runner's surgery blog, L4/5, 2008

runner · #1 (**permalink**) 04-05-2009, 08:33 AM

Runner,
I just wanted to drop you a line. Hopefully, the nerve issues will calm down as your recovery advances--I was still seeing improvement 1.5 years after surgery and was subsequently pain-free for 4.5 yrs.

Have a great Thanksgiving and make sure to take time for yourself/spine.

runner · #2 (**permalink**) 04-05-2009, 08:34 AM

Thanks Justin.

I know when the radiculopathy started, I was at one week short of my six month anniversary, post-op.
I felt really good up to that point and had gone through the usual ups and downs. But I knew that something could happen, especially after I felt sharp back pain a couple of times, and was kind of wondering if I would stay this way.

So 1.5 years, you still felt recovery. That seems to be the common assessment that recovery continues to about two years.

As a medical professional, I kind of know too much, so I am real weary of things that come up. I am grateful i don't have the preop type of back pain. I am not back pain free now, but it is manageable.

Thanks for your thoughts and keep us advised how you are doing.

runner · #3 (**permalink**) 04-05-2009, 08:37 AM

Update on the radiculopathy-

Still have sciatica, but numbness is variable. Sometimes I have it, other times it is not as noticable. Somedays bottom legs are numb, today had weird numbness in my groin area but it didn't last. Pins and needle sensations in feet, intermittedly, etc...
I took my x-rays and MRI to my doctor appointment with my foot doctor and he says that the films look good and my placement is good as far as he can tell. He put some heel lifts on my orthodics to take pressure off the sciatic nerve. He also injected my right foot for the plantar fascitis, which actually helps a lot.

He questioned why my doctor hadn't had me have an epidural.
Some doctors just seem to think differently. After reading about epidurals here and on the other sites, i wonder if they are that good for you.

I think I will have a list of questions when i see my surgeon in early January.
I just want to find out for sure what is irritating my sciatic nerve/nerve roots.
I increased my exercise amount and I have increased back pain but I figure the sooner I take all this extra weight off, the better. I am trading some comfort for increased fitness.

It is all a mystery to me, but there are other people on here post-disc that have similar symptoms. I just know I can not keep putting up with this scitica indefinitely, it is a major crimp on my life style and my workouts.
I am not working, but that cannot go on forever either. I need to be working but can't work in this condition. I definitely want to go back to work, where, I don't know yet but I have a lot of experience.

But how can i work, when i am taking Gabapentin six times a day, periodically stop in my tracks when i feel the sciatica, and am sleepy most of the day as a side effect of the gabapentin? I dose myself with Tylenol three times a day for the back pain. Helps a bit.

I don't want to go on everyday narcotics again either. My backpain feels deep and somewhat like I had before surgery. Not completely though. I hope I have left that back pain behind.

My PT thinks I have the radiculopathy because my facet joints are inflammed. I don't know about that because I seem to have better sitting tolerance than other people on here suffering from facet-related problems. My facets only had minor hyperthrophy before surgery.
I guess I have a lot of questions and not many answers. Now, almost nine months post-op.
Going to bed, it is late and I need to get up early to get a walk in.

runner · #4 (**permalink**) 04-05-2009, 08:40 AM

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I can't remember if I asked if you had tried Lyrica. Lyrica is a little more site specific instead of acting globally like Neurontin does. I think the Lyrica is a wonderful medication for the nerve pain.

As far as the epidurals I am scheduled for next Monday after all. I think God is looking out for me. I have not had any injections in a year's time. I am having some difficulty in being seated for an extended period of time. I think it is the SI joint.

I think the opinions are so varied with facet blocks that it is going to have to be your decision that counts. Prior to my 4-level ADR the injections were not helpful. After the surgery I received injections every three months for the first year. The injections lasted about three months a piece. I am hoping that the injections I get are going to be good for another year. I can live with that.

Hang in there and let me know what you think.

Terry Newton
__________________
1980 ruptured L4-L5
1988 ruptured SI-L5
1990 ruptured C5-C6
1994 ruptured C6-C7
1995 Hemi-Laminectomy C5-C6, C6-C7 Mayo Clinic
Bicycle Accident 2004
MRI, EMG, Facet Injections, Epidural Blocks, Lumbar Discogram.
Stenum Hospital Surgery November 4, 2006
Prestige Disc C5-C6, C6-C7
Maverick Disc S1-L5, L4-L5

runner · #5 (**permalink**) 04-05-2009, 08:42 AM

Hi Terry,

I think first I have to find out where the sciatic nerve is being compressed because in my mind there is no question that it is being compressed.

I think a CT spinal mylegram would show that but if i can't have that the alternative is to try different injections--epidural and facet.
I will just push for something because being in pain and having this sciatica isn't doing me any good.

As for the Lyrica, Bc will not cover Lyrica, only Gabapentin. And I had a little trouble getting across to them that I needed the gabapentin six times a day. At first they balked at that and I had to explain to the pharmacy that they (Bc) better cover the Gabapentin. So stupid.

I did stop taking Aleve in favor of Celebrex. My cardiologist, the last time I saw him, said there was nothing wrong with me taking Celebrex so I opted for it since the Aleve was bothering my stomach and I think Celebrex is a better antiinflammatory. Surgeon didn't want me taking the Celebrex because of the cardiac warning, but too bad.

I am starting to kind of get mad about my circumstance because I expected a little bit better.
Terry are you getting epidurals or facet blocks?
How can you tell that the facets are inflammed or the problem?
What kind of symptoms do you get with sitting?
I am sitting on the couch right now but it is kind of reclining and is not like a chair and I often put my feet up. But with this position, I have the sciatica and my both my feet are kind of burny and numb. The only pins and needle sensations I get are in my feet.

My podiatrist put extra heel lifts on my orthodics to take off pressure on the sciatic nerve but they are causing me knee pain and my PT said raising my heel can put pressure on the facets. So I took them off tonight primarily because of knee pain.

As for the Gabapentin, I wonder if i have narcolepsy. Just kidding but I am so tired during the day and have to really make an effort not to fall back to sleep. I wish B covered Lyrica. I feel like I am a closet sleeper because like this weekend during the day, I laid down and slept for four hours or so. At least that is what my husband told me, I wasn't counting hours.

runner · #6 (**permalink**) 04-05-2009, 08:43 AM

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I will be getting facet injections and SI joint injections. I am scheduled for the 15th which is a miracle. My primary physician is out the whole month of December so I thought I was SOL until she got back after the start of the year. We are going on vacation for the holidays next Thursday so I have a 10 plus hour drive ahead of me. I wanted to be comfortable as it is such a long drive. Sometimes the injections have taken up to three weeks to kick in but I will get them anyway. She is a master with a needle. Her husband is my medical director for my clinic but he is not as gentle with a needle. She has the touch.

I just hope her medical partner is just as good.

I have burning and tingling in my left foot. It comes and goes but, sometimes it is quite intense. With the lumbar area acting up it also makes the cervical area hurt. I also have a hard time sitting comfortably and it hurts in my sit bone and my lower back. So I think we have it nailed to about four injections.

I have not been on Lyrica for way over one year. I was also almost entirely off of the Suboxone. I was on 4 Mg per day but have to ramp it up a little for the current pain I am in.

I am hoping that this temporary patch is just that; temporary.

You hang in there. I hope you have good holidays as well.

Terry Newton
__________________
1980 ruptured L4-L5
1988 ruptured SI-L5
1990 ruptured C5-C6
1994 ruptured C6-C7
1995 Hemi-Laminectomy C5-C6, C6-C7 Mayo Clinic
Bicycle Accident 2004
MRI, EMG, Facet Injections, Epidural Blocks, Lumbar Discogram.
Stenum Hospital Surgery November 4, 2006
Prestige Disc C5-C6, C6-C7
Maverick Disc S1-L5, L4-L5

runner · #7 (**permalink**) 04-05-2009, 08:45 AM

Just had to say Terry that last week was my birthday. Now I am a year older. Was able to sit at movies without much difficulty on my b-day.
Went to PT today and worked hard. I wish the hard work would show up more.
Lots of tingling and pins and needles today.
It also poured cats and dogs today and it was not a good day to be out. Cold and rainy.
Hope the injections today went well.