Anyone been diagnosed with arachnoiditis after spine surgery?
Has anyone been diagnosed with arachnoiditis or cauda equina syndrome after a L5-S1 surgery?
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Has anyone been diagnosed with arachnoiditis or cauda equina syndrome after a L5-S1 surgery?
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Spine Health Support Group.
Thank you for replying. I start with a pain management doctor this month. At this time i take 10-325 oxycodone and 600mg of gabapentin 3 times a day. Its fairly effective But I still have pain and I’m not able to walk without a walker or cane and for short distances.
What do you use for the pain? And is it effective? The doctors in my area don’t seem to be familiar with Arachnoiditis and don’t know how to treat it.
Doctors protect Doctors. Lawyers look for any reason to sue them. If a doctor or surgeon makes a mistake on you, forget it. They will protect each other. It won't be fixed and as you found out, because that would admit they did something wrong and the lawyers would circle. God help us all and THANK the LORD for a few doctors that may have mercy on us!
YES! I had a botched Fusion of L4-L5 in 2017 - one of the screws went through my spinal canal and through my spinal cord. Thankfully it only damaged one nerve and the damage was minimal, but for 4.5 years, my surgeon continued to tell me that the excruciating pain, foot drop, etc. was "normal post-op pain" because he had to "mess around with the nerves on the left side a lot in order to place the screw." He messed around with the nerves alright. Was diagnosed in Summer 2022 with Arachnoiditis. Still looking for answers on where to go going forward
This is like living in hell here and now. Had an artificial disc ( L5-S1 )put into my back in 2005 and it got loose in 2009. Had to have it fused and been on pain meds ever since. Surgeon dropped me after a few years and said he could not help me any more. Told me to find a doctor closer to my home. It took 4 years to get a doctor to tell me what was going on in my back. Took more meds to kill the pain than anyone should have to take. When gov stepped in regulating how much you could take I thought I was in a mess. Found a doctor that put me on a medicine used to get folds of drugs and it works well. Been on it 4 years and managing but loosing strength in my legs. There are meds for reducing scar tissue in hands maybe one day it will be for backs also. Some say make peace with your pain. I say—Make Peace with God- No pain in Heaven. Jesus paid it all.
So sorry you're having such a long road to travel with your pain. I understand what you must be feeling from my own journey. It helps me to try to keep an attitude of gratitude for the many people and things in my daily life that make my heart smile and give me courage to continue the journey. If I can walk beside even one person each day that is struggling, then I have reason to go on. Wishing you a peaceful year ahead.
mmarta
I am truly sorry you have been in so much pain. Could you please tell me what the medication is that you’ve been taking for four years? My husband is in a similar situation and we’re desperately looking for alternate types of pain relief.
Yes. My husband had L4 five back fusion surgery a few years ago then herniated disc about six months ago. His pain has gotten worse since and he has now been diagnosed with adhesive arachnoiditis. We are trying everything we can think of, but the pain seems to be getting worse. Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. The pain is so debilitating.
I just got diagnosed with Arachnoiditis in January. Not much in the way of support in Denver.
I don’t know where you are located in Chicagoland but I recently transferred to Dr. Lubenow at Rush Pain Clinic. He is familiar with AA and responsive. Our options are limited but he seems willing to work through them to get the best outcome. I recently tried changing my drugs but that didn’t work out so I’m back to Lyrica, Hydrocodone, Cymbalta. I have a Spinal. Cord Stimulator and now working on changing the programming to get improved outcome. Is that what you mean by internal tens unit? He told me that the treatment for AA is combo of drugs & Spinal Cord Stimulator or pain pump. He is compassionate and takes his time though you have to see a resident first and the clinic is always running super late.