Feeling miserable, pain meds provide minimal relief

Posted by jeaniem @jeaniem, Jun 8 10:18am

Any ideas?

FINDINGS: This report assumes 5 non-rib bearing lumbar type vertebral bodies. (Correlation with radiographs of the lumbar spine is recommended to better assess numbering of lumbar vertebral bodies, particularly if a surgical intervention is being considered for the patient).

Alignment: Grade 2 anterolisthesis of L5 on S1.
Bone: Vertebral body heights are preserved. Posterior instrumented fusion at L5-S1 with pedicle screws and vertical rods. Additional laminectomy of L5-S1.

Nerves: Conus medullaris is normal in position terminating at L1

Muscles: Symmetric bulk.

Soft Tissues: Unremarkable.

At T12-L1, no spinal canal or neuroforaminal narrowing

At L1-L2, no spinal canal or neuroforaminal narrowing

At L2-L3, no spinal canal or neuroforaminal narrowing

At L3-L4, no spinal canal or neuroforaminal narrowing

At L4-L5, facet joint hypertrophy. No spinal canal narrowing. Mild bilateral neuroforaminal narrowing

At L5-S1, grade 2 anterolisthesis. Disc uncovering. Disc bulge. Spinal canal is decompressed by laminectomy. Facet arthrosis. Moderate bilateral neuroforaminal narrowing. Evaluation degraded by susceptibility artifact from hardware.

Abdomen/Retroperitoneum: Multiple cysts are noted in both kidneys.

Fusion hardware is noted across the right SI joint. Joint space narrowing of bilateral SI joints.

IMPRESSION:

1. Posterior instrumented fusion and laminectomy at L5-S1. Grade 2 anterolisthesis L5-S1. Facet arthrosis with moderate bilateral neuroforaminal narrowing at this level. No change since prior exam.

2. Facet joint hypertrophy at L4-L5 with mild bilateral neuroforaminal narrowing.

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Profile picture for jeaniem @jeaniem

@gently
No the aligment was not fixed, Surgeon told me he could not fix that without causing permanent nerve damage, basically just stabilizing. I did have relief for a while because nerves were decompressed.

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@jeaniem you might be a candidate for an artificial disc. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4365827/

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Profile picture for jeaniem @jeaniem

@jeaniem
Also, if you are thinking about a stimulator my wife had one. In my experience the pain doctors push them hard as there is humungus profit in them. They also just mask the problem by treating the symptoms. Which if you have tried everything else might be fine. Her's worked for a while but then quit. Feel free to message me if you want more info about it.

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Profile picture for jeaniem @jeaniem

@laughlin1947 I had l5 s1 fused in 2022 due to congenital non-fusion at L5 with bilateral pars defects.
and right si joint fixation in 2025.
I have had multiple steroid injections at L5 S1 and in the right si joint before the fusions. I take tramadol, 50 mg every 6 hrs as needed, flexeril 10 mg, and 5% lidocaine patches. I also take tylenol arthritis ,650mg as needed. I do have a pinched nerve at C5-C6 and a cervical rib. Also a mild thoracic scoloiosis Pain management a few weeks ago suggested I could try a spinal cord stimulator. Thank you for any thoughts.

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@jeaniem
Hi I’m new here. I wish I had advice for you but it sounds like you are on the right path. I am curious about that stimulator. Is it supposed to stimulate bone development/repair or is it to interrupt pain signals? I fractured my L5 about six weeks ago and I too am in a world of pain. One week ago I had a procedure called “Spine Jack” and felt zero difference afterwards. Sending you healing energy

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