Recovering from leg weakness after discectomy

mstikes · #1 (**permalink**) 05-16-2012, 03:30 AM

I'm now 6 weeks post discectomy and both my legs remain very weak making it extremely hard to walk even with a cane. What's more worrying is that my right leg has started to shake significantly below the knee for the last few days.

I have am EMG scheduled in 10 days but I'm getting really worried seeing that my situation seems to be worsening daily now with the leg trembling and I don't see what my surgeon could do in the meantime ?

jsewell · #2 (**permalink**) 05-16-2012, 07:58 PM

For your safety , maybe you should use a walker for a little while, i know it is hard psychologically. I had to do it a few times after surgery. It is still early for you too , only 6 weeks. i hope you do see some improvement. I agree, i don't think there is anything your surgeon can do at this time before the EMG. so hang on i'll be thinking about you,.
I do remember it takes months to feel better after surgery too. Even when a painful disk is removed. At least that is what happened to me.
judy

mmglobal · #3 (**permalink**) 05-17-2012, 05:52 PM

mtsikes,

HAVE THEY RULED OUT OTHER POTENTIAL ISSUES THAT MIGHT CAUSE THE WEAKNESS???

Is it possible that they are focusing on the disc herniation which was causing SOME of your symptoms, but the weakness comes from something else? Thoracic MRI? Cervical? Brain? Hematoma at surgery site?

Even if the discectomy made things worse... It still could be coming from somewhere else and it was aggravated by moving you around. This is not very common, but I have seen it reported and have discussed the possibility with many spine surgeons... the risk of this is real. (Again, I'm not suggesting that I know what is happening or that this is a likely culprit, I'm just suggesting some possibilities that you might want to ask your surgeon about.)

Mark