Bed BACK and Beyond

Barricade Implant Herniated Disc Recovery Story

• Christine King

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We talk with Cassie about living through an L5-S1 herniated disc that made walking nearly impossible, then choosing a microdiscectomy with the Barricaid implant to get her life back. We get honest about sciatica, surgery-day surprises, nerve symptoms that linger, and the mental game of moving again without fear. 
• how an old injury and years of flare-ups lead to a major herniation 
• what sciatica feels like when leg pain becomes the main symptom 
• trying physical therapy steroid injections and nerve ablation 
• why her MRI results pushed a neurosurgery referral 
• how the Barricaid implant works and when surgeons decide to use it 
• pre-op anxiety anesthesia quirks and an unexpected vancomycin allergy 
• waking up in intense pain then learning to stay ahead of meds 
• early recovery basics walking each hour ice packs and helpful home gear 
• dealing with ongoing foot and calf numbness plus toe weakness 
• physical therapy focused on nerve recovery and rebuilding confidence 
• returning to CrossFit safely PRs after surgery and fear around soreness 
• advice on trusting your care team getting more opinions and not doom-scrolling outcomes 
If you are a listener and you have a positive story of recovery from a herniated disc or other back injury, head over to bedbackbeyond.com and click share your story. I would love to include your voice on the show. 


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Cold Open And Show Welcome

SPEAKER_03

And I tell people all the time, I'm like, it's unfortunate what happened to my leg. Um, but you know, like I said, I will never know what caused it, and like I have to make peace with that, and that's fine. Um, but I would do this over a hundred times.

SPEAKER_00

Welcome to Bed Back and Beyond, sharing positive stories of recovery from serious back or neck injury. Your host is CK, a fellow champion who draws on her own experience with permeative disc surgery. Join her as she talks with others who have overcome the physical and emotional trauma of a painful injury. And discover for yourself how you can find hope and encouragement in recovery.

Meet Cassie And Her CrossFit Life

SPEAKER_01

Hi, and welcome to this episode of Bed Back and Beyond. I'm your host, CK, and today we get to talk to a barricade patient, Cassie. She wants to come on and share her journey. So let's jump right into her story. Hi, Cassie. Thank you so much for joining me on this episode of Bed Back and Beyond. Before we dive into your injury, how about you tell us a little bit about yourself?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, um, so my name's Cassie. Um, we moved to Ohio about three years ago. Um, so we've been here dealing with winter the last couple months.

SPEAKER_05

Horrible.

SPEAKER_03

Um, I uh currently work for an audit company, um, which has been, you know, really interesting and fun. And um kind of outside of work, um, my husband and I both do CrossFit. Um, and so that's pretty fun. I know I'm sure some people are listening to this going, like, what? Um, and then we have two dogs, two Bostons. Um, they are behind me, so you might see them at some point.

SPEAKER_01

I have a couple uh walking videos on my channel just to you know help people walk after their surgery. And my little beagle can be seen sometimes just walking around me or just sleeping most of the time in the background. Yeah, same. How long were you doing CrossFit?

SPEAKER_03

Um, I've been doing CrossFit now for four years. Do you deadlift? Yes. Um, I actually just PR'd my deadlift um at 200 pounds. So wow.

SPEAKER_01

PR means personal record for those non-lifters out there. I did some lifting years ago. It wasn't CrossFit, but my PR was 195. Oh, very cool. Yeah, I miss it. I do miss it terribly.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, it um it is not for everybody, I will say, um, but it's really fun, and it's definitely once you're in it, you're fine, it's like, oh, I want to go all the time and I want to learn all the things.

SPEAKER_01

Like, yeah. When you see that cut line starting to form on the bicep, it becomes so addicting. Every once in a while I tell my husband, I'm like, oh, look at them. I might have to get back to lifting after this conversation. I'm supposed to anyway. I'm in that pre-meropenopause age where they're telling me, you gotta lift weights.

SPEAKER_02

Hey, you know, if you're ever in Ohio, you're welcome to come to RGM.

unknown

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01

So then you ended up with a herniatic disc.

SPEAKER_03

I did, yes. Um, it has been it's what seems like a lifetime of back problems. So it all kind of started when I was 16. Um, my now husband and I were involved in a drunk driving accident. Um, and at that point, it had just been I had a couple bulging discs, and I was like, okay, like, you know, they were like, oh, everybody has these, it's not a big deal. And I was like, okay, that's cool. Um flash forward to when I was in like my mid-20s. Um I was at the gym, um, and I had felt something that wasn't quite right. Um, I had it wasn't like a pop or like a burn or anything. I just kind of knew like something didn't feel right anymore. Um, and I went home that night and I couldn't stand up straight. Um, and I was like, oh, something's really bad. Um, so you know, we went to the doctor and they were like, hey, um, you know, you have a herniated disc, but we want to try like some therapy and see how it goes. So I was like, okay. What year was this? Sorry. Oh, no, it's okay. This was in 2022. Okay. So four years ago. Um, and you know, did the therapy, didn't really do much. And so they were like, hey, let's do um some steroid injections and then leading to an ablation. And I was like, okay, cool. Um, the ablation, you know, worked. It did what it was supposed to. I didn't feel. Um, but one of the big issues I had with it was I felt like it was just a band-aid of sure, I'm not feeling, but I'm still doing damage.

SPEAKER_01

Do you mind explaining what an ablation is?

The Pop That Sent Her To ER

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, so an ablation, um, they went in and they basically burned your nerves. Um, and so any pain that I was feeling, I didn't have nerves there anymore. Um, and so I couldn't feel it. And um, from that, I did have a weird complication that's not very common. Um, I had post-hop neuropathy. And so basically, like my skin was very tender. It felt like an extreme sunburn all the time. Um, so that was pretty awful. And unfortunately, about a year and a half later, um, which is now about a year and a half ago now, um, I went to sit up off my couch one day and I felt this really hard pop. And I was like, that's not good. Um, you know, I got up and I felt fine. Um, and then later that night, we had thought that I had broken my hip. Um, because I couldn't stand up straight. I couldn't put any weight on my leg. And I was like, something is really wrong. Like this, I was like crying. It was a whole thing. Um, and but you know, naive patient. I was like, well, maybe I'll give it a couple of days. And my husband's like, we're going to the hospital tomorrow.

SPEAKER_01

I'm like, okay. The day of the day of my herniation, I was supposed to be going to my cousin's wedding. And I woke up and was rolling around screaming and hollering. And my husband says, you know, we're gonna we're gonna call an ambulance. I was like, but I gotta get ready for the wedding. He said, honey, you're not going to the wedding. What?

SPEAKER_03

It's hard being a woman. We always have things to do. And um, so we went to the hospital. Um, they ran an MRI and they were like, hey, like, you know, at the time she had thought I had a break. She was like, this doesn't sound like a disc. And I was like, oh, okay. And before we even got in the car in the parking lot, they had uploaded my results and it said that I had an L5S1 permeation with uh nerve root involvement. And I was like, you know, that's a lot of not good words.

SPEAKER_01

Was the pain just in your back or was it going down your leg?

SPEAKER_03

So my symptoms this time were really crazy. My first perniation, it was really just my back, and it was only like if I had gone and like worked out that it like kind of, you know, irritated it. Um, this time I had had the worst sciatica I've ever felt. Um, it was like I've explained to my husband almost like a lightning bolt like wrapped around my leg. Um, and it was hot and sharp all the time. Like my leg was super painful. Um, and what was weird was my back, unless I burnt like bent certain ways, I didn't really feel my back. It was all my leg. And I was like, this is wild.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. I was trying to convince myself initially, uh, before the big herniation event, I was having like a stabbing pain in my glute. And and I was trying to convince myself that it was that piriformis syndrome. Because there's no way when the pain is over here to the left, that it's coming from my back. I my brain just couldn't connect that that's what was going on.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, I had thought of that as well. I was like, I don't understand what's wrong with my leg. Like, I know they're saying it's my back, but why does my leg hurt so bad?

L5-S1 Diagnosis And Treatment Plan

SPEAKER_01

Then you soon discover. So you found out at the hospital that day that it was the L5S1. Yes. Okay. Yeah. What was their route for treatment from there?

SPEAKER_03

So from there, because I had had the previous herniation and the ablation and the therapy, they're like, We're gonna send you to a neurosurgeon. And I was like, whoa, whoa, whoa, you know, this feels really dramatic. And they're like, um, you can't walk. And I was like, okay, you know, we can talk about it. So I go and I see the neuro neurosurgeon, um, and they were really great. He's retired now. It's Dr. Taha um over at Kettering Health. Him and his PA, uh, Dr. Nathan, they were fabulous. Um, they came in, of course. I'm crying. I'm like, I'm 29 years old, like I don't I don't want a fusion, like blah blah blah. And they're like, um, we wouldn't do a fusion anyway, because you're 29. So like you can relax.

SPEAKER_02

And I was like, okay.

SPEAKER_03

Um and um they had had the barricade sitting like in a model on the desk. And I was like, oh, well, that looks kind of interesting. They're like, well, you'd be a good candidate depending on like the size of the hole that'll be left after the dissectomy. And I was like, okay, and um kind of just talked me through it. Um at the time, it seemed really great. They're like, you know, it's a really quick surgery. You'll wake up, you know, take a couple of days off, and then you know, depending on how you are, you might go to therapy, you might not. Um, and they're like, that's pretty much it. And I was like, this seems too good to be true. Like, what do you mean? Um, and so that day, you know, I went home and I talked to my husband, and we were kind of like, well, this seems like the right fit. Um, because you know, at the time it's like I couldn't sit up straight, I could barely walk for more than a few minutes, I couldn't bend over. And I was like, my quality of life is just not, you know, there.

SPEAKER_01

Right. Yeah. This would have been your first surgical experience.

SPEAKER_03

Besides my wisdom teeth, yeah. This was the first like crazy one. And even like still say I tell my husband, I'm like, it doesn't seem like I had back surgery. Um, and also I I do downplay it a lot where I'm like, yeah, you know, they went in and they did some stuff, and people are like, You had back surgery. I'm like, yeah, but it's fine.

SPEAKER_01

Like when you say I had spine surgery, though, that makes it sound more dramatic. Right. Yeah. Oh my goodness. Yeah, my this was my first major surgery. I had my wisdom teeth out. I've never broken a bone. I had a couple stitches, and then next thing I know, I need spine surgery. Right.

SPEAKER_03

And I'm like, you know, there were there could have been a less dramatic way to get there.

Deciding On Surgery And Barricaid

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. But my my doctor was kind of the same way, like, let's just get you the surgery and get you out of pain, and then made it sound so simple. Yeah. But uh the recovery was not so simple. It was not, let me tell you. So, how long did you have to wait between your going to the ER versus getting the surgery?

SPEAKER_03

So I got injured in July. Um, saw the neurosurgeon, I believe, in September. And he was like, I have an opening Monday. And I was like, Look, Dr.

SPEAKER_02

Taha, please, this is really aggressive.

SPEAKER_03

Um, I was like, let me get through the holidays, you know, and I was like, Well, circle back. And so he was like, Okay, he's like January 9th. And I was like, Okay. I was like, that sounds fine, I guess.

SPEAKER_01

Like until January.

SPEAKER_03

I know. Um, still looking back, it seemed unnecessary. But we were traveling for the holidays, and so I was like, the timeline, I was like, I'll barely be six weeks out um by the time we had to travel. And I was like, I don't know, let's just do it after, and then I don't have to worry about it.

SPEAKER_01

What would you say that your pain level was at while you were waiting?

SPEAKER_03

Um, like an eight every day. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

I was like, give me the surgery.

SPEAKER_03

I know. I was like, you know what, we're gonna push through, it's fine. So, like the week before my surgery, um, we were down at my mom's in Florida, and I had just been, you know, hanging out, relaxing, and I had relaxed so much that I was like, Do I need the surgery? And my husband was like, Um, go walk down the street. And I was like, You need to mind your business, okay? This is my back we're talking about. Yeah, I'm like, I'm fine. He's like, Yeah, you don't move.

SPEAKER_01

How many people on the Reddit forum say, Hey, do I really need the surgery? I'm actually starting to feel so much better.

SPEAKER_03

So many people, and I try to respond to them, and I'm like, look, I didn't know that your brain has this like really like defense mechanism of being like, no, we're fine. Like, that's dangerous. We're fine. And I'm like, no, like you know when you need it. Like, if you're talking yourself out of it, you need it.

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

So okay, so then you went in in January for your surgery. How much prep did you did you know how to prepare for the surgery or did you go in blind?

Waiting In Pain And Doubting Surgery

SPEAKER_03

I was um pretty naive looking back now. Um, I had always been a person that like over-researched things. Um, and so I think that was also part of the reason why I was like, do I really need this? Um, because I had looked into so many things, and why I try to be so adamant about like keeping up with my story is every single story I was reading was like, don't do it, it's gonna ruin your life. You know, I can't do things anymore. I'm in more pain. I've needed second surgeries. And so I was like, oh no. Um, and so my surgeon popped in day of, and he was like, Hey, like, did you have any questions? And my um anesthesiologist was also in the room, and all of a sudden I hear my monitor like going off, and I look over and like my heart rate was going so fast. And my husband was like, Are you okay? And I was like, I felt okay, but clearly I'm not. So um, yeah, I was pretty naive with the whole thing. Um, like that body wash stuff that they give you, where it's like scrub yourself of any germ you've ever had, was like pretty intense. Um, and then getting there, Kettering Hospital was great. Um, it was a really fast prep, but it was very like efficient. Um, you know, I came in, they took my vitals, and they kind of just went from there. I was meeting someone every like five minutes. Um, and we found out that day I'm also allergic to vancomycin. Um, they went to give it to me, and I'm sitting there and I'm like, and I'm really itchy. And my husband comes over, he goes, Um, you have a lot of hives on you. And I was like, Oh no. So I pressed the button. I've never seen people move so quickly. Um, there were people that they're like, Do you feel itchy? Can you breathe? I'm like, Well, I'm just kind of itchy. Like, I got the largest syringe of Benadryl I've ever seen in my life. So then in like in the meantime, as they're giving me this Benadryl, my surgical team comes in. And at this point, I'm like sitting there and I'm about to like start crying because I'm like, these people just walked in. They're probably like, this girl is a mess. Like, what is happening? I'm like, I'm so sorry. So I have um naturally red hair, and so I always said that yeah, for a lot of people know because you have red hair. So you like go through uh anesthesia a little bit faster, I guess. And so my uh I had a student anesthesia, like anesthesiologist, and she asked me, She's like, Oh, are you naturally red haired? And I started like crying. I'm like, I'm so sorry. She's like, No, it's okay. So it was a hot mess.

SPEAKER_01

Talk about nerve wracking. I would have just been like, give me the volume, please.

SPEAKER_03

Oh yes, I I did get it rolling down to the hallway, and then I like it was like a warm hug. It was so nice.

SPEAKER_01

Now, did they were you asleep before you went into the OR or did they roll you into the OR?

SPEAKER_03

So I uh it's uh questionable. So I knew they gave me um one of the like first drugs that like you can fall asleep with. I am like notorious for fighting anesthesia. Um, I really honestly think it's like the red hair thing. Um, even when I got my wisdom teeth done, they had a lot of trouble putting me to sleep. And so I was fully awake until they put the mask on. Oh my goodness. So I was just sitting there chatting, telling them about stuff. And I remember I was laying there and all of a sudden, like I started slurring my words, and I looked over at my anesthesiologist, he goes, Oh, there it is. And then I was putting the mask on my face. And I was like, Good night.

SPEAKER_01

I was asleep in the in the pre-op room before they even rolled me. Because I don't sleep well, so I'm like, put me asleep, please.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, I wish because I remember for like two days after my surgery, I was like, I who knows what I said. Like it's like the worst like blackout ever. I'm like, I have no idea what I said. These people are probably gonna remember me forever.

SPEAKER_01

Oh goodness. Now, you um the barricade implant, did they know ahead of time, or is that something they can't tell until they're actually inside looking at your disc?

SPEAKER_03

So the barricade, I guess, comes in two sizes. Um, it's either a six millimeter or an eight millimeter, um, which from what he explained to me, it was just the size of the hole that it can plug. Um, and then anything below or above that, I wouldn't be a candidate. Um, so they actually didn't know until they were in my surgery. Um, and he had said when they cut the partial disc, um he was like, then we'll measure the hole. Um and he's like, and then we'll kind of make like a game day decision. And I was like, okay. And so my surgery was originally only supposed to be an hour and a half. Um, my husband told me later it actually ended up taking three hours. Um, and like I had asked my friend about it, she's an anesthesiologist, and she was like, It's pretty normal for back surgeries. She's like, you know, like you got to get in there, and then they do like the first part they knew they were gonna do. She's like, and then they have to prep your device and all the things, and she's like, um, they bring in like a machine to see it once it's in place, and she's like, So it's normal, you're fine.

SPEAKER_04

I was like, okay.

SPEAKER_01

Now the device is metal, correct? Yes. Do they have to do any metal testing to see if you're allergic to it?

SPEAKER_03

Um, not that I know of. I know that I got a lot of blood work beforehand. Um, so it is possible that they did. Um, I believe that it's titanium. Um so I don't know if that makes a difference if they're kind of like, yeah, you're fine. Um, so it's like a little metal anchor part with a little um, I don't believe it's silicone, but it's like some kind of flexible material like an arm. Um, and they take once they take um the part of my discs out, they take this metal part and they hammer it into my like actual vertebrae. Um, and then the arm pops up, so it keeps the remaining disc I have left inside.

SPEAKER_01

Okay. That's pretty cool. So it took three hours to do that procedure. Yes. How did you feel when you woke up?

SPEAKER_03

Um, that is the one part that I don't try to make this sound scary in any aspect to people going into this because I think that's the main thing is people are scared of the pain. Um, I know I was. I told them my number one fear is I was scared of waking up in pain. Um, and again, it could just be something, you know, I require more pain medication, also. Um, so when I woke up, I was in this like unbelievable pain. Um, my back and my hip had felt really awful, um, which they told me later was probably just from the hammering, because they're like, it's really aggressive. Yeah. And so they had told me that. And I remember I was down in Pacquiao um for probably an hour and a half, um, just because they were trying to manage my pain and find something that like worked for me. Um, so it is the one thing that I wish my expectation had been set a little better for of like, you're not gonna wake up and feel nothing. So yeah, that was um not great. But once it was under control, they they really stressed me, you know, stay on top of it. They're like, don't get behind your pain meds because it's harder to control again. Right. Um, so once they found me a good level, I was great. Um, and I stayed on pain meds for like four days, and then I was completely off of them by the fifth day.

SPEAKER_01

Were you able to go home that day or did they keep you overnight?

SPEAKER_03

No, yeah, it was an outpatient. Um, so after I was done in PACU, they were like, hey, you gotta go to the bathroom and then you can leave. And I was like, Okay.

SPEAKER_02

Okay, but then what do I do?

SPEAKER_01

I was a crier. I woke up from surgery and just started bawling. Um people react that way, apparently. And then I threw up. I also threw it. Oh no. Uh but I had to uh I I had a tear in my Dora, so I had a spinal fluid leak, so I had to stay in the hospital for three nights on my back. Yeah. That's the way you're like, I just can't move. Like but I think they had me on IV pain medicine because I don't remember much surgical incision pain. Oh, good. Yeah. That's the best thing. I just had to drink this disgusting uh was it confie or this like bone broth for the first couple days? It was gross. You're like, I don't want this. So what were your uh directions for when you got home?

SPEAKER_03

So um it was very limited. I know a lot of people still think it's like the no bending, lifting, twisting. Mine was very minimal. If I could avoid it, don't do it. And they were more strict on like the lifting and twisting. He was like, you can bend. He's like, just do it slowly. And if it starts to hurt, stop doing it. And I was like, that's fair. Like, um, so, but I was honestly not like, I'm sure you know, like that, it's like that apprehension to move. Um, and so I was honestly not trying to do anything. Um, and they were like, you also have to get up and walk every hour. And I was like, what do you mean? What are you saying to me?

SPEAKER_01

I wanted to be laying on this couch and having food brought to me. Right. Like I'm like, I feel like that's not asking for a lot.

SPEAKER_03

And um at the time we had had this couch that was obscene, obscenely low. Um, and so getting up and off of it, uh like up and down was pretty hard. Um, and so you know, I had like figured out this way to keep an ice pack directly on my incision, um, like with a towel. And I like had put it like in my waistband and then like kind of tied my shirt. And then like I would have to slowly lower myself onto the couch. So, and one of our neighbors actually had a walker. Um, and she was like, Hey, like, do you want this? Just like brace yourself. And I was like, Yeah, that'd be great. And that and a like a little hand grabber changed my life. I was like, I still use that hand grabber, like you drop something behind the couch.

SPEAKER_01

I'm like, Yeah, get the grabber. Somebody lent me handlebars that fit around the toilet. Yeah, that was a lifesaver. Because sitting down to and standing back up from the toilet was so difficult without those bars.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah. I was like, I don't know how people do it. Like, and you never realize how far your toilet is until like you have back surgery and you need to sit down.

SPEAKER_01

Now you said um you were hesitant to bend. Was that because of the back pain it caused? Or even with the barricade, did you have re-herniation fears?

SPEAKER_03

So I didn't have any back pain once I was on the pain meds. Um, I think it was just that like my body trying to protect itself of like subconsciously, I think I was scared of bending and that I was gonna re-hurt myself. Um, because they had said for the first, I think it was like two weeks. They're like, is your highest risk of reherniating? They're like, the device isn't going anywhere. Um, but they're like, there is a chance that you could like pop a new hole. And I was like, oh, okay. Yeah, chase. And so then I was like, yeah, I'm not ever picking anything up again.

Waking Up In Pain Then Home Rules

SPEAKER_01

So you did mention that the recovery was a little bit difficult. What makes you say that?

SPEAKER_03

So um when I woke up, I'm sure you saw like on one of my posts, I had like some post-op issues with my leg, um, which I kind of assumed um when I had woken up that something wasn't right. Um, I went to stand up to use the bathroom before I could go. And I stepped on my right foot and like it wasn't there. And I was like, oh, okay, this is really weird. Um, and for anyone that's getting freaked out, you know, hang in there. Uh, and so I told my discharge nurse, I was like, hey, I can't feel my foot. And he was like, Well, did you have numbness before? I was like, Yeah, but this is like like when your foot falls asleep and you try to stand on it. I was like, it's not there. Um and he was like, Okay, he's like, I'll let your surgeon know. I was like, okay. Um, they wanted me, I had my first post op on Monday. I had a surgery on Thursday. My first post op was Monday. Um, and they were like, Yeah, just like give it a couple days. A lot of time the swelling um can just kind of like irritate things and then moving the nerves and whatnot. And I was like, okay, cool. Um, the first couple of days, nothing changed in my leg. And I was like, Well, this is really scary. Um, you know, like what's going on? Like I knew, you know, in that really long packet they give you that it was a possibility that there could be some issues, and even the duration that I had had the initial injury kind of put me on like the higher end of having complications. Um, and so I was like, Well, they said to wait, so like let's just wait. Um, you know, I was up and walking the next day with my walker, I did like a lap around the table. Um, I was having some issues, um, kind of just getting comfortable, really. Um, and I found out ice packs are like, you know, the best thing you can ever do for yourselves. Um, I had bought like a pregnancy pillow just to sleep in because I was like so scared of rolling over and you know, swear by a pregnancy pillow. They're so comfortable. Yeah. But and so um for the like first couple of days, it was pretty rough and pretty scary. I went to my post op and he tried to have me stand on my toes. Um, and I couldn't on my right foot. And I was like, why is that happening? And he was like, Well, he was like, it is indicative of like something with the nerve. He's like, you know, like we talked about it. He's like, but until one year, he's like, we won't really know. He's like, nerves can be really slow. One year, yeah, that's what I said. I was like, what do you mean? That's a really long time. So um, yeah, from there, um, it was really about like patience for myself. Um, like from week 12 up until probably like nine months post hop, I was I am not a patient person. Um yeah. So like going back to the gym, I got cleared to go back to the gym at day 11. Um, he was like, just don't do anything over like 25 pounds. He's like, you know, no um rebounding to like no running, no jumping, things of that. He's like, you can go and move. He's like, but let's not get crazy. I was like, okay, that's totally crazy.

SPEAKER_01

I I'm like shocked.

SPEAKER_03

Day 11, go back to the gym. No, I was from the like from day one to day 11 was like such a day and night that like even when he cleared me, I was like shocked at like how well I felt. Uh-huh. And I was like, the human body is amazing. Yeah. Like, I was like, how I go from being able to barely walk to now being like 95% fine is insane. Like so, um, from there, once I started having more chronic issues with my leg, where like at some point the numbness had improved but stopped. Um, and so it wasn't improving any further. And so I started going to physical therapy. Okay. Um, and from there, it really was never focused on my back. It was just my leg. Um, my back, I had never had any more pain. Um, once in a while I notice if I'm bending forward a certain way, I'll kind of get like a hitch where it's like, hey, like too far. Um, but that's definitely like a me thing where it's like you should be squatting and not bending. And um, so yeah, I did I've been doing physical therapy. I still go um once a week, just trying to like stimulate the nerve um in my leg. So um on the outside of my calf below my knee, I can't feel, and then the outside of my foot I can't feel. But it can support your weight now. Yeah, so I can walk fine. Um, I run, I don't run as far anymore um just because with nerve damage, it does cause like some muscle weakness. Um, so that gets really frustrating. But otherwise, you know, I have PR'd almost all of my lifts um since pre-surgery. Um, the running thing, I mean, who loves running anyway? It's fine. But yeah, it's definitely improving from being able to not even walk for 20 minutes to now like I can run a mile pretty like yeah, through and through.

SPEAKER_01

Like sorry, was your surgery January of 25 or January of 26? 25. 25. Okay. Yeah. So it's been over a year and you're still having some of some of that numbness.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, yeah. My leg, um, just from uh since I had had the injury for so long with the initial herniation back in like 2022, he had said the longer that you let discs sit on nerves, he was like, There's a chance that they adhere, and so when we take them off, it causes damage. Um, and he's like, the surgery itself can cause damage. Um, which my PT did explain to me that she was like, when they do the barricade, she's like, they actually move your nerve.

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

And she was like, nerves are very, very fickle, like they don't like being touched. So she was like, it's possible that like moving it could have done something, the injury could have done something. Um, because it's the same leg that I had such intense pain on. Um, so is it a combination of both? I can't really say. Um, I think it's something I'll never know. I think it it's definitely more I waited so long to fix it. Right. Um, you know, and it just kind of was like, well, if you're not gonna fix us, we'll just do what we're gonna do.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. My surgery was uh in 2019, and uh I still have a slight tingling in my leg. I I only really notice it when I'm shaving, like, oh my leg's a little bit gnobus, yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, it's the weirdest feeling shaving, and um this sounds insane, but like if my hair grows a little too long, like touching my pants feels really crazy. Um, it's I couldn't even like describe the feeling, but but yeah, sometimes it is a little more prominent. Like I think I'm definitely more used to it now. Um, and like I'll trip over my foot once in a while, um, just because like I don't always know where it is like exactly. Wow.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. And did you have any of the weird symptoms that people mention, like pain on the opposite side or tailbone pain?

SPEAKER_03

No, not really. Um, which I was kind of surprised to buy, to be honest, just because it's weird when things go so smoothly, where it's like, you know, like post-op day one and four, like I've never had back issues again, where I'm like, how is that like a thing? You know, like it feels weird to be normal.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, so getting the barricade implant then the first and waking up was the initial most difficult part because of the hammering pain. Okay. But you feel like recovery went smoothly, other than the leg numbness. Okay.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, and I tell people all the time, I'm like, it's unfortunate what happened to my leg. Um, but you know, it's like I will never know what caused it, and like I have to make peace with that, and that's fine. Um, but I would do this over a hundred times, you know, like to have my life back and to be able to, you know, pretty much do everything I was doing, you know, plus some, it like compared to not being able to walk before, you know. I'm like, I'll I'll take the numbness and the frustration that comes with it. Right.

SPEAKER_01

And did they say does a barricade implant last forever or will it eventually as far as I know, um, it is a newer thing.

SPEAKER_03

So it is something that's more prominent over in Europe. Um, it only came to the US, I believe, in 2019. Um, and so it is definitely newer. Um, and so I'll have checks every couple years. Um, and then if I have like any pain, like I'll go and see someone and just say, hey, can we just check things out? Um, but the studies on it look really good. Um, and so they think, you know, as long as it stays in there, they're like, you should be fine.

SPEAKER_01

Okay.

SPEAKER_03

So I um it's 50-50 if I'm TSA's favorite person in airports. Um, but otherwise, yeah, I honestly forget it's in there. I'm just like, oh yeah, like I forget it that I have metal in my back.

SPEAKER_01

That's great. Did they have to remove any bone, a laminectomy or anything?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, yeah. So I have a very long-worded surgery. Um, it was I think it's like a hemi-lamonectomy forainemanotomy. Um, and then a laminectomy. So my PT's like, yeah, um, you had all the automies.

SPEAKER_04

Okay.

SPEAKER_03

So, and I do wonder too if that's why I had so much pain um from them like sawing bone out. Because I'm like, that's gotta be comparative to what a broken back feels like, you know, like having bone sawed out.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. Oh, I had to do have a laminectomy as well, because they're um my disc was adhered to my nerve, and so they couldn't get it all off. So I still have a chunk stuff stuck to my nerve. Oh man. So they did a laminectomy to make sure my nerve has movement still. Yeah, more space. Yeah, but like 95% of the time I'm I'm pain free. Yeah. Yeah. Have you had any sciatic flares since surgery?

SPEAKER_03

No, um, which is so great, and I wish to never feel that again. Um sciatic pain is wild, how it can just like take you down. Um, and you don't even see a comment. It's like you would like I would move certain ways, and I'm just like, I would almost get like nauseous. The pain was so bad.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Um, so I hope to never find that feeling again.

SPEAKER_01

Now, was your husband a major help during all this?

SPEAKER_03

Yes. Um, I think he realized how much stuff I do around the house. Um so yeah, he was a really big help. Um, you know, like I you kind of realize how vulnerable you are as a person post-op. Um, you know, I needed help getting dressed, getting a shower. Um, I had to do bandage changes, and we were doing like collagen on my back. And so I pretty much needed help with everything. And at some point, I like almost got to the point where I was like, Well, I don't I don't even want to like ask him to refill my water because I just feel so needy.

SPEAKER_01

He's like, it's literally fine. My husband jokes, he would change my bandage and say, I'm a nurse practitioner. Yeah. Yeah. Support at home is such a necessity after uh surgery.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah. I don't know how people would do without, honestly, because it's just those first couple of days, it's like you really do rely so much where I'm like, Yeah, I can get up and walk around my dining room table, but that's kind of it.

SPEAKER_01

So now you're back to weightlifting again. Yep. And you said you said you PR. Did you have any fear uh when you went back?

SPEAKER_03

Oh yeah. Um, it was definitely for a while um me going to my coaches and being like, I don't know what to do. Like, and they're like, Well, I can't feel what you're feeling. And I'm like, Yeah, but I just need someone to tell me what to do. Um, because I was so fearful. And I think there's a part two after where even like soreness that's normal, I was like, Well, I don't know what's normal now. Um, so I was like, any pain, I would get like scared. I'm like, oh my God, like, did I do something? And it's like, no, I just haven't used the back muscles to cut through. So I'm a little sore. Like, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Did they limit your overhead weight initially? How much you could lift overhead?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah. So it was 25 pounds um for two weeks, and then I could slowly go up as comfortable. Um, which still even overhead, you know, like I don't do handstand push-ups and I don't do like handstand walking. Neither do I. You know, and I'm like, this to me, it's just not really like worth it. Um, I'm like, I don't want to hyperextend and you know, do something where I'm like, those things will never save my life. It's fine.

SPEAKER_01

So what's your favorite uh weightlifting move?

SPEAKER_03

Um, it used to be power cleans. Um, and now it's kind of moving more towards deadlifts, but I think I'm biased just because my deadlift is getting heavier than it's ever been. Um so I'm like, yeah, like I'm being strong.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. But you will still do overhead. Uh what's your what's that, the chest press? I can't remember.

SPEAKER_03

Oh, the um strict press.

SPEAKER_01

Yes or the bench press.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, so strict press, I um just PR'd recently. I can strict press 80 pounds. Um, which it's like to me, I'm like, that sounds pretty good to me. Like, yeah, my husband can do like 205, but I'm like, whatever, it's fine.

Advice On Fear Movement And Research

SPEAKER_01

Like, yeah, I was we were uh weight training together, and my husband always, you know, obviously could do a lot more show. I'm like, okay, let's be respectful. Like it's not a competition, but it is. What kind do you have any words for wisdom that you would say to someone who is currently considering surgery for a herniated disc?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, um, I would say, you know, trust your doctors. Um, you know, they do this all the time. Um, you know, I was told explicitly that microdisectomy is a very common surgery. Um, you know, when you think of someone playing with your spine, this is like the easiest way to go. Like, um, but also, you know, be open to conversation that if you feel like something isn't right with the surgeon you're talking to, talk to somebody else, you know, like reach out for your opinions because at the end of the day, like it is you going through surgery. Um, you know, they had told me for post op stuff, they're like, we're gonna give you instructions, but at the end of the day, it's you going back under the knife if you don't do these correctly. You know, and I think the same's true for pre-surgery. It's you know, it's your body. And if you don't feel like something's right and you're not comfortable, talk to somebody else, get a third, fourth opinion. Um, and just make sure you're comfortable with the decision and who's gonna be doing it. Um, and you know, also over-researching can do more harm than good. Um, you know, I saw this thing on Reddit on a different Reddit post. I think it was in the microdisectomy group that was like you hear, you always hear the negative voices louder than the positive because people that have positive outcomes, they move on with their life. You know, they're not I see very few people that do what I do and like stay updated. Um, so yeah, you're gonna see a lot of negative. That doesn't mean there's no positive out there, right? You know, that's why I created the podcast. Exactly. It's just like you've gotta look for the out like the the good positive outcomes. Like yeah, so because they do exist, and you know, just follow your like post op as best you can, you know. Don't they say now, you know, sitting still like a little frozen popsicle does more harm. So it's gonna seem scary to move, but you've gotta move.

SPEAKER_01

Movement is medicine. I wish I had known that because a lot of my complications came from being too still. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

And just not because, like, you know, you want to put yourself in that bubble, but then it's like, you know, you almost like forget how to move, you know. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

So the brain, you mentioned the brain, you know, before surgery, it wants to trick you into thinking it's not necessary. And then after surgery, it wants to trick you into, you know, you know, you're still injured, don't move. It's right. It's such a it's such a complicated process because of the brain.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, it really is. And like a lot of it is such like a mental battle, too, where it's like the fear of the unknown in every step of the way of an injury and surgery. Um, and you really do have to kind of push through it and just be like, you know, like I'm gonna be fine. You know, I can't live my life in fear and like not be able to do anything, you know, like you gotta take the chance and yes, have a better life.

SPEAKER_01

Now I'm sure there's plenty of questions that I didn't ask that people on the Reddit will have. So I'll post your interview in the forum probably by next week. Um, will you answer any questions people comment on below your video?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, yeah. I try to keep up um also with like any of the posts I've made. Um, so if anyone has any questions, I'm an open book because I know I would have loved to have someone do that for me. Um, so yeah, they could, you know, they can ask questions there, they can message me. Whatever.

SPEAKER_01

That's great. Cassie, I really appreciate you taking the time out to talk to me on the podcast today. I'm sure people are gonna love your episode.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, thanks for having me. It's so fun. You know, I love getting to talk about it, and I'm sure my husband's tired of the same like post office, like stories I tell him. Like, so yeah, I I'm glad if it helps, you know, even one person try to figure out what they want to do.

Share Your Recovery Story

SPEAKER_01

So it's it's to this point in my life when I start to say, Well, when I had my back surgery, and I think, don't I have any other stories that I can tell? Like, I'm sick of it. That's all I got. Well, thank you again so much. Yeah, thank you. If you are a listener and you have a positive story of recovery from a herniated disc or other back injury, head over to bedbackbeyond.com and click share your story. I would love to include your voice on the show. Cassie, it was such a pleasure meeting you. You too, thank you.