Post laminectomy syndrome after L5 S1 fusion

[Jeaniem130]

Anyone have this?

[Barnclown]

the results of my 2019 L4/5 instrumented fusion put me into what’s called “Failed Back Surgery Syndrome”…am guessing Laminectomy Syndrome is a sub-version of FBSS…this U.K. study explains:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[Jeaniem130 in reply to Barnclown]

Thank you. Have you found any relief with your back issues?

[Barnclown in reply to Jeaniem130]

You’re welcome. That’s a complicated question for me, because i’m an older person (68) & have a lot of early onset chronic immune dysfunction & connective tissue disorder comorbidities, and also scoliosis + kyphosis.

Any relief i achieve with my back issues is always due to a combo of self help/lifestyle techniques especially meditation, postural training, various types of orthoses inc braces, canes, the right bedding, chairs etc, + finding ways to get gentle exercise etc. My comorbidities make me have adverse reactions to most analgesics but i am prescribed daily max dose of paracetamol + 50mg amitriptuline + 2x2mg diazepam which i tolerate ok & get some relief from.

Am now under a new spine team considering surgical & neuromodulation options 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Sydney75]

My husband has failed back syndrome. Post 18 months finally able to get new MRI and CT scan. His pedicle screws (2) are lucent a fancy way of saying they are loose and he does not have full fusion.

After surgery he had new symptoms the leg and back pain were not resolved, and has numbness from hip to knee on left leg. His strength is good, but exercise will exacerbate his pain. Trying to make him only do exercise in a pool. Takes Advil, aleve, tylenol for pain. Also on 900 mg of gabapentin but that has not helped much and he gained over 20 pounds and amitriptyline can also cause weight gain so avoiding that for now. He ices his lower back and entire leg with moldable ice packs almost every night. Ice does help.

Consulted with a second surgeon his continuing pain could be from:

- Loose screws generally may cause lower back pain and if they touch any nerve leg pain.

- The nerve could be permanently damaged, surgeon did have to repair two adjacent pars fractures.

- replace lose screws with a new surgery - he says no way!

-newer technology with spinal cord stimulators that reduce both back and leg pain

Epidural injections did not help at all. Muscle relaxants not so much as it is mostly nerve pain. This is so difficult. I hope you find relief.

[Jeaniem130 in reply to Sydney75]

I am sorry to hear what your husband is experiencing and you too! I have only had an xray so far and supposedly the screws are intact but there has been no grafting. I too had bi-lateral pars defects. I am on 900 mg gaba for nerve pain as well, not impressed. I had 3 epidural injections that did not help. I am currently trying to use an external bone growth stimulator but have recently started with a rash from the lead covers.