Well, Sept. 12th was a year ago I had my L4/L5 fusion, laminectomy, discectomy, instrumentation surgery. I can only say that the pain is worse then it was before surgery. Before surgery I only had back pain. Now I have nerve pain down my leg. The dr. thinks scar tissue pressing on the L4/L5 nerve root. That will never go away unless they go in and take out. It only comes back though. The pain across my back is horrible. I started using a cane again if I need to walk any distance. I'm on so much meds. Still on the Oxycodone. Taking Skelaxin, Lyrica. When does it end? I asked the surgeon if this is as good as it gets. He said he hopes it gets better. I knew there were no guarantees but I did hope for the best. It had to be done. I never thought the rest of my life would be pain. You don't realize how much your life changes. I'm sure everyone can relate. Sorry to be a downer. I'm just sitting here in pain ready to take my Oxycodone before bed. I was forced to take early retirement at 42 years old. Got denied social security and appealing. So, less money and a life change. There are days I feel guilty about not working anymore. Then, reality hits with horrible pain and I know I did the right thing. Oh well. Thanks for listening.

Hessie,

Oh dear, I am sorry things are not better for you. My neurosurgeon told me that it can take up to 2 years for everything to heal. Lets pray that this next year gives you great improvement! I am only 4 months out from my 3 level PLIF, lami & hardware, so I am the cheering section for everyone's recovery ahead of me (lord knows mine is not looking good so far). I hope all goes well with SSD also. I am just starting the process because my NS has taken me off work for minimum of 1 year.

Hi Hessie

Sorry to hear things are not well going too good!

I have just been told i am looking at a 3 level fusion but even though i am in pain every day i am refusing surgery till i am on my knees(so to speak).

My surgeon told me the odds of a 3 level fusion actually working was only 30% so i am hanging out for as long as possible.

Sorry i hope i havent depressed you more with that info.
Everyone is different and obviously what doesnt work for one may well work for another.:)

I really hope you see some improvement soon!

Chin up!

Hi Hessie - sorry to hear about your pain but I can relate. I had a lami/disc 2 years ago and in June of this year I had an ALIF removing L4 L5, L5 S1 and replacing with titanium cages with fusion. I am in more pain now than before surgery. I have severe pain in the left buttock and goes down my leg into my foot. I am taking oxycottin, vicoden and vallium with no relief. Also going to aquadic therapy. My neurosurgeron says he doesn't know why I'm still having pain, my catscan shows I have started to fuse. Now I have to get an MRI with and without contrast to see what is going on. I sure hope they find out what is causing the pain because I can't take it much longer. I thought having this surgery I would have a normal life, you know being able to go shopping, doing yard work, dancing, picking up your children or grandchildren and the list goes on and on. I hope you get better and pain free.

mew

Hessie,
Reading your post I felt like i wrote it: same story. So sorry you are having pain and a lot of problems. I can related to it...
I also had to go on SSD, never thought it will happen to me, I was so sure that i have at least 15 years of work ahead of me. And I feel so guilty now not working to the point that I realy don't discuss this matter with people. But sometimes I ask myself how in a world I would be able to work with all the horroble problems I have; 18 month after my surgery I still can't seat, stand, walk or sleep. Even with sleeping pills - I don't sleep.
And as you I ask myself why my problems after the surgery are worse than before? More problems... more surgeries.. tests, etc. I wonder sometimes if they know what they are doing in some cases... Not trying to get you depressed, but your post sounded so much they way I feel...
Best wishes and hugs ((( )))

Hessie,

I am so sorry that you are going thru this. Life since a fusion has been extremely rough for several of us and continues to be. It is extremely hardfor me to respond to you with what I have experienced of late but I just wanted to let you know that I care and am here for you 24/7. I hope your surgeon finds the source of pain.

Hessie,

I am so sorry that you are going thru this. Life since a fusion has been extremely rough for several of us and continues to be. It is extremely hardfor me to respond to you with what I have experienced of late but I just wanted to let you know that I care and am here for you 24/7. I hope your surgeon finds the source of pain.

Thanks. The surgeon doesn't plan on looking for a source. He just says it will take time. I went back to the physical therapy dr. He said the MRI I had done in June shows what is probably scar tissue pressing on the L4/L5 nerve root. He is going to try to get me more therapy. I was kicked out in Feb by the insurance co. Not medically necessary in their eyes. So will see. The only thing that truely helped the pain was deep tissue massage. Hope you are doing okay. I've been away from the board for a while so have to catch up on everyone. Take care.

Well I certainly don't have the answers, but have the same questions. This is very frustrating, I am six months now, thought my surgery was a sucess and then recently went so down hill, I am not having happy thoughts to put it nicely.

I can't say I regret my surgery as its the only chance I had to get better so had to take it. It gets very depressing and I am already on depression pills. Wouldn't any normal person be depressed? Its just all hard to deal with.

I hope this isn't as good as it gets :0

Well I certainly don't have the answers, but have the same questions. This is very frustrating, I am six months now, thought my surgery was a sucess and then recently went so down hill, I am not having happy thoughts to put it nicely.

I can't say I regret my surgery as its the only chance I had to get better so had to take it. It gets very depressing and I am already on depression pills. Wouldn't any normal person be depressed? Its just all hard to deal with.

I hope this isn't as good as it gets :0

It is all so very hard somedays. My dr. thought I was depressed. I also have Narcolepsy. So Narcolepsy mimicks depression with the symptons. She said if I'm not depressed I have every right to. I just go day to day and hope for the best. A year later and I'm back to using a cane when I know I will have to walk alot. I guess time will tell. I hope you feel better. I guess it can only get better. ;)

[QUOTE=hessie28;3207967]Thanks. The surgeon doesn't plan on looking for a source. QUOTE]

Then I strongly recommend that you take your records and MRI's and look for a second opinion. What if this can all be corrected??? Life is to short in my opinion.

I actually went back to the physical therapy dr. He said it looks like scar tissue pressing on the nerve root L4/L5. He said there is really not much to do. If you go in and take it out, it just comes back. I know that first hand from previous ovary surgeries. Had scar tissue taken out twice. He said we could do the epidural shots but it probably would not work. Last time I had them I came down with Shingles at 37 years old. I'm convinced that is how I got them after reading about them. So technically that was my second opinion. The surgeon said to call him back in two months if not better.

I don't know Hessie I think you would benefit from another spinal surgeons opinion just to be on the safe side. A Physical Therapist is a far cry from a spinal surgeons opinion.

That is true. I just don't have the energy. I also have Narcolepsy which is also worse. The physical therapy dr. asked what the surgeon said. I told him basically he said nothing. He said the MRI looks like it could be scar tissue pressing on the nerve root. They can't keep going in and taking out scar tissue. It only comes back worse. He said epidural shots. I'm not a fan of them either. Had them years ago and it did nothing. Would it help now? Who knows. Since my balance is really off and my feet are flat, they are going to use that to get me back into therapy. Hopefully they will work on the back too. Most likely I will do the machines again. The massage is what I need. I've been using a cane when walking for a long time so the goal is to get rid of that again. We will see. Thanks for your advice. If I don't get better I will think of seeing another surgeon or orthopedic.

Hessie, I never understood not having the strength to get a second opinion until this latest bout I am going thru. It is everything I can do to get dressed in the morning much less function as a mother. Forget the house...it will all be there tomorrow.

Take care and know that you are on my prayer list.

Thanks Diet. It is so hard. I don't know which is worse. The back pain or Narcolepsy. Pain is pain. The Narcolepsy doesn't hurt but I am losing my memory. I can't concentrate. I'm tired all the time. No sleep. I don't have the kind where you fall down. I have Severe Excessive Daytime Sleepiness. So hard to function. Even if I were able to go back to work after the back surgery, the Narcolepsy would have prevented me. Plus all the meds don't help the memory loss and concentration. I keep a legal pad by me and write everything down. Problem is actually doing the stuff. So a second opinion will have to be when I've had enough. It is getting close. Hope you are feeling better.

Hessie, I am sorry that you are still dealing with all this and a year after surgery. I really feel for you, I am hoping and praying that things will work out for you. And it is good to get some more opinions to see whats really going on. Take care

Thanks KKMom. It looks like there is permanent nerve damage in my calf and part of my foot. Had it before surgery. No guarantee it would go away. The nerve was in a knot. How many years? Who knows. I never had the pain in the calf before. Not for years. It is bad enough to recover but then new pains come. I'm already on 300mg of Lyrica. Doesn't seem to be doing a darn thing for me. Guess if I didn't take it then it could be worse. I'm just tired. Tired of being in pain. Tired of complaining about it too. It helps to come here and discuss with people that understand. So thanks. Just the replies I got make me feel better. ;)

have they tried anything else other than lyrica like topomax or neurontin?