:wave: HI! I HAD A DISCECTOMY AT L5/S1 ON JAN. 9, 2005 AND WAS TOLD ON APRIL 07 THAT MY SECOND MRI SHOWED SCAR TISSUR REPLACING THE HERNIATION AND PRESSING ON THE NERVE. MY SURGEON SAID HE WILL NOT RE-OPERATE ON SCAR TISSUE!! IS IT NORMAL TO HAVE SCAR TISSUE THIS FAST? WHAT OTHER OPTIONS MIGHT I HAVE FOR RELIEF? I AM TAKING CELEBREX, VICODIN, AND NEUROTIN, AND THE PAIN SEEMS TO BE GROWING STEADILY WORSE. CAN THAT SCAR TISSUE STILL BE GROWING?? THANKS FOR ANY AND ALL REPLIES, YOU FOLKS HAVE BEEN GREAT ON THIS BOARD AND I AM SO GLAD MY WIFE FOUND IT FOR ME!! :) :)

Vitamin E is supposed to be good for scar tissue---internal or external. I've been taking a lot of vitamin E, and praying.
fly

It does not take very long for the scar tissue to start developing.i had one surgery done(fusion)and only 9 mo later,had to have another.By that time, my NS said my neck was loaded with very thick fiberous scar tissue and spent two hours just cutting through it to get to the spine to do the actual hardware placement.My biggest worry now is that since my last surgery was done on the inside of my spinal cord, how long before the cord is blocked by scar tissue?kinda scarey ya know?FB

Thanks For The Replies!! I'm Really Woried Also Being That They Won't Re-operate. I Had A Second Oponion And The Dr. Agreed With No Re-operation. I Just Wonder If I Have Scar Tissue Pressing On My Nerve This Quick, How Much More Is Going To Grow?? Bless You All On A Speedy Recovery And Let's All Hope We Wake Up One Day With No Pain!!!!!

Surgery to remove scar tissue can be very hit and miss or could make the problem worse. Scar tissue begets more scar tissue is the standard phrase. The formation of scar tissue is typically due to trauma to tissues. Some people develop more than others. In some instances surgeons will go in to remove scar tissue only to have it form at twice the rate as previously.

There are some other alternatives for trying to reduce/eliminate scar tissue. PM docs have for years been doing injections involving epidural lysis. This involves injecting an enzyme like "Hyaluronidase" through an epidural injection. Wydase has had some studies that have touted it's potential benefits. I must admit though that much more study needs to be done. There are also other medications that are being used but again without much study at this point. I know some people who have had this procedure who have had wonderful results and others that it did not help.

It is another thing to consider.

Ed Tennant

Dealing in PA:
We're glad your wife found us for you too!
I had symptoms of scar tissue evident at 3 mo post op.....be VERY VERY careful if you ever consider surgery primarily for removal of scar tissue alone. It WILL grow back and most often much more of it in it's place. QuietCook has given you excellent advice on how to lessen or even in some cases prevent it. I don't know how severe your pain has become again, I hope it is manageable enough that you can gain relief through other treatments other than another back surgery.

Fly:
I've done some reading on the Vitamin E thing, same as everything you try and learn about I guess, lots of info says it helps, lots say its a myth and virtually useless? Do you know yet if it helping you??
I hope so!

QuietCook:
Should I specifically ask for the Alcon or just be sure and insist on "a gel" period? and while this is way off the topic may I ask if your arm gives you any problem or pain now after all these years? I sure hope not!
I wish you well and hope your have a GLORIOUS SUNNY weekend spent w/low pain and enjoying it!

I wish the SAME to each of you and a gentle pain day!
BionicWitch

Vitamin E is supposed to be good for scar tissue---internal or external. I've been taking a lot of vitamin E, and praying.
fly


Vitamin E is good for you so it is good that you are taking it, but I believe that it only works on preventing scar tissue on the outside. A lot of pregnant women rub it on their bellies. It is a toss up if it works or not. Good Luck.

Boy does this sound familiar. I developed Epidural Fibrosis after a L4-5 disectomy about 12 weeks post op. Did the epidurals, pain management thing with no success and began to develop reactive scoliosis (leaning severely to the right). My original doc would not reoperate but I found a neuro who was a friend of a friend willing to reoperate. It my be hard to find another doc to take your case. He gave me a 50% chance of being better. The second operation was a great help. I am not pain free but able to function daily. I use ice a lot. The scar did return but is not impinging the nerve to a severe extent. As for Adcon L there are some lawsuits over its use and its original manufacture Gilatech when bankrupt in the early 2000's. If I were you I would research Epidural Fibrosis, Adcon L and Oxiplex on the internet as much as I could.

GOOD LUCK

I was told by my Pain Management Doc that scar tissue forms in about 6-12 weeks..... and that most docs WILL NOT go in and operate to remove it because it just comes back worse each time they remove it...

TROSE

Thanks Again For The Replies Folks!!! My Surgeon Is A Spine Specialist And Does Spine Surgery On The Pittsburgh Pirates So I Would Have To Think He's Good. He's The One That Said He Wouldn't Re-operate!!! I Am Going To Look Into The Other Alternatives And I Hope Everyone Feels Better Tommorow!!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi to each of you,

I've posted this many times, but you may not have read prior posts. I'm the veteran of 8 spine surgeries, and 10 surgeries on a crushed arm, plus two torn rotator cuffs and both hands with carpal tunnel, and more. I have a major, major scaring tendency, but since my first arm surgeries after crushing my arm in a fall in '76, I've not had to deal with scar issues. The reason is that there are gel's out there for the surgeons to use. I do not know why they don't use it on everyone, regardless of known problems. However, you have to take the upper hand here and demand that your surgeons, for any future surgeries use the gel's.

I'm not talking a little scar tissue. Within a four month period of crushing my arm and having the prosthetic elbow installed, scar tissue locked the arm into an immobile position, and scarred all the nerves and muscles so badly that when they removed the prosthesis, they had to shorten all the nerves and muscles and route them to the inside of the arm and fuse two bone in the lower arm and wire to the upper arm. It's been almost 30 years, but with the later surgeries, they had the gels, so I'm still functioning, even without an elbow.

Before every surgery, I remind the doctors at my pre-op visits, I remind their assistants and have his secretary write a note on the top of my chart and OR orders which go to surgery with him. I do not want any of them to forget that the gel is a MUST!!! The one that my doc uses for my spine surgeries is Adcon-L, although I am certain there are other brands as well. They used a different gel when they made an anterior approach, removing my intestines to reach the spine. By using these gel's, I've not had to go back for additional surgeries to remove scar tissue since the '70's arm surgeries. Naturally, when an area has to be reworked such as with my 10 level fusion in Dec (took in two prior 3 level fusions) there is a brief mention in the surgery report that any scar tissue present is removed. But the point is, that even with me being one who generates tons of internal scar tissue, we don't have to let it ruin the work and control our lives. Please do insist that your spine surgeons, and any other surgeons you may need, use the gels to inhibit internal scar tissue.

I've also seen on here from time to time that doctor's have given a hopeless prognosis for those who have scar tissue. Please, do not accept that if your doctor is one of those. If you have a general ortho or general neuro, please, please get busy and find yourself a spine specialist. They can be ortho or neuro, but they will do all their work with spines instead of operating on arms, knees, etc. They will be more up on the latest techniques and the latest devices and meds. We cannot expect someone who spends an equal amount of time repairing shoulders and knees to know it all on spines - that's why we have spine specialists. I use my spine specialists partners to work on my shoulder's, etc. They are great and I don't want to demean any of them, but when you are dealing with the spinal chord, get a spine specialist.

Best wishes go to each of you and may you have great days ahead. I'm doing grand with the 10 levels fused only in Dec 04, and have mowed my lawn. Now, if someone could just figure out how to get my short hamstrings to stretch more than the PT's have, I'd have it made.


Who was your surgeon? He sounds excellent.

Bobi