Had my second surgery on the 14th Nov. The first was a four level lumbar fusion. Had non-fusion at the top and bottom levels. Doctors did a 360 this time and replaced hardware and inserted a stimulator. Now two months down the road and still having problems. Left leg gets very numb and finally goes limp. I take pain meds plus the patches. Just wondering what lays down the road for me. Been three years since I have worked. Has anyone on this board had anyhting like this problem. Would like to hear from you.

eclose,

Best wishes for a successful heal this time. Looked back and saw that you never answered questions as to whether or not BMP was used in either surgery. If it was, then if you take arthritis meds such as naprosyn or any other NSAID, then the fusion will be prone to failing. Also, if you are a smoker, it will most likely not fuse. My spine specialist will not fuse smokers unless they quit at least a month ahead of surgery and stay off smoking until they are fused, and will prescribe the electromagnetic belt ($5000) for insurance companies to pay to assist in the healing. So, if either of these apply to you, say the meds, you may wish to speak with your doc about taking glucosamine/chondroitin as you heal instead of arthritis meds. That's what my spine specialist recommended, and it helped a lot, but it doesn't kick in for several weeks after you start taking it.

If BMP was not used, of course it takes a lot longer for the fusion to take. I was fortunate that mine healed in about a year, but it can take 2 years for some individuals to heal.

Did you ever speak with a good WC attorney? Hope you have and that the future looks brighter.

Best wishes.

The first time around I did take arthritis meds. I went to family doctor and he told me just what you said. To take glucosamine/chondroitin. I have never been a smoker. You would think a doctor would know what to give or not give. My family doctor said that my surgery doctor was just that and did not know that much about meds. I find that hard to believe. Where do you turn? You put your trust in a doctor and believe he will do all in his power to help you. Could my problems be that these doctors are W/C doctors, would there be a difference?

It's a shame, but sometimes WC does not choose the best doctors. They tend more to choose doctors who will workwith them to get people back to work or disqualify them by saying they are okay. Unfortunately, no matter what the career or profession, there are poor quality as well as those that take their chosen path extremley seriously.

I know that WC tries to intimidate and convince people they have to see whom they tell them to see. I worked Federal, and they tried that with me years ago when I sustained an injury (not my back). I pulled the regulations to see just exactly what it said, and believe me their interpretation is loose and gave them all the power. However, what I told them was that I was more than willing to see their doctors, but that being injured did not mean that I gave up the right to control who treated my body. Therefore, I would see the doctor's of my choosing and be treated by doctors of my choosing, whether it was the first one or not, and if they wanted me to see their doctors as well, that would be fine.

They said that's what they wanted, but when I went to teh specialist and they paid the bill, the PT, etc they decided I didn't have to see their doctor after all.

It's sad that the employer at any level and their insurance companies try to intimidate in order to control the outcome. That's business I suppose, but then way too often we the patient allow it to proceed by not standing firm that it is our body and we have not given up control of our body and what is done to it. This is why I do encourage people to get a WC experienced attorney to help them stand firm. Having a WC experienced attorney can be almost as important as the true spine specialist. Luckily I did not need one for my injury, but then I'm a fairly adamant person when I take a stand.

Now, as to your doctor, I cannot say. I've read so many times where individuals have had fusion surgery and are taking NSAIDS. I've had to wonder if it is because they are using the general ortho/neuro surgeons who undertake the surgery several years behind the spine specialists. They have read, they've sought out the procedure eventually, but as they are so far behind, I don't know that they are being detailed trained by the companies producing the cages and BMP, etc. It (the training) may be offered, but that doesn't mean they have to accept it. The spine specialists do seem to do a lot of this training, at least mine sure does. It's not just a case of the company coming to the hospital to train him and other surgeons who are interested in the procedure, but frequently he AND his staff will go out of town for a weekend of training on new techniques. He's good about paying for them to have their spouses join them on some of these trips, which amazes me.

Well, at least this time you know that if BMP was used in your surgery, do NOT take arthritis meds until fused. I was fused in about 5 months, but my spine specialist asked that I refrain from returning to my NSAID until a full 7 months post op. That worked fine, as the glucosamine plus the pain meds he prescribed were working fine. I hope that 5 or 6 months post op you will be writing to tell all of us that your fusion is complete and that you are having very little discomfort; feeling like a new person.

Best wishes.