L5 S1 Injury & failing ability to walk, what's next?

pdaddy, parathesia develops in an estimated 1% with RFA, as it is possible to damage other sensory nerves during the procedure. You'd need imaging to determine the source of the instability. Spinal mapping would indicate nerve root compression at L4, L5 or S1. Imaging is more difficult with hardware, but a thin slice CT could be helpful in determining cause.
Alternatively, it may have nothing to do with the ablation Whatever was compressing the medial branch in 2424 may have been compressing efferent nerves as well.
The instability may have more to do with ankle muscles.
You probably shouldn't wait (2 years) because of the risk of falling. I'll be interest in your repost.
Bless your struggle.

I’ve had 3 CT’s since problem started 2024. I’ve seen Ortho Surgeon and Neurologist neither had ideas about problem with right lower leg problem. The doctor at pain clinic who did ablation said it rarely happens but should recover when nerve recovers from ablation. Te neurologist sent be to foot/ankle specialist who advised he has seen type injury several times after back surgery and some ablations. He wrote script sent me to a brace clinic. I now wear Richie Mobility Restoration brace that helps early in day until I’ m on my feet for length of time. PT for last 3 months has helped strength and balance but nothing with lower leg condition. Its frustrating, up until ablation and problem between calf and ankle I walked hour plus every morning which helped with low back pain. I have stimulator which helps with nerve pain but lack of ability to walk more than 3-4 minutes or stand for any amount of time is disabling. In 2015 the Ortho told me I would eventually need fusion. Now he says I’m not good candidate because they would need to fuse from T levels to L5S1. I’m frustrated, tired, in intense pain most of time. I refuse to take opiates as I went down that road for couple years. The hassle and stigmatism was not worth it. Plus as predicted the strength of medicine soon became ineffective. I’m looking for answers or suggestion. I can’t believe there is not other people experiencing this but would wish it on no one.

pdaddy, I'm really sorry this is happening to you. I think the only way to an answer is to have opinions from different surgeons. It's frustrating and time consuming. I suspect they are missing something on the CTs and it may be because of the way they were ordered--not enough slices.
I share your opinion about opiates. They aren't effective enough and anyway have become difficult to obtain.
Is there anything hidden in the neurologist's notes that recognizes the position of the injury in the spine.
You might look for a surgeon who specializes in revision spine surgery.
I hope someone who has had the same situation as you have responds.

i don't know if this helps
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/t-10-to-s-1-spinal-fusion-using-intraoperative-neuromonitoring-anyone/
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/t-3-on-down-spine-surgery/

@pdaddy some people have found acupuncture helpful when other things don’t work.

@pdaddy I am in misery too. I don the normal life anymore at age 48 I used to be so active and now I can hardly walk because I can't get surgery because they show the disc isn't pressing too much on the nerve but like you I have complete instability in my left leg not just the lower leg the whole leg. Believe the nerves been compressed for too too long that's s1 nerve. I'm going to repeat my EMG and just continue to search for the right surgeon I don't have a choice but I wish you the best I think it would be good to get an EMG to see if there is where the nerve is compressed. Could be peripheral or Central if it's Central then it would then ask the technologist to prick your lower back during the test.

Have you had an EMG/nerve conduction test? I don’t feel from my knee down or my elbows down (hands and legs numb). I have severe sensorimotor peripheral polyneuropathy, biopsy small fiber neuropathy, dysautonomia, CAN - cardiac autonomic neuropathy.
I had laminectomy in my lumbar region for sciatic nerve problems.
I had ADCF surgery on neck before the laminectomy. Never had any problems other than ending up with CIDP.

All posts are appreciated. I have had just about every test and procedure suggested plus few more. Although I would wish problems on no one it is nice to hear others are having same or similar. Probably most frustrating is that nowadays most if not all specialists and surgeons act like they’re on time clock or stop watch. There is lack of listening on their end and lack of explanation as well. Thanks for listening and sharing.