Back Surgery and Neck Surgery
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Thu, 07/02/2009 - 21:50
Fusion one year ago and still have sciatica
Hi all. It's been about one year since my L4-L5, L5-S1 fusion. My lower back pain is better, but the sciatic pain down my right leg is driving me nuts. After more PT and meds my surgeon finally gave me an epidural injection today. I am actually stating to get frustrated with him at this point. I feel like I am having to pull information out of him.......Why is this nerve irritated? What is irritating it? What is the long term fix now that it's obviously not a disc protruding (fusion)? There was talk once of removing the hardware, but that hasn't come up in awhile. I'm wondering if I should consider talking to another MD while I'm waiting to see if this injection is going to work.
Any ideas or opinions?
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Hiya Welcome To Spine Health
This is just a thought 
, as these type of surgeries are traumatic to the body 
, it can take a while to heal 
, where we heal from the outside inwards, this can take a long long time 
, depending on other medical conditions 
. So I was wondering if the nerve is agrivated or scratching on something 
. Are you still taking it easy? 
Doing to much to soon could irritate the nerves! 
Just my views, based on some personal experieneces. 
I hope this helps you 
Angie
"ALL ADVICE GIVEN IS BASED ON OUR OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCES"
"WE ARE NOT MEDICALLY TRAINED IN THIS FIELD"
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL AND GOOD HEALTH FOR 2009 XXXX
My name is angie, i live in birmingham england.my back problems started in 1998.2001 had cartlidge removed in my right knee. when i was recovering from that i had a car accident, this caused my discs to prolapse.x-rays , MRI scan. 2002 epidural. 2003 had discs removed and 1 shaved.This has left me in pain and i have a protruding buldge to the right of my scar. 2004 PT. 2005 facet joint injections. 2006 more PT, MRI scan. 2007 referred to Pain Management.Now i have to take lots of medication. 2008 im waiting To have epidural and facet joint injections. I also suffer fibromyalgia this diagnosis was confirmed in october 2008.November 28th facet Joint Injections. After being examined by the GP he has concerns, so waiting for referral to orthopedic surgeon and for MRI scan, should recieve these in 2009 as he wants me seen ASAP. Appointment for orthopedic surgeon is dated the 27th january 2009. Not very well with my back at the moment, and been ill all over christmas, its so painful to walk now . Well i went to see the spinal surgeon, he said my spine is crumbling and he also said i have arthritus in my spine but the middle of my back, he said theres nothing he can do, until it gets worse. I have to continue with pain management, and the tablets, and he said i need to strenghten my muscles around the spine,and then he discharged me. But i am scared of doing more damage, i have lost faith in doctors, i feel so poorly at the moment, i havnt got any more energy. I cant stop crying, since i got back. The doctor knew about my spine crumbling in 2006, and still sent me to physio areobics.
Hello and Welcome! Has your doctor said ANYTHING? I know it can take a long time for your nerves to "heal" after surgery. I didn't even know that my pain was caused by damaged nerves until they put me on neurontin and it worked (didn't realize how MUCH pain until it was gone).
Are you asking him straight out: could this be nerve damage from surgery? (or whatever was happening prior to surgery, impingement, stenosis, etc). If I were you, I would just ask the same question until you get a response, and if that brings more questions, ask them too! Don't be afraid to ask!
Good luck, and keep us posted!
~kat (my posts are from my own experiences only, I'm NOT a Doctor!)
(user error?)
"Whyme" previously known (or unknown) as "Jusserfinn"
Where did my sig go?
For some history, I guess just click on my name
I know how you feel after 11 months and 2 fusion surgeries I get no answer at all fro m doctors and also no pain medication. they even took bone marrow and I have no reason why they did
I was told the numbness may be always due to being compressed for so long. It is best to try and stop the tramadol, and I quoat "I know thats easy for me to say", mmm a bit of compassion from my DR....but no real way to make it go away.
Sciatica has been slowly inhibiting a normal life despite best positive efforts, and its only been 18 months.
Sorry my news is not so good, I went into surgery believing the leg pain would be gone I woke up. LOL.
Post Grad Science student - 29yrs - mother
PLIF/PLF L5S1 OCT '08
NervePain/numbness waste to foot RHS. Muscle pain/Back pain.
9mth post op--> extensive scaring at op site, some enhancement around L5 nerve DRG, dessicated L4-L5 disc with small central protrusion. Broken Coccyx from fall 27/06/09