ms_west

Hi all,

Newbie here! I had a fusion for S1/S2 at 18 for a transitional vertebrae when I was 18. I was blessed to have absolutely no pan or limited physical activities until 2 years ago when I arched my back and walked on all fours playing with my children. I heard something pop and the pain was just unbelievable. An MRI was done and showed spinal stenosis. We tried physical theraphy and steroids with no relief. I dealt with the pain for over a year; however, it never improved. Finally at my husbands insistance I went to see a orthopedic. He did an MRI and CAT scan. I had 2 epidural shots and the shots actually made the pain worse so he did a laminectomyL5/S1. At that time, he thought that a fusion might be a strong possibility but we together thought the lessor of the two surgies would be the way to go. I had the laminenctomy in May 2006 and never felt better until September when I bent and heard a pop and it was like dynamite went off down my right leg. He ordered an MRI and everything looks pretty normal. We tried oral steroids and last Tuesday, I had a spinal epidural with a Nerve Block and steroid injections. The nerve block confirmed the leg pain is coming from L5/S1 - Oh what a relief, no pain for 1/2 a day!! When I left the surgical center, everytime I went to walk on my right leg it would give out on me. Since the block, I have been experiencing moments of leg jello and alot of foot pain that I never had before. The back pain is a little better but the sciatic pain is ever so present. I see the doctor on Dec. 26th so he should be able to talk to me more about the foot pain. I am thinking maybe my sciatic nerve was bruised????

Our plan of attack before the block was if this injection did not bring relief that he would go in and fuse the L5/S1 with screws which looks like the way we are heading. Does this all sound reasonable to you all? I know you are not doctors but you all have been living similar life stories as well.