Help-Laminectomy and still in pain

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darbymai59

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I had a laminectomy on March 5, 2009 for central spinal stenosis. The surgery took care of the sciatica pain down my left leg but I still have nurabness in the lower part of the leg and it just aches. I still can't walk much because my lower back hurts so bad. I also am having trouble sitting for very long at work. I have arthritis at L3 thru S1, DDD, facet syndrome, grade I spondylolisthesis. I just want to be pain free and don't know what else to do.

The ortho doctor I seen wanted to give me the laminectomy/fusion at L4/L5 so I decided on the neuro doctor that said just the laminectomy would do. I've stopped taking my pain meRAB because they give me nausea and constipation. I now take 3 ibuprofen whenever I can't stand it any longer and they don't help much.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Darby
 
Thank you Michael & Mel for your replys.
I guess I'm just impatient. I go to my neuro on May 8th and I will ask him if he thinks an injection will help or just wait and give it more time to heal inside. I have to work as long as I can because my income is all we have. My husband is disabled with no income.

Darby
 
Nerves take a LONG time to heal, and the nubness is the last thing to go away I've been told from my surgeon. I had a microdiscectomy, then a fusion due to reherniation.

The sciatic nerve is as thick as your thurab, and 4feet long, it takes approx 2 weeks per INCH for a nerve to heal if not longer, so you haveto give it time, as well as the surgery pain, and being unable to sit or do much, I noticed took about 3-4 months to go away enough for me to sit, and even by then I had trouble, but some of the hip and but pain faded alittle, so give it time you're early in your recovery to be honest.

Chin up, keep trying to walk, it takes awhile also for the nerve to calm down from being manipulated too and your taking the ibuprophin probably helps with the inflammation in your spine, my surgeon wanted me to take them too but I'm allergic.
 
I just read that you've been taking ibuprophin for pain--I had a laminectomy/fusion/discetomy surgery March 17th of this year and I was told to stay away from any NSAID (ibuprophin is one) for a full YEAR as they will inhibit the fusion. Tylenol is supposedly better (I'm still trying to wean myself off of pain meRAB so haven't tried tylenol by itself yet).

Elaine
 
Rosespetal,
Thanks for your reply. I know it takes a lot of time to recover but I thought the pain in my lower back would have eased up at little. It is just as strong, if not stronger, than before my surgery. It is to the left of center, right below my waistline. It hurts no matter what I do. If I move a certain way it feels like something pops.
Maybe my neuro can tell me more about it when I return on May 8th.

How are you feeling? Did you have a fusion? If so, what level and how long ago? What ever your problem was I hope you are also on the road to recovery.

Darby
 
I sure wasn't able to go back to work in 6 weeks. In fact I ended up retiring. It took about 3 months to finally say ok I think this really worked. I had instant relief for the sciatic pain down the leg, but I had other twitching and back pain going on. It takes months to heal. Back surgery is a biggy. For me, it was about 9 months to each my current level. Give it some time and the fact you are working may be slowing it down. At 6 weeks post op, I was still having to lay down and rest to avoid the aching and swelling
 
i hope you dont mind my jumping in i just had my third laminectomy at l5-s1 in january i still have the same pain as before i hope you do better than i did
 
I believe as well it's to early to tell. I myself never got better after my laminectomy/disectomy. In fact it got worse and was told by my Neuro I won't be going back to work. After he told me that I applied for SS and was recently approved. I don't want to discourage you, but I would start looking into SS because it's such a long process. I hope you find relief, I know how much it hurts and how much it changes your life. Take care

Herniated discs L-3-4 to S-1
Laminectomy/Disectomy
Nerve damage in both legs
Severe spinal stenonis
 
Hi Lirabo,
I did not have a fusion so I don't know if the ibuprofen is doing anything or not. I thought maybe it would help with inflammation. I don't really think it is helping with pain or anything else. If your trying to wean off pain meRAB already it sounRAB like you are doing pretty good. It hasn't been that long since your surgery. Hope you can do it.

Doodle,
Were your first two laminectomies on L5/S1? If your still having pain in the same area has your doctor said why? Hope you and I can get it under control.

Darby
 
Darby what about a linocaine patch? Prior to surgery I bent over and went down on the floor in pain. I couldn't even yell for my hubby, my dog started barking at me. I could not get up. Hubby put a patch on me, I laid there for 20 minutes, and then was able to get up on the bed to rest for another hour. I actually was able to make dinner for 8 people that night though I was moving slowly.
The point is, the patch was a miracle.
 
Thanks Mel, I return to the doctor this Friday and will ask him about the patch. If he does not want to give me the patch I'll ask him if another injection might help.
 
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