chronic pain from double lumbar fusion surgery and L5 nerve root damage - difficult to get through each day and I am in a dark place

[Viper100]

I had a double fusion L5/S1 and L4/L5 in June of 2022. The vascular surgeon cut a 7” incision in my abdomen so the spine surgeon could put in the cages. Once that was done the spine surgeon cut my back open and put in rods and screws on the left and right side.

Since the surgery I have numbness in my right toes and the bottom front half of my right foot. I also have numbness on the outside upper part of both thighs.

I have had CT’s, MRI’s and ultrasounds and everything looks fine. The various doctors I have seen all say the L5 nerve root was damaged and there is nothing I can do. I have been doing PT for three months and it has gotten worse. I also am coming down off of Percocet and I need to switch to something different.

I am in so much pain 24/7 that life is hard to get through each day. I can retire but it will be a bit tight as I a little under 60.

Can anyone provide me some information and some hope. I am in a dark place daily and am doing everything I can think of but this looks like it will be my new norm and this is so hard to get through each day.

Thank you 🙏

[Bananas5]

patient.practicalpainmanage...

I don't know if you have heard of this above but it is very good at explaining what we go through. It may help.

Anger is a wasted emotion but hard to deal with. I always say...put the past behind you...you aren't going that way.. Think about what you can do not what you can't. There is a lot but you have to adapt NS YOU WILL FIND YOUR OWN ALTERNATIVES BELIEVE ME.

Sorry about capitals///I'm not shouting. Just blind

x

[Viper100 in reply to Bananas5]

Thank you for your thoughts and I have been in and out of counseling over the past 10 years so I know exactly what you are talking about.

Thank you again.

[Bananas5 in reply to Viper100]

I am very good at advice. but nott so good at the practicalities!!!!!! I lost my sight many years ago as a young married wife with 2 small children. There wasn't any help i those days but I learned quickly how to adapt to what I wanted to do.. Maybe not the normal way as others did whoo had all their working parts but they got to understand me.

x

[carol1]

HiSorry you are in so much pain.

I can't understand why the surgeon went through your abdomen, my first spinal surgery 6 years ago my surgeon cut into my back L5 L4 were filled with new bone, screwed and cadged. A year gone September The surgeon went into my back a did the same with 2 discs above a below, so I have 6 discs fused onto the cage that was fitted 6 years ago. Unfortunately 2 weeks later I got an infection in my back was took in as an emergency and opened me up and flushed out my back with antibiotics and put 42 stitches in. Then I started with pain again in my lower back ,I saw my consultant who sent me for a MRI scan with contrast it showed I had a Seroma at the base of my spine. Pains came back in my legs had another CT scan then another MRI scan all with contrast. I signed the consent forms in June to have a operation to remove the Seroma as it has encased itself as most drain away. I received a phone call to go for my preassment on November 4th but I had covid and just tested negative . So because of having covid the earliest I can have my operation is December the 23rd, so I think maybe January. I have degenerative disc problems.

Hopefully this helps you .

[Viper100 in reply to carol1]

Carol,

I am so sorry to hear what you are going though and I will pray 🙏 for you and your upcoming surgery.

The never way these spine surgeons are utilizing is going the the abdomen as it is easier to put the cages, however, there is a higher risk I found out after the surgery of creating permanent nerve damage. You can still have never damage going through the back.

The research shows that well over 60% of back surgeries fail due to issues that never go away after the surgery. I happen to be one of them

I have been getting worse in terms of the numbness in my right tors and on the bottom front half of my right foot. It is so uncomfortable to walk along with so pain. I told the PT to stop working on my back as a month ago they started on it and that is when it started getting worse each week. I have inflammation so they are really aggravating it.

I see my neurologist next week which I will then get to go over the nerve conduction study they did a few weeks ago and they did an MRI of my Brain again since I was a US Marine and have combat action along with 7 concussions over my years so I may have some brain injuries also.

Sorry I wrote so much but I am so frustrated and feel so depressed that I feel I am at the end of the line.

I really need a weekly chat or in person support group meetings as the counseling I have had enough of and know everything they are doing which isn’t helping me even following everything they tell me to do.

Keep me posted on how everything goes for you and I am surviving one day at a time for now.

I appreciate anything else you think of as I am open to anything at this point.

[Hidden in reply to Viper100]

I agree with your statement of needing a weekly chat or in person support group meeting, rather than counselling which isn't helping.

Hope you are in a better place now.

[Colinmac66]

Viper did you rest up and give your body time to heal before doing anything physical ?

It could be that you are overdoing things and not giving your body the chance to heal.

Have a chat with your doctor and see if you can formulate a plan that will work for you.

[Viper100]

Hello. I rested for 90’ days and did nothing and slowly then did PT and now I am at 6 months and getting worse. I am so frustrated and at the end of the road.

I see my neurologist next week which I will then get to go over the nerve conduction study they did a few weeks ago and they did an MRI of my Brain again since I was a US Marine and have combat action along with 7 concussions over my years so I may have some brain injuries also. 

I am open to anything you may suggest.

Thank you

[carol1]

HiThanks for your reply, I had a hip replacement a year after my first back fushion and left me with one leg longer than the other. After months I was sent for physio I told the physio that with the cage in my back I was told not to do any exercises . The physio guy said these exercises won't effect your back, I had to raise my back hold it for so long and other exercises. After 4 days of doing these exercises my pain came back in my legs then back. I was referred back to my consultant who said I told you I didn't want you to do exercises, he said the only time I give physio is when I've fused a lot of disc's. I've had 6 disc's fused onto my cage I can bend but with this Seroma it is painful. I was told if you do exercises your working against the work he had done in my back. When I get the next operation it will be the 4th time I've had my back cut open. My consultant is excellent I found out all information about him so I could trust him opening my back. He does a lot of spine work with kids, one kids spine was 95 degrees out and he straighten it to 5 degrees out. He is a pediatric with children and what I have degenerative of the disc's.

Hope you get some help 🙏 ☺️ .