Severe lumbar nerve pain

I also had about two days of good pain relief from the trial. Then, like you, one of the leads moved. I guess that's easy to do considering that they are only taped in place. I went ahead with the permanant implant (Medtronics SCS), Not quite as good as the trial but still decent pain relief. That lasted about three and a half years. The reason for its failure was thoughto be that some of the electrodes burned out on the paddle. Perhaps you need more program adjustments. I hope there is something they can do. This pain thing is a real, well, PAIN!

in 2020 I had Laser surgery it cuts you Nerves but they do grow back together. Before any Major surgery if your Insurance covers you might think about that. after that it was the best and pain free I had felt from 2002 after a surgery VA did on my Neck removing a Cysts in my neck. I don't take pain Meds after the death of my wife caused by the VA and me being on to MUCH pain medication from the VA. The laser surgery really was a Blessing to my pain for about 18 months of course it is back and just as bad as it was but it did feel good.
The only surgeries for me, because I don't know which is from DJD and which is from my Axonal Neuropathy. I am considering the Spinal Simulator I am hearing good things about it, only thinking about it my Hip pain has put me in a wheelchair for a while but I am not ready for that yet.
GOOD LUCK if you believe in that.
God Bless I find that works GREAT for me. My Lord helps me

Amen to that! I truly hope and pray that you find answers to your pain, Keep searching! Don't let the medical community discourage you.

i don't let anyone discourage me because I know my Lord has me under his care and he is a better Doctor than any Earthly doctor. Thankyou for your wises. God Bless

I am doing fantastic! From what I understand the stimulators just give some relief and then they don’t work after a while. The RFA gave years and years of relief. Sometimes I’d have to have it a couple times in one spot for it to hold. Eventually, I found a good orthopedic surgeon, and I had lumbar surgery. And I got my life back. He did a very small part so the other parts of my lumbar are collapsing now after six years. On occasion when the pain returns to the front of my legs, I can go for more RFA in other spots. I do not believe they can do RFA in the same facet joints after you’ve had lumbar surgery, but there are other things like steroid injections and epidurals. You have to give them a few months to really kick in. I try a 50% dose because steroids are really nasty stuff. I walk every day. Weather really disables me. Humidity overcast and the temperature change I’ve used low-dose opioid for 25 years. It helps me get out there and do the exercise. I have no problem with the addiction. I have problem with pain. And the Percocet , I’ve decided has no side effects other than addiction. If I don’t have pain, I don’t take it and I mystified after 25 years pleasantly surprised that I got away most of the day without taking anything. There’s also something else you should have and that is a nerve test. If you haven’t had one already to make sure your orthopedic surgeon, and you know which nerve routes are being compressed and causing you pain. Each part of the leg and foot response to a different lumbar vertebrae area so it is critical down the specific area that is causing you pain from the nerve roots, exiting your spine . There are many things that could be done and it takes a lot of time and frustration and waiting to get through them. One time I had a pain management Doctor Who found a small fluid filled sack resting on my lumbar spine he asked do you want it drained? of course. I paid for it out-of-pocket and later sued the insurance company to cover it but in 10 minutes with very little pain, I got off the table with zero pain and went back to my life with the kind of degenerative disc disease I have and the osteoarthritis life as I age for the last 30 years has been challenging , especially because most people see a vivacious, healthy woman doing a very aggressive Art form Chalk in the street and they don’t understand what’s going on inside my body. I also want to say I’ve kissed a shit load of doctor frogs to find the doctor princes. And that’s an ongoing process , there’s a lot of younger doctors now and they just haven’t had experience yet and I actually mentor them. Just keep on keeping on and if something’s not right advocate for yourself. Good luck! Try everything! Oh, and have that scar tissue removed! I know that there are surgeries that are done that will remove the scar tissue so ask your orthopedic surgeon about that and get a variety of opinions I had before I landed the surgeon who I selected in two seconds after 20 years of looking he was the right surgeon so don’t give up!

Thank you for sharing your experience. I have had the epidurals, I've had the ablation, nerve blocks and nothing has worked. Each day I wake up and tell myself I don't know how much longer I can do this. I like your suggestion about the scar tissue as my pain doctor feels that the build up of scar tissue is what could be causing the nerve pain. I am willing to give the stimulator a chance however even if it works they expect only about 50% relief. I know this next statement will sound extreme but the pain is so bad that if I knew I could be pain free I would have my leg partially removed. Please don't think I am crazy, it's just having pain like this for going on 3 years this coming January I have literally not even a minute without pain. I can get in my recliner and reduce the pain but it is never gone. I really like my neurosurgeon as he came highly recommended. After 3 surgeries he said from my MRI that I shouldn't be in the pain I am having and we met with the pain Dr. He is the one that said I have degenerative arthritis. I am so happy that you are doing well and trust me, I am not giving up. I am only 69 years old and mentally young if the body would just feel the same. I live just outside Chicago in which I am lucky enough to have access to some of the best doctors. I think it is time for me to do start looking for alternatives rather than waiting and then possibly still end up being in pain. Actually I am past being in pain. I am in a wheelchair if not in bed. I am calling Rush Orthopedics tomorrow. Thanks again for insight. By the way, my name is Karen in Chicago.

@kburt911
I am having lumbar spine surgery this Friday (8/2/2024) on L3-L5 and have been dealing with cervical/lumbar moderate-severe congenital stenosis/DDD pain for over 8 years. I am currently 55 but my body feels and moves like I am 85. My neurogenic claudication causes so many symptoms lower back down to my feet (pain, numbness, weakness, muscle spasms in calves, etc.) which makes standing, sitting, walking, suing stairs, etc. very difficult. I am concerned about the scar tissue because I tend to have keloids form when healing incisions.

What types of surgeries did you have? What were your symptoms prior to surgery? Did you get any relief of your symptoms from surgery?

I had lower back pain for years and just contributed it to working in the garden too long or whatever I may have been doing. Then it progressed to days where it hurt too much to get up. I just kept taking more ibuprofen until I started having stomach problems. Finally decided it was time to see a doctor when I couldn't make it around the block when trick or treating with my granddaughter. Neurosurgeon ordered an MRI and it showed spinal stenosis and L1 was herniated and very close to my spinal cord. I had a laminectomy on L1 L2and L3 along with enlarging the opening for the stenosis and they shaved down my tailbone. For 4 months I felt amazing then I started having pain in my right thigh when I would put weight on my foot. It continued to worsen so I had L4 released. Immediately I knew it didn't help as soon as I stood up and felt the pain in my thigh. I was told it takes time for nerves to heal. The pain worsened and had L5 released. Again no relief. At that point my doctor called in pain management. Was given a nerve block and it worked for a while. Long story short I have had epidurals, an ablation and now a spinal stimulator implanted. No relief yet. I am reaching out to spine specialists at Rush Hospital. Please don't get disappointed by what I have been through as there are many people that have had complete success and I hope you are going to be one of them.

I am in the beginning stages of adjustments. Every 3 days I bump the stimulator up 3 points.if I feel it I am supposed to back it off.

@kburt911, What kind of stimulator do you have? Is it giving you noticeable pain relief? Thanks.