J
JEast
Guest
Posting to see if I am able to draw from the experiences of others. I had L5/S1 discectomy/laminectomy 12 weeks ago after having severe sciatica down my left leg (and associated back pain) to the point that walking 20 feet was no longer possible.
Before I left the hospital I was feeling much better. The NS had removed several pieces of the disc that had been causing the leg pain, and the leg pain has not returned. At surgery +1 day I was feeling as I expected to, mild pain due to the surgery but I was thankful that the severe leg pain was now gone. However, over the past 8-9 weeks severe back pain has returned, both at the surgery site and radiating outward all the way to the outside of my hips - not mild or moderate pain, but severe. The transition from standing to sitting, or sitting to standing is very painful, as is turning over in bed. If I lay flat on my back it is difficult to lift either of my heels off the ground, and if I do there is a lot of pain. Walking or sitting also causes pain. I have been going to PT, but I think it's making it worse. I leave PT feeling worse than when I arrived, and I think that laying on my stomach (as I do during the massage) causes pain. Up until 4 weeks ago it would take little more than my 2 y/o son hugging my leg to bring me to my knees, I would fall to the ground and spasms would keep me on the ground for 4-5 minutes. Although I haven't fallen to the floor recently, I can tell that I am very unstable. The pain is near-constant, though I can -at times- find positions that allow me to sleep. It seems the epicenter of the pain is the surgery site, but that it also moves concentrically outwarRAB beginning in the middle of my glutes to the very top of my hip. By the end of the work day, and certainly the end of the week I am in awful pain. My weekenRAB are spent resting and w/o interaction with my wife or kiRAB. Obviously this is frustrating. I did have a post op MRI which didn't reveal anything telling, I also tried steroid injections at the facet joint, no luck. Tired of pain medications, the only thing that has seemed to help has been prednisone, but that is only a short-term solution. I seem to be a mystery case to the NS, not sure what options are left. I have never been one to be emotionally bothered by life's speed bumps, but this is getting to me, just not sure what's going on, and I can't go 5 minutes without being reminded that something is wrong with my body.
Anyone else have similar issues after this procedure ? Would welcome hearing of the experience of others.
J
Before I left the hospital I was feeling much better. The NS had removed several pieces of the disc that had been causing the leg pain, and the leg pain has not returned. At surgery +1 day I was feeling as I expected to, mild pain due to the surgery but I was thankful that the severe leg pain was now gone. However, over the past 8-9 weeks severe back pain has returned, both at the surgery site and radiating outward all the way to the outside of my hips - not mild or moderate pain, but severe. The transition from standing to sitting, or sitting to standing is very painful, as is turning over in bed. If I lay flat on my back it is difficult to lift either of my heels off the ground, and if I do there is a lot of pain. Walking or sitting also causes pain. I have been going to PT, but I think it's making it worse. I leave PT feeling worse than when I arrived, and I think that laying on my stomach (as I do during the massage) causes pain. Up until 4 weeks ago it would take little more than my 2 y/o son hugging my leg to bring me to my knees, I would fall to the ground and spasms would keep me on the ground for 4-5 minutes. Although I haven't fallen to the floor recently, I can tell that I am very unstable. The pain is near-constant, though I can -at times- find positions that allow me to sleep. It seems the epicenter of the pain is the surgery site, but that it also moves concentrically outwarRAB beginning in the middle of my glutes to the very top of my hip. By the end of the work day, and certainly the end of the week I am in awful pain. My weekenRAB are spent resting and w/o interaction with my wife or kiRAB. Obviously this is frustrating. I did have a post op MRI which didn't reveal anything telling, I also tried steroid injections at the facet joint, no luck. Tired of pain medications, the only thing that has seemed to help has been prednisone, but that is only a short-term solution. I seem to be a mystery case to the NS, not sure what options are left. I have never been one to be emotionally bothered by life's speed bumps, but this is getting to me, just not sure what's going on, and I can't go 5 minutes without being reminded that something is wrong with my body.
Anyone else have similar issues after this procedure ? Would welcome hearing of the experience of others.
J
