Severe Back Pain, Numbness and Possible Reinjury

I am a 46 year old male.

In 1992, following an unsuccessful percutaneous discectomy and subsequent microdisectomy, I underwent a full discectomy at L4-S1 with fusion using illiac crest bone and Steffe plate implants secured with six screws.

I have been pain and symtom free since about 12 months after this last surgery.

In December 2005, I fell from about five feet high, onto asphalt pavement, landing flat on my butt.

Today I am experiencing severe pain in the area of my fusion, particularly on my right side. It feels as if the pain is deep within me. In other words, I cannot rub my back to make the pain appear. I can move in certain ways and the feeling of pain and electrical shock will shoot thru my lower right back. When standing, I can move my hips just very slightly and it will fell as though someone has stabbed my lower back with a knife.

Only when straining on the stool, I will feel burning down the back my right leg to the knee. I must lie down most of the time, or recline in my easy chair. Sitting for more that 15-20 minutes causes my genitals and scrotal area to go numb.

I have severe pain right between my shoulder blades that has gotten worse since my fall. My right arm easily goes numb.

With Steffe plate implants, I do not think that I can have a MRI.

Any ideas on what i may have done here and what to expect is greatly appreciated.

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

If you have not been evaluated already you should - there may be either another injury to that area, or displacement of the hardware. Pain or sensory symptoms that shoots down theleg can be indicative of compression of a nerve root to the leg.

MRI can still be done although there may be artifact from the metal obscuring detail. THere are other ways of imaging the spine and nerve roots that are not affected by metal such as CT myelogrsphy - in this test some dye injected into the spinal fluid space and a CT scan is taken - this can be a very sensitive test for diagnosing nerve root compression.

There may also be a degree of muscle and ligament injury which will hopefully improve over time with appropraite physical therapy etc. In any case, a displacement of the hardware needs to be looked into first.

Good luck

[AustinGirl22]

A related discussion, Removal of Steffe Plates was started.