more pain after lumbarectomy

I had L5-SI protruding annulus - with sciatic nerve damage on the right side (numbness in both legs). I had 3 steroid shots in my back and took oral steroids, I had 4 MRI's and the Neurosurgeon said there is not much too take , he also told me that I shouldn't be in so much pain, but where I am in soo much pain he will do the surgery. On 3-1-07 I had surgery the neurosurgeon said it will only take an hour and a half, I was in surgery for over three hours. After surgery he said to me no wonder you were in so much pain What the MRI dodnt reveal was it was sticking out like a finger and wrapped around the sciatic nerve, He said he scrapped the nerve and it was one of the hardest surgeries he has ever done. the doctor said I should feel better and I ma have numbness the rest of my lifein that right leg he said I shouldnt be having pain in my left leg at all.I hurt worse and the pain intensifies in the morning until I take the pain meds. The doctor said he wants to go in and do a disk fusion. I dont know what to do I am sick of the pain I am sick of taking all the meds. I dont sleep at all this affect everyone in my household. If anyone has any recommendations I would like to hear them.

[pofdog]

I am so glad to hear frome you. I am having simular problems. If you read a few of my other posts, you well get a hint of what i've been going through...2nd surgery, same disk, telling docs I hurt worse after surgery and got worse, pain down BOTG legs now,being treated like  I just want pills, then find out I have a NEW herniated disk on the nerves. There is much more. I even got hurt just a passanger in a car turning a corner (I felt it bad), and only 2 days AFTER my last MRI. Trying to convince the docs I am Miserable enough to even contemolate suicide (I wouldn't do it), but the pain is immense and is 24/7. My good days are my old bad days. Then with the mri report in front of my surgeon, get told the radiologist is wrong and "if" I have any pain it's because of DDD and my l5s1 disk is so thin. He says that while I point out the herniation on the MRI and he holds the report.
  Meanwhile, I am opiate tollerant and my percocets rarely work. If they do, they take about 45-60 min. to start easying pain at all, last about 2-3 hours taking the edge off if i'm lucky, then back to plain misery. My family doc. is tollerent of me as I was honest that i am a recovering addict. I had a choice,either be in misery and have no quality life at all, or take narcotics to have at least some releif. He has been very gracious even though he is at wits ends with my situation....but I did all I know to do now day....TELL the truth.
  I am so tired of the pain also. It is so hard to deal with and is affecting me physchology too. Everyone underestimates the degree of pain unless they see someone gushing blood or something. I can't even go to the ER for help because they think I am a "frequent flyer". My family doc. says I should be having pain only down my right leg, the surgeon says I should be having pain if its really there, only down my left and that it shouldn't be that bad.
  So I know how frustrating it is. You tell a doctor your symptoms and they tell you what it is and how you should feel. Trying to explain you feel different than their textbook says is a loseing arguement. I have been right 4/4 times concerning my back, and when its all over all I hear was "wow, no wonder". You would think this 5th time I would have some credit. ...anyway....I used to think I had to lie to the docs because they won't beleive me anyway. I have learned that telling the truth to my family doc has eventually gained enough trust that even though he is frustrated too, he put me on 8 mg of dilauded yesterday. And it is working. I am not miserable today. I have been going through this since last sept, then surgery, than 2 more injurys since. while doing nothing really. It has taken many different trips to the doc. and phone calls. I started at vicodin 500 last year and was worked up to the highest dose of percocet (about 5 different kinds of narcotics). I was tappered off before surgery so the morphine would work, but had to get back on. Besides building a tolerence to them again, my back is worse.
  Anyway friend..I hear your scream! And I feel it.  These threads help me underestand alot also, and let me know that I am not alone in this, even when my docs make me think I am. I also am going in for a 2 level fusion. I was thinking of not doing it, but enough days of unbearable pain, I realize I have nothing to lose even if the fusion don't help. It's the only hope I have other than stay on narcotics for the rest of my life, and I don't think my liver would let me do that, especially being opiate tollerent. Good luck. Again..you are not alone!
  

[froglady28]

well, I'll have to say, I was in a car accident in August of last year.  I shattered the T12 and L1.  They obviously immediately did surgery and fused bone from my left hip to my spine.  They had to completely remove both vert. and put in two rods and 4 screws.  When I got out of the hospital, the pain of my hip was the WORST EVER!  Even my shattered spine didn't hurt as bad as my hip.  It still hurts to this day, but not near as bad as it did even 4 months ago.  I couldn't even roll over in bed without holding my hips up with my hands, elbows on bed, and rolling myself over.  Now today, I returned to my Neurosurgeon for somemore mri results, and find that I also have a herniated disc in my neck....the C5.  He says we won't do anything about it right now, since my body has been through so much so soon.  But he also said it may be in need of a fusion also.  I am so not looking forward to that one.  And as for the pain meds, mine don't work either, I just deal with it.  I'm a stay at home mom of two boys, and its very hard.  I hope you feel better real soon.