Scatica, full left leg area

[Amdrew]

I've had chronic lower back pain for most of my life now, and had a list of medications and a number of operations to try help with the lower back & scatica pain, (L4/L5 & S1) area.

Ten weeks ago I had another procedure, (decompression surgery) at the lower back area L4/L5 to help with scatica pain at most of my left leg area.

After the procedure my consultant advised that they had to carry out more surgery than what was shown on the pre Opp MRI scans.

The scatica returned soon after the procedure to the left leg at the hip to knee & knee to ankle areas, the main cause for flair ups was sitting on a chair, and short exercise walks and swimming exercise, all which just agrivated the scatica to the full left leg

Also since the latest procedure my left foot nerves are hyper sensitive, mainly the heal area, the ball of foot, the left foot outer edge and four toes, which if taking short walks flare's into pain in the full foot area and up along the ankle and spasms up the left side of the calf.

If anyone has any experience, advise, & information that may help with this situation I would be obliged.

Thanks

Amdrew

[Steve_inpaintoolong]

Your left leg, heel n foot pain sounds like my right leg sciatica.

Perhaps you are still recovering from your procedure?

What actually is decompression surgery?

[Amdrew in reply to Steve_inpaintoolong]

After 3 nerve root injections, which are day surgery procedure to try locate the exact nerves causing the scatica pain, after the 3rd the Orthopedics dept decided to do a decompression procedure, (which you can look up on you tube if your not squeamish) which I was informed was to remove/grind away certain bits of the area that was causing the scatic nerve to become trapped and causing the lower back and sciatica leg pain. But as my consultant explained to me after my procedure, my procedure was more involved than what was shown on the MRI scans.

[Steve_inpaintoolong in reply to Amdrew]

Yea i looked it up soon after...

I had these procedures but it was just called a Laminetcomy and discectomy over twenty five years ago.

I had to wait 13 months for the opperation after my scan. The NHS was really taking a battering from the Government with talks of privatisation, people were dying waiting for heart opperation so back problems were on a back burner.

I couldnt get out of bed for three days after the opperation. If it wasn't for me drinking about 6 litres of water I don't known when I'd have got up.

I was in a lot of pain... luckily an old guy in the next bed had been in before and he had a secret stash of painkillers.

Realistically... I never recovered.

I hope your operation takes you on a different path.

[Emma2017]

Like you I have had lots of hassle with this area. Had 3 microdiscectomies at L5/S1 level (first one due to slow onset CE) and then in January had a fusion at this level together with a laminectomy a few levels above this. I still suffer from leg pain and this awful crawly/itchy sensation which drives me insane.

I have only just started physio last week and now there is this lockdown which has stopped the in person physio. I had my first video link physio yesterday.

Unfortunately there is no quick solution. I am just following the physios advice. Due to some funny leg experiences I was restricted to very short walks with my crutch but am now allowed to walk a bit further, like about 5 minutes. When I walk the leg goes crazy, like you my heel hurts a lot. I try and do all my exercises and am advised to take all the meds without trying to reduce them. Nights are bad. But I feel only determination and sticking to slowly increasing exercise as instructed plus taking the meds as instructed will get us through this as constant surgery is obviously not the answer.

[Amdrew in reply to Emma2017]

Hi like me you seem to have been thru the wars and had similar procedure's, as myself, also not everyone has a fortunate outcome with there operations.

My previous procedure was scary but don't remember a thing about it, other than what I was informed that I was assessed as a GCS3 post opp, which if you Google will explain what this is.

Ps, best wishes and take care.

[Emma2017 in reply to Amdrew]

What more did they have to do than the laminectomy (i.e decompression ?). And if you were in a coma, for how long was that ?

In between the ops I had many X-ray guided injections in the area (day cases) and 2 denervations (1 very painful) but like I said there is only so much you can do. So now I am going to concentrate on the physio etc.

In your case if you still suffer a lot there might be something still pressing after the decompression and only a scan will be able to establish this. (I had one after my last op and it all seems clear).

[Amdrew in reply to Emma2017]

I was flat for the best part of a day and kept in the HDU for 5 days, then put in a separate room for 2 days before being discharged.

[Emma2017 in reply to Amdrew]

All fun and games. I was paralysed down one side after my first op and had the pleasure of hospital accommodation for 10 days. It sorted itself out after 4 months but hence all the injections etc. It’s amazing what the body can endure. Hope you can do your physio and start to feel better. Just listen to what your body tells you you can do (as well as your medical team of course).

Take care.

[Gadget60]

I have read so many problems related to back surgery that I won’t have surgery myself. I will stick with reltebon for the back pain and pregabalin for the sciatica