pins/needles,pain in limbs

I am 35 yrs old and had a spinal fusion of L4-L5 about 3 months ago.  I realize I am still in the healing process however, the tingling/shooting pain seems to have spread to areas that were not affected before the surgery.  I now have this in both arms and hands ( the left seems to be worse ) along with an intense burning and pins/needles feeling up my left leg ( from around my knee ) to the genital area.  I also have a strong pressure feeling below my scar which I did not have prior. I was wondering if this could be because of the hardware ( plates and screws ) used or is this normal?  Maybe I have another issue the doctors missed?  I also just had an EMG of both arms and that was fine.  Sorry I forgot to add I have had an URGENT need to go at times and then other times I can't go without sitting in the shower for awhile with warm water hitting my stomcah for awhile.  
  My doctor ( Ortho ) seems to think in a few months this will all pass.  My fear is that I will wait to long to act on this and make things worse.  Thanks for your imput!    
mimi1170

[opus88]

hi, sorry for your continued problems...we always use surgery as a last resort but than can only wish for the best of outcomes.
I'm no doctor, but I have similar issues L4L5 herniation.
I can't understand why you should now be having the pains in your arms and hands, that doesn't make sense, there would have to be some nerve impingement in the C level for that to happen, so I am very confused...you really need to talk to your ortho abt WHY this new symptom is happening.

As far as the burning/pins and needles feeling in the lower extremities that would indeed be due to nerve impingement of the L3L5 vertebrae ....but I too don't understand why this should be worse after surgery, did you have this BEFORE THE SURGERY and its WORSE now???...than could be due to still some swelling in the spinal area.

the bladder problems where they there BEFORE the surgery???
sometimes these symptoms can occur along with the herniation, if they occur AFTER the surgery than again I hope its due to swelling and thus pressure in this area...........
surgery on the spine is a very delicate proceedure and many things can go wrong...keep talking to your ortho and make him aware of all the symptoms you are having..if he thinks its still healing and there is swelling yet ask him how long does he think this will last?
waiting shouldn't make anything worse no, waiting I hope will improve matters?

best of luck