Low Back Pain Going into Hip and Leg

My pain management doctor is recommending the Sprint Perupheral Nerve Stimulator for chronic back pain after scoliosis surgery. Has anyone had success with this device?

I'm truly sorry to hear about the ongoing challenges you're facing with chronic pain despite multiple surgeries and treatments. It's undoubtedly a complex and frustrating situation. Considering the complexity of your case, seeking the expertise of a pain management specialist might be beneficial. These specialists are trained to address and manage persistent pain through a variety of approaches, including medication adjustments, nerve blocks, and other interventional procedures tailored to your specific condition.

Given the complexity of your symptoms, a multidisciplinary approach involving a team of healthcare professionals might be essential. Consulting with a neurologist, orthopedic specialist, or rheumatologist could help to rule out potential contributing factors and provide a more comprehensive evaluation. They might explore diagnostic tests beyond X-rays, such as CT scans or specialized imaging studies, to identify any subtle issues that may not be immediately apparent.

In addition to traditional medical approaches, exploring alternative therapies like physical therapy, acupuncture, or chiropractic care may offer additional avenues for relief. It's important to openly communicate your concerns with your healthcare team, ensuring they are aware of the impact on your quality of life and adjusting your treatment plan accordingly. Support groups or counseling can also provide emotional and psychological support as chronic pain often takes a toll on mental well-being.

Remember, my responses are not a substitute for professional medical advice, so please consult with your healthcare providers to discuss these suggestions in the context of your specific situation.

I have chronic pain in my lower right side of back also from needing a rod but I’m not going to have the surgery, I just went through some physical therapy and am doing much better but you have to do it at home or you’ll go right back to where you were before .

One possible cause could be the lateral fascia of your right hip…. ( TFL tensor fascia latte) If it is this, it can get very tight and painful especially after walking making it difficult to step up /down and get up from low chairs. PT was very helpful to me. Rolling out the area w/ a muscle roller helps( but is painful ) and stretching & strengthening exercises helps ultimately. It does take a professional to diagnose though. I’m sorry you are in so much pain.

I'll focus on one thing you mentioned, "they think it might be my hip now." I had same situation four years ago and saw a spine surgeon. I had taken my mother to this man a couple years before and was very impressed. He's an older doc with a ton of positive comments. He went over the MRI's in great detail and I ended up with a lot of metal in my back and was told to just walk for post surgery rehab. The pandemic began. After walking a short distance my hip began to hurt more and more. My orthopedic doc diagnosed my hip as not needing replacement yet. That was June 2020. By Nov 2021 I could barely walk. I saw a different doc and scheduled the hip replacement for Jan 2022. A week before the surgery the hospital shut down, inundated with Covid patients. I got the new hip March 23. I woke up pain free for the first time in three years. Easiest procedure I ever had. I was in the hospital less than 12 hours and could walk up the stairs in our house when I got home. So what am I saying to you? Back and hip pain are not easy to differentiate. I still have back pain and it finds its way into my hips but it's different. If I could do it over I'd have the hip surgery first and put off the spinal stuff. I lost a lot confidence in the doctors. They seemed to only want to treat my pain in their OR's. My advice is to get shots in the hip to help rule out the hip. My hip pain bent me over so that I lost three inches in height. Two of which I got back after the replacement. Another thing I've done is not take the pain pills until the pain is pretty bad. I start my day with pain beginning as soon as I stand up getting out of bed. Gravity is a bitch. The Oxy works but if you begin to like the feeling more than simply taking the edge off the pain then you can have a bigger issue than the pain. But you know that. I've also started using a THC-CBD gel rub in place of Voltaren. It's good on fingers, knees and shoulders and neck pain. It's legal here NJ but it's $$. I also started using edibles to cut back on the Oxy. I'm still figuring out the right amount. I haven't used any THC since the 70's. I think the edible and less Oxy combo can actually make life better. Plus my urine is a lot clearer now which is a goal of this experiment. Summed up, chronic pain is only understood by the people that have it. And only we can do anything about it. Thank God there are meds to help us and I can afford them at this juncture.

I currently use CBD topically for lower back pain. I am considering taking CBD with 0.3% THC gummies for pain. Has anyone tried gummies? Did they help the pain?

I use tincture instead of gummies since I can regulate my dose much easier and the absorption under the tongue is superior to GI absorption.

I have had lower back pain bilaterally and sciatica into my left leg for over two years. I have been on pain medication for that entire time. Due to the pain I have not been able to walk without being bent over and shuffling due to left leg weakness. I recently had a steroid epidural, which did nothing for the pain. On Friday I had a neuro ablation on L4-L5 and L5-S1 that completely resolved the pain in my lower left back and the left sciatic pain. I’m now waiting to schedule my right lower back neuro ablation. I could not be happier. The pain relief should last 6-24 months, at which time I will happily schedule another appointment!

I am curious as to know whether or not you have had MRIs. Mine showed the facet joints in my lumbar spine were compressing the medial branch nerves which carry pain signals to the brain. After neuro ablation on the left side I have no left lower back pain and no sciatic pain going down the left leg. As soon as I can I am scheduling a neuro ablation for the right side. I could not be happier and when and if the nerve ends grow back I will repeat the process gladly. You don’t feel any pain during the procedure as you are given light sedation and can return home immediately after. The time period for nerve regrowth can be 6 - 24 months or longer.

I am considering ablations. I had the steroid shots at T10 and L4-L5. I saw my pain mgt guy before Christmas and we discussed next steps regarding ablations. I've had some relief at T10 but not the others. He told me I need to repeat the shots wherever I want the ablations. In other words, to verify the correct nerves to ablate they need to react to the shots in a positive way. I have a lot of instrumentation and the doctor who is doing the shots has commented that it might be difficult to find the right nerve because of the metal. I told him I'd get back to him on my next regular visit in a couple weeks. I guess the risks are low to keep trying the shots and do the ablations. On another note I just got my Medicare statement with the cost for the eight total shots I've received so far. Provider charged $14,000 for 8 shots, no other charges. Medicare paid $535 on $682 approved. I owe $0. Last comment here... when I get the numbing shots in the lower back I hardly feel anything. My surgery has apparently numbed much of that area. Six months of pain relief would truly be a blessing.