Gabapentin & MRI

there is nothing in Gabapentin to interfere with an MRI. it's for the nervous system. i'm on 2400 mg per day. and i've had numerous MRIs. CTs, Ultrasounds. and no problems nor advisements about it. danny5

Thank you.
Between opioids, Tylenol and steroid 6 day pack I am doing better than expected and feeling blessed. Spinal surgery Thursday, Friday was ok, Saturday very painfull(rebound) I am told. Today pretty good, opioids , Tylenol and started 6 day
Steroid pack.
The way to go for sure.
Tony

Thank you all for you kind words and blessings.
Had spinal surgery last Thursday .
4 days later feel pretty good walked a mile in the heat no problem.
Those of you that are considering spinal surgery; go to a neurosurgeon not an othopod. Why , b/c 7 othopods required full lamenectomy and 2 level fusion =
6-12 months recovery.
At 78 the neurosurgeon did a hemilamenotomy . Minimally invasive 4-6 weeks recovery. What he did for me is a week full recovery, stopped pain killers yesterday, 3rd day. This is a procedure worth fighting for. Am on Tylenol and a 6 day steroid pack started yesterday .
Will ski in colorado with my daughter this winter ; can’t wait to start training.
Very excited about my new life, unable to ski the last 3 seasons b/c back leg and butt pain.
God bless you all.
Tony

How do you wean off gabapentin I would like to take less or get off completely

Hi Tony,

I do agree that a neurosurgeon should be involved in any back surgery. The best-case scenario IMO is to have a neurosurgeon and an orthopedic surgeon present.

I'm curious, it sounds like you had a laminotomy, which is a removal of part of the vertebral arch, the lamina, in a vertebra. This is considered a minimally invasive surgery that makes room for nerves that traverse the spinal canal. I had this done at S1, L5, and L4 over 10 years ago, avoiding fusion surgery and still going strong at age 70.

It IS a procedure worth fighting for, especially since most Drs would recommend a fusion or a more aggressive laminectomy, where much more bone is removed.

Which vertebra were affected in your case? I don't think many people know about this procedure.

Hey Joe
Glad to hear from you.
It was L3-4 L4-5 and the procedure was a hemilamenotomy !
Much less invasive than a lamenectomy where cuts are made through the vertebrae on both sides of the ridge in the back completely removing a section of the vertebrae so it is a horse shoe not the circle and is weaked 30%.
The hemilamenotomy removes a 1/2 inch half circle of lamina on one side of the vertebra leaving an intact full circle vertebrae. This 1/2 inch semicircle allows a steel tube to be used as a tunnel for the surgeon to see and remove bony material crushing in on the spinal cord.
This is 5 days after the procedure, stopped pain killers 2 days ago and walked 1 mile yesterday and 3 miles today without issues. I was blessed to has the right surgeon, the right procedure and the right post op meds.
Thanks for your support.
Tony

Thanks Tony. I'm very happy to hear about your outcome!

I think I had a very similar procedure. It was referred to as a laminotomy (sp?). The surgeon removed the lamina from the back of the S1, L5, and L4, creating small holes in the vertebra without challenging the overall structure. This did two things. First, it opened the back of the vertebrae and provided space for the nerves to expand because along with the lamina, bony growths (osteoarthritis) were removed. And then second, through those openings, he removed any additional arthritic spurs he could reach.

But the result was the same as yours. I got instant relief from the awful sciatica pain in the back of my legs, and the structure of the vertebra was more or less maintained - as you point out, unlike a laminectomy which really weakens the vertebra.

Also like you, my recovery was very fast. My first night home was rough and only because the surgeon was moving nerve bundles around and it took time for them to resettle. Sitting down was a bit of a challenge.

But yeah I was back at work in a few days. That was well over 10 years ago and I'm 69 y/o now. I'm so glad someone else found a responsible surgeon who took the less invasive route.

My surgeon explained that the laminotomies may not produce the desired result and fusion would then be required. The first surgeon I saw would only do fusion. As of today I have no fused vertebra and plan to keep it that way.

All the best!

Joe

Hi Joe
We agree on this minimally invasive procedure as a wonderful procedure.
Right now the medical community is in controversy over the use of fusion after Laminectomy.
Many need only what we had.
I have 2 slipped discs, (spondelothesis) one surgeon said a fusion would likely be needed later. Time will tell.
Good luck and god bless you.
Tony

Hi Tony - so may I ask where you live (state is fine) and who the doctor is? Not sure if there’s a way to private email with this forum or not. I’ve not heard of this procedure before. Willow

I struggled for years from terrible pain at the same points as you. Although I did have a cyst on my S1 I had the same procedure at 52, I'm now 64 and will never let anyone but a neurosurgeon touch my spine! Glad it has worked for you too.