2Months Post-op L5/S1 Fusion Nerve Issues

cls · #1 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 02:00 PM

Hi Karin,

Thanks for thinking of me - you're not a bad egg, I know you have a lot of things going on in your life. I am sorry that you too have some lingering spine/nerve issues. Things continue to go downhill for me. My doctor ordered an MRI and when I got to the imaging center I found out that it is supposed to be a "with and without contrast". Being the freak that I am, I said no to the contrast, I am scared to death of the gadolinium. With my luck I will wind up with NSF. But that was last Friday, yesterday I was driving to my son's school and the back of my legs and feet went numb. I have been having some intermittent nerve pain and numbness but nothing like this. This is like it was (actually worse) than before the surgery. So today I have my CAT scan and then I am supposed to bring both the MRI and CAT scan to my appointment with the NS tomorrow. I guess I have to pollute my body with the dye and get the contrast MRI done. I just can't understand what is going on. If I leave my NS tomorrow feeling this much in the dark I will HAVE to scour this country for another doc. I can't live without my legs or feet.

I hope you are ok- let me know.

ImpOssibleOne · #2 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 06:27 PM

Hey, I haven't been around much and I'm sorry to hear about your continuing issues.
My nerves are still acting up as well but, right or wrong, I'm doing my best to ignore them. They flare at the least little thing or the slightest increase in exercise but they always come back to baseline so I figure I'm not doing any real harm. Who knows? The walking is making me stronger, that's for sure, and everyone agrees I should keep at it despite the flares but no one really knows what they're doing so you have to just do what works for you.

Email me when you get a chance. Hope your MRI and CAT are helpful.

phylly · #3 (**permalink**) 05-05-2009, 09:51 PM

cis,
My Dr. was very concerned about my continued leg, buttock, and back pain and rushed me in for an MRI of pelvis and hips. We already had the lumbar and the surgery was an all clear. He spoke with another Dr. in the Practice and today I had an EMG which showed my piriformis muscle to be crackling quite loudly as soon as the needle went in, while the other areas were very quiet. He gave my an injection of cortisone and long and short acting lidocaine. I think that the buttock pain calmed down until the lidocaine wore off and then it returned. I would be happy to know if I do have a piriformis issue because there are so many things I can do for it including Botox shots. I have always suspected it could be that along with my back issues. I will have to wait and see if the cortisone kicks in and helps in a few days.

Don't be afraid of the EMG, it is very helpful diagnostically and I would do again if needed. At least for me it was helpful to find the irritated muscles. Let us know what happens, it sounds like you are having a rough patch and need to figure out what is happening. BTW I also take quite a bit of nuerontin and muscle relaxer's which help a great deal.
Phylly

runner · #4 (**permalink**) 05-06-2009, 06:49 PM

Glad you got things looked at, Phylly.
BTW, be careful about Botox, there are some things coming out recently about how the toxin can travel nerves and such. Don't quote me but there is some research about Botox that is not good.
I hate the EMG, but I have a feeling they may recommend one. We'll see.

Runner

phylly · #5 (**permalink**) 05-07-2009, 03:57 AM

That is good to know Kim, where can I look that up? Phylly

runner · #6 (**permalink**) 05-07-2009, 04:57 AM

phylly,

I was just trying to look it up, did not find what I was looking for, but did find interesting LA Times article.
I saw it on the news a little while back. They had found that botox injected into the forehead will not necessarily stay there and will migrate away from the site and travel along the nerve paths. Got a sinus infection or otherwise would located the info. I feel really uck.

K

guymontag · #7 (**permalink**) 05-07-2009, 10:53 AM

I hope you feel better soon. But I just want to add. Don't do any weird exercises even if you are having a good day. I was about 8 months post op microdisectomy and did 10 minutes on an elliptical trainer. ( i had a lot of nerve trouble post op which was much worse than pre op) My nerves went to hell and now 2 months later they are still trying to get better.

Slow and steady. Find what works and do it gradually. Neurontin for me has worked well. It's taken the edge off the burning nerve pain when it really flares up and I just have to deal with a bit brain fog now and again.