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Foraminotomy
I'm being informed that the least invasive LHS pain/ache relief I'll obtain is through having a foraminotomy (L5-S1). High doses of pregabalin haven't worked, and neither has a series of epidurals, nerve root blocks and facet joint injections.
For those who have undergone the procedure, what experiences have you had with the success or otherwise of a foraminotomy? Has it worked for you? Is it "minimally invasive" or actually major? Has the pain and referred aching down the glute, leg and foot been alleviated?
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I had a procedure last day of October 2025 which was supposed to relieve the aching pain down both legs. I elected to have this done in lieu of expanding my current 2-level fusion (L4-L5) done successfully in 2017. However, the R leg is pain free; the L leg suffers from aching pain front of thigh and down leg. Takes me about 4 hours each day to be able to stand straight, not bent over. Rolling over in bed done very carefully...Now I am getting a third MRI since operation to check to see if there is a problem. Rule it in, or out, so I can go forward with a strategy!
Thanks for this, @leeman25. It sounds to be successfull up to a point. Possible in your case that of the two foraminas targeted at L5, the left exit was given space but the right side wasn't given enough.
Hope you have further success and associated relief.
@leeman25
I was wondering what your pain felt like in your legs. I have a pain that some surgeons say have they haven't seen before. My calf muscles and sometimes my upper hamstrings throb after I walk and it's only a few steps really. I do have foraminal stenosis as well as degenerative disc disease, spondylosis and ridiculopathy. I have been told I need a three level fusion from l3 down to s1. Anyway just curious about this type of pain in the legs and if you don't mind my asking where you're located and where you had your fusion done? Thank you