revision possible

mwolf2022 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-01-2011, 12:06 AM

Hi Everybody , My name is Mike and I am 34 years old I wanted to share my back history and hopefully someone can point me in the right direction.

I started to have low back pain and leg numbness after a fall in 04.I did a lot of therapy and nothing really helped.My doctor referred me to a neuro who performed a microdiscetomy.

I was fine for a year then i started to get chronic low back pain , it was a constant ache.I had therapy , injections , pain meds , yoga , chiro.Nothing worked I dealt with the pain for two years and in november of 08 I had a fusion of the L5-S1.The surgeon put in a stalif device.After the fusion I never really felt that well.I mentioned it to the surgeon at follow ups and he gave me the impression that it was one and done.I have had a mri and ct scan and they all come back that the fusion looks solid but why do I have this pain it is unbearable and it effects my life greatly. All the doctors look at me like im nuts when I tell them I have pain.This pain is all in my very low back , more like sacral area and buttocks.The burning is so bad I just dont know what to do and any meds I have been prescribed do not work.I Wonder every day if I need a revision , if I can even find a Surgeon that would consider it since all the test come back negative.This site has been very calming for me that I can share my story and know that there are other people out there that deal with the same thing I deal with every day.

Maria · #2 (**permalink**) 02-01-2011, 12:34 AM

I had what sounds like this type of pain for years post my 2nd discectomy (and got the same reaction from Neuro and Ortho) plus burning pain that was both legs bilat to my feet but worse in low low sacral area and tailbone.

I did respond to medication for some of the pain (Elavil first 5 years then Neurontin for 12 years re neuropathies) plus 9 years after the 2nd surgery that caused the symptoms (which were blamed on scar tissue and rebulging of discs previously surgerized) I was started on opioid pain medication and lumbar ESIs up to 3x/year for 10 years.

Have you tried medications for nerve related pain like Neurontin or Lyrica? Any opioid medication? I'm guessing you might have from what you stated.

Have you had an MRI since the surgery? Any mention of scar tissue? Any mentiong about removing hardware? Any SI joint dysfunction prior to surgery or now? Just wondering...

mwolf2022 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-01-2011, 02:28 PM

Hi Maria ,

I never had any back pain at all prior to the surgeries , I never had this type of pain at all. The pain is concentrated bilat in my butt and it is like a switch.
I have pain when standind but as soon as I sit it is unbearable.(My job is sitting at a computer all day).

Pain meds have been no help at all.Never had Lyrica , Neurontin did not work .Maybe it is this part of the country but no Dr will prescribe opiod meds. My PCP does give me Norco , only 30 a month , and I hold out taking them unless I feel like I am going to pass out from the pain.I did have a mri and ct scan done by the surgeon who performed the surgery and he did not mention anything about scar tissue.

I am scheduled to see a rehab guy next week to see if it has anything to do with the SI , I never had any problems before this surgery, and the hardware can not be removed to my knowledge as it was a standalone device.

dshobbies · #4 (**permalink**) 02-01-2011, 04:59 PM

Hi Mwolf2022 and welcome to the forum,

I'm sorry you find yourself in pain following a procedure that was supposed to eliminate it.

Once a doctor treats you as if your pain no longer matters, it's time to find another doctor. You're not making this up but your doctor dismisses your complaints siting tests reveal nothing is wrong. Obviously, something is wrong.

You are your own best advocate. Stand up for yourself and demand to be heard - get another opinion and you also might want to find a pain management specialist who can help you control your pain with more than 1 norco per day.

Good luck, Dale

mwolf2022 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-01-2011, 08:20 PM

Hi Dale , I am trying to find a doctor I feel comfortable with , there are many out there who will cut and run.(I unfortunately have met two.)

I thought when I had the fusion done my problems were solved , and now I get looked at like I have 3 heads when I say I have pain.

Finding a PM doctor has been troubling as well , I have seen three all they recommend is nerve blocks that have no effect.I don't know if its me , or if the medical field in my area , but it seems nobody is willing to help. soon as I mention I have had two back surgeries and still have pain there attitude changes and they want to refer to somebody else.

mmglobal · #6 (**permalink**) 02-01-2011, 08:25 PM

Mike, welcome.

This is a quick hit for me... I hope I don't miss anything. When I get back from my trip, I'll check again.

did the docs make an attempt to accurately ID the pain generator, or did they fuse the level that looked worse on MRI? (Is L4-5 looking perfect?)

T-spine and C-spine OK?

You are already looking into SI joint... ask about piriformis syndrome.

Sacral cysts? (I guess this question is, "did they image your sacrum", or were there cysts or other problems inside the spinal cord or nerve roots?)

Good luck!

Mark

mwolf2022 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-01-2011, 10:34 PM

Hi Mark ,

The doc just went with the mri report and fused that level.When the pain started after fusion they did a discogram and all other disc were negative.I would hate to feel what a positive result would of been.

I do not believe the sacrum was scanned , the doctor seems to have tunnel vision and is just focusing on the fused level.

I may just have to get all my stuff together and send them out to a doctor and get there opinion.