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ideas next after failed L5-1 fusion?? Spinal Column Stimulator ??
My L 5-1 fusion 2 yrs back didn't go well.
What experience have others had w/ Spinal Column Stimulators (SCS) inplants?
2 yrs back, got L5-1 fused/caged. After 4 mos of GOOD healing, the weight from the L5-1 started pressing onto the L5-S1... now those nerves are pissed... and this is 2.5 yrs after the. L1-5 fusion. Dr said there would be a 5-8% chance not all would go well. I'm in that 5-8% grp = sucks... Been doing lots of phys therapy & pool/therapy. Just maintaining pain of still 5-8 of 10...
Now waiting to get assessed by Tampa General/Univ Fl medical University.
Q: might a spinal column perm implanted stimulator make sense?? these Spinal Column Stims (SCS) supposedly numb the pain receptor nerves. My concern, it's been 5+ yrs all nerves are pissed, so how mght the motor nerves get 'chilled??
Tried acupuncture, acupressure, deep tiss massages, nerve ablations, nerve anesthesia injections, NO thing works...
Contemplating a Mayo assessment in MN. Sadly do NOT hear good reviews of Mayo-Jacksonville, FL
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@gregda
I have not heard good things about spinal cord stimulators and many want to get them removed.
What does your MRI show at L5-S1? Are there bone spurs/osteophytes pressing on spinal nerves? Do you have adjacent segment issues above/below where you had surgery? Did you get fused and don’t have hardware? Has anything shifted causing new compression (have you had a recent MRI of your lumbar spine and sacrum)?
I had L3-L5 decompressed and fused in 2024 and 3 months after surgery, I moved to roll over in bed and felt a shifting and pain in my spine and ever since have new pain/weakness in buttocks/hips/hip flexors which is caused by a new herniated disc and degeneration at L2-L3 causing severe stenosis. This is what they classify as “adjacent segment disease.” Lucky me!! I am a 56 year old single parent of a teen son and now disabled!! I am doing PT but it’s not helping much with pain (trying to rehabilitate lost muscle strength as best as possible with spinal cord/nerve root compression messing with nerve communication) so I will try a spinal injection (had them before at L4-L5 level which helped at first but then stopped helping) but anticipate more surgery because I can barely stand up/walk/do stairs most of the time.
Have you talked to your surgeon about revision surgery or gotten a 2nd and 3rd opinion about revision surgery?
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1 ReactionI was fused at l5-s1. It took myself 3 surgeries to get my back to fuse. I went to a teaching school where they put in a Ray Cage. they don’t do that surgery anymore because it was not a good outcome. I highly recommend getting a second opinion and not in the same doctors office that your doctor works in. Please go somewhere else that you think is well respected and has done many surgeries with a qualified doctor. For instance orthopedic vs neurological surgeon. I wish I had an answer. I know it’s hard but maybe pool therapy for exercise if possible.
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1 Reaction@greda
When you say your nerves are ' pissed' what do you mean.
My nerves were highly oversensitized when I was recommended for a spinal cord Stimulator. It turned out to be a very, very bad decision. If your nerves are irritated ( pissed??) More Stimulation will likely make them worse. Mine got so bad I could barley walk for several month/ was bedridden..research it carefully.
Mine came out 3 months ago...horrendous experience.