Had spinal decompression 12 weeks ago L4/L5 but still have severe pain in left buttock?

[dfur7785]

Consultant has said I will have to live with this as it is not a nerve problem but it's driving me mad, can anyone help?

[Hidden]

Have you been rechecked and everything? What are y Currently taking for the pain?

What does your GP say?

[johnsmith]

The consultant may be right. It may be a muscle control problem. This means that you have to learn and study how you move and work at better ways of using your muscles. It also means that you have to find good text books which descibe how muscles work.

Over contracted muscle can be painful. Over contracted muscle needs to be lengthened out. Muscles have nerve input to contract. They have no nerve input to lengthen the nerve input just stops contracting. Other muscles help return the contracted muscle to its designed length. For a variety of reasons they may not happen. Thus you need the help of people who can stretch out over contracted muscle. Unfortunately, the medical profession does not know very much about these issues.

You are going to need to seek the help of chiropractors, yoga teachers, Alexander teachers and masseurs.

[Krawlins]

I have constant buttock pain too, its a pain in the a**e isn't it! I had L5/S1 decompression in 2012 which has failed, my muscles twitch an awful lot too, and although 6 years later the muscles of the thigh, hip and calf especially still sometimes go into spasm, they lock in place in there's nothing you can do. I have a heat pad, that is of some comfort, I've tried Voltarol but that doesn't work for me. I find I'm always rubbing it. The area is very tender if prodded, it makes me jump. I sadly don't know the answer. Best wishes in finding something that helps.

Kay

[morphalot in reply to Krawlins]

You might be eligible for a neuro modulator. If you want more info give me a shout. Hope the pain's not too bad

[Krawlins in reply to morphalot]

Yes please, I'd like to know what one is, do you have it and was it arranged through pain management? Are you in the UK too?

[waylay in reply to Krawlins]

Me too. I take tramadol and diazepam for major spasms. Morphine if the tramadol isn't enough...

[Krawlins in reply to waylay]

How do you take the morphine? Oramorph or patches? Do you work? If so can you cope with working on all that medication? I work part time in a very busy office taking call after call, I need a clear head as I'd say I suffer from brain fog, have to make sure I don't take the medication too late otherwise it's hard to even wake up!

[waylay in reply to Krawlins]

Oramorph, although it causes an instant acid reflux attack, so I need to talk to my GP about patches.

Unfortunately I can't work. :/ Standing, sitting, walking, etc. cause muscle spasms, randomly. Who would hire someone who could have a spasm at any moment, which would last between half an hour and 9 days (so they'd be off for that time), and who was on less or more opiates all the time? I'm also a nutter, which doesn't help. 😬

[Krawlins in reply to waylay]

Your spasms sound terrible, I was just getting the one in my left foot/ankle, mainly in bed but boy were they bad when they happened, then very weak leg the following day, fortunately only seldom happen now.

Yes perhaps try the patches, might stop that acid reflux, I take lansoparazole to help keep that at bay, ask gp about them when requesting your patches and I hope for some relief for you

[cyberbarn]

Have any of you seen a podiatrist? Sometimes if our feet are not right, then it can have an impact further up the system. Right now I have buttock pain but I know it is because I have hallux rigidus. I am waiting for a toe implant, then I know I will have to see my osteopath to get the muscles undone, and my physio for exercises in order to undo the problems caused from two years of not being able to bend my toe when walking.

It might be worth a try seeing a podiatrist, osteopath, or physio, or all three. One of the problems with consultant surgeons are that they are surgeons, they aren't going to help with anything other than surgery.

[Krawlins in reply to cyberbarn]

I've definitely got problems with my feet, full of callouses and corns. I walk over (have loose ankles) and wear shoes out badly that they have to be thrown out. I have to have thick soles too so choose my footwear accordingly. I have orthotics made for me and really could do with a re-referral as haven't seen anyone in years about them. My local one closed down and it's been centralised to a place I don't know or travel to.

You're right though, I think they pay a large part in my pain in ankles, knees, hips etc, thanks for bringing it up.

Kay

[cyberbarn in reply to Krawlins]

You might be able to self refer now. In many areas the NHS has started self referrals for podiatry. And you might find with moving services away from large hospitals and into the community, there might be someone closer to home now. It is worth a try. Your local NHS website should have something.

[Spursboy]

Likewise 12 weeks ago I had spinal decompression back surgery to release a trapped nerve, to date there has been no improvement for the pain, and surgeon has told me that he is sorry but it seems to have failed and there is nothing else he can offer.

The pain is across the RH side of my back and down my right leg, both feet have pins and needles, I can only walk 1/4 of a mile without pain and if I stand for a while the pain then becomes unbearable.

Since the operation I now seem to have gained back pain in my other side which causes me problems walking and sleeping, often need to get up ans have a couple of co-codamol tablets and a hot water bottle to get some relief.

Not sure where to go for help GP has suggested a physio who has given me a few exercises but that does not seem to help, wondering about a Chiropractor, Osteopath or Acupuncture, but which is the best bet I have no idea.

[Krawlins in reply to Spursboy]

Haven't they suggested a fusion to you?

[Spursboy in reply to Krawlins]

No mention of a fusion they have just signed me off with no further advice.

[Krawlins in reply to Spursboy]

That's not very helpful for you

[waylay in reply to Spursboy]

Pain management programme?

[Spursboy in reply to waylay]

I was sent to Pain Management 18 months before my surgery was suggested, I had a nerve root block injection and 10 months later a facet joint injection, neither helped or removed the pain.

[morphalot]

You might be eligible for a neural modulator which sits next to whichever nerve is causing your pain. I had one implanted s year ago. If you want any more info, and live in the UK, give me a shout. Hope the pain's not too bad.

[morphalot]

You might be eligible for a neuro modulator. If you want info on this let me know. Hope the pain's not too bad

[dfur7785]

Thanks for all your replies my decompression really has helped as i was suffering with pain in both legs and back, but the pain in my buttock is constant and i still have numbness in my ankle and underneath my left foot, I think I will contact a chiropractor and see what they say, I had physio after the op but it hasn't helped this problem, will let you all know.

thanks again

[Krawlins in reply to dfur7785]

Yes please let us know how you get on, I have this pain in my outer left foot, it started when my disc slipped, but it doesn't half ache at times when I've been on my feet. Good luck with the chiropractor

Kay

[morphalot]

Hi I have a neuromodulator which sits next to the offending nerve in the spine. First you have a trial implant put in then that is replaced depending on the results by a permanent implant. I can't feel anything on a day to day basis. Every day I have to charge it up which is done by placing a wireless charger over the battery which is inside my back - it takes about half an hour so I do it while watching TV. Then you charge up the battery charger by plugging it into a socket!!! Some of my pain has returned and I am developing new pain which the modulator won't get rid of because it's too high. Up until now I've been able to stop taking pregabelin and amitriptyline but I may have to start them again because of the new pain. Hope this helps x

[Krawlins in reply to morphalot]

Thanks for explaining, this is what a woman in the next bed to me had, think she called it a spinal simulator? She'd had the practice one taken out and she was then having to wait to get a permanent one fitted. Would this work for a slipped disc instead of a fusion I wonder?

Kay

[morphalot in reply to Krawlins]

At st Thomas you have to have had some sort of failed back surgery to go ahead with the modulator. Yes, it's also called a spinal stimulator

[misty14]

Hi fur

So sorry to read your still in pain after surgery!. It's very tough and I'm just wondering is the pain in your buttock worse if you sit a lot?. If so it may be Piriformis syndrome which I had for a long time and it's extremely painful. It can cause sensations in leg too. My advice would be to get a referral to a pain clinic as they sorted it out for me eventually with injections!. Hope your better soon. X