Anyone with more pain after surgery than before?

Posted by ikcooley @ikcooley, Jan 16 9:33am

I had a laminectomy on lumbar 3, 4, and 5 about 7 weeks ago for severe spinal stenosis. I had no pain before surgery but extreme numbness in both legs when walking. Following surgery at about 4 weeks I began an exercise program walking and found I have a searing pain starting at my right back hip shooting down my leg past my knee. I can only walk about 2 blocks and it becomes unbearable.

I have had numerous medications including a 6 day pack of Prednisone, muscle relaxers, oxycodone and now gabapentin. Non of them are touching the pain.

I’m hoping someone can share their experience and if they had positive resolution to shooting pain after surgery.
Is it too early, and might yet resolve?
Is a second surgery necessary?
Are there other medications that you found helpful?
Any support or suggestion would be appreciated at this point.

Thank you Ivie Cooley

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Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Apr 3 11:05am

In reply to @timothytulloch "Thank you so much." + (show)

@timothytulloch Hi Timothy. Will your surgeon be Dr. Meghan Murphy in Mankato? That's my guess anyway. She was a resident in Rochester training under my surgeon when I had my spine surgery and she saw me after my surgery. After completing neurosurgery training, she took a job in Mankato.

Jennifer

timothytulloch | @timothytulloch | Apr 3 5:16pm

HI jennifer
Yes indeed it is Megan Murphy. How can I get reviews on her work?
Best
timothy

Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Apr 5 2:36pm

@timothytulloch Timothy,

I remember Dr. Murphy, and I can tell you that if Mayo trains a neurosurgeon, and hires them, then they must be good because they already know almost everything about the doctor. She trained and was mentored under my surgeon, Jeremy Fogelson, who is one of the best and highly respected spine and brain surgeons at Mayo Rochester. (he also trained at Mayo and they hired him.) A friend of mine saw Dr. Murphy for a spine consult in Mankato and liked her. I had remembered seeing a Mayo news story that she was hired for the Mayo Health System when they were establishing a neurosurgery department soon after my experience in Rochester.

I think she is well respected in neurosurgery. Here are some other goodies I was able to find from my search and some of her patient stories. I think you will enjoy listening to the podcast she was on as it will give you perspective on what it is like to be a neurosurgeon and her philosophy. She talks of an end rotation at Mayo in the training program for spinal deformity, and that would be her experience under my surgeon Dr. Fogelson who is a deformity expert. I hope you will come back and share your experience with Dr. Murphy. I do know she is a great listener and wants to do the best for her patients because it is her calling in life to help. She has a lot of compassion that she learned from her folks and she has a personal pet that she trained to be a therapy dog to go to the hospital for her patients and the hospital's patients to bring joy to those who are dealing with difficult situations as well as being a stress reliever for the other staff. I think you will be in very good hands. One of the things she said in the podcast was that a surgeon should be humble and to always ask for assistance if a situation requires it. That is the mindset of a good surgeon when they recognize it is the team effort that leads to good results and not a solo performance. I saw those qualities also in my surgeon in Rochester.
Enjoy!
Jennifer

Scholarship
https://alumniassociation.mayo.edu/colleague-notes/meghan-murphy-charles-kuntz-scholar-award-neurological-surgeons/

Podcast
https://radiomankato.com/08-07-2023-meghan-murphy/

US News listing
https://health.usnews.com/doctors/meghan-murphy-47446

Therapy Dog
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/wagging-tail-puppy-eyes-bring-comfort/

Patient Story
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/sharing-mayo-clinic-back-on-the-court-after-back-surgery/

Patient Story
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/walking-tall-after-spine-surgery/

Article
https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/back-pain-basics

Written by Dr. Murphy
https://today.advancement.georgetown.edu/health-magazine/2015/neurosurgeon-prayer/

timothytulloch | @timothytulloch | Apr 5 7:52pm

thank you Jennifer, I looked at all the links and feel increasingly comfortable that she will be the one to slice me up!

Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Apr 6 2:27pm

In reply to @timothytulloch "thank you Jennifer, I looked at all the links and feel increasingly comfortable that she will..." + (show)

@timothytulloch You made me laugh! I imagined a loaf of bread. I think you are in very good hands, and with a bonus of visit from her therapy dog. Just ask for that. It will give you something positive to think about and the dog has a job to comfort patients. That part actually sounds like fun. See how much progress you've made already in the way you think about this?

Jennifer