a rheumatologist? Perhaps it's some form of arthritis or something like fibromyalgia causing the pain? None of these things would necessarily show up on a scan.

Hello everyone, ive had 4 low back surguries in past 2years. My last was fusion of L3,4 and 5/S1. Im 10 months out and pain is gettin out of control. Numbness in left leg seems to be steadily going upward, started in foot, my dr. said that doesnt make sense because he extracted discs from right side. Anyway, today I have almost no control or strength in my left ankle, my foot pretty much just flops around, I have to be careful because it has caused me to trip and fall countless times.The numbness has now spread up to my knee. My leg pain is in both legs, stinging, stabbing and the burning is just unreal, I cant stand to wear shoes anymore, it feels as if im standing in lava, even showers are painful. Oh yeah, if my legs get cold, oh my God the pain. Ive also noticed my legs turn a pinkish color, my feet sometimes red and purple. My dr's response is thats odd. Im not trying to knock my Dr, im just not getting answers. So, my back and legs are killing me, my meds arent working, ive tried everything, I can barely walk and been told my only option now is spinal cord stimulator, does anyone know what may be wrong with me? All I can do to take the edge off is to sedate myself by taking 3, 20Mg oxycodone tabs which I can only have 4 a day of. I dont know how much more of this I can take, im at my wits end...Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated, I just cant stand the pain anymore....thank u

I agree that you should look into seeing a rheumatologist. Where in your back are you having the pain? Has anyone ever done an MRI of your SI joints? The stiffness you are describing, which keeps you awake at night, along with the heel pain/symptoms really do require further investigation. The reason I say this is because I have had mysterious symptoms for the past 10+ years, which no doctor could figure out...that is, up until my MRI showed several herniations from T5-T11. I went to see a neurosurgeon who first mention Ankylosing Spondylitis, AS for short. I ended up seeing a rheumatologist, who did a complete history and physical, family history, bloodwork, and an MRI of my SI joints. After all of that, he diagnosed me with AS, which causes a lot of the symptoms you are describing. I am not saying you definitely have it, but it is another possibility that may be worth checking into. I have recently begun treatment and am working on getting my life back.

I hope that you are able to find some answers and much-needed relief! Best of luck to you.

Hey Kim nice to hear from ya.. my surgeon wont do an MRI yet, I do get an x-ray evertime I go to see him monthly. He is making sure the bone implants and screws haven't shifted or moved. the pain is in the surgical arear. He wants me to go have an epidural injection in case I have scar tissue building up.
I told him just today that we have to do something. Thereis only one medicine that really helps, toradol, if I spelled it correctly, howevere I cant have it because too much will damage muscles.

He took a very large piece of bone from my pelvis and implanted it between L3/L4 & L4/L5. My L5/S1 was fused a year or so prior, thru my stomach do to the L5/S1 collapsing. That's a day I'll never forget.

So hear I am, 38 years old with a back of a 70 year old. My pain doc is giving me oxycontin 40Mg, 3 per day and oxycodone hcl 20Mg, 4 per day. I felt I was getting better til a few Weeks ago when it just seemed to backfire on me.

Sorry Istellar, didnt mean to leave u out since it was your suggestion, I will look into that. Dr. doesnt think its anything but irritated spinal cord, ive taken lyrica but it caused severe swelling.

I honestly think when my s1 disc collapsed thats what did me in. During that fusion the Dr said he removed a couple large pieces of disc that was trapped in the spinal canal smashing my S1 nerve roots on both sides. Ive had nothing but trouble since then.
Can u guys believe I asked the doc to just cut the nerve roots. Of coarse he said no, u wont be able to walk anymore. I said "I cant walk now" Well anyway that was just me venting on the dr.

At this time im debating the pain pump vs the spinal cord stimulator, which im told those 2 are the only things that will help my leg pain the most

Sorry Istellar, didnt mean to leave u out since it was your suggestion, I will look into that. Dr. doesnt think its anything but irritated spinal cord, ive taken lyrica but it caused severe swelling.

I honestly think when my s1 disc collapsed thats what did me in. During that fusion the Dr said he removed a couple large pieces of disc that was trapped in the spinal canal smashing my S1 nerve roots on both sides. Ive had nothing but trouble since then.
Can u guys believe I asked the doc to just cut the nerve roots. Of coarse he said no, u wont be able to walk anymore. I said "I cant walk now" Well anyway that was just me venting on the dr.

At this time im debating the pain pump vs the spinal cord stimulator, which im told those 2 are the only things that will help my leg pain the most

I am sorry for the confusion, David, but I was responding to suechef's original post re: seeing a rheumatologist.

I am sorry you experiencing so much pain as well. Have they looked into the possibility of RSD or Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. I know it can be pretty painful and many of the symptoms you are describing can be caused by it. I have a friend that developed RSD after having knee surgery, and from what I hear, it is very painful. That being said, you really need to work closely with your doctor to figure out what is going on and why you are having so much pain. If you feel your current doctor is not helping you much, then perhaps a second or third opinion would be in order. Also, I would recommend seeing a pain management doc as well. It sounds like you need more help with managing your pain, and if your surgeon is not able to help you, then a PM doc would be the next step.

Omg.....thats what I get for posting messages half asleep.. The strange thing is I didnt see suechefs message and I got an email a few days ago sayin Kim has replied.....sorry everyone

Chronic pain can stem from an endless list of causes. For example, you might sleep in the wrong position, and wake up with a cramp in your neck; you might be involved in an auto accident, and experience discomfort characteristic of whiplash; or you may go dancing with friends, and experience a spasm that causes pain if you move a certain way. These and many other circumstances can lead to neck-related pain. Most of us will experience it sometime during our lives, though it will present in different ways.

A variety of physical therapy approaches to assist in the healing and correction of the injured area of the spine including the use of a sophisticated massage chair, electro-therapy as well as an on-site massage therapist. All of the approaches seek to loosen the joints, relax the muscle spasm and improve mobility of all area of the spine. that may be contributing to the pain.

Trigger point therapy is another common form of treatment used by chiropractor in Santa Barbara Chiropractor Dr. ABC. This is a method in which pressure is applied directly to focal point of the muscles that are in spasm. The goal is to relieve the spasm that might be contributing to the acute or chronic discomfort throughout the neck and back.

Therapy designed to increase blood flow and stimulate an anti-inflammatory reaction is called inferential electro-therapy. This specific electotherapy will frequently drematically assist in easing inflammation in the muscles and connective tissue, which helps reduce pain.
Link removed, solicitation not permitted
Post Edited by Authority Member Liz

Post edited to remove specific doctor's name and to remove medical advice statements which are both forum violations - Member has been notified
Ron DiLauro, Spine-Health System Administrator 02/12/12