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NERVE DAMAGE AFTER L4-S1 FUSION

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carolyn03586
carolyn03586

Last year on 1/6/2016 I got injured at work...it took workmens comp 9 months to approve surgery and by the time I got it...a synovial cyst had grown....I had surgery last August 2016 which didn't take...so on September 18th 2017 I had another surgery...L4-S1...where the whole joint was removed (where the synovial cyst were growing) and titanium plates were inserted.   The surgery took 7 1/2 hours with complications 2 weeks post surgery I started getting severe pain in my left buttock and then it quickly proceeded down my left leg into my left foot...getting more painful with each moment.  I could only get 15 to 20 minutes of sleep at a time because the pain was so severe.  2 days ago I ended in the ER where they did a MRI and CT....of course they came back and stated that the site of the injury and the plates looked good. NO CRAP...this was something new I never experienced. Finally after meeting with my neurosurgeon and pain doctor...they surmised that I had nerve damage and put me on Tramadol and Gabapentin for a week to see if that helps...next friday I will be put on steriods if it doesn't start to get better.

Is there any postions in bed I can get comforatable or excersises I can do? 

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • Carolineq8
    Carolineq8 carolyn03586

    Posted

    I wouldn't do anything until you speak with your docs next week, steroid injections worked for me for about 7 days max, gabapentin, ibuprofen and co dydramol does take the edge off but my nerve pain has came from loose fusion screws l4/5 and did not ease for nearly 5 months with 95% being laid up, I have suffered a lot of pain but that nerve pain is something else, I couldn't stand, sir or walk, it has settled in the last 2 days but now I get scared to do anything incase it flares up again, good luck I hope something works for you but it may not be overnight unfortunately 😊

  • uday81601
    uday81601 carolyn03586

    Posted

    Hi Carolyn,

    Your symptoms sound severe and I don't no what to suggest. After having my surgery three years ago for L5S1 fusion the pain has come back severely. I barely sleep at night and I am having tingling pain all over especially in my arms and legs. The doctor has made a ref feral for me to have a MRI and to see a neuro surgeon but still waiting

    • Carolineq8
      Carolineq8 uday81601

      Posted

      You need a ct scan, I had MRIs for years around 20 in total, it was only last month when I had an X-ray they found loose screws so they sent me for ct, MRI won't pick up everything, Iv had failed fusion for 14 years and they've only just found it with ct scan, I could have avoided a lot of trauma if someone had took me more seriously earlier on, I also have tingling everywhere even my head, it has settled but at its worst i felt like my feet where in acid, I couldn't stand not even for a second without severe pain, hasn't been fun but I'm coping better at the mo just cautious so not to flare it up again, waiting to see what there going to do to fix the loose screws 😊

  • carolyn03586
    carolyn03586

    Posted

    I had a Cat Scan done and MRI...everything looked good and intact.   This came out of no where...BUT because of my injury the synovial cysts got intangled in my nerves just inside my spinal canal.  They had to shock the cyst with electric something or other to see the nerves in order to untangle them from the cyst.    I'm assuming this is what is causing the nerve damage.  I agree your description of having your foot in acid is a more acurate desciption of what my left foot is going through.   I haven't been on the meds for a full 24 hours yet and am hoping in time it'll get better.   This friday they will put me on a high dose of steriods if it isn't better...too get a handle on the situation.   This is no way to live.

    • uday81601
      uday81601 carolyn03586

      Posted

      your condition sounds much more severe than mine. the tingling never goes away and it's getting worse in my feet hot and cold all the time

    • Carolineq8
      Carolineq8 uday81601

      Posted

      I thought the same about the pain, Iv suffered 14 years but it just goes to show that I have had 2 pretty good days in 5 months, my pain is about a 7 but compared to 10 it's manageable, don't give up hope nerve pain is horrendous and can take up to 2 years to heal, i also thought there was no point, to continue with that amount of pain 24/7 seemed hopeless but here I am, rest and a few nerve meds and patience you will get there, sorry your having to suffer 😊

    • Carolineq8
      Carolineq8

      Posted

      Seems like you've been through hell😊

  • mike92384
    mike92384 carolyn03586

    Posted

    Nerve pain can be a real buggar to calm. It doesn't take much to aggravate a nerve, & when it's compressed, or entangled...you're in trouble. 

    As for a sleeping position, I don't know..but perhaps you could try to sleep on the better side, with a pillow between your legs? I find sleeping with a pillow between my legs eases the pressure in the lower back. 

    The siatic nerve can cause a tremendous amount of pain for some people. Be careful about strong drugs. Tramadol can be very strong., & Gabapentin...well the Gabapentin didn't help me much with pins/needles, unless one takes a high dose,which I will not do. I have the attitude that drugs merely masks what's going on in the system. 

    I wish you well with your situation. Please let us know how you get on!

    • Carolineq8
      Carolineq8 mike92384

      Posted

      I totally agree with the meds, I took them sparingly as I didn't want to end up back were I was a year ago but at times I was going out of my mind. I thought I was going to be like that the rest of my

      Life and that was not a place I want to be in again but if I am at least I know it CAN get better. The pillow between the legs is good it helps me to and also the bit about easily aggravating a nerve you sure are right on that one, even stretching which is good can actually be bad if you have nerve problems so be careful 😊

  • Cindy5067
    Cindy5067 carolyn03586

    Posted

    My surgery, (anterior/posterior fusion C3-5 and replaced spinal bones C2-6) was just on September 22nd.

    The doctor gave me 80 5mg Percocet to supposedly last until my follow up with him with on October 17. The script stated 1 pill no earlier than 4 hours for pain or 2 pills for severe pain.

    I have taken 1 or 2 pills probably about 5 or 6 hours apart. I have 8 pills left.

    I did schedule an appointment with my pcp for Friday at 2:45p. Unfortunately, The pain was just like you described "acid" on the lower part of my skull and above my shoulders.

    My fear was separation of the replaced bones.

    I did get a CT.

    Thank God, nothing structural damage.

    It is soft tissue.

    They gave me 2 shots. 1 demeral and 1 steroid.

    I hope at my newly set appointment, Monday at 8:00a with my PCP. She will set me up with a pain clinic.

    All this written, maybe you should look into a pain clinic to manage.

    • Carolineq8
      Carolineq8 Cindy5067

      Posted

      Oh cindy that sounds awful, I hope you get some relief soon😊

  • Cindy5067
    Cindy5067 carolyn03586

    Posted

    I'm so glad I stumbled upon this site and forum. It's nice to get encouraging replies!!!!! smile

  • crista44751
    crista44751 carolyn03586

    Posted

     I had a fusion L4 to S1 in April of this year. About 10 days in I had severe pain down my legs and I went to the ER. The surgery looked good and the doctor put me on a trial of steroids for six days to see if that would make any change and I instantly took the pain away and has never come back. So maybe steroids is what you should try. The explanation to me was is that the nerves become very inflamed if they’ve been constrcited for so long  and the new blood flow is actually causing the pain and inflammation . I don’t know if it’ll work for you but it worked for me
  • JMSL345
    JMSL345 carolyn03586

    Posted

    I too have nerve damage after L 345 fusion. I have found the most relief with Lyrica 150 mg twice daily. It took a month to kick . I find that sleeping on my back with knees bent supported by pillow works best.
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