Severe foot pain & loss of feeling (two bulging dics)
Posted , 3 users are following.
I wonder if anyone has had a similar experience & can help at all?
I have a history of back problems going back a decade. Last Feb my disc went again resulting in horrific pain in back/foot/ankle (also in leg, but gradually improved, pain in ankle/foot remains to this day at the same pain level). 2 MRI's show 2 bulging discs (bottom 2) - "likely to cause irratation" on notes. Also disc degeneration/mild stenosis but do not think this was a concern.
On max dose of Gabapentin, Co-co, Naproxen & have tried physio, acupuncture, gentle exercises & small walks (repeatedly tried over the last 1.5 years) but still in bad pain, spend a lot of time on the couch as standing/walking just triggers it. I now have numbness and some pain in my other foot, so very unsteady.
Very limited life, manage to keep on top of the house and work limited hours from home out of necessity but the pain levels are so high I cannot see myself coping with this for much longer & despite pushing, told surgery is too risky and just basically sent away to cope with it. I'm 39.
If anyone can give me a little hope or advice I'd appreciate it very much, thank you.
0 likes, 3 replies
CHICO_MARX karen02354
Posted
Advice? Yeah...you need surgery...period. When none of that other stuff works, you need a great neurosurgeon.
Me?
1. 2011: Severe sciatica, right leg. Nothing worked. MRI was inconclusive. Neuro went in and found a bone spur CRUSHING (his term) my sciatic nerve root at L4/L5. Removed the spur, did a laminectomy, done. Residual pain gone in a week. No rehab.
2. 2014: Major lower back pain. Nothing worked. MRI showed a lot of issues. Neuro did a standard TLIF (posterior, rails and screws) fusion of L3 through S1. 10 days in the hospital, six months in a brace 4-5 months of rehab. Very successful.
3. 2016: Severe sciatica down BOTH legs. Foraminal stenosis at L2/L3 confirmed by CT/Myelogram (the "gold standard" spine test). Doc could have pulled all the hardware and re-fused me L2-S1 but we went with an LLIF (LATERAL Lumbar Interbody Fusion)...they go in from your SIDE!!! Search YouTube for "globus lateral" to see a cute animation. ONE NIGHT hospital stay, IMMEDIATE pain relief, NO rehab, NO brace. Like it never happened. Docs can now do this at one or two levels in the same op. Best kept secret in spine surgery.
You need the best neuro you can find...get yourself out of pain. Pics of my "metal spine" attached...
karen02354 CHICO_MARX
Posted
Thank you for the reply, I really appreciate it. Sorry to hear you've been through all of that but glad you've found relief, albeit through repeat operations. Alas, I don't have access to see a top neuro, reliant on the NHS and although I have been referred, have also been told beforehand by 2 specialists that 95% of cases sent over get no further on. Unless it's bladder weakness etc. they just seem to say no to everything. It's a miserable situation and I can't help myself anymore (I did for a decade more or less with walking, but now can't do that, keep trying and failing). Not sure what the h3ll to do really. I honestly think here (UK, not sure where you are?) it's a money situation and that makes it all worse really.
CHICO_MARX karen02354
Posted
Luckily, I'm in the US on Medicare plus a supplement plan. The Medicare costs $102/month; the supplement is another $19. Yes, there are deductibles and copays that are manageable plus an RX and rehab plan. Yeah, all of it costs a few bucks but I still work fulltime at almost 70 as an IT Process Architect for AT&T (will never retire...I love what I do) so the bills are doable. Playing bass for my blues band also keeps me active. I'll either die at my keyboard or on stage...