New leg problems following 3rd spinal surgery (Instrumented fusion & Disc replacement)

[kiwi seeking help]

I'm having mind numbing leg pain and wiered leg symptons following 3rd lumbar spinal surgery. My surgeon is at a loss and states he hasn't seen the symptons before and dosen't know what to do?
Had 3rd surgery Nov 2006(anterior approach) to fix psuodoarthosis at L5/S1 following 2 level posterior instrumented Fusion with cages and rods at L4-L5-S1. They also put in a replacement disc at L3-4 duing the Nov surgery.

Felt great post op, and climbed a flight of stairs unaided a couple of days post op. Day 6 post op, weird leg symptoms kicked in. Within 15 to 30 seconds of sitting or standing the left leg starts to change colout and the pain is so bad it brings you to tears unless you lay back down. (Never had left leg problems before surgery!)

Have been basically bed ridden for 5 months now - on daily Clexin injections, panadol, Gapapentin (Dreadful side effects!), Clonidine Patches, also tried Lidican IV with no benefit, and Sympathetic Nerve Block - this made things worse!

Told possible stenosis? Psuodocladication? Symathetic Nerve Problems? Scar tissue? - Nothing else can be done?

Any suggestions would be much appreicated, faith and a loving family are the only things keeping me sain.

[gattabria]

I have had similar symptoms.  I underwent an L2-3 excision of extruded disc (right sided) in Oct 2007 and felt great soon after the surgery.  About 11 days later, I developed an excruciating pain in right leg (which is the same side as the original disc extrusion).  I could barely walk for a month and also had right knee swelling and pain. I underwent an MRI scan of the right knee which showed a patellar tendonitis.   I got injections in the right knee which helped a little and I gradually started walking for longer periods.  I can now walk a half mile but I still have swelling in my leg and knee.  I was tentatively diagnosed with a "shin splint" also known as anterior tibial compartment syndrome.  I used a leather wrap around the lower leg and a "shin splint compression wrap" which help a lot.  I am a doctor and still had problems!!!

[straker]

hi i have had two lots of back surgery so i know how you feel!! i am on oxycodone that helps with the pain .i also use an electrical device called a ACTICARE TSE .it is like a TENS  only much better.i too was on gabapentin/ lyrica and suffered v bad side effects the acticare is not a cure but without it live would be unbarable!! i am male 42 and have been suffering in pain for 11 years[ MY POOR WIFE!!} .a good web site for you is spine health we all chat and sort out our problems .it is a very good site .NO nutters!! we are all genuine spine sufferes come and join us i go as MURPHY as my screen name .i hope you feel better soon dont give up!! DO TRY THE ACTICARE  you can try it for 30 days  good luck murphy