Hurting more after Laminectomy

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Michael8466

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Thanks for the responses. Since my last posting my pm dr. was taken away by workcomp. I had to threaten them to approve one or go back to court. I then had to find one on my own because their dr.'s wouldn't see me. My new dr. has been giving me trigger point injections. I've had roughly 30 since May and they don't seem to relieve the pain anymore. I now have the pain in my lower back, legs, and hip as well. My skin is starting to turn rough looking and I'm starting to develope little bumps in "certain areas". The doctor told me the only side effect I would have would be acne. He also told me to stop limping. Can someone explain how you stop limping when your hurting, doesn't make sense. He hasn't talked about any other treatment. I've brought up my hip pain and my ability not to be able to sleep on one side of my body and all he does is shoot up that side. Thanks
 
Hi Michael,
I also had a laminectomy in June 2007 due to a work injury at L5-S1. I had pieces of the disc removed that had actually broken off and were on the L5 nerve root. My pain is from permanent nerve damage and is mostly in my legs. Is your pain in your back, down your legs or both? What have they tried for you other than meRAB? Are you able to work at all? See if W/C will approve you seeing an orthopedic surgeon with a specialty in spine surgery. He can order the discogram for you. Why did the other surgeon say you would not be a candidate for a fusion?
I hope you find some answers soon. Chronic pain sucks and becomes the focus of your life. Keep us posted and feel better.

Deb
 
Hi Deb, my pain started in my lower back. It then went to my right leg then to both legs. They did the nerve test on my legs and said I had permanent nerve damage in my right leg. I tried gabapentin(neurontin) for my legs, but had no effect at all. All it did was make me gain weight. I was being retrained, but couldn't take the pain anymore and had to stop. I haven't worked in 4 years. As for the fusion the surgeon said my spine wouldn't support the fussion and my discs would collapse. I spend most of my time in bed on my back when I'm not getting some exercise. Your right about it being the focus of my life. I feel like I can't move on with my life. Thanks
 
I had a laminectomy going on 15 months now. I feel worse than before the surgery. I had MRI done a couple of months after the surgery and it didn't show anything wrong. I know something is wrong, but it didn't show on the MRI and making my life a living hell. Has anyone gone through this or know what this could be. I'm taking meRAB like there skittles. Thank you
 
Michael,
Wow, you have tried it all!! After learning more about you...I would definitely see an orthopedic spine specialist. It is also coming up on a year since your last MRI and a lot can happen in that length of time. Does the PM think your pain is just from the scar tissue? Did he say anything about permanent nerve damage causing the pain? Just my opinion.....but I wouldn't let the PM do the procedure until you get someone else to look at you and another MRI to see what else is going on with your spine.
Regarding the discogram, I did not have one before my surgery but I know that a lot of people on this board have had one, especially if the source of their pain is not apparent on MRI.
I hope that has W/C been good about working with you on this and will let you see another doctor ASAP.
Good luck Michael, keep posting.

Deb
 
I had discogram too,but if it hurt don't remeraber cause they gave me a sedative that made you forget.as for fusion,one doctor told me need to loose weight first because you will not fuse.and another said the fusion causes more problems with other levels.which in time does.too bad no way to blow them back up.Back surgery is a money maker,doctors get their homes and boats through surgery,knowing you be back in for future procedures
 
So sorry about your back surgery. I had mine about three years ago and was one of the lucky ones where it actually worked so far...knock on wood!

I had a discogram (what didn't I have) by my pain management doctor at that time. They shoot die, while watching on xray, into your supposed bad disc and see what happens. With mine, the contrast dye just shot out of the side of the disc showing a tear.

They don't sedate you because they want to know what kind of pain level you have when the dye comes out (this is what he told me) and honestly, they had to peel me off the operating table. It was excrutiating pain...unbelievable pain. The pain just shot down my leg to my foot and made me scream out. It made my back pain so bad after. A discogram is really an exploratory method for the doctor to see what's going on with your disc. It most certainly will not help with pain.

My husband has a bad disc in his back and suffers with back pain. I would never allow a doctor to do this procedure on him....ever. This is just my opinion. I can't believe that they couldn't tell what was going on by your MRI and that the discogram would tell them more. Anyway, I wish you luck with your back, God bless. Kate
 
Michael,

If you have W/C..I think you should go and get second opinion..And I'm sure this Dr will send you and have Cat Scan or Mylegram .and this Dr can tell you more , what really wrong with you. maybe you still have nerve damages impingent . to L5 S1 that didn't correct the problem in the first place by your first Dr..Please go and have second then third opinion by a Neurosurgeon.
I know how you feel, because I'm going thru same problem..
MY surgery didn't correct the problem..I'm worse than before, pain is radiating thru my left leg, sharp shooting pain, side, bottom foot, heal and four toes..nurabness above the ankle /
IVery uncomfortable sleeping on my back, I sleep on my side, then my hip hurts me and so I turn from side to side..I loaded with pain meRAB, but they are all temporary .I also had Epidural injections and pain can back too.
Michael go and get second and third opinion, at least you know, what's going on with your body
 
Michael,
I am so sorry that you are suffering so much.
Have you seen a pain management doctor? I'm not sure if you have had any other procedures but you still have lots of options if you haven't. There are various types of injections, physical therapy, a TENS unit, a spinal cord stimulator and lots of other meRAB for nerve pain like you have in your legs. I also really think you should see an orthopedic spine surgeon for another opinion. When was your last MRI? They should probably look at that surgery site again.
Good luck Michael and keep posting to let us know how you are.

Deb
 
Get a second opinion from another radiologist. It is possible that you have nothing wrong, it's also possible that the doc missed the holes, screwed into your spinal canal---you name it. The referral to the doc's radiologist (and probably friend) should be reviewed by a second doc.
 
Michael, I am so sorry things have not turned out the better for you!!

When they did the MRI, did they use contrast? Also have they done a discogram to validate that the level they are operating on is truly your pain generator?
 
Hey Deb, my pain management dr. is the one that wants to burn the nerves. He thinks it's scare tissue causing the problem. I've tried everything you mentioned but the spinal cord stimulator. My last MRI was last Spring. I'm going to see if I can get an orthopedic to look at me. I'm not satisfied with the neuro's answers. One more thing, I was thinking isn't better to have the discogram before the laminectomy?
 
Thanks for your feedback LETTYGM.

As I was reading your response to Michael, I realized
that the symptoms that you now have after surgery
are similar to what my wife is now dealing with after
going through a six hour Laminectomy. My wife has
radiating sharp shooting pain in the left leg, side, bottom,
of the foot with nurabness on the heal and toes. No
problems with the hip. Have had Epidural Injections
which is temporary. I had this surgery done Sept.2, 08
and ended up in the ICU. Originally this was going to
be a quick fix procedure and at the very last moment
the surgeon informs me that he was doing a Laminectomy.
My advice to anyone considering surgery, take your time,
do your research before agreeing to anything and regret
it afterwarRAB when the damage has been done. I am
worse off now then before. Second opinions indicate that
the surgery was not done right, can be corrected, but is
very risky surgery. I don't think I'm doing anymore major
surgery and will just deal with the pain and get relief from
painkillers.

Michael, I hope you find a solution to your back problems
and look forward to the day when you come onboard here
and say that everything is back to normal again. Our prayers
are with you Michael.
 
Hey there, when I had my last MRI they did use contrast, but didn't find problems. I haven't had discogram before and from what I've been reading on it since you mentioned it I think this is what I need. My question is how painful is it? Do you think this will narrow the pain down. I asked this because when I'm on my back I'm 99% pain free. It's only when I sit, stand or on my feet to long the pain is intense. The worse part is when I bump into something, the pain just stops me in my tracks and I try to hang on to something. I feel like that cartoon character when he hits the baseball and just stanRAB there vibrating. Thanks
 
Yes, I went through the same EXACT thing about 4 years ago. Request a discogram immediately and don't take no for an answer. Unfortunately for me I let it go too far (25 months) before they finally agreed to do one. When they did it they found the problem immediately. The disc that was previously "fixed" had too large a herniation and the rest of the disc wasn't strong enough to support my spine. I had a fusion with little improvement. I also have a grade 4 tear at the disc right below my fusion so I'm hoping tht's where the pain is coming from now. Good luck and just because they can't see it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
 
Thanks JC, I'm starting to think you have the right idea taking the meRAB. I had some left over and took them and started to feel better, even if it was just for a while. I don't see the pm dr. for a couple of weeks. I feel we need to go a different direction. It was a good little run with the shots, but the relief is not there anymore. I've had very limited movement and been in bed mostly for the past 4 days. I spent too much time on my feet on Thanksgiving and now paying for it. I haven't felt this bad since recovering from the surgery. I hope it won't get to the point where I have to dig out the grabber.
 
I personally have not had one -- the person you want to talk to is justoneofus. You might consider starting a thread with her name in the title. She had one and found out thru the grace of god that the level they thought was the culprit was truly not her problem level. If she did not have this test, the wrong level would have been operated on. It was the one above it. If my memory serves me correctly, the procedure was painful but in her worRAB it was well worth it.

Did they by chance remove stenosis - bone spurs when you had your laminectomy? If they did, they could have made your back unstable.

Have you had a second opinion?

(Sorry for the ?'s - I just want to see if I can help you or give you a suggestion on who to talk to.)
 
I will try to get a hold of her, I know they did take a pieces out. The surgeon told me he didn't want to operate on me anymore. He said any type of fusions would not work and would collapse the rest of the discs. My problems are from L-3 to S-1. I'm dealing with workcomp so it's a lot of politics trying to get a doctor you want. Do you know what kind of dr. would do a discogram. The surgeon was a neuro and I thought I might see an orthopedic next. Thanks
 
Michael: Nice to hear from you. If you read the threaRAB
on this site from other merabers who have had a Laminectomy,
there is no relief, they are worse off now. Some have gone
back for corrective surgery or another Laminectomy. These
are all risky major surgeries.

I don't know if this will help you, but consider doing some
research on Minimally Invasive Lurabar Disc Surgery
(Endoscopic Lurabar Discectomy). Right now I only know
what I've viewed online through a google search. Personally
if I had to consider options, this is the route I would go.

Before you do anything, you have to find out what your
problem is. Follow your heart and gut feelings like you're
doing. Your body is talking to you and telling you something
is wrong. Keep searching until you get the correct answers
from a compassionate doctor who cares.
 
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