanced on my head to encourage the right posture. There is no sense healing your back into a slouch.

A couple of days after the op I was able to walk 1 mile. It was very tiring but great for my morale. Gradually the walks got longer and the tiredness diminished. The walking became more fluid. The trick is to keep walking regularly.

Walking on uneven surfaces is more of a challenge. After a couple of weeks of very little exercise, your muscles will have weakened, particularly those muscles that give you stability on uneven ground.

My physiotherapist gave me a new set of exercises at the 4 week point.

I will be starting to swim, and my physio recommends backstroke or front crawl. Breast stroke and butterfly are not advised.

Take advice from your surgeon and doctor before the operation to ensure you have an appropriate recovery exercise programme. I wish I had had one from the start. 


Nourish your soul
You will have a lot of time to think. Fill your time productively. Have people visit you and take you out from time to time. Read, enrich yourself by what you watch on tv. Interact with people. You will have a lot of time to yourself. Don't waste it. Construct a plan and get things in place before you have the operation.



Final thoughts
Is this something to be worried about? All surgery has its risks so it would be stupid to say no. But in the hands of a good neurosurgeon this is a routine operation. The results are not entirely predictable however. But if a herniated disc is making your life a misery, or stopping you from being as active as you would like I would recommend it. It is worth the level of discomfort I have had in order to see if it works.

Physio - Microdiscectomy +31

This particular blog post is solely concerned with my trip to the physio and the exercises he gave me.

A tale of two physios
Before my herniated disc was diagnosed I was referred by my doctor for some physiotherapy. While I was waiting for the referral I paid to see the physio on a private basis. There was a noticeable change to how I was treated when my NHS referral came through. As a private patient I received a full 30 minutes of massage, ultrasound and manipulation. As an NHS patient I was given a bit of a stretch, a lower back massage and some ultrasound treatment. None of which did any good, and routinely my 30 minute appointments lasted 20 minutes.

Today I saw a difference physio - a salaried NHS physio rather than a private physio taking NHS referrals. Despite having a far greater degree of information available to him than my previous physio (notes from my surgeon etc), he was so thorough. More thorough than the private physio. He also spotted something that I knew deep down but had got so used to that I thought nothing of it. My lower back is healing well around the site of the operation (he was impressed - yay). It needs strengthening but that is natural. What the NHS physio noticed that the private physio hadn't, was that from the top of my spine downwards there is an incredible degree of stiffness (both muscular and spinal). This is down to a prolonged period of compensating for my weak lumbar region. I have had periodic neck, shoulder and upper back pain which I had put down to commuting, a bad posture or sleeping in a bad position.

So as well as working on my core, the physio will also be working on loosening up my upper spine and surrounding muscles.

In one session I feel much more confident that this physio knows what he is doing. I also saw the difference between NHS staff paid to give the best /most appropriate treatment, and the private sector doing the least possible for their NHS referrals. I'm more convinced than ever that the government's privatisation of provision will lead to a drop in standards?

My New Exercises
So this is what the physio is getting me to do until I see him next in order to ensure my back is more flexible and my core strengthened. This set of exercises to be repeated 3 times a day.

1, Knee Rocks
Lie on your back with your knees bent and pressed together, feet flat on the floor.
Slowly rock the knees (together) from side to side. Gradually increasing the movement as the back stiffness eases.
Do this for 45 seconds

2, Figure '4' stretch
Lie on your back with your knee bent, feet flat on the floor
Cross one leg over the thigh of the other.
Gently pull the knees towards your chest and hold for 10 seconds.
Repeat 3 times on each leg

ignore the instructions on the illustration

3, Glute Bridging

Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat to the floor.

Contract the muscles in your bottom and slowly curl your pelvis off the floor.

Hold for 5 seconds

alternate this with the following exercise 5 times

4, Core Actvation

Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat to the floor

Draw your belly button in towards your spine

Then push your tummy muscles up

Keep breathing as you do this

To tell that this is working - find the bony front of your hips and push fingers in either side. Your flesh will feel soft. You suck your tummy in as if pulling on tight jeans and then when you push the tummy muscles against your fingers you will feel the soft flesh become harder as the muscles push against the fingers.

I'm seeing the physio again in a week's time

24 - Microdiscectomy + 19

Has it really been 19 days?

19 days of these four walls? 19 days of various degrees of pain and boredom? 19 days of overdosing on tv?

Yes it has.

On the plus side I got the date of my first physio session today. 8th April :) So I should start getting some proper focused rehab in a couple of weeks.

There's not really much else to report on the recovery front.


Boxset watch

24 Season 1
I finished the first season today. It has been a compelling rollercoaster of a show. I can see why such a buzz was created at the time, albeit the 24 episode format meant that there were rather more twists and turns than were plausible.

I have rarely seen an organisation on tv that is both as sophisticated as the Counter Terrorist Unit and as fundamentally hopeless. An organisation riddled with incompetence and traitors. Ok, so hopefully all of the traitors are out of the way now. But with 6 more seasons to watch I worry if there will be anyone left by the end.

Much was written about President Palmer and how he may have desensitised America to the concept of a black President. Maybe I will get more of an insight into that in future seasons. I'm not sure I saw it in Season 1. Because as much as he came across well, his wife would have done Michelle Obama no favours whatsoever.

I hope you won't find it too mean of me to say that I am glad Bauer's wife died at the end. She annoyed me. And if his daughter doesn't get her act together soon she will be next for the chop. Keifer Sutherland was simply brilliant as Bauer. No two ways about it. Vulnerable and tough in equal measure. One of tv's great leading men.

Once I get my breath back I will start Season 2, but I think I will hammer some of the other boxsets first...



30 Rock - S1 eps 1-8

Parks and Recreation - S1 full season

Sopranos - S1 eps 1-4
Utopia - full series (6 episodes)



Film Watch

Men In Black 3  3.75/5
The first MiB film was tremendous fun. The second was a bit of a let down. Yeah I know. Sequel in let down shock. Well I'm glad that they waited so long before making the third film because if it wasn't as good as the first it was well on its way.

So basically it is the classic 'reality has been altered so someone has to go back in time to change something and make it all ok again. But it's done well. Some really clever characters, and a lovely visit to Warhol and the Factory. It ended as these things often do with a big set piece historic event as the background. In this case the Apollo 11 launch.

It was smart, it was funny, and it was quite touching at the end. I'm glad I caught this.


Caddyshack 3.25/5
I guess Rodney Dangerfield is an acquired taste, and though Chevy Chase has had his moments this is not really one of them. The film is worthwhile for Bill Murray and the gopher. Between them they steal the film. I loved this film as a kid. It must be 20 years since I last saw it. I don't love it now, but I did enjoy it.

Things I learned today whilst mining the wikipedia page about the film is that the perky breasted and beautiful Cindy Morgan (playing Lacey Underall - clearly a name that the Bond producers felt they could spare) is blind, which makes her diving board leap all the more impressive.


Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines 3.5/5
This is one of those films. You know, the kind you have seen many times but probably not in one sitting? Well that's what it was for me. I remembered elements of it and probably on a Sunday afternoon as a kid I did see the whole thing, but that would have been a long long time ago. It's one of those multi-star vehicles that the 60s did so well and we don't get so much any more. It's a delight to watch. Silly harmless fun where nice guys win and rotters are foiled.

Terry Thomas is brilliant as his proto-Dick Dastardly and Gert Frobe is comedy gold as the hapless German. There is something intensely watchable about this film. It's a bit too loose and rambling to be a true classic but it's a delight.

First Men In The Moon 3/5

I understand this film was remade a couple of years ago. My question would be why? If you want to see a truly excellent recent sci fi film set on the moon, try Moon.

A bit like The Day The Earth Stood Still (TDTESS) last week this was a film very much of its time, with a large debt owed to The Time Machine. After 1969 such fanciful stories were not possible. It is a fantasy. The basic plot is that satronauts landing on the moon discover that in 1899 the Brits got there first. A survivor of the trip is found and tells his tale.

Aesthetically and in its production values the film is very similar to the Peter Cushing Doctor Who movies of 65 and 66. The monsters (insect like Selenites) could equally have appeared in just about any Doctor Who episode until 1989.

Animation is courtesy of the great Ray Harryhausen and works well for a film of its time and type. Like TDTESS there is some moralising. The Selenites try to understand humans but Lionel Jeffries tells them that soldiers are heroes on earth although wars are considered bad, you know things are going to turn ugly. Jeffries stays behind to his fate as his companions escape. When, 70 years later, a multinational team of astronauts explore the moon they find no sign of life and the civilisation in ruins. In a neat twist on The War Of The Worlds, Lionel Jeffries had a cold when he went to the moon and that humble virus was enough to kill the Selenites




The Muppets 4/5
Beginners 3.5/5
Friends With Benefits 3/5
Jeff Who Lives at Home 4/5
The Space Between 4/5
The Challenger 4.75/5
Genevieve 3.5/5
S1M0NE 2.5/5
Yangtse Incident 4/5
The Day the Earth Stood Still 3/5
The Hunger Games 4.25/5

The two week round-up - Microdiscectomy +15

Two weeks ago today I had my operation. Just in case anyone is catching this blog late here is what to expect (based on my experience) if you have microdiscectomy surgery.

The Operation
You are under a general anaesthetic so you won't know anything about it. The operation takes anywhere from 1 to 2 hours. Because you are on your front for the duration of the operation you will have red marks on the front of your body and your face. These will fade. I was taken to the theatre just before 9am, was awake in recovery by around 11.30 and back on the ward by midday.

Directly after the operation
You are clearly still full of drugs. I was told I could have various painkillers right up to liquid morphine if I needed it. I didn't. I was stiff and achy, as if I had freshly injured my back (which in a way I had), but apart from some soreness I was not in too much discomfort.

A couple of hours after the op I was able to walk to the toilet to urinate. Upon my return I was able to dress myself.

Depending on when you have your operation and how well you respond to the anaesthetic determines when you will be released from hospital. I was fortunate enough to have been first in theatre that day and was released in the evening.

The 1 hour drive home was not too uncomfortable. Make sure you have soft pillows available to support your back on the journey home.

Pain
Discomfort and soreness characterise the pain you feel in the first week. If you sit for too long you get sore and stiff. If you walk too much you are sore and ache. There is no getting away from the soreness. But it is manageable with ibuprofen and tramadol.

In the second week I developed more localised pain in my left side. This is the side that the disc was bulging. I hope that this is symptomatic of that part of my body readjusting after the op. Time will tell.

The Wound
The wound is around 2 inches in length. Neatly sewn with dissolvable stitches. At first look you wonder what kind of scar you will be left with . The sewn up incision is significantly raised. The wound is tender at first but never excessively so.

From 48 hours after the operation significant bruising emerged. It looked blotchy and red. Due to concerns about infection in the wound area I had it checked by a doctor, but it was just natural bruising in reaction to the operation and sitting still.

The dressing on the wound must stay on for 48 hours after the operation. After that there is no increased risk of infection from showering (though a bath is not possible). You are not supposed to soak the wound due to the stitches. I used the antimicrobial wash that I had to bath with pre op. Spread it over the wound and then by the time I had washed my hair I was ready to rinse the wound site and then immediately dry (patting with a towel rather than rubbing).

Unexpected side effects
What they don't tell you is that a common side effect of this surgery is that you often get constipated. That's not usually such a big deal, but when your lower back has been sliced open, it is not much fun trying to persuade your body to expel several days of waste.

Exercise
You should try to be active from your first day at home. Certainly, sitting around all day does nothing to benefit your back. Every hour or so get up and walk around for 10 mins. I did a rudimentary step routine on my stairs. 50 steps.

Later I walked with a book balanced on my head to encourage the right posture. There is no sense healing your back into a slouch.

A couple of days after the op I was able to walk 1 mile. It was very tiring but great for my morale. Gradually the walks got longer and the tiredness diminished. The walking became more fluid. The trick is to keep walking regularly.

A set of light exercises provided by the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals are designed to gently stretch you and maintain flexibility are part of my programme. It says to so them 3 times a day but I didn't get to that level until into my 2nd week.

Driving
I was told that you can drive when a) you are comfortable turning your body and b) when you would be able to make an emergency stop without problems. I tried driving 12 days into my recovery. Just a short drive to the shops. Afterwards I felt stiff. I know that I could drive if I needed to, but I will take it slowly.

Nourish your soul
You will have a lot of time to think. Fill your time productively. Have people visit you and take you out from time to time. Read, enrich yourself by what you watch on tv. Interact with people.

Getting back to normal
One of the aims of the op was to relieve my sciatica symptoms. It could take up to 6 months to see if this is a success.

I should be able to work from 4 weeks after the op, though I might not be up to commuting for a little while after that.

I will be having physio, hopefully from around 4 weeks after the op. I will also be able to swim from around that point. Running is still not possible because of the impacts it sends through your spine, but walking on a treadmill or cycling on an exercise bike are possible (as long as the back can cope).

I should be fit to umpire a cricket match after 12 weeks, and fit to resume playing more active sports after 24 weeks (6 months).

Final thoughts
Is this something to be worried about? All surgery has its risks so it would be stupid to say no. But in the hands of a good neurosurgeon this is a routine operation. The results are not entirely predictable however. But if a herniated disc is making your life a misery, or stopping you from being as active as you would like I would recommend it. It is worth the level of discomfort I have had in order to see if it works.