Sure: I was a paramedic for over two decades, and herniated three discs lifting a very obese patient. I knew it exactly when I did it, and over the course of the next five weeks the pain, weakness and loss of sensation worsened. Eventually, I was out of work entirely, could not sit down - only walk and lay down, and walking was an enormous effort.
Sorry if this is TMI: I was on progressively larger doses of narcotics. I had little-to-no feeling from my lumbar spine down, mostly on my right side. There was no sensation of/on my penis or scrotum. Certain anal and prostate activities which I enjoy had no effect. I couldn't have been less interested in sex, sunk into a very deep depression. In retrospect, I probably sought solace in the pain meds.
One morning, I woke up and took my meds as scheduled and as my wife was getting ready for work. I fell back to sleep and then woke up a few minutes later thinking I had not taken them. She saw me reach for another dose, stopped me, and arranged to have me admitted that day.
After several two weeks, all non-invasive treatments had failed, and I was scheduled for surgery. In upstate NY, spinal disc surgery was done by either a neurosurgeon or orthopedic surgeon. I chose a neurosurgeon because the one I interviewed told me he avoids vertebral fusions as they can cause life-long range-of-motion and strength issues. Orthos are more inclined to the opposite. By this point, I was on patient-controlled morphine; I was a hot mess, and have only the most vague memories of this period.
Off I went to the OR, and when I woke up, the nerve/spinal pain was gone. Gone. GONE. Like, flip-a-switch GONE! I threatened to kiss that surgeon I was so happy! Once he exposed my lower thoracic/upper lumbar spine, he could visualize the disc herniations, and "trimmed" them back away from the exit paths of the nerves/nerve roots serving my legs and genitalia. He was able to leave enough of the discs in place to permit spinal mobility and avoid fusions.
There was a lot of recovery involved, for sure. Among other things, I developed a post-operative staph infection that kept me in the hospital for another month. (almost two months total). PT and strength training helped return sensation and strength to my lower back, core, glutes and lower extremities.
With respect to libido, I hadn't even tried to masturbate, still depressed and basically had written my poor dick off as fond distant memory. At about the two week mark, my incredibly perceptive wife closed the door to the hospital room and conducted some.... umm... research and physical therapy. Lo and behold - there were things happening! Sensation was returning, my ability to achieve and sustain an erection returned after perhaps another week or two, and a delightful orgasm followed. Cheers all around! ?
Cautionary notes: this was a number of years ago. I'm 63 now, and have ED which is simply age-related. I'm grateful to my uro for recommending TriMix after Viagra and Cialis were both a flop. Also, the period from injury to surgery (approx 2 mos.) was relatively short, so the chances for surgical success were greater.
Moral to the story:
- Become a fully informed health care consumer. It's too easy for the medical-industrial complex to shuttle you through the system to make room for the next patient.
- Include your SO. My wife was eager to help, cared about my well-being, and was a good advocate for when I was so medicated I wasn't lucid.
- Pick the therapies and providers that make the most sense for your particular situation.
- Interview more than one surgeon, if it appears that surgery is the next step. Ask about complication rate, recovery rate, what the possibilities are for surgical intervention once the procedure is under way.
- Have faith that these things can be resolved. My results may not be your results, everyone is different. A positive, optimistic outlook definitely contributes to outcome.
- Get a LOT of help lifting heavy things. Or people.
- Use chapstick before kissing your surgeon. (JK)
