Question
QUESTION: Good morning
Find myself at 60 w.a synovial cyst R lateral recess @ L5 compressing the rL5 nerveroot, displaces the centeral canal.
I am scheduled for surgery but havenen't been able to find post surgery info re imoblization, exersices etc. your thoughts would be appreciated. thanks ds

ANSWER: Hi Dave,

Very smart of you to inquire about post-op care or lack of.

Seems you have been down this road before.;)

You definitely need surgery, the best tool for the job would be interferential therapy and ice until the pain reaches 3/10, 10 being the worst, 1 being the least.

Then you'll need therapeutic ultrasound to dissolve and break up the inevitable scar tissue.

Find a D.C./P.T. that does this in your area and you should breeze through the procedure.
Many people don't think past the surgery, you did, for that you will be rewarded with a good clinical outcome if the surgeon doesn't screw up. It should be a piece of cake, but I have seen the most benign procedures go terribly wrong.

Keep in touch with the Man upstairs, cross your fingers and pray nothing goes wrong. If you get past the surgery and are out of the hospital, the sooner the better, then you're home free with the above modalities.

Good Luck and God Bless!
Dr. Timothy Durnin
drs.chiroweb.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Dr. Durnin
Any direction for pre operation exersises and post op mobility directed programs.
Thought I would ask while you are on a roll.

Thanks again
Dave Swezey

Answer
Thanks Dave for your kind words!

Just follow the pre-op instructions, no food and little drink 12 hrs before surgery.

Since this is just a small incision with no vital tissue removal, returning to normal activities of daily living should be enough.

Icing it down 6x/day for 15 minutes for a week should wipe out any post-op inflammation. The big concern will be jumping the hurdle of pain soon after surgery. The sooner you get to a 3/10, the sooner they can do a heat modality that dissolves scar tissue.

Stay at it, it only lasts 5 minutes/3X a week for 6 wks. I promise you that this is key to long term positive outcomes vs. those that go bad.

After the US treatments, you can go back to doing whatever you want within reason. I can fax you some exercises for low back stabilization or e-mail them to you when you're ready.

Just ask after you recover and I will be here to answer any questions you might have regarding your post-op care.

Happy Fathers Day!

Dr. T