spinal fusion complications

I has spinal fusion done after 10 major ops on my back. Now the pain is awful and goes down both my legs. I think it is worse than ever and I am on really strong meds. I would like to have it all taken out. Is that possible?

jgm wrote:

I has spinal fusion done after 10 major ops on my back. Now the pain is awful and goes down both my legs. I think it is worse than ever and I am on really strong meds. I would like to have it all taken out. Is that possible?

you could you might wanna wait till it heals. I had fusion l 5 s1 it took about 2 years for the pain to go away. now I don't have pain I have numbness that radiates from my butt to my toes. if you don't have numbness now you won't get it. just let the healing process finish you will be fine.

Robyn wrote:

<quoted text> you could you might wanna wait till it heals. I had fusion l 5 s1 it took about 2 years for the pain to go away. now I don't have pain I have numbness that radiates from my butt to my toes. if you don't have numbness now you won't get it. just let the healing process finish you will be fine.

Thanks Robyn for your quick reply. My op was done 2 years ago, and the pain has worsened. the numbness I had has gone to be replaced with this pain. I am under a pain doctor but all he keeps doing is giving me stronger pills. He is quite happy to get my money! I have seriously been thinking about seeing a different orthopaedic or neuro specialist to ask them what can be done for this pain. What's your view? I do not believe this pain will go away as it is getting worse!

kev-jan wrote:

My name is Kevin and I had spinal fusion on my L5-S1 last January and my symptoms are 10x worse now. The pressure in my back is unbelievable, and my legs and feet twitch 24/7, it feels that there is electricity in my legs..Help does anyone else have these symptoms?

my name is elizabeth and in sept. 2009 i had a double spinal fusion on the t5/6 vertabrate to correct a collapsed spinal cord with bone spurs. this fusion was my only option other than being paralized. which is a sickingly scarey thought!! i didn't have any issues or complications with surgery or after until just a few weeks ago. i have a horrible feeling of pressure on the base of my skull (due to arthritis) and i have tried heat therapy and tylenol and am at the point of being in pain from the time i get up in the morning to the time i got to sleep. being asleep is the only relief i can get. for two nights in a row, i am unable to sleep and i am so scared of the next step in this horrible process. i did some research and i think i may have scared myself to the point of keeping myself awake at night. i am fearful that this is not my last situation with this fusion and i am stressed out! i don't know anyone who has gone through this and i don't have anyone to talk to. needless to say, i've made a dr app. for next week to help with the arthritis...i find myself praying everyday for the courage to get through this without driving myself crazy and prayers to ask for relief to my body. i can't keep up with anything around the house and don't want to break down to my husband. he has been helpful enough. i just don't have any support for this and i am scared;( i am a "move-forward" kind of person, yet i am feeling i am having issues with "moving forward". anyone with the same issues? sorry to vent...this is the first time that i've put these feeling out in the universe.

elizabeth wrote:

<quoted text>
my name is elizabeth and in sept. 2009 i had a double spinal fusion on the t5/6 vertabrate to correct a collapsed spinal cord with bone spurs. this fusion was my only option other than being paralized. which is a sickingly scarey thought!! i didn't have any issues or complications with surgery or after until just a few weeks ago. i have a horrible feeling of pressure on the base of my skull (due to arthritis) and i have tried heat therapy and tylenol and am at the point of being in pain from the time i get up in the morning to the time i got to sleep. being asleep is the only relief i can get. for two nights in a row, i am unable to sleep and i am so scared of the next step in this horrible process. i did some research and i think i may have scared myself to the point of keeping myself awake at night. i am fearful that this is not my last situation with this fusion and i am stressed out! i don't know anyone who has gone through this and i don't have anyone to talk to. needless to say, i've made a dr app. for next week to help with the arthritis...i find myself praying everyday for the courage to get through this without driving myself crazy and prayers to ask for relief to my body. i can't keep up with anything around the house and don't want to break down to my husband. he has been helpful enough. i just don't have any support for this and i am scared;( i am a "move-forward" kind of person, yet i am feeling i am having issues with "moving forward". anyone with the same issues? sorry to vent...this is the first time that i've put these feeling out in the universe.

Hi Elizabeth, I can understand your fear of what will happen next. I am sure you are taking the necessary meds for the pain, if not you need to. I take meds which help me through the day. Laying down on my bed at night is painful until the meds kick in then I am fine. I am under the care of a pain doctor, but I feel as the situation has worsened I need to see a specialist again. All I can suggest to you is to see TWO different specialists to get two different views, and, if you are not taking pain killers like Oxycontin then you need to. Sorry I am not much help. Also I am a missionary and pastor so my faith is in Jesus Christ. That helps tremendously. Jeff

jgm wrote:

<quoted text>
Thanks Robyn for your quick reply. My op was done 2 years ago, and the pain has worsened. the numbness I had has gone to be replaced with this pain. I am under a pain doctor but all he keeps doing is giving me stronger pills. He is quite happy to get my money! I have seriously been thinking about seeing a different orthopaedic or neuro specialist to ask them what can be done for this pain. What's your view? I do not believe this pain will go away as it is getting worse!

if you really wanna see an awesome doctor he is at new england baptist. his name is doctor eric woodar. he helped me out 10 years ago with my third surgery. I am currently waiting for my insurance to go through so I can see him again. I know you will be pleased with him. good luck and keep in touch. Robyn

I too was diagnosised with spondolythesis of the L4 and L5 vertabrae that was compressing my nerves on my left and right side. I have now had 4 back surgeries, and my L4 and L5 are improving. However, I am still in constant pain in my lumbar area, my buttocks burn,and my right leg has tingling 24/7. Now I just had a catscan done in January, my L3 and S1 are becoming deseased which is causing more narrowing at those levels, and compressing of the nerves. I now have screws and a metal cage in my back. The hardware caused a blood infection and I had a pic line with heavy antibotics for 2 months. I constantly hurt, it is still hard to sit, stand, and walk for long periods of time. Surgery fixed some things and caused a lot more problems. I'm just believing in God and thanking him for what he has healed, and keep praying that God will make a way.

Michele M wrote:

I too was diagnosised with spondolythesis of the L4 and L5 vertabrae that was compressing my nerves on my left and right side. I have now had 4 back surgeries, and my L4 and L5 are improving. However, I am still in constant pain in my lumbar area, my buttocks burn,and my right leg has tingling 24/7. Now I just had a catscan done in January, my L3 and S1 are becoming deseased which is causing more narrowing at those levels, and compressing of the nerves. I now have screws and a metal cage in my back. The hardware caused a blood infection and I had a pic line with heavy antibotics for 2 months. I constantly hurt, it is still hard to sit, stand, and walk for long periods of time. Surgery fixed some things and caused a lot more problems. I'm just believing in God and thanking him for what he has healed, and keep praying that God will make a way.

Hi Michelle, from what I have read in this column there really does not seem to be any real cure so to speak. I am relying on God to heal me. I have seen many miracles in my life being a British evangelist/missionary here in Guatemala. In the end it has to be the Lord who heals through the Holy Spirit. He is our Healer. This is my ministry. God bless you, Jeff Mills.

Im getting ready to have my 2nd fusion im scared to death cause everything i read is happening to me except im losing control of my bladder too due to scar tissue on my nerves its awful living on pain pills and now im not able to work due to the leg pain is so bad i cant stand at work but can someone tell me if they have had 2 fusions on l5 s1 and if it worked or am i just going to have to keep having this done to keep removing scar tissue thank u very much wish all u guys luck

Dear Cindy, I don’t know how old you are, but I had a spinal fusion done 1985 for Polio Scoliosis problems. I have always worked hard and did almost what all “normal” persons would do. I fell over in 2007 and the fall dislodged the Luque Rods in my back and I now sit around in a wheelchair. My back injuries have me now that I can no longer walk or stand and mobility is somewhat restricted. I hate raving on but in some ways I feel that my Opp was a newish/experimental and now I’m living with the consequences. My wife and son are all I can rely on, but I still manage to shower, dress, and toilet and do personal bits. If I fall over then I need help to get up. So my life has taken a massive turn around, so I wish I could advise you on what to do and what type of outcomes you may have, I wish someone could explain better that spinal operations just are not that simple and things may go wrong. I could wish my Surgeon heaps **** for me be as I am, (and he retired after I posed my problems to him in 2007/ 2008) I love the way they leave one without saying sorry. So my quality of life is a total turn around and that play’s hell on how I think. Best of luck yo you and hope things will go well. Bye from GIBB’Y South Australia, Australia.

Cindy,
Our clinic specializes in severe spinal problems. If your fusions did not insert metal rods or cages in your spine you are a candidate for non-surgical spinal decompression which I would research. If you do have metal from your fusions we have had great results on failed back surgeries using a class IV therapeutic laser. If you can find the MLS Laser made by ASA of Italy I feel that is the best and the one I would recommend.
You can find more information at our educational site at http://www.back-pain-causes-and-relief.com/ .
I wish you luck.
Sean
Back and Joint Pain Institute

Hi everyone, I'm writing again to ask if any one has had a lumbar epidural, how many times due you have to have it, does it work? Will I have to keep something in my back, I need to know because if the procedure does not work; I will have to have my fifth (5th) surgery for my L3 and S1 narrowing and compressing of the nerves. I am scared to have a needle stuck in by back to stop or dull the pain. Because I have those hydrocortisone injections in my hips for bursitis and they did not work. Should I have the lumbar epidural or back surgery? Or should I just live in pain and not work for the rest of my life? Your responses or opinions are greatly appreciated. May God bless each and every one of you for a speedy recovery.

ALLEN GIBB thank u for message me back god bless u honey people living in the pain we di we understand eachother its so weird how we r the same and as for doctors the one that done my first 2 surgerys he lost his right to do surgerys here for a year my luck i trusted him they ask me in the er do u want him to come and see u i said hell no do u have a room for him after i get done but my doctor now is good but i dont trust no one u know in the same day i have him telling me we can fix this problem then my pain doctor tells me no u cant never be fixed so i hope im just able to work part time im 39 but i will be back on after my surgery to let u know how i feel thank u very much and i wish u luck too

MICHELE M if ur talking about shots in ur back no they dont work my boys dad and uncle has them done cause workers comp. Makes them but there uncle has fell a couple of times after having them he would be walking and just fall down my doctor is totally againest them but if u decide to have surgery please talk to a couple doctors before u have surgery take it from me im on my 5th surgery 2nd fusion in 6 days im scared to death hoping it works im off work lost control of my bladder im in so much pain nothing helps but please talk to more then one doctor but i hope i helped u good luck honey

Cindy,
I just noticed you are in WA. Our office is in Tacoma. I would suggest you research some other options before having your 5th surgery. You can reach our office at www.spinaldecompressiontacoma.com . We have people from as far away as Montana come to us for treatment.
Regards,
Sean
Back and Joint Pain Institute

Thanks Cindy, that really helped me alot. I will get a second opinion regarding other avenues. I also hope everything will go well for you, this spine thing is a pain literally :) my prays are with you. Thanks again.

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Michele M wrote:

Thanks Cindy, that really helped me alot. I will get a second opinion regarding other avenues. I also hope everything will go well for you, this spine thing is a pain literally :) my prays are with you. Thanks again.

ur welcome michele

I had l3 l4 l5 fusion surgery,and suddenly I'm in hell.my pain before surgery was not evan close to what I feel now It has been exactly one year today. My anger at what I have become is strong.the day before surgery I ran 5 miles, now I can't walk a half hour to get groceries. I got the surgery so I would not have to take drugs, i have taken so many drugs to control the pain,what happened to oct. nov. dec.? the only releif I get now is laying in bed ,heating pad 10 mg. percocet,promothezine to keep from throwing up from the percocet,ambien so i can sleep because percocet keeps you awake allllll night.Oh yah how about the incredible constipation ,nothing like putting pressure on the lower back.Did I mention I have no feeling in right leg you could stick a knife in me I wouldnt notice,the left leg stays nice and hot and swollen cracked and red. I have seen every doctor they say I'm doing greeaattt.I am going to see him today my surgeon that is he has not spoken to me once since my surgery his PA handles me every month I think I shall address him as Dr. Frankenstein.I so regret getting this surgery. be afraid bevery afraid

hi everyone . it makes me feel kinda sad inside to know there is so many ppl out there like me ! two years ago i was driving home from work and got hit by a kid that ran a stop sign had his drives liscense for 2 weeks . 30 days later i was laying in hospital bed been told my l5 s1 back fusion went perfect and i would be better in 4 months . Befor my surgery i had tons of leg pain and after surgery i deff feel better pain wise in my legs . but k\now 2 years later at the age of 22 i can barley work anymore . every time i move my back hurts so bad i just wana cry and every day its new pain or diff problem . Could range from burning pains stabbing pains just being so stiff i cant get out bed . i now have pain in my up back and neck area . my arms and legs fall asleep in 15 to 30 seconds if i dont move them . I get less then 5 hours sleep a day and take so much pain meds that do help but etheir a im starting to get use to them or b my pains getting so bad they dont work at all . ive seen 5 doctors in the last year all said diff things . One told me to get my screws tooken out , one said i need to get another fusion , one said surgerys to risky and i should do pt again to strengthen my core musicals the last one pretty much told me this might be what it is for the rest of my life . I try to hold my head up as best as possible but seeing all my friends live a regular life really kills me . I use to love the out doors now im lucky if i can make it from the truck to my favorite fishing hole with out beeing in so much pain i gota go home . i pray every day for my life back but the more doctors i see the more my hopes fall apart . Please stay strong everyone life is so hard with what we all live with and remember you all are not alone .......... try your best to wake up everyday and take that as a blessing , thats what i do i know it doesnt take the pain away one bit but it helps with the mind !!!!