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Neurology (Expert Forum)
6 months after disk surgery
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6 months after disk surgery
by Paul F. Melia, Feb 16, 2000 12:00AM
53 yr. old male. Aug. 17, 1999 - surgery for bulging disk 5-6 - I have been complaining of numbness in left leg and buttocks since after surgery - did another MRI in Dec. - said I had an inflammed nerve - numbness & pain getting worse - trouble sleeping - working (I sit all day at a computer) Doc. wants to do another MRI & nerve tests. Took anit-inflammatory med. 6-5-4-3-2-1 pills a day - bad reaction - Dont' know what to do. HELP!
Doctor's Answer
by CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS, Feb 16, 2000 12:00AM
Dear Paul F. Melia:
Post surgical inflammation is not uncommon. However, it should not be getting worse so far out from the surgery. How is your rehab going? What does the rehab and PT say about your worsening condition. They are the ones who know you the best. I would check with them about what is going on. Usually surgery on inflammation doesn't improve the situation that much because part of the inflammation is the healing process itself. If your neurosurgeon doesn't give you an explanation of the problem or you feel uncomfortable with him/her I would seek a second opinion. Give your neurosurgeon time to think about the case and see what it discussed.
But, I would place more confidence with your rehab team at this point.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
Post surgical inflammation is not uncommon. However, it should not be getting worse so far out from the surgery. How is your rehab going? What does the rehab and PT say about your worsening condition. They are the ones who know you the best. I would check with them about what is going on. Usually surgery on inflammation doesn't improve the situation that much because part of the inflammation is the healing process itself. If your neurosurgeon doesn't give you an explanation of the problem or you feel uncomfortable with him/her I would seek a second opinion. Give your neurosurgeon time to think about the case and see what it discussed.
But, I would place more confidence with your rehab team at this point.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
taken several oral medications and have
had steroid injections in spine. Nothing
ha helped. I can only walk or stand for
a very short time before the Pain in my lower back becomes VERY SEVERE. My legs
get numb and I have difficulty walking/
about 25 feet is about my limit. When
Isit or lay the pain stops immediately
Have NO pain at all when am sitting or
laying down. Doctors are going to decide
on surgery next week. Does it sound like it would help me? Am Itoo old to
undergo surgery? Thank you
If you are active, in good health, then surgery might benefit you. You are still young so if they agree that surgery will help with the problem, and there are no chronic illness reasons for you not to undergo surgery, do it.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
The pain was all the way across my back and front chest down thru the axilla, wrist and fingers...after the surgery i still have the pain but not to the level i had before but its still present at all times. The numbness has gone but i find it numb if i stretch out my arm sideways....please can you tell me if i am going to be left with this pain for good?
I would have to agree with norat. I had a lamanectomy done at L4, L5 and S1 in 1995.. Pain continued after surgery, but subsided after about 8 months. Pain came back worse than ever last year and dr. did a flexion x-ray to look for instability of the spine. The x-ray suggests severe degenerative arthritis and disc disease. I am undergoing a multi level fusion in March. Just bring it up about the x-ray to your dr. This may be what they need to do to further diagnose a problem. I don't think the MRI showed this when i had it done. only the xray
Get another opinion. I had anterior disketomy and fusion sept 97, the extreme pain (from a piece of disc breaking off and laying on nerve) was gone, but i had pain in calves of legs
and arms, wrists, hands, shoulders and neck. It turns out that
i not only had one herniation but 3 other ones that either the
doctor was not clear about or the pain made me brain dead. Anyway only one fusion was done and now another doctor has told
me the plate is loose-and it didn't heal correctly..bottom line
trust the way you feel...and why why are you working sitting down at computer all day?? I also have lumbar isthmic spondylo with back and leg symptoms. Find another doctor quickly.
The anti inflamatories didn't help me either-gave me stomach problems.
Does anyone know the risks associated with going back in for
more surgery on c5-6 and additional surgery on c3-4,4-5 and 6-7???