Diskectomy Lamy Scar Tissue Help!

[doumor_99]

Eight Months after my L5 S1 diskectomy and lamenectomy my pain was equal or worse than presurgery. An MRI with contrast revealed scar tissue. My surgeon was tight lipped about this revealing very little on how much and where. I guess people who scar like this are a small percentage and I would like to know more. The surgeon suggested more physical therapy, which I have been doing twice a week since July. If that did not work, epidurals, which I am using my previous pain management doctor. He uses the precision method under a sedative and flouriscope. I have tons of meds, Neurontin 400MG 3x daily, Naproxen 500MG 2x daily. I have hydrocodone 7.5/750, oxycontin 20MG, and cyclobenzaprine 10MG for breakthrough pain. I use a TENS unit 2-3 times a day which gives temporary relief 2-3 hours for those times when you cannot take narcotics. I also try to walk as much as my pain allows. I have some side effects of the drugs like cloudy memory increased liver functions, weight gain of 25 pounds or more. Looks like it is going to be permanent and I am told I should apply for my SSDI and medicare/caid to help defer the medical care I am about to embark upon. Please shoot me some of your stories and advise and let me know I am not alone in this. Thanks. DM

[Quietcook]

DM,

There are many posts on this board regarding scar tissue and I have posted a good number of them. Some individuals, including myself, tend to develop extreme amounts of scar tissue. The more fair completed an individual, the bigger the risk. I found out about my tendency 30 years ago after crushing an arm and undergoing numerous surgeries. I learned then to discuss internal scarring issues with surgeons.

Luckily, many good spine specialists will bring it up and at least inquire if you know if you have a problem, but not one of the general ortho or general neuro's I dealt with ever broached the topic to me. It was up to me to bring up the subject. For our good fortune, they have had gels out for some years now, and these work really great. There are different gels to be used in the spine area versus the abdomin, and they are expensive, but my insurance has never balked at paying for it. It is to their benefit to have the gel used instead of having to pay for additional surgeries and hospitalizations to remove scar tissue.

Know surgery is not something you want to deal with again, but if there is significant scarring, PT and injections are not going to resolve the issue, but then neither is having a general ortho or general neuro going to be in your best interest. I highly recommend that you seek out a true spine specialist who can be either ortho or neuro should you have a preference. What you want is one who has also completed an extensive spine fellowship and then dedicated his practice to just the spine instead of doing brain surgery or working on hips, shoulders, elbows, etc. It isn't that ortho's and neuro surgeons can't do good work on the spine, but they spend maybe 25% of their time on the spine and a spine specialist spends 80-100% of their time. The specialist will be more up and more experienced on the newer techniques and can offer options that the generalist cannot or will not offer for several more years.

If you don't know how to find a spine specialist, you can use the search feature and find threads I started, or look for the topic "how to find a spine specialist in yoru area". If you need further assistance, don't hesitate to post to note to quietcook.

DM, I've had 8 spine surgeries, but not one of them has resulted in more surgery because of severe scar tissue issues. Yes, some some tissue has been removed in surgeries, but that was just to ensure addtional problems didn't result, but not the purpose of the surgery. The anti-scarring gel has been used with each of my surgeries, and I now have 10 levels fused, so you know that I have great potential for scar issues.

Please consider finding yourself a great spine specialist, and don't just take the first one because they are a specialist. They are human and each one does things just as differently as you and I might do. I have several posts to other about how to approach finding a specialist, questions they may wish to ask and then consider what will work best for them. We all expect different things from our doctors, we want different paths, etc.

Best wishes, and I do hope you find the right doctor who will work toward your best interest, allowing you to return to a normal life.

[avglenn]

You are not alone at all. I've seen a few posts with people w/ same issues as ourselves. I had a micro-d, 16 months ago and continue to have back/ legs and feet pain. I had a follow up mri w/ contrast showing a large amount of scar tissue, which my dr. says is causing all these probs in his opinion. This cold weather really makes things worse. I am currently taking Neurontin 1800 mg, vicodin es 2x a day, or as needed, flexeril, ambien for sleeping and when I cant move or have 10 + pain I take celebrex. My leg pains have been so bad lately that my Neuro. has prescribed Cymbalta. I took my first one about 3 hours ago, and so far so good. I too have troubles with thinking clearly, and struggle when talking sometimes, which I contribute to the Neurontin. I am waiting for the insurance for approval to see a spine specialist ! I have had more questions unanswered in the past, where I feel a spine specialist is the correct way to go. G/L

[doumor_99]

Thanks, Knowing you are not alone sometimes helps. I have had a very bad time adjusting to all of this including the disability or lack of it. I have an excellent surgeon, but his manner is reserve and quiet. He also does not like to prescribe the pain meds. I had trouble sleeping and he told me to take a benedryl at dinnertime because it in your system so long. I get wired and itchy on antihisamines. It also contributes to restless leg disorder I have while sleeping. It all seems to snowball you are taken off of work on work comp, you loose your health insurance and anything surrounding the condition cannot be resolved due to lack of funds or insurance. Depression also sets in bigtime. Wish I knew of an social agency in AZ that could help me through all this. Manuvering through all the paper maze is stiffeling.

[doumor_99]

Well I see my surgeon in the Morning, do I opt for seeing if he will write me a release if I ever need one, or shoot for disability discussions to manage this terrible pain?