Severe lumbar nerve pain

Why thank you for even noticing that Jennifer! Yes, when I see the neurologist I do plan on bringing these symptoms up. If it gets worse, I'll see him outside of my annual exam. I'm familiar with TOS as I previously had thoracic plexitis and TOS was a differential. I am prone to compressive neuropathies in general and if I recall correctly, even had genetic testing related to that in some way. All that was part of my CIDP diagnosis so it's a blur all these years later.

I don't think the numbness is waking me up though for sure there is some numbness. It feels like the same pain I had before I had the carpal tunnel surgery and it feels more painful in my wrist, not my hand. Weird huh? Is that more of a TOS or a carpal tunnel symptom? It's possible I'm sleeping differently too because I don't want to sleep on the side that hurts.

I fully support myofascial release therapy. In fact, I researched that years ago and found one through a national website where you can look for therapists that specialize in this particular therapy. I saw him for close to a year. At the time I had a diagnosis of myofascial pain syndrome that was a precursor to the degeneration of my cervical spine that ended up with my fusions. I have never understood why there are not doctors that specialize in fascia disorders. Frankly it seems like an overlook aspect of healthcare that affects so many people in so many ways. And not just connective tissue disease. Put me in your cheering section!

I also have degenerative scoliosis. Had my 1st lumbar fusion last May. It is night and day. I have 2 more to go. My neuro surgeon started with the 2 that was causing my nerve pain. I tried injections. Nothing. I am so pleased I had it done. Easiest recovery I ever had. Unfortunately I also ended up with septic arthritis in my hip. Not related to my surgery. So the last 7 months dealing with that. Next winter I will finish my lumbar fusions. At 60 it will only get worse. So I'm going to get ahead of this. It's a hard decision you and your surgeon will have to make. I'm happy I chose surgery.

@slater I wanted to welcome you to Connect. I am a cervical spine surgery patient, so I don't have scoliosis experience, but I'm glad your surgery helped your pain. That sounds like a smart way to go to me, to do surgeries in steps to get to your maximum improvement over a scheduled time frame. Big surgeries are hard decisions, and it is great to hear about a positive experience and good result from a lumbar surgery.

Welcome!
Jennifer

How did your appointment go?

Thanks for asking I’m still trying to learn my way around on here to find the posts I’ve commented on She wants me to wait until I see the neurosurgeon April 9 and I see my neurologist April 18 to see what they say before doing more tests or referring me to another surgeon. I did get on my portal sites for all the doctors and combine all my health problems and medication since I see several and non of them have everything updated. She was very thankful for that and the dentist was too. Her student doctor come in an assessed me first he was in shock with everything I had going on. I could hear him telling her everything they didn’t know where to begin with all the pain. I have a couple rare syndromes so far the ENT, primary and student and my Dentist have never heard of the Red Ear syndrome. My Ears turn red at random times. I’m going Wednesday to discuss hearing aids so I’ll try the audiologist and Thursday to see the cardiovascular doctor about the Pulmonary Artery Aneurysm they found last year.

I don't have scoliosis but do have degenerative arthritis in my lower back. Your pain sounds exactly like mine. My pain starts in the middle of my buttocks and goes through my groin area to the front of my thigh. The pain is constant. I never had this problem until I had back surgery where they shaved my tailbone and enlarged the opening at the bottom of my spine and did a laminectomy on L1,L2 L3.. A few months later I started having pain shoot down the front of my right thigh everytime I would take a step or place weight on my right foot. I went through every kind of pain treatment out there including having a spinal stimulator implanted 2weeks ago. Still no relief yet. Hoping to hear from someone who has gotten relief to helf any of us suffering.

I will say that the Medtronics SCS was one of the few things that actually helped me. Took pain from about a 7 down to a 3. Then, it suddenly stopped working about three and a half years later. There was some thought that the paddle had 3 or 4 electrodes that had shorted out. I just had everything removed about two months ago. I am considering a trial of a new one since my pain has not been controlled my anything, including a pain pump. A trial is a minimally invasive procedure that should give you a good idea of how much pain relief you will get.

I had VERY successful RFA/RFI on my facet joints (heat not pulse) on my lower lumbar facet joints covered by insurance and it solved the pain that is referred to the front of your legs originating from disc compression degenerative arthritis stenosis in my lumbar. good luck!

I went thru the trial for the spinal stimulator. I did get one day of relief before one of the leads slipped out of position. Two weeks ago I had a permanent one by Abbott implanted. As of yet I have received no relief. I am not giving up but I don't want to keep trying for months with no change in pain relief.

What you have is exactly what I have been told I have. My pain is all in my upper leg (outer thigh, inner thigh and groin). Nothing gives me pain relief for the nerves. With the stimulator I can feel the currents from my knees down and above my groin but nothing on my thigh. Working with the Abbott rep to try and get some relief as I can't put weight on my right foot or the pain shoots like a lightening bolt up my leg.

Along with the degenerative arthritis they say the pain is from scar tissue compressing nerves after 3 back surgeries.

How are you doing now?