Constant Back Pain

[Kjun54321]

I had a lumbar fusion of my L4-L5 in May 2021 and a cervical fusion of C5-6-7. I have multiple pain problems and have trouble finding relief that also won’t affect my liver. I found I have a bulging disc in L3-4, an annular tear at L4-5 with Degenerative Disc Disease and foraminal stenosis. I just had a medial bilateral nerve block in my lower back. Miserable that I feel like it didn’t work. I heard about ablations. Do the ablations work? Any thoughts on if an ablation would be better than another nerve block? What questions would be good to ask my doctor?

[Sydney75]

Ablations typically for facet joints. Spinal steroid injections for stenosis. Possibly research spinal cord stimulator for pain. Racz procedure used for central canal stenosis. Most MDs prescribe gabapentin or Lyrica for nerve pain helps some people. Good luck!

[Kjun54321 in reply to Sydney75]

Thank you for your response! Do you happen to know about muscle pain? Sometimes I feel like my bolts are eating away at my muscles. I do take Lyrica for fibromyalgia, but it’s not helping my back pain. I have methocarbamol but I feel like I retain fluid with it.

[Sydney75 in reply to Kjun54321]

Well you likely don't have bolts from a fusion usually screws n rods. They can become loose the term they use is lucency, meaning fusion not complete. That will cause pain at fusion site. Radiating pain can be from nerve damage or another level breaking down etc. See a physiatrist usually a neuro who doesnt automatically push surgery.

[Kjun54321 in reply to Sydney75]

From seeing the x-ray, nothing appeared loose. Thank you for your advice!