5 years of pain after back surgery HELP!

Hello,
January 2005 I had my L5-S1 Fused together due to herniated, and degenerative discs.  I was in pain for 10 years, and surgery was my last resort to get pain free.  Well 5 years later, and then pain I have now by far surpasses the pain I had prior to the surgery.  I've done everything since surgery such as PT, Chiro, Acupuncture, pain meds, and muscle relaxers.  NOTHING is helping.  What are my options now to relieve the pain I am in?  Do I need another surgery?  If so should I go back to the first dr, or try another Neurosurgeon?  Is there another type of Dr I should see?  Please help me!  

Thank you
Jeff

[Neuro Forum]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.

Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

After a surgery similar to yours, in a minority of patients, post-laminectomy syndrome or failed back surgery syndrome can occur. This is basically a condition in which back pain persists after a surgery done to try to treat the back pain. Causes include narrowing between the spinal column bones, arthritis between the bones, recurrent disc herniation, hip ligament/tendon problems, and scarring at the site of surgery. Repeat surgery is unlikely to be helpful unless there is a clearly-correctable recurrent disc or structural problem. The treatment is conservative, with physical therapy, analgesics, sometimes injections and less commonly more invasive functional procedures such as spinal cord stimulation.

Evaluation at an academic spine center is one possibility; evaluation by a spine medicine specialist (a non-surgical specialist in the spine) may be of particular benefit. Enrollment in a chronic pain program may be of benefit to you as well.

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck

[Greenhja]

Thank you for replying to me.  I appreciate your feedback.  I've tried pain management, and I've received the injections, spinal stimulation, PT, pain meds you name it I've tried it.  I find myself having to decompress my back about 15-20 times a day just to relieve the pain for a split second, or I can't even walk.  I'm going to my PCP this Monday to get referrals to a neurosurgeon, and a ortho surgeon.  Who else should I see?  I just don't know what to do.  

Thank you
Jeff