I am taking an un-scientific poll. To those of you who have undergone lumbar fusion surgery: I know that everyone is different and results vary with different people, procedures and areas fused, but please bare with me.

After surgery, did you experience nerve pain in your leg(s)?

Was that pain different then your initial pain? if so, how? (burning, cold, tingly, numb or whatever)

Were you given steroids for your nerve pain? if so, did they work and how long did it take for them to work?

Was your nerve pain accompanied with swelling in the affected area? Color changes?

Most important- How long did this pain last? Did it ease up and eventually go away?, Did your pain ever get worse?, Did it spread? Did it change in any way?(from burning to cold, etc...).

I thank you all very much for your help with this, I am just trying to get a better grasp on this issue. I have looked for answers on the Internet with no real success, and my GP has no idea about nerve pain, my surgeon has not talked to me personally (yet) but gave my GP no ideas.
I would just like to get some idea on how common these symptoms are.
Thanks for your time:)


Porter:wave: :wave: :wave:

Porter
I hope you are feeling better more than anything I believe you need to get some answers.

I was pretty worried about you the changing of color and pain in your leg just does not sound right. I am not a Dr or expert and have not had a fusion but the amount of pain you had and everything just isn't right.

I know your Dr is a drive from where you are but it might be worth going to see him or if the pain persists going to the er in that town. If you can make the drive.

Let us know what you find out.

Sandy

Hi Porter,

I feel so bad that your having to deal with this crap, alongside your fusion surgery.

After my Fusion, I experienced alot of burning pain in my left leg, going into my foot. I could barely touch my foot, my shoes killed me. My Dr. said it was nerve pain. He rx'd me Neurontin. It was like a miracle worker. I would say within a couple of days to a week (don't remember exactly) my pain was GONE!! I did have swelling accompanied in my ankle and foot. My pain did change at times, like my foot would hurt to walk, but no burning. Then other times my leg would be hurting and burning in my foot. Going to sleep at night...ha, big joke, my legs and feet hurt just to touch each other. Thats where the amatryptline (sp) came in handy.

I took neurontin for about 17 months and have now weaned off of it. I still have leg pain, but I believe that it's do to my L5-S1 issues that I have now. I don't know if it's related to me not fusing at the L4-5 level though.

Anyway, I do hope that you can get to the bottom of what's going on soon!! Take care Porter, my thoughts and prayer are with you,

Bernie

Hi Porter, I didn't experience any nerve pain after surgery. I'm 5 months post op today and now are having the nerve pain. My pain is shooting down from my knee to the calf. It also hits my foot if I stand to long or sit with my feet on the floor. It usually is bad at night so I pop a Percocet. I was on Neurontin before and after surgery so maybe that is why I didn't feel the nerve pain. I don't like that it showed up after 5 months. The dr. said I had classic L5,S1 damage. When he would stab me in the leg and foot I couldn't feel sharp pain. They said it could be permanent. I don't think they know anything. You just heal and what happens happens. Just my opinion. Hope you feel better.

I have fusion and have leg problems, pain in my leg and lower left side of spine and swelling. I was given steroids because they thought I had stenosis. The pain and symptoms people have will depend on a lot of things. Mine is not from the fusion but from a combination of the fusion and the rods. They toggether are irritating my lower lumbar area causing a lot of inflamation in my facet joints. The joints are whats causing the pain. The only way they could rule out it being related to my nerves is because I had a mlogram ct done. My spine is not compressed and my nerves and sacs around them are great. If you are having a lot of pain I would see if it is related to your facet joints because it resembles nerve pain.:)

do you have rods in our back or just fusion?

If you are having color changes you need to have the doc check the circulation in your leg. do you have hip pain? Something may be out of sorts and putting pressure on your artery in your hip or thigh

I had scoliosis surgery with fusion and rod placement in 2001. I have suffered from lower back pain and pain in my left leg off and on since the surgery. I had one episode where I couldn't hardly walk for a month. They thought it was nerve pain, gave me sterioids for the weekness. I had a mylogram ct and it is not my nerves. It is where having the fusion and the rods irritates and inflames everything and causes swelling and pain. Look a facet joint pain, that is the joint that was irritated on me and resembled nerve pain. If your pain won't subside, I find it helpful to see a chiropractor. I have found that my chiropractor has helped me more than anything. I have had physical therapy, pain management, sterioid injections. My sergion has been ready to operate on me again for the past four years to take the rods out to help rid me of the pain. That is my only other option other than deal with the pain. But since I started going to my chiropractor, I have hardly any pain (that i cant handle) and if i do he takes it away. Hopefully you get some relief soon.

Hi Peanut and welcome to the board,

Interesting info regarding the hardware and the joints. Thanks for the info.

I'm really glad that the chiro is working wonders for you, but for me personally, I wouldn't let one touch me. I truly believe that with disc problems and such, they could do more harm than good. But see, this is whats so great about this board. We can all learn, exchange info and most importantly relate to back pain together. What works for one, won't always work for another.

Take care and thanks again for the info.
Bernie

HI Porter,
I'm so sorry your still having this problem, I had 4 fusion surgeries inthe a lil over the past 3 yrs. the 3rd & 4th ones were within 4 days of each other, the nerve pain I had after the 3rd one was the worst pain I had EVER EVER experienced, now remember I had already had two fusion, the burning, stabbing, hyper sensitive, pain in my foot & leg. They put me on IV steroids and I had the 4th surgery, the IV roids worked extremely fast and I was on that until a day or two before I went hom, they then put me on neurontin I started out on 1500 mg a day and it has increased with in the last year to 2700mg a day which I'm still on to this day and still have nerve damage pain but it has been tolerable up intil the last few months. It has gotten worse and not have some syptoms in my right side too. I've been diagnosed with failed back syndrome and refferred to a PM dr.

Please dont' just settle with being ignored, your worth way more than that type of treatment. I pray you find relief soon.

Good Luck

God Bless

Carol

Hi Porter: I have had horrendous nerve pain since my fusion 2.5 years ago. The doctor said it was because the nerve was exposed too long due to him having to remove a lot of adhesions and I ended up with 5 dural tears. Bottom line, my right foot is completely numb, my right leg is numb in several spots and I walk with a limp. I know that there's inflammation in the area of the surgery (L5-S1) Some days are better than others. I know that if I'm constipated it's worse and if I've been overdoing it for the day it's worse. I sure know the feeling though...can't even touch it without it being hypersensitive. I also get what I call "zingers" that feel like lightening bolts zapping through my leg and coming out my foot.

The good news is that I can walk again. I couldn't before the surgery.

do you have rods in our back or just fusion?

2 rods vertical and 1 horizontal and 6 screws.

Porter:wave:

Thanks to all that replied to my post. The responses were extremely interesting for sure! It seems that post surgery nerve pain is very common indeed. I am glad to hear that most of you were able to rid the pain eventually. I sad to hear that some of you still suffer.
The Doc did determine that there was some circulation in my foot, but yet it is still swollen and discolored. Sometimes its a dark red/purple, and sometimes its just a light red. Its always swollen but sometimes its very swollen! It does seem to matter how swollen or discolored it is, the pain is usually the same unless I am active, then the pain increases. Steroids had zero effect on the pain.

Wow Carol, you really have been put through the wringer when it comes to surgery. My goodness 4 fusions in 3 years and 2 of those within 4 days!!! I cant imagine having to go through that. I am truly sorry that you are having to deal with more pain. I hope that you will soon be pain free.

Tx- Your symptoms sound very simular to mine for sure, I too get the zingers. They are extremely painful. Its a good thing that I am usually sitting down because if I happen to be standing when I get a "zap", I might end up on the floor.

Peanut- I know there are a lot of people that benefit from chiropractic care, but for me I will never allow a chiro to adjust me. I know there are some good ones out there, I ended up getting one of those who advised me that "one leg was longer then the other" and thats what was causing my pain. He adjusted me and I ended up in the ER and then had surgery for a herniated disc. I am not saying he caused my herniated disc, but the extreme pain came after his "adjustment". Now I am just paranoid about them I guess and cant bring myself to ever trust one to ever manipulate my spine again. But I guess there are some that actually are able to relieve some peoples pain, so they cant all be bad.

The other thing that bothers me besides te pain and swelling is the weakness in my entire leg. Sometimes its so weak that walking is out of the question because I fear its not strong enough to hold me up. Usually that is rare, but the weakness is still there and it takes effort just to move the leg forward. I am sure its related to the nerve pain so hopefully if the nerve pain subsides, so will the weakness.

Again thanks for your responses, they were certainly educational. I will keep you all posted as to whats happening and what I find out from the Doc(s)

Porter:wave: :wave: :wave:

hi, Porter! I had my fusion 12-05-06, and I still have nerve problems(Dr. said I have permanent nerve damage). I was told that nerves have memory. My Dr. put me on the Medrol Pack twice before I had any real relief, and he said that sometimes it takes 2 or 3 doses to feel any relief. I get the zingers in my foot, ankle, and toes, along with severe cramps in the arch of my foot and toes. I, too, still have weakness in my left leg, and I hope in time that goes away. I have heard of dropped foot, but at times, I feel like I have dropped leg!!!!! Drudging thru the snow is really hard to do. I am applying for a handicap parking permit as I can't walk the distance in the parking lots. If I remember correctly, your Dr. stated that he had injured your arteries----I would make an appointment with a Vascular Dr. and have it checked out. My left foot has discoloration----it is a shade lighter than the right foot and is usually colder than the right side. Dr. said this is normal with nerve damage. I have more bad days than good, but still try to keep a sense of humor to prevent the depression from setting in. This kind of surgery is a very trying one both physically and emotionally. I have found that sometimes if I rub body lotion on the leg and foot(very lightly due to the sensitivity), kind of like a very mild massage, it feels a little better. It helps to relax the muscles. I can't do that every day, but on the good days I try to. As hard as it is to do, we must keep our chins up----can't grin and bare it!!! We also have to try to keep thinking positively throughout this whole dilema. You are in my thoughts and prayers my friend.

INTERESTING!!!!

Porter...I find this interesting, even if its in another area, but I had a THORACIC FUSION...and I am having terrible nerve problems down my right arm. Its's kept me in bed for a week and a half now. I am so nervous that this is FOREVER. Mine is not swollen..it just gets very numb frequently.

I did speak to my surgeon's assitant, and she said that it ONE OF TWO THINGS :

1) the nerve is irritated from me taking my brace off (I wore a brace for 3 months and I just took it off which is when the pain started hardcore).
AND
2) Reherniation of the disc above or below the fusion site....it was too stressful on those levels...that is, picking up the slack of the fusioned area.

I just thought it was similar even though its not the same area. Being that I was in a brace for the past 3 months, my nerve problems were kept under wraps until I took the brace off. Maybe...MAybe Not? But it's Food For Thought....and we have nothing better to do than think, think, think...right? :)

I had a lumbar fusion about five months ago. I have no remaining nerve pain--some cropped up in my upper thighs for three months after the surgery. I hadn't had that before. My surgeon assured me it was just the nerves healing--and, sure enough, it's gone.

I don't frequent this site because the discussions here tend to depress me--and this site scared the he*l out of me pre-surgery. I had three major spinal surgeries in a year, and I'm at about 80%. It's getting better every day. I'm pain free--most days--and have some fatigue still.

Not every lumbar surgery ends badly--and other peoples' experience (past post surgery tips, etc.) isn't always instructive. Talk to your doctor, get a second, third, however many you need, opinion and find a surgeon you trust. Discuss the surgery with them, and then bite the bullet if you have to have it. Freaking yourself out with informal polls or reading the posts of folks who have had bad surgeries or rough recoveries isn't gonna make you more or less likely to succeed.

I don't mean to be nasty or anything--but you can do yourself a real disservice on these boards. Best of luck to you.

I had a lumbar fusion about five months ago. I have no remaining nerve pain--some cropped up in my upper thighs for three months after the surgery. I hadn't had that before. My surgeon assured me it was just the nerves healing--and, sure enough, it's gone.

I don't frequent this site because the discussions here tend to depress me--and this site scared the he*l out of me pre-surgery. I had three major spinal surgeries in a year, and I'm at about 80%. It's getting better every day. I'm pain free--most days--and have some fatigue still.

Not every lumbar surgery ends badly--and other peoples' experience (past post surgery tips, etc.) isn't always instructive. Talk to your doctor, get a second, third, however many you need, opinion and find a surgeon you trust. Discuss the surgery with them, and then bite the bullet if you have to have it. Freaking yourself out with informal polls or reading the posts of folks who have had bad surgeries or rough recoveries isn't gonna make you more or less likely to succeed.

I don't mean to be nasty or anything--but you can do yourself a real disservice on these boards. Best of luck to you.

Hi Muffy and thanks for your reply. I guess when I posted this I was not thinking and just assumed everyone knew my story, my fault for the confusion.
I did have a level 2 fusion on Jan 10th (L4/L5/S1) and the reason I wrote this post is because since waking from surgery, I have had severe leg and foot pain. I know it is normal to have nerve pain post surgery, but this goes beyond what I understand is "normal". I was treated 2 weeks after the surgery with a Medrol pack that the surgeon assured me would alleviate the pain, it didn't. I was prescribed another round of steroids again to calm the nerve, and again it failed. I also have swelling and discolor if my foot. My pain is mostly burning, but occasionally turns icy. The pain is constant and has landed me back in the hospital for 3 days this week. My surgeon (who is 5 hours away) has talked to my GP and I am now wearing a fentanyl patch. There have been some other symptoms that I have experienced as well such as incontinence and leg weakness that seems to be growing, that has the Drs concerned a bit. My GP and surgeon want me to wait another week to see if there is any relief at all before scheduling a CT scan.
My questionnaire was simply to find out how common nerve pain is post lumbar fusion surgeries. I apologize for the confusion, and I do thank you for your response on your symptoms post surgery, it is assuring when people tell me that thier nerve pain eventually went away, it sounds like you have been really cursed with back problems as well, 3 surgeries in a year? I cant imagine having to go through that, God Bless you:angel: . I hope that you will soon be 100%
Thanks again

Porter:wave:

Hi Porter,
Yes, I had nerve pain both before and after my surgery. It was the same in some places, different in others, in places that it wasn't before, instead of primarily my left leg, it was now in both legs, and down to the feet on both sides. It was different in intensity, it burned, shocked me, shooting pain, at times, it was so bad, it would make me gasp from the intensity.
It also had swelling with it, but it was all along the legs, and subsided within a day or two after it began.
Hope that this answers your questions. What I have read from you does not seem to be the same kind of pain and reaction that I have heard about as normal after fusion........one of the reasons you had me so worried.

I'm 2 years past a 2 level fusion, and don't have/never had nerve pain. What I did have before the surgery and maybe for9 months after were leg spasms. I meditate regularly, and for a long time the spasming was my point of concentration, so I can tell you they occured every fifteen SECONDS for up to 8 hours at a stretch. Hideous. Neurontin was a god send, even if it did short out my short term memory and give me dry mouth.

BUT, everytime cold water hits my foot (as in watering the garden) I spasm immediately. Doing an EMG in a couple of weeks to see if we can figure this out. And I drive w. hand controls because my right foot can't be counted on. And my right side is substantially weaker than my right.

So it's not pain but weakness that is my current enemy.

Muffy: I agree with you that the board can do some people a disservice, but please understand that this board has done WONDERS to many many people...me among them. Anyone reading here does have to understand that every situation is different and I believe Porter indicated that he realized that.

I, too, have had 3 major back surgeries in a short period of time. I don't think I could have gotten through it without the support of the people on this board. Good stories and bad...I weighed it all. They key is not to be afraid or depressed about the information here. Take this information and use it to become educated and then consult the doctor with anything that may be applicable to your situation.

Please don't discourage people from looking here for information. It's a great source. It's to be used as informational only, not as a doctor substitute - That would be my only recommendation.

Hi all...

I had my 2 lvl fusion 11/00/06. Before the surgery had no pain down my leg, a little bit in my hip/buttock area. Since my surgery I have nerve pain down my right leg, hip and buttock area, my right butt cheek is numb and some numb spots on my upper leg. I was told this was normal...normal? Oh well just only time will tell. I am starting to fuse that is good part, just this nerve pain makes me question my decision to have that surgery. It is more intense then the pain I had before hand.

Porter, I really wish you luck with your leg and foot issues. It scares me that you are going thru all that. And makes me feel stupid to complain about my issues cause they are so minor compared to yours.

/hugs Niki

I am taking an un-scientific poll. To those of you who have undergone lumbar fusion surgery: I know that everyone is different and results vary with different people, procedures and areas fused, but please bare with me.

After surgery, did you experience nerve pain in your leg(s)?

Was that pain different then your initial pain? if so, how? (burning, cold, tingly, numb or whatever)

Were you given steroids for your nerve pain? if so, did they work and how long did it take for them to work?

Was your nerve pain accompanied with swelling in the affected area? Color changes?

Most important- How long did this pain last? Did it ease up and eventually go away?, Did your pain ever get worse?, Did it spread? Did it change in any way?(from burning to cold, etc...).

I thank you all very much for your help with this, I am just trying to get a better grasp on this issue. I have looked for answers on the Internet with no real success, and my GP has no idea about nerve pain, my surgeon has not talked to me personally (yet) but gave my GP no ideas.
I would just like to get some idea on how common these symptoms are.
Thanks for your time:)


Porter:wave: :wave: :wave:
I clicked on your link uni-scientic and it wouldn't open up.

Hello ,
My first surgery I had no leg pain. After the dug out my old hardware is when the leg/hip/feet pain started , after my 3rd surgery it has gotten horibbly worse.

The pain was a numb to start , then jolts down my back and buttox. then it worked it's way to my legs and feet. Feels like a burning at first then it turns to a crushing pain that you just want to curl up and die or cut your foot off. Meds don't touch it at times.

I was giving epidurals 2 to be exact with no help , then Facet injection for my hip pain , 2 set's of them like 5 injections on each side. THEN I recieved a selective nerve root injection that last a month and a half. Then I recieved 2 after that, that didn't help at all ? Srtange ? I was feeling great to,

No, no swelling or color changes in my area. Just pain

I must be one of the hand picked people to have to live this way , I'm going to try the nerve burning and if that doesn't help I'm getting the spinalcord stimultor implant. I need off my meds ASAP.

Sorry my story is so horrible but it's very true and everyone isn't like me so don't worry yourself crazzy.
I'll be praying for you :)

I am 2 months post op of a 2 level fusion (L4-L5 & L5-S1) done completely posterior with rads and screws. My worst flare up came about three weeks post op, deep ache type pain from my butt to the tip of my toes on my right leg, funny thing is that leg was not the problem pre surgery. My left leg has a burning pain limited to my outher thigh. Lyrica seems to moderate the pain, but even on it my right leg hurts from my calf to my toe and I have a lot of spasms.

Sorry, have to chime in here and say muffy, these boards are also very encouraging...sorry you feel they are a disservice, to me they have been a life line. Maybe hearing of others failed surgerys or continued problems have led you to that idea. I personally have talked to many on hear who have sucessful surgerys.

Also, this is the only place where everyone understands and this is a tremendous support system, as well as lots of information.

I love my buddy's