When I had my TLIF my surgeon said he found and fixed a lot of tears and scar tissue. I know I still have an Annular tear or a new one and I think it's leaking fluid because my last MRI shows fluid around L4 and L5 and says it may be a postoperative seroma. Really? I had my back surgery 1 1/2 yrs before my last MRI. I have severe sacral and tailbone pain and I know it's an annular tear that is leaking! Several months ago I accidentally threw away my main pain med Xtampza because I didn't know it was still in the bag. When I got it filled they didn't have enough for the full prescription so it was only a partial fill. I called the Dr and got her to order the rest of my fill. OMG the pharmacy wouldn't fill it because I shouldn't have run out. I was in the pharmacy crying waiting on them to see if there was any way possible. This lady got out of line to come talk to me. She works for a Dr that specializes in fixing annular tears! She said some can be Toxic ( Leaking Fluid) and those are the ones that cause a lot of pain. I called his office and they emailed me all the new patient forms to fill out and wanted my last Disc (MRI etc..) I faxed it all and in a few days they called me back. I was going to schedule an appointment and that is when I learned he was Cash only and it would be 13,000. I was heart broken! So I gave up until tonight. I am getting the Nevro Spinal Cord Stimulator. I just had the trial done and it worked! All my sacral/tailbone pain was gone as was a lot of other issues! I have had steroid injections and Nerve blocks from L3 down to my tailbone and I am on a lot of pain meds... Xtampza ( is like a 15mg long acting Oxycodone), Percocet 10 mg 4 a day, Lyrica 75mg , Robaxin 1,000mg, Lidocaine patches and other over the counter meds and nothing is working! The pain meds keep me sane and from crying but I am still being tortured by the pain. I am going to request another MRI to check on the fluid and make sure there isn't more fluid.. I would like it fixed and will continue to search for a doc that will do it but for now I am looking forward to getting the permanent spinal cord stimulator in a few weeks
If those of you that suffer with this have not tried a Spinal Cord Stimulator you should ask your pain management Dr about trying one! They did the NEVRO one on me and it was amazing!