l5s1 spine damage

[fulldown]

Hi

I have been unlucky enough to have damage at L5 S1 discs, I have had the nerve canal made larger in the vertebrae, a laminectomy and discectomy, and 2 lots of rhysolisis but I'm now left with permanent nerve damage.
My daily cocktail of meds are matrifen patches ( also called fentanyl) and tramadol capsuels, for the most part I get by and hold down a job, but recently after lifting a clothes dryer from the lawn I have been plunged back into agony again, the meds are now as before but also with tamazepam and diclafenac.
My question is, have there been any significant advances in spinal surgery that could afford me a better quality of life ?
regards
shaun

[fulldown]

Hi

Many thanks for your comments, any and all are good if it helps even a small amount.
I have since writing my post had some acupuncture and felt some amazing changes and benefits, I also feel better in myself which my partner has also commented on.
I know it's not the cure for all conditions and I don't know why it works or how it works, but one thing I do know is that the Chinese have practiced it for centauries while we were chewing willow bark which as you know is now one of the base chemicals for probably the widest used drug in the world.
I think some times you have to stray from the comfort zone of monern medicine.

regards
shaun.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi Shaun!
I am sorry to hear about your medical problems. Well, disc replacements have been tried along with disc fusions. Also, stem cell transplant is now being tested as a new way to heal the discs.
Meanwhile, there are many alternative or non-pharmacological pain management therapies which can be tried. These are: ice packs, heat pads, massage therapy, physiotherapy, yoga, meditation, hydrotherapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), spinal cord stimulation, radiofrequency ablation, other types of neurolytic blocks, aromatherapy, Reiki, acupressure and acupuncture, guided imagery and biofeedback. Usually a combined approach of a pain killer and a non-medication therapy helps give best pain relief.
Please consult your doctor regarding this. Take care!

The medical advice given should not be considered a substitute for medical care provided by a doctor who can examine you. The advice may not be completely correct for you as the doctor cannot examine you and does not know your complete medical history. Hence this reply to your post should only be considered as a guiding line and you must consult your doctor at the earliest for your medical problem.