Long Post- 9 Weeks post op facing set back with recovery- I'm scared

Some backstory:

About 2 years ago I posted regarding a back injury progressing into numbness from bottom of feet through my waist. At the time I went to the ER and was told that "stress" manifests itself in many ways (since I suffer from severe anxiety I believe it was easier for the Dr to use my psychiatric issues to brush me off)

During the visit I explained how I had wet myself several times during the numb episodes, how I was falling down without warning, etc. I begged him for an MRI and he told me I didn't need one and to follow up with my PCG.

I was dismissed by my primary - he also said I didn't an MRI, that I should lose 20-30 lbs and I'd feel better.

For 2 years as things got progressively worse, I went on believing that it must be all in my head. A few months ago my legs and feet started to swell without relief, feet would turn either blue/cold or be red and hot. It felt like I was always walking on rocks. I tried to control it with diuretics but that stopped working and I had 4 days of extreme swelling and pain when I ventured back to the ER.

I was admitted into the hospital. Immediately everyone wanted to jump to some sort of cardiac event however EKG and other tests did not concur. They gave me Lasix with limited results. I mentioned to the Dr about my fall and the symptoms from the 2 years. She ordered the MRI. It was not all in my head!

Results were: L3-4 small disc bulge extending into central canal. L4-5 Posterior endplate bone spur with additional posterior broad based disc protrusion.Mild bilateral facet osteoarthrosis Severe central stenosis. Compression of the cauda equina Effacement of L5-S1 lateral recesses with additional impingement of the right S1 nerve root.

I was scheduled for surgery and I was elated at the thought of walking without falling or without my feet turning in unnatural directions. Of being able to feel my feet...

Now...

Had laminectomy with fusion. He kept me in hospital just shy of a week. I started to have these horrible muscle spasms that would restrict my breathing. Upon release the nurse asked where my brace was. I told her it was supposed to have been ordered, but when she checked it hadn't been.

After I got home I was so excited that all of the swelling in my legs and feet was gone. I had regained normal feeling. I could stand on tippy toes. I went for my 2 week follow up, things looked good. Dr asked where my brace was. I told him how I still hadn't received it. He looked and said that it was written up, he'd have his assistant check on status. I didn't get my brace until the 7th week. The order for brace wasn't even placed according to insurance until the 5th week post op.

Following week(3rd) my worst fear happened. My feet started to swell and go numb. I lost my balance at one point and fell. within days my legs were numb along the outer thigh down. It was difficult to stand. Legs feel heavy. This has been the norm again for the last 5 weeks. When I told my surgeon this 2 weeks ago he sent me for another MRI and CT scan. Imaging center did not send or include with disc the radiologists report. My Dr quickly scanned the disc and said everything looked fine but he'd review when report came in. He couldn't give me any thoughts as to why the numbness or the burning in my back with tightening. He says he wants another MRI of neck and mid back.

If the nerve repair he did didn't work would that have shown up on MRI or CT? I am scared that I will have to live with this tight/numb feeling forever. I wonder at times if not having my brace to stabilize my back contributed to my current lack of healing.

I don't understand how I could feel so great for the first 3 weeks only to regress to pre surgery status. I am tired of not feeling well. 2+ years of this and I just want to be better already.

Thank you for reading... any thoughts, ideas are welcome and appreciated.

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