Nerve pain after lumbar forminotomy

Hi it looks like you haven't been on here for a while but I wanted to see how you're doing. I have the same diagnosis they say I have foraminal stenosis in S5 l1 area. I'm contemplating getting the foraminotomy that I have to find a surgeon I trust of course. I already had a decompression at l34 which seemed to help a lot but apparently he didn't take the time to clear out lower down at s 5 l1 like I said. Are you still having the nerve pain after a year plus? Where did you do the surgery? I hope you're feeling better!

I’m 7 weeks post surgery. Before surgery I walked with a cane, up to a mile. My legs felt very heavy. Little or no back pain. Now, I can’t walk without a walker and pretty intense lower back pain. In PT .

I hope everyone finds relief! I am a girlfriend/caregiver and I've seen how terrible and debilitating pain can affect the body. The person I care for suffered 10yrs of severe leg pain in both legs, progressively worsening without the right diagnosis. He was always told it was arthritis or even DVT. Countless ER visits. Until finally a Dr. Who listened and did a MRI,(unknown why no MRI was done before , he had great Insurance thru work) the Dr. admitted him to ICU due to near paralysis. April 2025 had spinal fusion L3-S1 yes all those in-between numbers too. We were hopeful, it all sounded like it could help him. He again is progressively feeling worse than before. He has the bone growth simulator device always connected, wears brace, takes brakes, tries walking if course no bending, lifting or twisting. He had to quit work, file disability, apply for Medicaid while in constant severe pain. I'm talking, it's every moment of the days and nights are pain, pain, pain. It's in every thought. Today after going to the ER he received a diagnosis of Intractable pain. It's exactly what it is constant, relentless, severe pain. I am witness to this pain changing a person's thought patterns. It's scary. Who really wants to be on morphine, or methadone? It is what I read is the only way to live a little bit of a life.
Hope all goes well enough for everyone here.

I had a 5 disc fusion, with 2 rods. Before surgery, my legs were very heavy, I couldn't walk far, and became out of breath easily with walking. I had undergone a triple bypass one year before surgery, no complecations. I thought that would fix my legs and walking, but no. The strange thing was, during cardiac rehab, I could go for 45 minutes straight on seated bike, seated elliptical or seated stepper. BUT - could not go for more than a few minutes on the treadmill due to my heavy legs. That's when I figured out I needed a foraminotomy (several). Little or no back pain prior to back surgery either. After, I'm 5 months post op, still using a walker to walk, mostly because of back pain. My legs seem to be not heavy, but still need to stop and rest some. I'm finding out that the walker helps because I'm pushing down some on the handles as I walk and that alleviates some of the back pain. I was walking a little bent forward before the surgery, for two years. I think my back muscles were so shortened by this that it hurts to try and stand up straight and walk. Unless I push on the walker handles a little. I've been doing lots of strengthening exercises to fix the weak muscles that weren't used to supporting me upright. I am making progress now! Hopefully I soon will be able to discard the walker and stand up straight without using it. Best of luck to you!

I'm trying something new. Accupuncture with lazer treatment. I'm almost afraid to say it's working. I cancelled my chiroptractic appointment last week, just to see if it is working. So far, so good! Pain is awful. I'm taking Tramadol with acetominaphin. My problem the last few days is remembering to take it.

You have to keep trying things until you find something that works.

Not quite same, but had lumbar TLIF a month ago. Sometimes debilitating nerve attacks (15 mins) in leg but now less frequent. Hit now if walk too much- third- half mile- or sleep on uncomfortable or bed, stand too long. PA says will continue easing but take a year+ to totally resolve, nerves slow to regenerate , Talk /email to your, surgeon or PA.. easy with mychart.

I haven’t read the complete post and happened to see this but have you considered a nerve ablation. It honestly has saved my life