L4-L5 endoscopic discectomy
So I've been lurking on this sub for a while reading everyone's stories while lying on my couch unable to stand straight. Finally have something worth posting.
Quick background: 34M, 185cm, 95kg. Used to be pretty serious in the gym back in my steroid junky days in 2017, now just a normal fit guy. In 2023 I was playing padel and went for this insane twisted shot to save the ball and felt my back just give out. Like something snapped. Recovered in about 3 months and thought that was it.
January 2024 it came back. Then January 2026 was a completely different level. I literally could not stand when I twisted. Sciatica shooting all the way down to my butt, couldn't sit comfortably, couldn't sleep properly. Over a year of this nonsense affecting everything, work, life, mood, everything.
Finally got referred to an orthopedic consultant who looked at my MRI and basically said yeah that L4-L5 disc is cooked, you need an endoscopic discectomy.
Honestly I was nervous. Going under general anesthesia, spine surgery, the whole thing felt intense. But I was more tired of living with the pain than scared of the surgery.
Day of surgery I woke up from anesthesia and the first thing I noticed that the sciatica was gone. Like completely gone. That shooting pain that had been my daily companion for over a year, just gone. I walked within the first hour. Ate a proper meal two hours later. Slept in the hospital that night, went home the next morning and yes I drove myself home which apparently I should not have done but here we are.
One week later and I genuinely live normally. Driving, shopping, went out everyday since. The only pain I have is minor soreness at the surgery site which gets better every day. Now i just chill playing warzone is back and trading nasdaq.
The thing that surprised me most was how fast it was. I spent over a year trying physio, injections, pain meds, rest, everything. One surgery and one week later I feel better than I have since 2023.
They actually gave me the removed disc tissue in a little specimen jar to take home. Looks like a tiny dead axolotl floating in saline 😂 Hard to believe that little piece of tissue was the source of all that suffering for over a year.
For anyone on the fence: I know spine surgery sounds terrifying. I know everyone has a horror story. But if conservative treatment has failed you and your surgeon is recommending endoscopic, at least have the serious conversation. For me personally it was the best decision I made.
Still have to wait before getting back in the gym which is killing me. But I'll take it.
I feel free although I'm wearing this back support thingy.
AMA.