I had a decompression of L4-5-S1 2 years ago. Felt great until the last 6 months. Both legs go numb and painful from buttocks down if I even try to open a heavy door or lift anything heavy. Now they say the nerve is pinched, the verbrates are bulging and scar tissue is impinging on the nerve roots. If the nerve blocks don't help they said I need to have spinal fusion, but what I have read that may not help. I had C 3-C4 surgery on my neck 8 months ago and the screws came loose and had to repeat surgery within 6 weeks (ugh) and still feel like I am choking all the time. I am worried about the fusion if It won't help. Just don't know if I should bear the pain as long as I can or take a chance on the surgery. Is there anything else that could help me? I am 70 years old and in good health and a go getter otherwise. TIA
Hawk, I don't know anything about fusions just sorry to hear you are in so much pain. I hope your doctors do something; surgery, whatever, to get you some relief. Good luck!
I had a fusion from L4-L5-S1. While it did cure the neurological pain I was having(the shooting pain from my back down through my but into my legs and feet) I still have pain due to the hardware and a nonunion. I have to have the fusion done again because it did not fuse properly. The surgery is not great, but if it will help with your pain it is worth a try. I have to have another surgery in the next two weeks and hate to think about the pain the surgery will put me in, but I can't think to imagine I could live with the pain I am in everyday because it has not fused properly. If you do have to have the surgery and that is the only thing that can help with your pain then I would do it if it is the last resort. I have heard stories of people who had this fusion that say they are in more pain now than beforehand. But I also know two people, one a family member, and the other a close friend, who had the surgery and are doing so much better because of it. You always here the bad outcomes more so than the good because when it goes right you just don't hear as many stories. I do know many people have to have the hardware taken out two years later, but that is a small percentage and is worth it if it helps your pain. My pain before my last fusion was so bad I could not work or do anything. I can now work but still have to take pain meds in order to do that. For me, it was worth it. I don't think anything could be worse than living with neurological pain because none of the strong pain meds helps it. And when you take something like Neurontin, it may help but it does not help near enough, not for me anyway.
I wish you luck and hope the surgery helps you.
Hi Adam,
I am so sorry your having so much pain. I know you said you have the SCS unit but it may be necessary to have additional pain control too.
Have you discussed this with your doctor and told him about all the pain your experiencing? I would definitely make sure he is aware and talk to him about options availble to you for the pain your having. To many times we forget that we hire the Doctor to take care of us and control our pain to the best of their ability and when you do not become your own advocate and say I need further help we are short changing ourselves both money wise and pain wise.
Please talk to him/her and explain everything that's going on and that you need help now.
I have two little girls too and it is very depressing when you can't play and do things with them. So be you own advocate when it comes to your pain and expect the doctor to do everything he/she can to control your pain after all thats what you hired them to do .