Suggestions please

tazz, don't be pressured.
Have you had more than one orthopedic opinion. Tell us a little more about the original surgery. Was it a fusion. Did the fusion hold without the hardware. What does the MRI show you.

@tazz29
Did you ever consider a personal injury attorney for medical malpractice due to leaving a surgical sponge in your spine that has caused you a lot of pain and suffering? I am surprised it took so long for someone to see in all of your imaging what the problem was. Were they all trying to protect the surgeon and hospital/healthcare system and covering this up?! Usually, they do a ct scan/X-ray after surgery to check how things look. Did they do that and didn’t they see they left something behind? You should get all medical records from the surgeon and hospital.

I am not sure the spinal cord stimulator will make things any better and haven’t heard a lot of good about them. I don’t blame you for being afraid of another spine procedure.

What levels did they fuse in your lumbar spine? What were your symptoms before surgery that preceded the decision to move to surgery? Did you try injections and physical therapy before surgery with no success?

@tazz29
Have you seen a rheumatologist/immunologist to review bloodwork autoantibodies and inflammation markers due to a surgical foreign body being left in your body after surgery? They may have suggestions for treatment in addition to the work you are doing through diet/supplements to reduce inflammation. Are you working with a dietitian and do you have a psychologist who specializes in chronic pain to help you cope? Do you take any medications for pain and anxiety/depression?

I had a Laminectomy on my L3,4,5 back in December 2024 hoping it would help the nerve pain in my lower part of my back, right hip, and especially the thigh was the worse.,
After the surgery I thought it worked but a couple months in the pain came back with a vengeance. It was so bad I was in a wheelchair for I’m not sure how long. I called and talked to my Neurosurgeon and he gave me 2 options,( but in the mean time he gave me Pre-gabalin 150 mg, the pain that bound me in a wheelchair went away and calmed the nerves that were giving me so much pain). 1. Rods and screws, in which he advised not to go that route because it may or may not work. Then he advised a Neuro stimulator in which the pain clinic and the Abbott rep gave a good sales pitch. I had it done 6 weeks ago and I though during the trial I got good relief as I was able to walk a fair distance without little pain. So, I opted for the surgery thinking it was the right thing to do. For one they gave another surgeon that I knew nothing about and the recovery was not a good one. I have had it on for 5.5 weeks and started experiencing some burning , not sure if it was from the implant or not so I have had it off for over a week and honestly I feel better as far as the pain relief. Every person is different so I cannot speak for you as it seems your pain is much worse.,I would say, find a surgeon who has done a lot of them and voice your concerns and ask a lot of questions. Ask the rep if they will follow you in your journey because the pain clinic and the rep said to me , at this point we are done unless you have problems. They have never called to see how I am. They only set up 2 programs that I can increase or decrease and they gave me very little instruction, in fact on my 2nd post op the unit lost connection and they had to move it to the provided phone to re-due it.
I am contemplating having it removed but I would not let the same doctor remove it, I would go back to my Neuro surgeon whom I trust.
I’m feel for you living in constant pain, it consumes your whole life. I will pray for you that the right decision would be made to help you.
Have you tried Pre-gabalin, just a question.
May God lead you and give you peace in the midst of your pain

I don't know what "SPS" is so I can't comment. I can tell you about my experience in trying to reduce pain after an operation for spinal stenosis. I tried to get off Tramadol. No success. I've taken accupuncture. It helpsed some. For the last month, I've taken a combination of acupuncture and lazar. It's helped amazingly so. It helped so much I went off Tramadol. Bad mistake. I ended up with all the symptoms of withdrawal. Three doctors didn't clue in. I did my research on Mayo. I'm back on Tramadol. My grand daughter tells me to say on it. I'm still doing the acupuncture and lazar treatment. Any pain I have now is minor compared to before.
You have to be your own advocate, regardless what other people say.
Best of luck!! Pain is hell!!

I had a fission of L3 to L5. After the second surgery it held. MRI showed arthritis in my spine. No one knows why I have the swelling issue. Not even a rheumatologist. I’ve been to several different doctors and they all say SPS.

Thank you for responding. I cannot take anything that has opioids. I have a bad reaction to them. They tried the Pre-gabalin that did not work.

I went to a rheumatologist who flat out said they couldn’t help me. But, I do need to get to the root cause of the inflammation. I thought that was why I went to them? I am looking for another one for second opinions. I have an appointment with a dietitian next week. I cannot take opioids because of bad reactions to them. I do have a therapist because of all that I’m going through.

I do have a lawyer who is taking care of this. They were very upset over the fact that no one would call out the sponge. It showed up on every X-ray. CT scan and MRI. They all kept saying to do what the original surgeon said to do. I started to feel like they were all protecting the original surgeon. That’s when I started looking for a doctor in a different, larger city. One X-ray and he pointed right to it. Said, I believe that is your problem. It was there on the very first X-ray 3 weeks after surgery.
I had L3 to L5 fussed.

I have failed back syndrome. Then an injury. Is why I needed to have the surgery.

I was doing as best as I could be, then the inflammation started getting bad. I get bedridden because of the pain.

tazz29,
it seems that the inextricable part of the sponge could be causing inflammation.
I'm sorry for your genuinely terrible experience.
You might best stick to spinal surgeons. I'd send images everywhere. Some physicians don't want to get involved where there is litigation pending, so you might not get insightful reviews from them.
I'd want to at least know the source of the inflammation, rather than mask the pain. Even if finally I opted against revision surgery of any kind.
There are places on the internet that review images for free. But if a lawsuit will cover these expenses, you could see the very best surgeons. There is a doctor in LA Rasoulispine 310-421-006 who specializes in revision spinal surgery. Other commenters may have trusted neurosurgeons (smithki?) they could name.
Your experience has been so terrible. I hope there will be resolution to your pain,