Back operation

Was scheduled for an operation on 3rd Nov 2011 due to a chronic right leg pain.

Cause of injury and initial treatment
I consulted 2 specialists in total and both recommended to go for a surgery in order to fix the issue. The problem was first encountered one year ago during ippt when I was attempting standing broad jump. After the jump, I felt some pain but thought nothing of it, so I continued with the rest of the stations. During the 2.4 km run, the pain started to get unbearable and I had to fall out.

At first, I thought it was a muscle pull, so I went for a massage. After a few weeks, the situation didn't Improve so I went to look for a chiropractor. After the second session, pain didn't improve at all so went ahead to consult a specialist. The specialist recommended for an X-ray first, can't find anything so recommended a MRI. MRI showed some signs of degenerative disc and a loss of disc height. No idea what that means at that time. Specialist recommended for either a surgery or epidural injection into the spine. I was bait afraid of going for the surgery at that time so I decided to go for te injection instead. The injection, a steroid, will relieve the pain for about 6 months - I was told.

Second Opinion
Almost 10 months later, I started to feel the pain again. Was initially subtle but started to get quite irritable so decided to go seek a second opinion. I was referred to Dr Fong at Mount Elizabeth from Island Orthopaedics. He was very attentive and patient, explaining the cause and options to me after going for yet another MRI. I was told that i have a slipped disc from the first MRI taken one year ago. It didn't sound so serious one year ago being the "loss of disc height". The second MRI showed that the disc has worsen and there are more than one disc being affected, the worst at l4/5.

After one week of deliberation, decided to go for the operation so as to fix the issue once and for all. It was an easy decision; I am young, still active and do not want to live with the pain for the rest of my life.

Before operation
Just one week before the operation, the nervousness started to come. The YouTube videos showing how the surgery will be done didnt help. Awake - the movie about how a guy was fully awake during general anesthesia feeling the pain and conversations - worsens the situation. The deadlines at work before I go for the operation added to the problem. I started doing research on anesthesia and anesthesia awareness. But I think there's a lack of information on these topics on the Internet especially on how general anesthesia is being administered. Nervous nervous.

Day of surgery
Mum took leave and we went to the hospital with Dad in a cab. On the way there, it was mostly quiet. But we saw a monkey on top of the lamp post in the expressway shaking. That helped to lighten up the mood. Then we saw a squirrel on a tree. My mum said"eh 什么来的？狐狸阿和？" lol.

At the hospital
After reaching the hospital, we needed to check ourselves in at the admission office. Filled up some forms for insurance purpose and a concierge ushered us to the ward. The concierge was über friendly. A nurse took my height and weight which is when I realized my weight has reduced to 64 from 67. Didn't notice the height, which will be useful to determine if I'm shorter now after the operation.

After weight and height taking, a nurse from china came with a stack of questions. I couldn't understand her very well so I offered to fill up myself but was rejected. After going through questions like do you smoke, do you drink, when did u passed motion, she took my blood pressure and temperature and left. I was told that I have to change to the surgery gown and will be pushed to the operating theatre at 9.20. So off I go to change into that surgery gown and waited. 20 mins seems like forever.

Finally someone came and transferred me to another bed where I was pushed to the area with lots of operating theatres. Inside the area, I was told to wait again as the anesthesian has not arrived. The nurses were very attentive, talking to me to calm me down, asking if I needed blankets, TV etc.

Finally the anesthesian came, talked to me told me to sign some papers and then the nurse pushed me to the operating theatre. The operating theatre was very high tech with a few large LCD or LED TVs hanging on the wall showing some graphs presumed to be my heart beat etc. the operating theatre had many lights, 2 to 3 groups of those surgery lights. The table had something that looked like a red cushion, an inverted v shape. the anesthesian then injected the IV drip into my left hand. I was then told to breathe from a gas mask with oxygen. Not sure if it is the mask or the anesthesian started injecting the anesthesia, but after the first breath, I started to feel sleepy. After another 3 to 4 breaths, I was unconscious, lying flat on my back, so no idea how they turned me over.

The next thing I remember, someone tapped me and called my name. I woke up immediately. The nurse toldme the operation is over and I realized I'm alreading being pushed out of the resting area. The first thing I felt was cold cold cold so I asked for an extra blanket. Someone helped me with that then she told me I will be going back to my ward. So I asked if I can change to a single room and she said she will check. Then I felt hungry so I asked if I can have my lunch. So the nurse said ok. The nurse was super kind, friendly and was smilely throughout.

I didn't feel any pain at all after the surgery. A wave of relief came over me :) shortly, Dr Fong came over and talked to me. He said the operation lasted longer than intended because there's some problem with the disc. He sent some of the disc for testings as he suspects that it could be due to tuberculosis. He also said that I am super alert lol. He taught me how to roll over so that I could visit the toilet. Once on my feet, it felt like I was drunk, couldn't stand properly but luckily there was no pain.

After one night
The next day, my back started to ache. The physiotherapist came over and walked me over to the step trainer where I am to walk up and down three flight of stairs. My muscle felt tight but everything else is ok. Finally I am able to discharge. We took a cab home after Dr Fong helped to change the dressing. Rested the whole day lying down.

6 days after operation
The past 2 days was terrible. The pain is still felt at my leg and has in fact worsen before the operation although not as bad as last year. It felt slightly better today. I am having second thoughts on whether the operation is successful. Or maybe it's something that I'm doing wrong post operative care. Have been waking up at 5am daily to join my parents for breakfast at the coffee shop - doc says I need to exercise and move around once in awhile. Sitting up is better now, I can sit up longer. Will be going to visit Dr Fong again tomorrow so will check with him on the test results as well as the pain that I'm having.