Is there anyone suffering from nerve damage from l5 s1 fusion?

vraesolo68,
I'm sorry you are having so much pain, and am amazed that you had given birth three times without pain medication.
I would want an MRi to reimage the fusion and to look for any cause of these muscle spasms. Sometimes those fusions don't hold. Some little slippage of a screw can cause multiple problems in even a perfectly executed fusion. If the injection is epidural or even facet, I'd say imaging first. I hope you find relief.

Thank you, I am very hesitant to do an epidural. I had one done before I had c3-c5 fusion and it caused my whole body to seize up. Honestly much like others dealing with this I’m just tired of being poked and prodded like a Guinea pig. I had another MRI done and just as you stated there is some minor slippage of one the screws. My neurosurgeon recently retired and she was amazing and I haven’t been able to find another that I have any faith in.

vraesolo68, certainly can't fault you for the reluctance to be poked and prodded. Epidurals have their risks, but the loose screw is concerning, mainly because they can continue to migrate. You might consider a consultation with an orthopedic surgeon about removal of the single screw. It is more simple that the original surgery and it's fairly certain that the bones have fused and may no longer need this screw.

Thank you, I will definitely take it into consideration.

ABSOLUTELY. Go to the best orthopedic surgeon you can find! Mine is invaluable at UC Health. they have the greatest spinal orthopedic dept. I have permanent damage out of L4 (either sides). The neurosurgeon wouldn't do surgery. When I met Dr. Z I said "let's do it!" before he finished his sentence after 20 years. By then, my nerves were crushed and the vertabrate fused together. but the pain stopped! But you have no future so they sawed me apart and stuck in the hardware. It can take up to 10 years for nerves to remodel. So you need to give it more time. I use ALL the tools available. The cortisone injections into my facet joints work pretty great and EXERCISE. When I get super angry I exercise the hell out of myself and it works great. Be sure to try different muslce relaxers as they work on different mechanisms. Go to a kinseology doctor for eval. Find a REALLY good MFR therapist and don't forget all of those great topicals! I have stayed on low dose Percocet for 25 years and it nips the pain out of the tailbone which no one would operate on. You need to be seen by an orthopedist who will take MRI's but honestly - they can work from xrays they take in the office. Its very simple. My screws moved in my cervical surgery and had to be pulled in for a massive surgery on emergency. Don't mess around. You could paralyze yourself if screws move too much and hardware slips. You should see a Orthopedic Surgeon every year to look at your progress. I had very good luck with the nerve damage for 7 years since surgery. Not so much this year, but I take it in stride.

Yep! 12 years ago in a top NYC hospital, had L4-L5 fusion but had to go so S1 to affix the hardware. I knew something was wrong right away. Couldn’t lift my right leg off the table. Pain was terrible. Ended up in hospital for 3 weeks and the only thing that got me up and walking was an excellent rehab unit. Has progressively worsened and finally, years later, was correctly diagnosed by a neurologist as severe neuropathy caused by permanent nerve damage and possibly a failed fusion. Because wasn't addressed right away scar tissue formed and compressed several spinal nerves. Told they can’t free these nerves because of the scarring. I fall, walk with a walker and use a medical scooter to go any distance. Been on morphine, opioids, had a spinal cord stimulator and many epidurals with little help. Now I’ve been told I need a repeat fusion but with no guarantee, and no one actually willing to do it anyway. Fortunately I am retired and have a wonderful husband and family. One thing I’ve learned is I have to keep my mind active. Give talks, active in many groups, and keep busy with reading, music, art etc. Distraction helps! Won’t let this keep me down. Just started the process of seeking help at Mayo Clinic on the chance that there’s something new they might offer. But no more major surgery for me!!

I suffer from muscle spasms as well (different cause so take this with a grain of salt). Here’s what I do when I’m suffering a spasm.

Try to keep the affected muscles above the level of your heart. Gently stretch and massage the muscle in the opposite direction of the spasm.
When I bought a new house I had a soaking tub installed (my affected muscles are in my shoulders and neck), but you can use a heating pad for up to 20 minutes. After the heat, apply a cool pack to the muscles. Stop any activity that triggers the spasm and rest. Stay hydrated. I like sports drinks cuz of the electrolytes.
I also use baclofen as needed and Valium for really bad days. But they take awhile to kick in, they won’t help immediately like the above does.
You might find a short course of PT to help with prevention strategies, especially stretching

I also have a roll on lidocaine OTC product that helps a bit.

I'm sorry you're having so much pain. I had L5 S1 fusion and a cage for a disc in May 2023. I've had neuropathy in both feet since then and muscle spasms. My fusion is failing, bone isn't growing and I have osteoporosis. I strengthen my core which is very important, I don't want to have another surgery. I started Envity shots for osteoporosis but insurance didn't pay much for them and I had to stop (1089/month), I'm now on Fosamax which scares me with the side effects. As for my failed fusion, I went to an Orthopedic surgeon for a second opinion who told me he doesn't feel I need another surgery at this time and continue exercise, eat well, and walk. I did get 2 sacral injections that really didn't help much with the pain. Unfortunately, I had a car accident on August 6 this year and ended up in the ER with a fractured sternum, rib, and a collapsed lung. Another journey to heal and it's painful and I fear it has damaged my fusion, I'm having pain. I'm going to my neurosurgeon Oct 5 , getting more xrays and pray the hardware is intact. I don't think I can go through another back surgery again. I'm 66 and on my own, so difficult to do it alone.
I wish you luck, try PT, exercise, strengthen your core, eat well, and take care if yourself. Hugs.

Also, I looked into a nerve stimulator , my pain management Dr suggested that. I am hesitant to put another object in my back, so declined. However, there a people who have success with the stimulators amd are ok with them. That will be my last resort before surgery. Take care.