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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Post Laminectomy (L3/L4) leg pain
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Post Laminectomy (L3/L4) leg pain
by Sassagirl, Mar 03, 2003 12:00AM
Hello...back in August I was getting out of a chair..felt pain in my left hip which eventually radiated over to my groin and into my leg & foot. After 3 days of this pain...my doctor ordered an MRI which showed a rupture disk (L3/L4). I was sent to a neruosurgeon who recommended surgery to repair the rupture. At that time I had no reflex in my left leg, and it was very weak. I had the surgery on Aug. 15...and had immediate pain relief and eventually gained back 90% of the strength in my leg & foot. My problem is that during the last couple of months I have began to feel some tingling in my foot as well as pain that radiates from my buttock down into my left leg and foot...especially when sitting in a car or lying on my side in bed. I have done some swimming (per order of the doctor) to help gain strength back. I dont know weather to contact my doctor to describe this pain...I am afraid to hear that there may be more damage. Please advise. Thank very much.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT, Mar 03, 2003 12:00AM
May be a new problem lower down in the back or could be related to the prior surgery depending on how extensive it was, hardware placed, etc... I certainly would let your doctors know about the new symptoms and let them check you out. You may need a repeat MRI and possibly an EMG. In the meantime, take it easy for a while. No heavy lifting. And would stop swimming until you get the ok from your doctors. I can understand that you're reluctant to hear about potential disc problems or nerve damage, but it's important to nip this in the bud. Best of luck.
went to my doctor and he said it was the nerves coming back to life.it got unbearable by november,went and got an mri and the same disk had blown completly out the left side and was jammed against the siatic(poor spelling)nerve, doctor couldn't believe it.they removed the disk on dec.20 and replaced it with a cage.hip and leg pain is gone but back still hurts(fourth surgery)you described the same problems,get an mri.hope this will lead you in the right direction,don't put it off,when it blows your gunna know it.
Anyway...my symtons are much like yours. The neurosurgeon went back in to remove a bit more disc and scar tissue, then put a GelFoam (silicone like gel) on the nerve to keep the scar tissue from reforming on the nerves. I know how you feel! Years later though I am having problems so if anyone can answer my question, I would deeply appreciate it. I had a laminectomy at L5-S1 (75% removal of disc and foraminotomy on the right-1983), laminectomy at L4-5 (85% removal of disc-1991) and 3 discectomies at L4 and L5-S1 (Fragment/Scar tissue removal-1992-93-94). Six months ago, the sciatic nerve problem has returned after I re-injured myself at what I think is L5-S1, but could be wrong; reguardless, sciatic nerve pain on the left buttock, pelvic area, leg ankle, side and top of my foot, and around my knee, accompanied with tingling in the side of my foot and toes. Went through PT and taking neurontin with no help. I recently had an MRI with contrast and the here is the results of the FINDINGS:
I am arbitrarily calling the last full disc L5-S1.
There is marked loss of disc height at L4-L5, as well as disc signal intensity. There are Modic type 1 degenerative endplate chages at L4-L5. There is also loss of disc signal and height at L5-S1. The vertebral body heights are maintained. The spinal cord terminates at L1-L2. No spondylolisthesis.
IMPRESSION:
1. Advanced degerative disc changes at L4-L5
2. Moderate degenerative disc changes at L5-S1. I do not see evidence of a significant disc bulge or herniation, nor significant scar formation. On the axial images there is narrowing of the inferior aspect of the left L5-S1 neural foramen.
I am having a EMG next Wednesday on the left leg to determine what and how many nerves are affected. I saw the MRI films and it shows very little space at L4-L5 which means that it is probably trying to fuse on its own; and straight I may add, but L5-S1 is far different. The vertebra are not aligned with L5 to the right and S1 off to the left. I know the worst senario; double fusion as I was told this after the last discetomy in 94.
MY QUESTION IS:
With not much disc left and and not in alignment and all information in mind; do you think that a double fusion is the only answer and inevitable?
Summary: I have had terrible hip pain since Oct 00, diagnosed & treated as bursitis. One year later after two laminotomys at L5-S1, I still have severe back spasms, and numbness in right leg. Final diagnosis- degenerative disk at L5-S1, L5 nerve root compression, causing the hip pain and inflamed bursae. Selective Nerve Root block in Nov 02 and today, 5 March 03 have substantially diminished the hip pain. I may not be able to clean the house, but I can still scuba dive!
The Long story:
I am 40 yr old female, working full time, and a scuba diver since 1989. I had back pain growing worse since 1993 and diagnosed in about 1995 with a bulging disk. In October 2000, I began having terrible hip pain which become so bad at night, I could not roll over without my husband's assistance. I cried many nights from the pain. Doctor's diagnosed bursitis and I endured cortisone shots in left & right thighs every 3 months.
Finally, in December 2001, I could not stand the pain and was referred to Rheumatoid arthritis specialist and underwent all kind of tests - all negative.
In January 31, 2002, my right leg gave out and I could not stand upright or have my left leg touch the ground without severe pain. A visit to Urgent Care and I was in the hospital that night. I had immediate surgery