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Is there anyone suffering from nerve damage from l5 s1 fusion?
Bones, Joints & Muscles | Last Active: Sep 18 10:00am | Replies (20)Comment receiving replies
I'm sorry you're having so much pain. I had L5 S1 fusion and a cage for a disc in May 2023. I've had neuropathy in both feet since then and muscle spasms. My fusion is failing, bone isn't growing and I have osteoporosis. I strengthen my core which is very important, I don't want to have another surgery. I started Envity shots for osteoporosis but insurance didn't pay much for them and I had to stop (1089/month), I'm now on Fosamax which scares me with the side effects. As for my failed fusion, I went to an Orthopedic surgeon for a second opinion who told me he doesn't feel I need another surgery at this time and continue exercise, eat well, and walk. I did get 2 sacral injections that really didn't help much with the pain. Unfortunately, I had a car accident on August 6 this year and ended up in the ER with a fractured sternum, rib, and a collapsed lung. Another journey to heal and it's painful and I fear it has damaged my fusion, I'm having pain. I'm going to my neurosurgeon Oct 5 , getting more xrays and pray the hardware is intact. I don't think I can go through another back surgery again. I'm 66 and on my own, so difficult to do it alone.
I wish you luck, try PT, exercise, strengthen your core, eat well, and take care if yourself. Hugs.
Replies to "I'm sorry you're having so much pain. I had L5 S1 fusion and a cage for..."
Thank you, wishing all the best for you. One of the worst things is having these surgeries and have fail. 🙏🏾
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I am so sorry for your situation! I, myself, am fortunate that my pain is well controlled for the most part. Like you I had an accident recently which really throws a monkey wrench into my “regular” ongoing slow deterioration but I am very proactive about getting on top of whatever comes my way. I have always been that way. It does get harder as we age. I am a few years older than you are and this is a difficult stage of life when we are by ourselves. Now that I’ve had five major total joint replacement and hardware and almost lost my life in one of them. I am fairly fearless. The hardest thing for me or the scariest thing is being alone. I found a lady who I pay to take care of me. I ask for a few extra days in the hospital and then I go home to the lady I pay. Then after I pay her for two weeks, I might look around for a couple neighbors or extended cousins to come look in on me. The secret for me is having a really good team of doctors. My primary care doctor is overloaded and overwhelmed so she is always agreeable when I bring her the research and she is agreeable to having me tested. The most recent problem was that my A1c was tagged as “abnormal.“ It was borderline at 5.5 or 5.6. No longer do doctors treat you when you’re borderline for anything but they’re in lies my problem. What is borderline for others is a need for attention in my case. Turns out with a little metformin for insulin resistance. my life is changed 100% in the last couple weeks last year. It was my pushing for a borderline uric acid level test and taking archery capsule supplements which led to realizing I have gout and taking now the gout medicine allopurinol. With these two changes after 25 years I feel like I’m 35 again when all of my problems started. The bones will continue to deteriorate so I am grateful for the bone medicines. My spine surgeon looks at my collapsing bones around my fusion and we are playing awaiting game till the next surgery. In between I take spills and falls as I have always done since I was a kid. I am not the most graceful person on this earth, but by the grace of God I go. I am sorry for your accident, which only compounds your misery and I hope you find relief and something to ground your faith in. Even this group is a godsend on the days where we feel miserable! Blessings for a good attitude because that gets us through the worst of times!