Had laminectomy and was doing well, untill something went wrong. Help?

[pofdog]

I will try to make this as short as I can. I had a microdisectomy in 94. Hurt again in 2002. I was told I had ddd, small hernaition without migration l4l5, A buldging disk l5s2, and moderate facet arothopy?(Arthritus). Never had surgery for it.
  I lived on and off in pain till I hurt myself again in Sept. of 2006. The MRI report showed (or it was reported) the buldgeing disk l4l5, A heniated disk with compression of the thecal sac l5s1.
  After surgery, I couldn't uinate for allmost 3 day's, or it would take about 30 min. to go. I was still in pain, but the major pain down my left leg was alot better. I took my walks every day as instructed. It seemed I was doing better for about 2 weeks or so till the pain started comming back, but this time a little different. Not only was the pain worse in my back..but was on my right side also, as well as now my right leg hurt too. Not muscle pains, the shooting pains.
  My surgeon AND family doc. are treating me like I am lieing to stay on pain meds. They act like I should have been fully recovered and out of pain. I have been honest with them them from the start, as well as about my past addictions, and having to be tapered off the percocet before surgery. I wasn't taking them more than I was allowed, just got dependent on them after taking them for over 3 months.
  Anyway...what are some opinions about what is going on with my back? Has anyone been through this? Could my buldging disk have ruptured because thereis more stress on it? Is it possible to have another herniated disk where I have allready had 2 surgerys?

[Sharon102]

I can truly sympathize.  I had a laminectomy/diskectomy on 2/20/07 on L5/S1 after trying PT, Chiro, Epidural injections, many pain meds.   Initially, after surgery, I was beginning to feel better, and then after three weeks the pain came back, only much worse.  The surgeon treats me like I am crazy, so does the physical therapist.  They  say the pain is 'normal' and 'to be expected' and it could take six months or more to recover. The neurosurgeon did not mention this prior to surgery!! I say something is wrong, because it hurts so much worse.  The surgeon refuses to do another MRI until another six or eight weeks.  I am in constant pain and quite frustrated!!  I wish I had never had the surgery..

[pofdog]

An update.....My doctors treated me like that also. All I could tell them is the same "i'm not a doctor, not here to just get pills, I was doing well for 2 weeks, and now I am in worse pain and down both sides and legs".  So, about 6 weeks post-op...my surgeon finally orders a bloodtest and MRI to rule out a recurrent herniation and diskitis, (infection). ..
  As I told both my docs for months...I know my back, been through lots pain and things with it since surgery in 94, I know the difference of pains...muscle pain weakness, back pain weakness, scar tissue swelling, muscle spasma etc...Anyway, the update is that my surgeon ordered these tests with the results STAT. I had my MRI and picked the results and x-rays up weds. myself, and saw my family doc. Friday. I was RIGHT! AGAIN. I have a new herniated disk with compression on the same disk (3rd time on L5S1), and my buldgeing disk was a little bigger.
  So, my family doc said "get ready for surgery, I will push for next week".. I haven't heard from the surgeon yet. But..I got my MRI results on WEDS.  On Thursday, Just riding as a passenger in a car slowing down and turning right, I was caught in instant pain....paralizing....and it felt like the next 2 disks up herniated. What luck huh? Wait till the surgeon hears that.  I have shown to have been right 3 out of 3x and diagnose myself just by knowing the pains...we'll see what the surgeon thinks now...lol...2 MRI's in a 6-7 day peroid and both show NEW injurys...lol....But people like us are just "crazy" as they say. Allthough, it was so nice when my family doc. told me MRI's don't lie and he knows now.

[painsuffer247]

Hey about 2 yrs ago I had what was diag as radicilapathy in my left leg from my back l4l5s1 all problems a herniated disk or as the last nueros. reported aprotusion??? well nvc test all show same from 5 different surgeons all willing to do surgery if shots didnt work...well you can guess the rest anyway had a trial dorsal colum stimulator added and after 4 days was untolerable any longer numbed waist down removed have been diag withfacet arothopy(whatever that is) above this injury I cant sit or stand for any legnth of time never have gotten any better but really worse left leg is not the only leg thats hurting now it hurts 24/7 with 25 percent relief from meds (which means alot you know) my point here is I just went to my dr. nuero. in ____ and he without exam asked me if anything had changed i told him yes it was hurting worse and on  my right leg to so he sends a report to my primary saying i dont need to take the medicine anymore Im scared cause this aint no bull I got real bad bad pain I sleep when i can maybe 2 hrs before it wakes me up what are these dr.'s problems they say they cant do surgery to danerous but your supposed to function in embareable pain anyone have a thought this is as long as i can sit here back is starting up again...
Thanks for any response

[straker]

i do feel for you!! i live in the uk .and our doctors seem to be more symperthetic regarding strong pain relife! I too have had 2 lots of surgery L4/L5 laminectomy and S1 bilateral discectomy and L5 nerve roote decompression in nov 07 .after my last surgery in nov 07 my pain did not go away my surgeon told me that after my last surgery in 1997 there was a lot of scare tissue amd more damage than he could see on the mri scans.without pain killers i would not be here!! the pain from our problems is un barable as you know .i could not get through the day;/night without my oxycodone thank god my doc gives them to me without any problems.i also use an acticare device goole it for more info. it is like a tens but a lot better  www.acticare.com sorry to here that you are in so much pain i do hope that some of this info is of some use to you
god bless straker

[Nelson1959]

I had a L5R1 laminectomy 7 weeks ago and I am in 300% more pain than I was prior to surgery. My doctor is also acting like I am making this up to get pain meds. I am seeing another doctor this week to try to get a new MRI. I also starting therapy but cannot picture myself doing much.  I am taking Ultram, Lyrica, hydrocodone, and a muscle relaxant that make me just want to sleep all day.  I just read all of your posts and at least I can say I am not crazy, so thank you to all of you.  There must  be a way to get better. I do not want to get addicted to all these drugs that do not even mask the pain that much. I am 49 and in good shape. I had a L4L5 laminectormy 20 years ago which took away the pain right away. The doctor said " your first time is your best time" when I tell him that the first surgery was successful right away and this isn't

Regards from Houston, TX

[noneck]

Yes, Yes and Yes to all your questions. My first neck surgery was in 1991 then 1994,1996, 2001, 2004 twice, six to the neck and two to the low back. Having a fusion does put pressure in the adjacent discs and cause them to wear out quicker. That's why I tell doctors I have R.P.D.D.D. Rapid Progressive Degenerative Disc Disease. I have also been dependent on opiates four times from hydro's to oxy's and the last time methadone, NEVER TAKE METHADONE. I have been accused of seeking medical attention for opiates, manipulating the medical system for gain also. I've been there and I'm hopeing everything goes well for you. I can only say I think I am better with time. But I am going to a new Neuro in a couple of weeks to see about a total neck reconstruction. This never ends for us so keep your spirits high. Keep everybody posted.

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