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MRI results and Pain symptoms not matching. Dr says nothing he can do.

Spine Health | Last Active: Nov 18 10:52pm | Replies (25)
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@dlydailyhope

@sbraden1234
Are your symptoms worse after surgery than before? Have you gotten a 2nd and 3rd opinion? It sounds like you have adjacent disc/spinal cord/nerve root issues at L2-L3 and L5-S1. Have you had updated EMG and nerve conduction studies by a neurologist (upper/lower limbs)? Did you have a foot drop before surgery and do you think you had injury during surgery?

I had L3-L5 decompression and fusion surgery in August 2024. I was told it could take a full year to recover. I am dealing with pain similar to you and especially hip/hip flexor nerve pain.

Have they prescribed any pain medications like Cymbalta or Gabapentin? Were your injections in L2-L3 or just above this level to benefit all levels below? Have you tried lidocaine pain patches or creams or CBD topicals? Lidocaine pain patches like Salonpas brand place just above the pain have helped me. I place them on my spine area and stretch the extra large patches to the side a bit which relieves temporarily my hip/hip flexor pain.

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Replies to "@sbraden1234 Are your symptoms worse after surgery than before? Have you gotten a 2nd and 3rd..."
sbraden1234 | @sbraden1234 | Nov 10 7:14pm

My symptoms improved after surgery. The sciatica pain prior to the operation was excruciating. I think that was the key change. My hip pain and stabbing back pain did not go away.
The last nerve test showed a lack of reflexes in the back of the ankle and a lack of sensation at the side of the right foot. He never tested the upper limbs.
The drop foot appeared after surgery. He has gotten somewhat better over the past year.
I have wondered many times if something was injured during surgery. I was very surprised two weeks after surgery to see lab test results for soft tissue removed during surgery. After reading the surgeons report of the surgery there was a cyst deeply embedded that added an hour to the surgery to remove since its position could have impacted nerves. My right leg has never been right after surgery.
I took Gabapentin for a few months after surgery. It really was not helping so I stopped taking it.
I have not had injections at the L2/L3 site or the right S1. I am now scheduled to see a physiatrist in early December.
I have not tried the pain patches but I will on your recommendation. Thank you for the suggestions.

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