Cerebral spinal fluid leak following Lumbar Microdiscectomy

[nicoleh66]

Good Morning, I, two weeks ago, had surgery on L5, S1 Lumbar Microdiscectomy. The Neurosurgeon removed 3 herniated pieces, one quite large that were under the disc space. He said that the level of herniation was worse than he is used to seeing and he has been practicing for many years. I was discharged the following day(Tues)- still having complete numbness of my left foot,however the thickness of numbness seemed less and I could now stand for my foot to be touched but with my leg numbness and charlie horse type muscle spasms gone. I proceeded to do well at home until Fri morning when I noticed discolored slightly bloody discharge, I called the surgeon and he had me come into his office to take a look. He said that there was a pocket of built up fluid that just escaped from the glued incision, he sent me home. Later that day and Sat it continued to drain quite a bit, and I started with a headache. Sat. night a fluid pouch developed and later "burst" releasing clear fluid and maintaining a trickle light a dripping faucet. Sunday morning I had such severe head pain to where I couldn't sit up. I recognized this as a spinal fluid leak with spinal headache (being a nurse) and having this happen before after a mylogram. I called the nueorsurgeon told him my observations and symptoms and he agreed with me that this sounded like a spinal leak/headache and he had me go directly to the hospital and did a direct admit to the hospital and met me there and said we would do surgery the next morning vs waiting for the headache to subside and the leak to "clot" itself. So monday morning, a wk after the first surgery he went in through the same incision and found the leak under the bone and repaired it. I had to lie flat for three days before proceeding to get up, and on the 3rd day upon getting up I started feeling similar pressure and they had me lie flat one additional day. I was released then on Friday, 4 days after the 2nd surgery. The problem now is my legs continue to jerk uncontrollably and my charlie horse spasm is back in my leg and my foot is just as numb as before the first surgery and is now again painful, though numb to the point I cannot again stand to touch it. The pain is much more severe following this 2nd surgery, as after the first one I didn't really have that much. After the first surgery I woke up sore in recovery where with the second surgery I woke up bawling and it took them three hours to get my pain under control.
I'm leary about suing or consulting an attorney, as I did think the doctor was good. But why didn't he notice the tear at the time it happened? I know it was a risk that the Anesthesiologist pointed out to me, but he said the risk of it was 1 in 100,000.
Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Maybe there is even attorneys on this site watching these posts

[nicoleh66]

Thanks!  It's just sad that after the first surgery I noticed improvement in the sciatica and foot, but not now.  They said too that the pt is always discharged the next day unless they have complications.  I have had three cervical spine surgeries/fusions and I know with the first one which was the most painful I was to leave the next day but I told them I was in too much pain to so I was discharged on the second day, but surgery two and three I was discharged the day after surgery.  
It's all about the insurance companies no a day and that is why the hospitals are in such a hurry to push you out because they are afraid that if the ins. companies deny your extended stay that they won't get paid.

[jeaguilar]

Hi. I hope that everything works out for you. My husband had the same surgery and he is now 5 wweks post op and still his sciatica and foot hurt. The Dr. says it is normal and that will physical therapy it will get better. About the leaking issue ,...when my husband and I where in the hospital...a guy had the same problem...it was incredible the amount of liquid that his body was pouring....and when we talked to him...he said that it was because he left the next day and the he should have been in observation at least 5 days...after the surgery he was moving and walking around and that movement didn't help...
So when my husband got his surgery the drs. left him in observation for 7 days...and nothing happenned to him...so maybe the hospital should 've put youin rest for a longer period of time to make sure that nothing happenned to you...I guess that first you should rest and wait to see how your body reacts and after the final result in clear then make the decision to make a legal move.