Nerve Pain In Foot after Laminectomy

Had a Laminectomy too but only at L3. My surgeon was also going to do L4 which he did not. He also said he was going to do a disectomy which he didn't do either!!! After the surgery, I was able to stay in the hospital for one day. When I went to stand up, I wasn't able to walk. I told the nurse and she said I was already checked out. My son brought me home and practically carried me into the house. I stayed home one day and used a walker dragging myself around the bedroom. He came over the next day, called an ambulance who took me to a hospital for 5 days, never getting out of bed. They told him to find an inpatient rehab facility which he did close to his house so he could check on me. He is my godsend since I live alone. I was fine in two weeks and returned home. The pain never went away and three months later I developed neuropathy in my waist, both legs and feet. I went to see him last week and he said to do yoga and walk more. Since I have all these problems, I can't do either of them. He was a real jerk. I am currently on Norco, Gabapentin and Tizanidine for 5 years..If I didn't have this, I couldn't live alone. This comes from my Pain Specialist who told me not to have surgery. I am seeing him tomorrow to ask for help . I heard of a new medication called Jouravx which is for pain and is non opioid. Walgreens has it in. Maybe this will be the answer to all my problems.

That is horrible. I am able to walk with a cane, and sometimes without if short distances around the house. I don't want to be on medications for life either. This surgery was supposed to allow me to have my life back, not make it worse. I do feel like my doctor was more disappointed in his 'quiz' stats that I wasn't doing well then he actually was in feeling bad that I wasn't doing well. I've tried every cream, or massage therapy on my foot, nothing helps. I cannot even go back to work in the office because I am to afraid to drive with my bum foot, so I am still working at home.

@dakota24
I had full decompression and fusion of L3-L5 in August of 2024 due to degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis and neurogenic claudication pain/weakness/numbness from lower back/hips and buttocks down to legs and feet bilaterally. Lamina and foramina bone was cut away and vertebrae fused with hardware. It was an extremely painful procedure.

The day after surgery I had numbness in my right foot/toes that seemed tied to the surgery. I’m not sure if the symptoms were due to nerve injury or being irritated from movement and being freed from compression for over 12 years.

My symptoms improved over time and read that nerves can take a long time to heal. I had some new nerve pain show up in my hips/hip flexors 3 months after surgery which was excruciating but this has gotten better in month 5 and 6 post op. I am now in month 7.

Have you had any updated imaging post op? You may want to get an updated lumbar MRI by your orthopedic spine specialist/neurosurgeon and EMG/nerve conduction study from a neurologist. Spinal injections can help relieve any inflammation if your surgeon okays your seeing a pain management specialist. Please don’t suffer in silence and talk to your surgeon asap.

Supposed to go next month for the CT Scan. So I would hope after that was done they could at least start recommending something else to help with this. I realize the nerves take a lot of time to heal, I guess I didn't realize they could all go into one body part. My lower back is still just as bad though as far as pain goes. I just worry this is what would be termed a failed laminectomy.

That's what the surgeon told me too about the nerves, that it could take months or even years to get better. But after 4 years it hasn't improved. Have you had a cervical MRI? I had laminectomy in my lumbar and it didnt help lower back. My thigh on my left leg stays 50% numb all the time even when sitting down. And I went from gabapentin to pregabilin and it minutely helps. But I recently had an MRI of my neck and found I have cervical myelopethy which is closing down the root canal and am being told if I fall just right or get in a car wreck I could be paralyzed for life. But my question to them. Could that also be affecting my lower back but no one can give me a definte answer. I met with my chiropractor the other day and he gave me the analogy of "water runs down hill" so the pinched nerves and spinal cord being pinched ' could ' be affecting my lower back. My main problem is my lower back muscles start going numb when I'm standing or walking, And then my legs start going numb. I can't be on my feet for over five minutes without having to sit down or lean over something to relieve the tension, So I'm highly considering having the neck operation, I'm not excited about it but I have to try something I might as well be paralyzed I feel like I am anyway. Not being socially active and unable to do the things I want and need to do. I even had my cleaning lady fold and hang up my clothes. I roll around the kitchen on a stool to be able to cook and do the dishes. I have a chair in my shower. It's pathetic. I'm extremely overweight because of my inability to be mobile. If any one else has these similar problems please let me know and what have you had done and has it helped.

No Fun, how long did you have the back pain prior to laminectomy? And were steroid injections or physical therapy attempted prior to surgery?