Is it normal to still have leg numbness after a microdiscectomy?

It can be. According to AAOS, pain usually improves first, then leg strength, and sensation last.

When can I drive after a microdiscectomy?

Advice runs from 2 to 6 weeks, though one Colorado practice says once you’re comfortable. Your surgeon clears you.

Why are my restrictions different from my buddy’s?

Surgeons vary, and there’s no strong consensus on how long restrictions should last.

Microdiscectomy · Weeks 3 to 6

Microdiscectomy Recovery, Weeks 3 to 6: What’s Normal

Your leg feels better than it has in months, but a numb patch on your foot hasn’t moved, and the boss wants a date.

On-and-off leg pain and slowly fading numbness are common now; weakness that gets worse is not. Walks usually lengthen, and in one review, exercise starting 4 to 6 weeks after surgery slightly eased pain and disability.

What’s normal now

On-and-off leg pain in the first few weeks is common. Source
Numbness that fades slowly is common. Weakness that gets worse is not. Source
One hospital’s plan for weeks 3 to 4: walks of 10 to 20 minutes, 3 to 5 times a day. Source
Leaflets disagree on sitting, from 15 to 45 minutes at a stretch. Source
In one trial of 112 adults, two weeks of limits worked about as well as six for pain and disability. Source

Free milestone map

Where are you in recovery?

Pick your surgery and your week. Your map opens right here: what’s normal now, what usually comes next, and the guides for each stage. No email needed.

What usually comes next

In a Cochrane review, exercise starting 4 to 6 weeks after surgery slightly eased short-term pain and disability versus no treatment. Source
The usual start is walking about 30 minutes a day, then exercises to strengthen the lower back and abdominal muscles. Source

Questions to bring to your surgeon or PT

When can I bend and twist with a load? Source
Can my rehab be built around my actual work tasks? Source
What can I still do right now, not just what should I avoid? Source

Don’t wait for your next visit

Numbness around or under your genitals, or around your bottom: go to the ER or call 911. Don’t drive yourself. Source
New trouble starting to pee, or controlling your bladder or bowels: go to the ER or call 911. Source
New or worsening weakness in a leg, like a foot that starts to drag: call your surgeon right away, day or night. Can’t reach them? Go to the ER. Source
Clear fluid leaking from the incision, or a bad headache that eases when you lie down: call your surgeon the same day. Source
If an exercise brings on leg pain or tingling, stop it. Call your surgeon if that lasts more than a few days. Source

Chest pain or trouble breathing: call 911.

Questions men ask at this stage

Is it normal to still have leg numbness after a microdiscectomy?: It can be. According to AAOS, pain usually improves first, then leg strength, and sensation last. Source
When can I drive after a microdiscectomy?: Advice runs from 2 to 6 weeks, though one Colorado practice says once you’re comfortable. Your surgeon clears you. Source
Why are my restrictions different from my buddy’s?: Surgeons vary, and there’s no strong consensus on how long restrictions should last. Source