Nerve damage resulting from lumbar laminectomy

Hi Steve,

Yes I have what you are suffering with -- neuropathy. It can be cause by an injury or surgery. I had a fusion and laminectomy in 2012 and have been on gabapentin for all that time. I think this medication isn't helping BUT then I think maybe it is helping and can't imagine what the pain would be like!!! It is such a crazy bunch of sensations almost impossible to explain to anyone who does not have neuropathy. Fast forward to September 2015. I had foot surgery, a bunionectomy and two hammertoes repaired. Well that opened Pandora's box for more nerve pain. I am on pain medication, muscle relaxers, a new one Horizant to replace the gabapentin. I've been going to physical therapy -- no help. I've had epidurals -- no help. I am now scheduled for a series of 3 nerve blocks. I pray they help. I will let you know how it goes. The first one is 7/29. I can absolutely sympathize with your problems. Good luck. Karen

I was left for 5 day by my old local hospital the took a mri scan on the 5 the day show I had major compression of the spine. When I was sent to the hospital on day 1 I was sent home even though I had a letter from my doctor. Any cut it short I was taken from my hospital bed to Kings hospital this was at 1 in the morning blue lighted. Straight to the area near theatres. I was operated on I was told they had relieve the compression but they were sure I had suffered nerve damage from my waist down. Over the newt few months I was in and out of the neuro unit. Any way. I had mobility issues. I 1st stop weeing so I had a subapubic catheters. I then had a colostomy as I could not poo that's permanent. Stoma. Then my bladder started getting infections all the time that was 2012 I had in July a ileal conduit wee stoma Tey lifted my bladder in that was removed ad it went septic. Then I had 2 major hernia operations then a colostomy revision they at to read do it as it was a mess. I won out of court damages as if they had admitted me and relieved the compression I would have had some mobility issues but not like I have now. I moved hospital to guys and St Thomas's London. I have had 7 major operation my right leg is very weak and I have foot dropsy. My life has been turned upside down. I lost my job in the mod I can't play golf I spend a lot of time indoors or at my caravan. My damages were so serve I was paid a lot of damages. I have a syndrome cauda equine established mean I have server nerve damage to my lower half my pain is unbearable at times but does this sound familiar legs feel like when u hit ur fun bone number Ness which does not go away I feel more things when I stand I can drive but will need to have a adaption later. I am numb round my crutch I get things like hot and cold water down my legs running on pebbles in bare feet that is pain full u name I get it. It's the sciatic pains they are bad. I have been put forward to a neuromodulation in plant I have got to go and stay at the hospital for 2 weeks in October. The operation cost 25000 so u must be right for it the operation is a major. If it works it disrupt so the pain signals my mri scan most up to date shows I have discussed bulges everywhere it's now affecting my arms and hands and neck.they say I will know if I do get another compression they will operate. Right any of this familar. I was on gabapentin 600mg a day now I am on progabline 600mg a day I have 30mg slow release morpthine 2 a day. Gut tablet then at night I have 125mg notripiline. Plus tramzone 1 tablet help me sleep. I think u need a mri and seems to me u have disc touching ur spine. It's definitely a related condition to mine. I wish I had my old life back I loved my job. I was 50 now 8 years on I have a massive scar up my middle my right leg goes dead with out warning I was made to use a stick as I had 2 bad falls 1 kept me in hospital for 2 months they said I had fluid on my spine area near the operation site when I was got up after 6 weeks I had a hoist to get me up with intense pyhiso. I no a lot of it as been about me but what u wrote I have the same nerve feelings yours keith

Hi Steve, I found the Gabapentin I had prescribed didn't touch my pain at all.  I have been on so many different drugs but I can say that nothing eliminates my pain.  I was in hospital a few weeks ago for an operation to release the nerve roots in my spine.  Unfortunately this didn't take place, which I think I posted on the forum previously.  (a blood clot in my lung).

The only thing I did find was that I was being given some liquid morphine which helped, although not completely,  to relieve the chronic pain I was in.  Nothing I have been prescribed totally relieves the pain.  When I left hospital

i was discharged with a small bottle of Oramorph Oral Solution (liquid morphine).  I have since had a renewal prescription given to me from my GP.  (Larger bottle)!  

I can tell you that this seems to relieve the pain slightly but we are all different and it might work better for you.  Maybe have a chat with your hospital or GP?  It says that it can be taken 4 times a day but I only take it morning and bedtime.

i can honestly say I commiserate with your pain.  Personally it's the worse pain I have ever had.

i hope it won't be too long now for my operation although I have been warned that it might not work or maybe only partly.  Still, anything will be better than nothing.

Best of luck.

Hi Steve, i haven't got the same problems as yourself but do suffer nerve pain from having operations. Mine is sharp shooting pains with locking in the knee and burning type pain through both legs from knee to my feet. However there is no cure for neuropathic pain. I find Gaberpentin helps and i also take amitriptyline at night to help with sleep.