Consequences of an operation | What are the consequences of a slipped disc?

Consequences of an operation

The most commonly used surgical technique for removing a herniated disc is open surgery (microsurgical discectomy). With this procedure, even in complicated and severe cases, one has full insight into the area to be operated. This operation requires a general anaesthetic, which in turn is associated with risks.

Especially in older patients, the anaesthesia can cause a “passage syndrome”. The patients are confused for a short time after the operation. However, this confusion usually disappears in the following days.

Risks of such an operation are sudden bleeding, injury to nerves in the area of the spine and infections via the open wound. As a lot of tissue is destroyed during open surgery, the body requires a relatively long recovery period. Such an operation therefore involves a hospital stay of several days.

Further consequences of such an operation are of course the elongated scar and, in this context, greater wound pain. In rare cases, bleeding may also occur after the operation, if a suture was insufficient. If nerves were damaged during the operation, nerve damage may occur after the operation (depending on the location, for example, tingling and sensation disorders in the arm or leg).

In extremely rare cases, a nerve injury can lead to complete paralysis. If the surgical wound has been contaminated with germs or if the wound edges have become infected after the operation (for example, if the wound is not covered with sterile plasters long enough after the operation); this can lead to fever or, in serious cases, to life-threatening blood poisoning (sepsis). For this reason, nowadays more and more attempts are being made to remove the bandage disc prolapse in a minimally invasive way.

This can be done on an outpatient basis and even only under local anaesthetic. The scars are smaller and the patient recovers much faster. Sepsis is one of the possible consequences of an operation. You can find detailed information on this under: Sepsis

Psychological consequences of a slipped disc

Depending on how long the herniated disc and its symptoms persist, psychological stress can result. Especially if the herniated disc causes severe, long-lasting pain, this can mean a great deal of suffering. In addition to the pain, muscular tension can considerably restrict the ability to cope with everyday life.

Personal hobbies, especially in sports, can often no longer be pursued. The pain can also cause sleep disorders. People who cannot sleep because of pain feel weak all day long, are in a bad mood and easily irritated.

This also affects the immediate environment, for example friends and family. Depending on how strong the social support and also the personal handling of the disease is, a herniated disc can affect each patient differently.