help me! failed in surgery

[benjm]

I am 26, a native of Shanghai. I have suffered from spinal disc herniation for 9 years, the symptom of which has been pain in the left side of my butt. Mri showed protrusion of L4 -5 as well as lumbar canal stenosis. After I underwent a minimally invasive MED surgery on September 16, the pain has gone, but it has become hard for me to urinate and defecate and the right side of my butt, the skin of the back side of my right thigh, the right side of my penis and right testicle are numb. My anus has a prolapsed feeling. One week after the surgery, I began to be able to get out of bed but found the soles of my feet feeble and as a result, I could barely manage to stand on my heels. My buttocks began to prolapse, right side bigger than left. Two weeks after, I began to feel stiff in the two toes in the middle of my right foot and the right foot began to feel numb. Mri taken one month after the operation showed that lumbar canal stenosis has cause the constriction of both cauda equine and nerve root. Now two months has passed after the surgery, my left foot also began to feel numb. What should I do? Is it necessary for me to have another surgery? I am desperate.

[philnoir]

While you and I are often in agreement about treatment possibilities, and even the risk of surgery, I have to emphasize the advanced state of nerve degeneration endured by benjm. From what he reports, he is at risk of irreversible dysfunction that is threatening his ability to ambulate.

Surgery is a highly invasive mode of treatment, and is generally has consequences which are irreversible. Surgery always causes scar tissue which often exacerbates pain. Some surgical procedures are less likely to result in a positive outcome than others. The surgical option should always be thoroughly examined before consenting, however, in emergency situations surgical intervention should be performed ASAP, when there isn't time to explore all the alternatives.

All that being true, this case sounds as if the patency of the spinal cord is threatened, and the consequences of delaying treatment may be severe. It is an unfortunate and difficult situation to deal with, but Mr. Benjm must pursue the surgical option to decompress the spine, and do so quickly to avoid damage to the peripheral nerves and the cord. His doctors will have a definitive answer -- we have nothing to offer here other than conjecture -- but if his doctors recommend immediate intervention, he'd be wise to give serious consideration to these recommendations.

It is important to ask the right questions, especially, "what are the consequences of leaving things as is?" and "what kind of a recovery can I expect?" along with "what kind of a lifestyle will I be able to enjoy after surgery?"

Best wishes to you both.

[caregiver222]

Get the book "Second Opinions" by Dr. Groopman, who ended up crippled after his disc laminectomy.. I would hesitate under any circumstances to have this procedure. I was in level ten pain from disc herniation and refused cutting and now am relatively pain free, after a long period of physical rehab.

[philnoir]

Unfortunately, you may need another surgery, depending on the level and type of instability in your spine.

If soft tissue or disc ejecta is constricting the thecal space and cord, epidural steroid injection may help, but if the cord is occluded or bone is causing the stenosis, decompression surgery might be indicated.

Severe stenosis presents a serious threat to your nervous system. Compression on nerve roots can cause permanent damage. Please follow up medically as soon as possible.