L4-5 fusion and pedicle screw misplacement

[Deb97]

I'm 4 months po.  2 days after surg. ct done due to severe rt. leg pain.  Dr. said screw touching nerve and need another operation, but then said you'll be OK.  That left pain gone after a week, but right leg sciatic type pain starts when lying on right side.  Chronic limping on right side to date; pain med helps.  Still have chronic back pain.  L3-4 has slight disc bulge, so does T11 area.  CT shows 2 pedicle screws touching nerves just outside of pedicle.  Dr. said conjoined nerves were a problem thus misplacement of screws.  Said very remote chance of removing pedicle screws, and possible permanent nerve damage but still too early to know.  Computer assisted technique was not used during operation.  Questions, please:  1. What is the standard procedure when screw is touching a nerve...removal of screw?  Or leave AS IS and accept the irritation of screw/nerve?  2.  Would it have helped if 3D type of computer assisted technique were used during surgery to prevent this from happening?  3.  Should any specific test been done previous to alert surgeon to conjoined nerves?  4.  I tried to see another neurosurgeon but he won't see me while I'm under care of current Dr.  Do I remove myself from his care in order to see another Dr.?  Thank you for your help.

[RONNIE R]

I SEEM TO BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM . MY DOCTOR HAD MENTIONED IT TO ME THAT THE RIGHT SCREW APPEARS TO BE TOUCHING THE L4 DISC , I AM HAVING MORE INTRACTABLE PAIN NOW THEN BEFORE THE SURGERY , I AM TRYING TO HAVE THE SCREWS REMOVED OR I AM GOING TO TELL HIM I WANT THEM REMOVED FOR MY SAKE I AM 18 MONTHS POST OPT FOR A L5-S1 LAMINECTOMY WITH FUSION WITH INSTUMENTATION, I AM ON 75 MILLIGRAMS OF MS CONTIN 4 TIMES A DAY.

[Domo nov]

I had back surgery in July,(posterior fusion) L5-S1 and felt fine until I stopped taking 2 extremely strong pain killers. Both my legs hurt and I have a pinched nerve down my left . I had four x-rays since my surgery to see my progress, the funny thing is the doctor never showed me them . I did glance at one, and one of the pedicle screws is on a angle and the tip of it is at the top of the vertabrae . Why is that? The other three are centered . What I want to know is when he drilled , how far did he drill in the vertabrae for that screw ? He is pretty close to the disc if not hitting it . When he drilled is it possible that my disc was hit with the drill ? Does anybody know of a web site on info for the proper way of setting a pedicle screw ? take care everyone

[brokennana]

My CT showed the same , my MD also said nothing to worry about. However I am 14 months post-op with worse pain than what I had before 1 st surgery. I have now had 3 surgeries. I had an EMG that shows nerve damage, I also I have a cojoined nerve root. My MD said he would not have known that  until he went in and did the surgery. I was told of an MD at the Medical Univeristy Of Charleston that deals with damaged nerves, I am going to try and contact him... As a patient you have all rights to "fire" one MD and choose another. Good luck..

[brokennana]

My CT showed the same , my MD also said nothing to worry about. However I am 14 months post-op with worse pain than what I had before 1 st surgery. I have now had 3 surgeries. I had an EMG that shows nerve damage, I also I have a cojoined nerve root. My MD said he would not have known that  until he went in and did the surgery. I was told of an MD at the Medical Univeristy Of Charleston that deals with damaged nerves, I am going to try and contact him... As a patient you have all rights to "fire" one MD and choose another. Good luck..