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Long Term Sciatica - Chronic Pain
Spine Health | Last Active: Apr 8 8:08pm | Replies (20)Comment receiving replies
@travelinman
I am not a doctor but someone who has experienced many spine issues, injections, surgeries, etc.
It does seem like your nerve(s) was(were) injured in your first 2 surgeries. Why did you decide not to work with the first orthopedic spine specialist who did not suggest fusion? Why did the neurosurgeon suggest fusion of L5-S1? Do you know why your hardware failed?
Do you have the 2024 MRI report that details what was seen L1-L5 and L5-S1? What level was worked on in November 2024 and did the surgeon say the source of your pain was due to a disc bulge/herniated disc and the surgery would relieve it? Do you know why the neurosurgeon that did surgery 1 and 2 would not do the 3rd surgery?
It definitely can take a long time for spinal nerves to heal. I had moderate to severe compression of L4-L5 spinal cord/nerve roots for 12 years and had decompression and fusion surgery on L3-L5 in August 2024. I had numbness in my right foot after surgery but it has improved some. I had a lot of pain for the first 3-5 months and started to get some relief in the 6th month.
Have you ever tried Cymbalta for nerve pain or Tramadol? Have you ever tried Salonpas lidocaine pain patches or acupuncture? I do feel for you and I know how bad nerve pain can be.
I have read that nerve ablation is possible for L5-S1. Who told you it was not possible? Are you working with an orthopedic spine pain specialist to review all options? A stimulator may be a good option to consider for your type of pain.
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The 1st neurosurgeon was highly recommended over the orthopedic specialist. As far as fusion, I remember the 1st neurosurgeon stating that he has never went against an opinion on surgery with someone on the same team, and that if I have surgery without a fusion, I will will be back shortly for another surgery, that just cleaning out L2-L5 would not take care of the problem. Hardware failed because I have a bone density problem that I did not know I had, and I have been treated since the 2nd surgery for this. In
The source of pain was from the L5 disc lying on top of the S1 disc. Also, my Lumbar disc needed "cleaning out". My PCP and I speculate that the 1st neurosurgeon has washed his hands of me, as he failed, and probably, as you stated, injured my nerve(s), and that is what I am dealing with now. I have tried every medication you listed and then some, and the patches. I have not tried Acupuncture, but will discuss it as an option, I will have needles stuck in anywhere it would work. I've had 3 epidural shots, before and after surgeries, not effective at all. As another individual stated, I will push for an ablation for L5-S1, maybe with a new pain specialist. I've worked with two pain specialists with the same network as my 1st neurosurgeon. Both of these specialists, along with my1st neurosurgeon, were pushing me for an SCS stimulator. Long story, the representative never contacted me after phone appointments, and I did my research on the SCS online, which shows nothing but bad results. My current neurosurgeon has a pain specialist he works with, whom I have not seen, and that will be one of my next steps. I've read that one of the side effects of an SCS could set off an arrhythmia problem, which I dealt with up until ten years, with my last of seven heart ablations.
Thank everyone for all your input, please keep it coming, as I see the neurosurgeon that did my 3rd surgery in exactly 5 weeks. He said I should have relief by then from the 3rd surgery, which I have NOT, it has only gotten worse as I become tolerant to the medication, even with increasing the dose. This appointment will be a follow-up and based on the input from everyone of you who reply to my situation as to my next steps. As this progresses, I will let the group know what worked and what didn't, so I might help someone else. Please, everyone, keep your input coming.