Question
Interesting that you are originally from Hadassah Medical Center! I am a Hadassah lady:)

I had a microdiscectomy and laminectomy of the lumbar 4-5 area. I herniated the disc all the way out and it was removed (most if not all). This was 2 1/2 months ago. I still have numbness in my buttocks, crotch and foot. The neurosurgeon has now said that I only have a 25% chance of that numbness going away. Do you have the same opinion and is there anything I can do to help the healing process?

Thank you!

Answer
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Dear Ms. Kleinberg,

Assuming that there are no technical problems with the surgery (missed level, root injury etc), recovery is usually slow and unpredictable in many cases. When a nerve root is damaged by a herniated disc, all of the functions it serves are affected. Pain is felt in the nerve root's distribution, muscles innervated by the nerve lose some or even all of their power, and sensation is lost in the corresponding skin areas.
After surgery, pain is usually relieved immediately. Muscle power is next to recover (fully or partially), and sensation is the last to return ?if at all.
There is nothing active you can do to help this healing process. It will either recover or not. There are various therapies which supposedly improve nerve conduction, but none of them has proven to be effective when evaluated scientifically. I would do a follow-up MRI with Gadolinium injection at about four to six months from surgery, to verify that there is no residual compression, if the symptoms are not improving by then.

During my years in medical school, I was head of the Jerusalem Society of Medical Students for two office terms, and in that capacity met with Hadassah lady representatives on several occasions. We are always appreciative of the efforts you do on behalf of medical education and practice in Israel.

I hope you feel better,

Dr. N. Rahamimov