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Leg pain (knee down sides of calf to ankle) post L4/5 S1 fusion 2009

Posted , 6 users are following.

Jules0717
Jules0717

I had leg pain prior to my September 2009 lumbar fusion L-4/5 S1 as I had a grade 4 spondylolisthesis. I had terrible pain and depression after surgery and was taking about 6 10/325mg Percocet a day. In February 2013 I had a spinal cord stimulator put in which really helped and I was able to cut down from 10/mg Norco 3X a day to 5mg/3X a day and became more active. Since about May of 2015 I started having increased leg pain (mainly my left leg but can be on either one or the other or both from the knee down the back of my calf to my ankle) so I had a CT with contrast and was told that everything looked good with the surgery. My pain doctor states that it is nervedamage from my spne slipping so far forward for so long then pulled back after the surgery, so the nerves are "screaming." I feel I have tried just about everything, Neurontin, physical therapy, accupuncture, massage, laser light therapy, back brace,

A STYM, steriod injestions, nerve burning, ice, heat, etc. I have had to add 5mg of Percoset (without tylenol) up to 2X a day and sometimes I still have to get in a hot bath then lay on an ice pack. I tell my husband if the ER could do anything for me, I would go.. I am very frutrated that everything is supposedly fine, but I still have this worsening pain. (I am 47 and have suffered with back problems since I was 10.) 

Does anyone have anything similar going on or suggestions of something that has helped them? I do not want to get a pain pump and I do not want to take Oxy. The most recent medication I ried was 50mg of Nuycenta instead of the Percocet without tylenol. It makes me really tired so the doctor said to take only 25mg instead of 50mg and that doesn't seem to be enough, Help???!!!   

1 like, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • sarah98681
    sarah98681 Jules0717

    Posted

    Hi Jules

    i know how you feel. I had a 3 level lumbar fusion end of January this year so over 9 months ago. L4 L5 S1. I have been getting a lot of pain in lower back particularly in area of screws but also on right side. I had a scan and X Ray a couple of weeks ago and saw surgeon last week. It appears that two of the screws have become loose and also the bone is not fusing as it should be. Have to sit tight for another3 months to see if the fusion will happen as it could be that it's taking longer than expected and they don't want to adjust screws as will mess up any fusion that may be taking place. Very frustrating as thought I would have my life back my now but seems things are back to where I was pre op.

    • Jules0717
      Jules0717 sarah98681

      Posted

      I was actually hoping they would find something that was pressing on a nerve and that would explain the pain, but supposedly everything looks good. Thank goodness for my SCS as I don't know how I would get through without it!
    • pam54024
      pam54024 sarah98681

      Posted

      You sound like me Sarah! My surgery- fusion in Dec 2014/ not doing great yet- keep relapsing- my surgeon said I was fused at 6 month check up but pain came back after I started doing more I didn't know screws could get loose maybe my problem....I just went back to work hosting a large restaurAnt 2X week and pound on my feet all day and next day I can barely walk- maybe back to work too soon I am thinking as it is good for my mind but not so sure about my body. I have appt in Dec for year check up but I think my pain is so bad some days I cry and my husband thinks we should go to dr soo er. The cold and rainy days here in fall in Massachusetts are the worst! Ugh tramadol tonite! Thanks for listening. Pam
  • beverley82498
    beverley82498 Jules0717

    Posted

    Hi,sorry yiu are in so much pain.My hubby had 2 discectomes on L4/5 .The last time with corda equina resulting in substantial nerve damage.At one point you couldn't touch his leg without him bing in agony.He was weaned off Oxy ( a horrible drug) by the pain clinic and given a new drug (in UK) for nerve pain called Palexia /Tapentadol.He takes maximum dose plus the one  for breakthrough & it does help a bit.He had nevro stim fitted in May.These meds don't make you zonked out like Oxy & he takes max dose nurontin,has now come off Nortryptoline.It will never be as strong as Oxy but it it definately helps.We've also noticed that if he gets cold the pain gets worse.When he had the CE his leg was freezing cold to touch,only started warming up last year.We were told that if nerves regrow at all it's only cms a week.Hope this helps,good luck.We are in UK by the way
    • Jules0717
      Jules0717 beverley82498

      Posted

      Thank you for the information about the Palexia. I will have to check into that! I had never even heard on Nuycenta either, but I imagine because of the cost it is not very popular. I feel like the Percocet works better and is less expensive.
  • sarah98681
    sarah98681 Jules0717

    Posted

    Hi i have also been on palexia tapentadol for the last two years. I was on 8 tramadol a day and wasn't getting benefits anymore so moved me on to this new drug which helped. I also take pregabalin, naproxen, diazepam 
  • thomas42052
    thomas42052 Jules0717

    Posted

    Jules have you tried tramadol. I take it for back pain and it is the only thing that does not leave me constipated and dopy. It may not be strong enough for you though. Hope you get some relief! Tom
    • Jules0717
      Jules0717 thomas42052

      Posted

      Hi Thomas, I actually have taken Tramadol, but you are correct, it just isnt enough. I also took neurontin, about 300mg/day if I recall, but it made me have wierd eye twitching. I'm sure your body just becomes used to the same medication after so long as when I swirched from Norco to Percocet, it seemed to relieve the pain much better than the Norco, but after a year, it just didn't seem to help relieve the pain.

      Does anyone know of any other never pain medication other than Neuronton? If I reall correctly, I believe someone mentioned Lyrica for nerve pain?  

    • cynthia70714
      cynthia70714 Jules0717

      Posted

      Jules,

      Yes I was on lyrics for it. But of course I ended up with side effects. I take Valium for it now. And zanaflex helps.

      Hope you feel better

      Cindy

    • thomas42052
      thomas42052 Jules0717

      Posted

      I tried Neurontin and lyrica but it really made me have nightmares and major strange side effects. What is Norco and cynthia mentioned zanaflex? I am not aware of those drugs, can someone educate me? I go in for my second fusion of L3-L4 October 28, I am very nervous but currently can't stand or walk for any period of time. I had a fusion of L4-L5 and know have spondo of  L3. 
  • cynthia70714
    cynthia70714 Jules0717

    Posted

    Jules,

    Hi, I had the pretty much the same conditions, I just recently did a SCS spinal cord stimulator, I'm post op 1 week n 5 days. Because of the pain. So that was my breaking point with the pain. I'm hoping that this is a good decision. There are a lot people on here and are discussing the stimulator, Talk to your Dr and look into your self its a nervo senza that I have in. Because the new thing here in the states.

    Best of luck

    And pain free soon

    Cindy

    • Jules0717
      Jules0717 cynthia70714

      Posted

      Thank goodness for the spinal cord stimulator! I got my life back once I had that put in. My doctor said that alot of the insurance companies don't want to pay for it if once the patient has it put in still takes pain medication, then they state that it does not help. I TOTALLY disagree! I cut my pain meds in half and I was able to start doing things again. Until someone lives through something like intense back pain, they would not undersand what we go through just to get through our days. Best wishes!
    • cynthia70714
      cynthia70714 Jules0717

      Posted

      Jules,

      I hate when people judge, they don't know pain til its in the back and everything fails, I'm hoping for the best with the SCS just in alot of pain still.

      Cindy

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