Nerve Damage

[tinfoil]

I have had 4 surgeries on my back. One was a lamnectomy, the next one was scar tissue removal. Those were back in 1993. In July of 2003 I had another lamnectomy at the L5/S1 level. Doctor said it was a "large rupture". The rest of the disk ruptured three days after surgery and it took me another two months to convince the Neuro something was wrong. He did an MRI and said it was scar tissue. Finally, he did a mylogram and it then showed that disk was gone and I was bone on bone. A LT Fusion Cage with Infuse Bone graft was done in 9/03.

I now have chronic sciatic pain in both legs. Burning in the groin, buttocks, and legs. The inside of my spine hurts constantly and feels like the inside is being "rubbed raw". I have to walk with a cane to take the weight off of my left leg. I have what I call "leg convulsions" where my legs shake uncontrollably. That happens 4-5 times a day and lasts up to an hour.

I am currently taking 900mg Neurontin 4x daily, 10mg Hydrodone 6x a day, 400mg Ibuprofen 6x a day, and use 3 Lidoderm 5% patches for 12 hours a day. Heat and cold ahs done nothing for the pain.I have been seeing a pain management doctor for about 3 months now.

My main question is, does nerve damage heal? Is there a possibilty of the nerves going back to normal. Should the pain management doctor be more aggresive (aggressive) with the treatment? I have told them several times that I am not doing any better. The xrays show the cage is in a good place and there is no movement, but the insside of the cage is not filling with bone. What can I do?

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS]

The symptoms which are present prior to spine surgery may or may not improve with surgery. The primary reason to perform surgery is to prevent progression of the problem. We hope that symptoms resolve after spine surgery, but this is not always the case. I would recommend you seeing a neurologist to exclude other problems within the nerves or central nervous system. If you are conerned about your success with pain management, perhaps a second opinion would also be helpful. Good luck.

[tinfoil]

More info: I have an appointment with a neurosurgeon at the University of Nebraska in June. I also wanted to ask about the Ibuprofen. I had reactions to the steroids and the anti-inflammitory meds so they said to stay on the ibuprofen. I have been at the 2400mg level for a year now. Will this do anything to me health. The hydrocodone has acetiminophine in it and I'm worried I am destroying my kidneys. Could that be possible. I don't have any side effect symptoms, but it bothers me. The ibuprofen actually seems to give me a minutes of releif once it kicks in. Also, could the inability to empty my bladder be part of te nerve damage?

I also wanted to tell you that I appreciate this site. I spend more time here than any where else. I just wish someone could take away my pain.

[nurse12hr]

The acetomenophen in the Hydrocodone could affect your liver.  Never exceed 4000mg acetomenaphen in a day, and if you are using it long term, I would be conservative and say stick to 2000 mg a day.

Long term use of Ibuprophen can be associated with renal damage.  

I am not a physician.

The best person to consult about these drugs and doseages would either be your physician, or take all your meds to the pharmacy and ask the pharmacist for a consultation.  Almost all pharmacists will go over your meds with you for free and tell you what to be concerned about.

Just answering b/c it frequently takes a week to get an answer here.

Good luck.

[tinfoil]

Thank you for your advice and the info. I have talked to the pharmacist and he says to stay on the plan the neuro prescribed. Not much help. State law here restricts what they can and can't advise.

I am a 38 year old male and I really don't want more problems than I already have. It's just that the Ibuprofen gives me about a 1/2 hour of relief where as the other meds really don't seem to help.

Again, thank you.

[april888]

Help.  I'm trying to locate the woman who was on the Today Show.  I am in the same boat she was in, but I'm sinking, and it seems that she has found a way to float.  Please, please...can someone help me locate her?  I desperately need to talk to her.  I'm losing hope.  If I could just talk to her maybe I could find a way to go on...maybe she could tell me who to talk to at the clinic, how to get insurance referrals, what I need to say to my doctors here in Texas...I have a million questions.  I have felt alone for a long time; no one has heard of the facial pain I'm having.  If someone could just pass this note on to her...please.

[milmascara]

April, if you are in Texas, there is a good neuro in DFW area. Dr Schaffer(no sure on correct spelling)He did a back cage surgery on my sis-inlaw w/ excellent results. Hope this helps.