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Lamenectomy Failed Due To Scar Tissue

Posted , 4 users are following.

Captainsmilly1
Captainsmilly1

I had a L4-L5 Lamenectomy both R & L side for bone impingement. One month after surgery in Sep. 2015 extreme pain started in RT back down thru hip and RT leg to toe. Had numbness, tingling, shooting pains and 24/7 aching. Have now progressed to leg spasms and cramps so bad that my RT leg looks like a rope tied in knots. Taking 10-325 Perks 4 times daily with no relief. Spine surgeon says it is due to massive scar tissue that is about 3? long on spine from L4-S1. I had the caudal lysis of adhesions with saline, hyalurondase, laticane, and steriods injection. No help for a whole month after. then got direct injections into the scar tissue at L4, L5, and S1. Still no help. Now scheduling lots of appointments with surgeons. First one wants me to go on medical marijuana and says that there is no surgery or any other thing that will ever help me. I kept a positive attitude that when they say no help or hoe means that they are scarred to touch me now. Saw my last surgeon yesterday and he said that he can go in with an endoscope and remove as much tissue as possible and that if performed 2 times 2 months apart with special PT inbetween it will eliminate at least 70% of pain. This is the last stand I have cause my body rejected the stimulator implant that I tried for 7 days. Please everyone be persistant and think positive no matter how bad it hurts you physically or mentally. I am a US Marine Corps Veteran and I will fight to the end. Semper Fi

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • amkoffee
    amkoffee Captainsmilly1

    Posted

    I think you need a long-acting pain medication to take along with your Percocet. I take Percocet 10/325 but I also take morphine ER 15 mg. This helps conquer the pain. You might ask for something like that to help with your pain management as well. I can't say anything about the surgery because I have no experience having never had surgery myself.

  • emily333
    emily333 Captainsmilly1

    Posted

    Hi Captainsmilly1,

    I had my L4, L5 fused 8 months ago but still have 24 hour pain. Taking Percocet 10 mg for 2 years now. My suggestion is if you are going to have surgery, try and taper off with a Dr's help or the pain from surgery will be very high. I had a 5 hour operation. Morhine and diladud didn't help. Well like I said 8 months now after fusion and I am still in pain. The surgeon think it is my SI joints and shots were ordered. I had them a week ago. Still in pain. So I do not know where to go from here. The only thing I think you have going for you is the VA. I go into medicare in May and that means having to change all Dr's including my pain Dr who was so hard to find. I have been on a lot of different meds but nothing helps. Have gone for PT in Aqua pool. Nothing helps. Good luck. I like your spirit.

     

    • Captainsmilly1
      Captainsmilly1 emily333

      Posted

      Hi Emily,

      If you are still in pain then there has to be an underlying cause that did not get resolved with the fusion.  I have had to go thru several MRI's with contrast with my posture in lay down position and in fetal position.  Also had to get a PET scan.  That is how the found the scar tissue wrapped up in my sciatic nerve.  A new neuro surgeon just noticed in one of the images that I have an inside cyst 3.5mm between L5 - S1.  Ugggh now they want to remove it at the same time as trying an endoscope approach to try to remove some of the scar tissue.  If that fails then they are recommending medical marijuana to relieve the leg spasms and shooting pain so I can get off the opiods.  Emily hang in there and perhaps medicare will bring in a different doctors diagnosis that may result in some relief.  I'll put in a few words for you tonight when I pray.  smile

    • emily333
      emily333 Captainsmilly1

      Posted

      THANKS CAPTIONSMILEY. YES MINE ALSO SHOWS CYST. MY NERO SURGEON JUST WANTS TO COMMEND HIMSELF ON THE WORK HE HAS DONE AND NOT DEAL WITH THE L5,S1. I NEVER HAD TO LAY IN A FETAL POSITION. THERE IS ALREADY SOME SCAR TISSURE AND I HAD THE SURGERY MAY 15. I OULD LOVE TO LIVE IN A STATE THAT HAS LEGALIZED MEDICAL MARIJUANA. A FRIEND TRIED IT FOR HER JOINTS AND SHE SAID IT TOOK HER JOINT PAIN AWAY. I AM AN OLD TIME HIPPIE BUT DON'T WANT TO SCREW AROUND WITH MY PAIN SPECIALIST SO I STAY CLEAN AS A WHISTLE. THE DRUG EPIDEMIC HERE IS SCARY WITH THE PILLS AND PEOPLE ARE DYING BECAUSE OF MISUSE. THE BURSITUS IN MY HIPS WILL BE SEEN BY HIP SPECIALIST THIS MONTH. IT SEEMS THAT IS ALL I DO. GO TO DOCTORS AND GET MORE MEDS OR NO RESULTS. I AM REALLY SICK OF THE WHOLE THING. EVERY TIME I HEAR ONE OF YOUR SWEET VOICES FROM THIS SITE I TRY EXTRA HARD TO HANG IN THERE. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH

      EMILY

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