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Foot numbness and pain after L5-S1 fusion: anyone dealing with this?
Has anyone had a failed L5-S1 fusion that introduced foot problems that didn't exist before surgery?
I had the surgery to address lower back pain and a burning sensation in my right calf. The surgery resolved the calf burn but introduced new numbness in the ball of the foot and pain when bearing weight while walking. What my surgeon didn't know beforehand is that I have a conjoined L5-S1 nerve root, an anatomical variant where two nerve roots share a single exit point, which made the nerve more vulnerable and harder to identify during surgery. He most likely injured it in the process. The MRI radiologist missed it. After the surgery a different radiologist had a look and he clearly identified the conjoined nerves. Post-surgery scar tissue has since encased and tethered the L5 root.
A second surgery 6 months later removed bone, replaced the disc with a spacer, and added rods. This made my foot symptoms worse, probably due to further nerve aggravation and additional fibrosis around the root. Too add to the frustration, the second surgery hardware is failing with screw loosening and the L5/S1 space is not fusing (pseudarthrosis). So, I also have constant back pain.
Every neurosurgeon I have consulted has said there is nothing surgically correctable and that I should either live with it or consider DRG stimulation. I looked into the latter carefully: DRG stimulation targets the dorsal root ganglion, but my injury is too far upstream at the nerve root itself for that mechanism to help.
I am now doing home self-therapy which includes neuropathic foot exercises and sensory re-education using vibration, brushes, texture discrimination, etc.
I am looking for others in a similar situation, particularly anyone who has been told the same thing by their surgeons and is actively trying rehabilitation rather than just pain management. I know stem cell solutions are probably years from now, but I'm not giving up in finding ways to regain my normal foot.
Please share. Thanks!
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@philnob You should be able to get a radiology report along with access to the images. You paid for them 🙂
Your are right Paul. I plan to do exactly that, and search for another Doctor.
Thank you,
Philnob
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1 Reaction@philnob I don't know if you use AI, such as claude.ai, but consider doing research. If you don't use it, find a friend who's very good with advanced AI LLMs to help. I use the paid version (Claude Pro) to leverage the higher models such as Opus 5. Just keep in mind to always ask the LLM to search only credible sources and to double check itself. It won't have the answers, but could give you direction and may also help you find which docs to see.
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1 ReactionHi, I am going through this exact thing at the moment. I am 9 weeks post L5 S1 laminectomy and fixation surgery and I have horrific nerve pain in my left foot! It's affecting the top of my foot and big toe mostly but sometimes the outer edge and ball of the foot. It's debilitating and it's affecting my mental health and physical recovery. I think my nerves were injured during surgery but I am under the NHS In Scotland and doctors are downplaying my symptoms and my surgeon is nowhere to be seen. I was told by a whistle blower in the hospital that he has been suspended from duties due to bad practice. I have no idea if I will improve and I'm about to make a complaint against the hospital for negligence.
One year ago I had back surgery on my L5/S1 to remove a fibroma and relive back pain. After the surgery I developed numbness in my left leg from the knee to my ankle, and extreme pain in my left foot. I also get these random jolts in my foot, that take the pain from a 10 to a 20. Of course this was not present before the surgery. I have also been told that " I may have to learn to live with it", by several doctors. I have tried several medications, most of which have done nothing. Lyrica helps a little. I had a sympathitic nerve block, which didn't do anything. Now they want to implant a Dorsal Column Stimulator in my back, which I really do not want to do. I sympathize with you pauldandurand. Good luck.