Connect
Spinal Fusion issues
All, I am currently 27 years old and have undergone multiple lumber surgeries and have had constant issues. In June 2020 I had a micro discectomy at my L5/S1. Approximately 6 months following I re-herniated the same disc and underwent an L5/S1 fusion in July 2021. I have dealt with constant chronic lumbar pain even after being prescribed pain killers and nerve blockers. In September 2023 I severely re-herniated the disc that was left in my L5/S1 that has severely compromised my right leg. Without getting an updated MRI my doctor inserted the minuteman device at my L4/L5 thinking this would relive pressure on my right sciatic nerve. This of course did not cure the right sciatic issue due to the disc at L5/S1 actually being herniated. My doc, not the one that did the first two procedures, says that the disc at the L5/S1 should have been completely removed prior to fusing it. Is this true? I am seeking guidance on this issue while I am waiting to be referred to the Savannah Spine Institute in Georgia, where I will likely undergo a surgery to possibly remove the remainder of the disc or just the herniated portion. My life has been completely overtaken and overwhelmed by my spine issues. I am a husband and father who currently goes from the bed to the recliner in hopes of one day being able to play with my daughter, and be the husband my wife once had. Any and all guidance is greatly appreciated.
-Myles
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Spine Health Support Group.
Connect
@borders74 Have you doctors tested you for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome? I have TOS and have had similar symptoms to you. TOS specialists are few and far between and most doctors don’t understand it.
@borders74 I am a masssge therapist and am now working with a pelvic floor specialist PT who also provides myofacial work. post spine fusion about 8 months and pain when sitting that presents as hip pain . My pelvic floor and abdominal are too tight. It took awhile to find this therapist but I feel we might resolve this issue not that we are moving the facia. I stretch and use balls in between sessions. Ideal if you vc a find a PT that specializes in Myo but it is worth it to go to a massage therapist. Trick is, most do not accept insurance.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions@jenniferhunter I'm looking for one near me, I live in southeast Missouri and so far the nearest one is in St. Louis a 3 hr drive and that's where I had all of my surgeries at but a different location
@sassytwo it's crazy learning about this and everything I read fits all my symptoms not saying that's what it is I'm not doctor but I've been telling them everything for going on 6 years, times my upper ribs hurt hurt pretty bad like now, I can't do anything over head with my arms not hurting, burning and tingling and get so weak to the point I have to stop even if it's screwing I screw in , times when I hold the grand babies my shoulders and arms get really weak like I can't feel them anymore, my neck, shoulders, arms everything hurts, burns, tingles, like I said rib pain almost daily, my hands get cold and I don't know what else to tell them. I'm 51 years old and they keep telling me all my test are not showing with what I say
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@borders74 Your symptoms sound like TOS. My hands get cold too when mine is bad because it is cutting off circulation particularly if my arms are raised overhead. My hands have turned bluish or purple. It is common but a lot of doctors miss the diagnosis.
@borders74 The provider search is at mfrtherapists.com
@sassytwo I am definitely not a medical resource and only share my experience. 24 years ago, I had this weird vestibular almost swish and they sent me to a dizzy doc and a dizzy clinic...who knew such a thing existed. They found nothing. Two years later I was at an ENT and described the symptoms in my eye... He said oh.... you have a vestibular problem with your eyes. He sent me to a PT that specializes in Vestibular and particularly, the eye. 30 days later, it is gone .... 22 years gone. All this is to say, keep asking and describing ......the body wants to heal. Love to you today, I am sorry for your pain and disruption of your life. T
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@jenniferhunter
Hey Jennifer, I just wanted to share with you what my physical therapist has done the last two appointments. She is doing skin rolling all across my lower back. It hurts, but I walk away and am amazed with how well I feel! I actually called her and left a message when I got home letting her know how well it worked.
I reported to her a few weeks ago how I’m taking gabapentin because I have nerve pain across my back that makes me nauseous.
She immediately did skin rolling on me and the pain is going away on my back. She said she is loosening and breaking free the connective tissue just under my skin and returning it to how it was prior to surgery. I looked it up and it is described as a form of myofascial release.
I am starting to feel normal!
Best, Sherry😊
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 Reactions@sherrym25 Sherry, that’s great! She is breaking the scar tissue and tight fascia that connects to your surgical scar. My PT has done that on my scars and now you know the wonders of myofascial release. I recommend it a lot on here and it’s good that you can share your experiences so people understand how to help themselves after surgery. I do periodically loosen tight tissue in my neck that links to the cervical surgery scar. Ask your PT how you can do home stretches to maintain your pain free mobility. I find that scar tissue will tighten again and need some tweaking. I do some MFR homework nearly every day. Thanks for sharing! If you wish, you can also share that in the Myofascial Release Discussion that is under my profile.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@jenniferhunter I looked up the link you sent me and there is a clinic at Barnes Jewish in St Louis, seen my primary yesterday and we talked for over an hour about this and he was honest about hereing about it but don't know about it, he wants me to find and research one I feel good about and he will send a request and look into tos himself, I looked up and tried a couple at home test just to maybe see a few things, I did the roose test and only could last 1 minute and 28 seconds and my shoulders left more than right started hurting and weak my fingers started feeling numb and fingers tingling, after a few minutes of being done my hands were cold feeling and touched my wife's leg and asked if they were cold and she moved them and said very cold, not know if that means anything or not