Ok I am gonna try to make this as short as possible. I would apprieciate anyone that may be able to relate, any advice, etc.
I got in a car accident over a year ago. After going through all "traditional" treatments (PT, medication, etc) my dr said surgery is my last option. So about a week and 1 day ago I had a lumbar discetomy(sp?) on what was only suppose to be 1 disc but he did 3 (L1L2L3). OMG! The pain is either the same or worse sometimes then before. I try not to do much at all (which is driving me nuttier than I am). I can NOT take anti-inflammatories because of my stomach issues (they make me sicked than a dog that ate chocolate). So I am only on narcotic pain killers. The pain down my leg espicially and my leg is still going numb where its useless.
He told me before surgery there is only a 50/50 chance that it'd help. He never said it could make it worse. Am I alone in this or has anyone else had the same bad experience?
Thanks for your time.
The following user gives a hug of support to mommyoftwins03: SFlorida (04-14-2012)
Ok I am gonna try to make this as short as possible. I would apprieciate anyone that may be able to relate, any advice, etc.
I got in a car accident over a year ago. After going through all "traditional" treatments (PT, medication, etc) my dr said surgery is my last option. So about a week and 1 day ago I had a lumbar discetomy(sp?) on what was only suppose to be 1 disc but he did 3 (L1L2L3). OMG! The pain is either the same or worse sometimes then before. I try not to do much at all (which is driving me nuttier than I am). I can NOT take anti-inflammatories because of my stomach issues (they make me sicked than a dog that ate chocolate). So I am only on narcotic pain killers. The pain down my leg espicially and my leg is still going numb where its useless.
He told me before surgery there is only a 50/50 chance that it'd help. He never said it could make it worse. Am I alone in this or has anyone else had the same bad experience?
Thanks for your time.
Sometimes we do things ( twist, bend the wrong way, etc ) that appears the day or two after. I deal with this sort of inflammation all the time. Could be nothing more than your piriformis muscle?
Has your Dr. given you a Medro dose pack ? Stretch your piriformis muscle much?
He told me before surgery there is only a 50/50 chance that it'd help. He never said it could make it worse.
Firstly sorry to hear about your situation, and hope you feel better soon.
50/50 are horrible odds considering how risky back surgery can be. Unless I was told that an operation had a higher than 90% success rate I would not do it. I've heard of people being in constant pain after surgery and that is always a risk even if the odds are 90/10 in your favor.
I've had two back surgeries, 1989 & 2008,both stopped the pain for a while, but now I have sever leg pain all the time, I cannot stand up still in one place very long, walking on concrete just kills me,I do not take pain pills, other than elive, have had two epidurals,they didn't work, soon or later you kinda get use to the pain and I just try to push it to the side and keep going,when I get to hurting I just stop,sit down and take a break,staying busy doing things and trying not to think about the pain,I may have to have surgery again one day if it gets bad enough,but right now i just keep on trucking.
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Posts: 701
Re: Anybody else have more issues after surgery?
Hi Mommy -- I have heard of people getting increased nerve pain post-surgery, because the discectomy allowed more blood flow to the damaged nerve. Once the nerve is freed up and starts to heal, the pain slowly goes away. As one poster mentioned, a short course of oral steroids (like medrol) might be helpful.
The increase in numbness and uselessness of your leg is problematic. Do you have a follow-up appointment with your surgeon soon? If not, you should make sure that he gets you in quickly.
Anybody else have more issues after surgery? 
