Just need some relief.........

Two things that happened to me that may help you research the problem...

About 6 years ago, I had severe sciatica...could barely walk.  Chiropractor, acupuncture, PT, pain shots...nothing worked.  My neurosurgeon did an MRI and thought something looked unusual at L4/L5 but could not confirm a diagnosis.  Went in and found a bone spur literally "crushing" (his term) the nerve root at L4.  Decompressive laminectomy and spur removal.  Immediate relief...rest of inflammatory pain gone in a few days.

If the pain is down BOTH legs along with the weakness, I had that too about 18 months ago.  Doc found out that I had bi-lateral foraminal stenosis at L2/L3...confirmed it with a CT.Myelogram with Contrast...the "gold standard" spine test.  Did an LLIF fusion (Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion) where they go in from the SIDE, not the back, insert a device that looks like a miniature car jack, expand it with an actual Allen wrench, backfill it with a bone graft from your hip and close.  MIRACLE OP!!!!!  Woke up, ran down the hallway, climbed stairs...  One night in the hospital, no brace, no rehab.  See pictures: 1. pre-op lateral; 2. post-op posterior; 3. post-op lateral.  You will notice the big difference.  All the pressure off the nerves.

You need a definitive diagnosis.  For me, pain down one leg was sciatic nerve; both legs was foraminal stenosis.  The LLIF is the best kept secret in spine surgery.  You can see in the pictures that the L2/L3 LLIF is just above my other L3 through S1 traditional rails and screws (TLIF) fusion, so I've experienced both.  The TLIF was 12 days in the hospital, 4 months of rehab, 6 months in a brace and full year's recovery.  The LLIF was an instantaneous cure.

Search YouTube for "Globus LLIF" to see an animation of the procedure.  There are number of different implants that can be used for the procedure depending on your need and the neuro's decision.  Do some research.  It could be your solution.  Good luck.

Keeping in mind 'no two cases are the same' I had spinal fusion three years ago in Mar 2015, T2-T7, and have suffered similar pain that you have since.

From what I have learnt there is no cure for pins and needles, except if the nerves repair and things start working properly again.

I had severe pins and needles and numbness in my feet for the first couple of years post op, not as bad now except when I sit too long.

(if you do have to sit for long periods of time invest in a good cushion, I use a ROHO air cushion that came with my wheelchair)

The only way for me to stop it is to walk, but I can only walk so much in a day.

I had lots of acupuncture which helped with the muscular aches but even that won't help stop pins and needles.

Hot footbaths with epsom salts gives temporary relief from sore feet and I found it made it easier to sleep at night if I had it just before bedtime.

Vitamin B12 is good for nerve repair and is worth trying.

Medication wise I am still taking Pregabalin for nerve pain and Baclofen for muscle spasms / cramps.

Both of these work for me but I am slowly cutting back the dosages. Am taking half the Pregabalin now that I was when in hospital. 

Try as many things as you can until you find something that works for you. What does work for you may not work for someone else.

Thank you both for your responses. And yes, the pain has changed my life. I can barely stand at times, yet sitting brings me to tears. 

I will do a lot of research, and trial and error on things to make me comfortable.

Thank you very much!!

Carol/friends;  Three days ago, after dealing with weeks of extreme pain in my lower back/left leg I saw a Neurologist, got an MRI, identified herniated disc, L4/5 with a "moderate to severe" protrusion. Got some Flexeral. It worked for about four hours, reducing pain by (I think) generally numbing my brain and making me, candidly, a bit stoned. Next day I had a cortisone epidural in the lower spine. It hurt! Both the pain med and neurologist said, while too soon to tell for sure, that I'm a strong candidate or surgery. They're all hoping the steroid shot will help a lot. 

I was in great, great pain. I categorized it as an 8/9 on the chart. I could not sit for more than 3 minutes and when I would stand, for hours the pain would shoot from my butt cheek thru the left thigh, knee and calf. It was terrible. 

Feeling better, post injection but concerned about long term. Wife not happy with my complaining and constant request to lay flat on couch, bed, floor. B-A-D for the relationship; dinner's out, trips in the car. Need some relief.

Just wanted to say you're not alone -- and there are others like us. It's good knowing this b/c pain like this is not what your average friend, coworker, partner knows anything about. Wishing you the best!

Hi everyone,

My neurosurgeon  went over the latest MRI with me..... He said by what it shows, I should having all the pain on my left side, but instead I'm having it all on my right. 

Severe lower back pain, and extreme right leg pain. Even hurts my back and leg when I cough. 

He can't explain why?!!' He's having me get an injection in my SI joint. To see if that helps.

Tramadol has become my best friend. 

I'm so stiff, and in so much pain when I get out of bed in the mornings, it's awful. Car rides about do me in! I try to stay active, and work thru the pain, but man, it's bad. 

I have a very physical job, which is really hard on me lately. 

I sure wish I had some answers! I'm worn out with this pain! 

Cortisone shot only helped for three days max. I'm leaning towards surgery to remove the L4/5 protrusion that's pressing against the nerve and causing me all this discomfort. I'm not looking forward to the procedure at all. Dr says things like "some people are up and about in two or three days, others take weeks." Not very helpful. 

I think about tennis, canoeing, bending over to tie my shoes, sitting on a park bench, taking lone plane trips. I wonder if this procedure will get me there. 

 

I'm back - post discectomy (L4/5 only). My surgery was fine, spent a night in the hospital being pumped with more drugs (anti biotic, steroid, IV, codine) than imaginable, pricked with needles every few hours, sleepless and in mild discomfort but tended to by awesome great nurses and sent home. (Discharge from the hospital is a whole other type of agony...). Received a steroid pack (some kind of intensive 5 day), some percocet (only needed two or three at most) and that was it. Got myself out of bed, walking around the apartment and just yesterday (5 days post surgery) walked around the block. Progress comes slowly but I feel better day by day.

The important info to share is this...the surgery worked perfectly. All of my sciatic pain vanished immediately and has not returned. Yes, I am sore where the incision was made (that's to be expected I suppose) but otherwise pain free, which feels amazing. I'll stay indoors for another couple of days and then start to get outside for longer and longer periods. No driving, no walking the dog (sad face) for another two weeks though. Hard, or not intuitive, to NOT pick up or try to move heavy things or bend over now and again but I do my best to act like a frail person. 

In my case this surgery was great. I'd recommend to anyone with similar diagnosis. 

Thank you to everyone here...and I wish everyone pain relief and complete resolution asap. It's important to remember, like my surgeon said, that the point is to get back to doing the things you used to do, and love to do.