Unexplained Pain

I herniated my back in 2003, immediately had a drop foot, had surgery not long after for herniation of L5-S1 area, right after the surgery after I went  home I had to be rushed to emergency room, because the pain running down my leg and foot was unbareable. To make a long story short I was told by the doctor that they pulled out a big disk fragmentt and I just need time to heal but I never got better so I went to a new doctor had another surgery and after that surgery the doctor said my facet was destroyed and he could not fix me. So, the only  thing he did was open me up and seen that he could not fix me then sewed me back up. I have been back and forth to doctors for five years, what's happening now is I can't walk long distances, I'll get shooting pain down from my buttock to my leg that will force me to have to lay on the floor for awhile until it settles down, I can't feel or move my foot and toes and parts of my leg below my knee,and always having this aching feeling in my left leg that is very uncomfortable and because of all that I am grumpy and very depressed. My question is I am scared to have any more surgeries, and I don't know what to do, what do you think will happen if I had another? I am 39 years old. Please HELP!  What is causeing this pain to last five years? Thank you!

[Prem Pillay, MD]

What are the results of a current MRI of the spine? If there is nothing that can be addressed by surgery then you should have pain treatments. This could include epidural steroids and analgesics; spinal cord stimulation or even release of scar by lysis.

[Zak_Han]

Hi,sorry to know that.
It is a common misconception that back pain always stems from the pressure of a slipped disc ,facet joint injury or  a trapped nerve.  This is misleading, the cause of pain is also soft tissue inflammation stimulating nerves, causing the pain signal.so after opertaion,herniated disc gone,but perhaps you still suffer from soft tissue inflammation in lower back which can lead to same pain as you said.So more surgeries might not help,I guess.

Deep and intensive acupuncture work for FBSS.if possible,you can try it.
Good luck!

[toneHealth]

Hi,

   I have a similar problem here. Nothing major but worries me a lot. I have a lower left shoulder and right below the neck pain. I am a marathoner, last time i ran 17 miles on a regular schedule for San francisco marathon before 2 weeks and realised pain on knee and back. I stop running whenever i have such issues. I went to Detroit and came back in a bus, next morning my back pain was sever then i took rest for a day. I took some pain killer and got back to work and run again but max i could run in last 2 weeks is 5 miles. I am having shoulder and lower neck pain still. I also get hip pain when i run but not at any other time. knee is still hurting me but not that much as i can run 5 miles, i am still icing it daily. Do you have any help for my back and neck pain?

Thanks
San

[Zak_Han]

Hi,dear
Without physical examination,It's hard to give you accurate advice.
If you haven't pain or numbness in your arm,the problem is possible due to neck soft tissue injury.so, a lot of alternative med can help,deep tissue massage and intensive acupuncture are better solutions.(neck+shoulder blade)
Anyway,good luck!

[toneHealth]

Hi,

   Thanks for your advice. I saw a doctor today and got me referred to an orthopedic doc after he took few x-rays of my knee. He just conveyed there is no symbol of swelling on my back and knee so there might be no major issues. Let me see an orthopedic doc and find out whats going on.

Thanks for your time..
San