L5 S1 Spinal fusion Pain Left leg pain after surgery

[PatriciaM61]

I had surgery 1 month ago and on my L5 S1. I have had very bad pain in my left leg since surgery and now thhey think that perhaps a screw is hitting on a nerve causing this pain. I go for a CAT scan tomorrow, and if this IS the problem, I AM NOT looking forward to another surgery. PLEASE help! I am taking 2 Tramodol, 1 soma, and 2 Oxycodone/APAP 10/325 every 4 hours. Even this does not take the pain away but takes the edge off some so that I can stand it.We tried another pain regimine with time released Oxycontin and they were a joke. I am really frustrated that I have so much pain when I went into this thinking once surgery was over, I would be pain-free after approx. 25 years.

[cari333]

Hi, I had a 360 fusion of L4-L5 L5-S1 in August 2009.  Going into surgery I had no issues at all with my left leg.  In fact, my right leg was gong weak, and my left leg was the strongest.  Ever since the surgery I've had problems with my left leg and left foot.  My left foot is still completely numb and just recently it feels like my ankle and foot is tightening up so much that it's dying.  I can't explain it but it's in the left calf too.  I'm scared that I'm going to completely lose the use of that leg.  I'm waking up at night with charley horses from my toes up my outer calf.  I know my surgery was a success because my back pain is 1,000 times better than it was, but I'm so scared by what's going on with my leg.  They keep telling me they have no idea what's causing this.  Did you ever find out anything??

[tonjean]

I am 26 years old, I had a L5-S1 lamenctomy, it was a nightmare! I finally had a L4-L5 L-S1 fusion, they took a graph from my right hip (which is still achy but dull  now, and I hate the scar..) But I have beautiful little cage in my back.
At first the nerve pain did not go away, and now, I still shooting nerve pain but it is not as bad as it was before the surgery. I walk with a slight limp because of the nerve damage done to my right leg. My right foot is numb and very sensative to hot/cold. My back always seems to have to have this dull ache. My leg like I said still has some of the shooting nerve pain but not bad. I am not on Gabapentin anymore, it just doesn't work for some people, and I am part of that some people. I am on Norco 10/325 I only take half a pill and sometimes a whole pill, but I take tramadol most days, and leave Norco for when I really need it. I do need to take Soma every night before I go to bed, or I will lay there spasming. I am hopeful that phsyical therapy will help with this, I am also scheduled for trigger point injections. I also wear Lidocane patches on my lower back, which helps out most days. I do have bladder incontinence, it's hard to explain, but I have no clue when my bladder is full, which causes me to have small accidents, but again this is from the nerve damage and as the nerve grows back my bladder issues should resolve.
I talked to my NS, he stated at 6 months post-op I will know where I am at with the pain and movement. I am very confident in my surgeon and the fusion he did on me. I went from not being able to get out of bed, to walking a mile a day. I found a mile is limit. I can sit for about 3 hours straight now, then I rotate the rest of the day from sitting/laying/standing/walking. I know my life won't be normal anymore, but I am still hopeful, I know I will get off of the pain meds, and my back will go back to being relatively normal.
Fusions can work, not all are bad, you just have to remember, not all surgeons are the same, do your research. Not all back issues are the same. Ensure you fully understand what is wrong with your back and the course of action needed. If you are not in dibaliting pain do not get it done. Opt for injections, pain management, or even a disc replacement. Surgery should not be your first thought, nor your first action. For chronic pain it is important to get with a therapist or psychologist to help with the depression. I honestly hope this post will help someone, I am young, inshape, and most importantly I have a positive outlook and an amazing support system, with my family, friends, and a psychologist. There is life after a fusion you just have to adjust a few things.

[The1OGrady]

I had a successful L5-S1 fusion in 2004. Unfortunately I seemed to get worse. The pain became unbearable to the point where I was seriously considering suicide. I have constant burning in my legs. I have abdominal spasms that sometimes become unbearable. My buttock muscle are in constant spasm and I get severe charley horses. I am on all sorts of pain meds for years. I recently found out that one of my screws goes into the disc between L4-L5 and this masy be what is causing the pain. The vertabrae were never realigned and screwed together with the sliipage. I was told this can also pinch nerves and cause pain.
Like you, I can not sleep at night and can hardly walk, stand, or sit. I'm always in pain. Have you found out anymore about having the screw removed?

[Rucool4]

I recently had a L5 and S1 fusion for it has been 5 weeks!  I had a pinched sciatic nerve in the left leg on a 10 pain scale ready to shoot myself. I have had 2 spine shots and taken numerous drugs and no relief!  After surgery 2 days later and going home my leg pain was gone and of course now in my lower back from incision. So far it has been a success and surprisingly after years with a chiropractor there should no longer be a need for it. I researched a Dr. Peter Mirkin of St Louis Missouri and he has done a great job!! I have traveled 130 miles to have this done. After researching Laser spine institute I am glad to make this decision. Would Laser spine Institute have done there procedure I would have had temporary relief for a short while. I would reccommend this Dr. Mirkin strongly if your tired or pain. Jim M.
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[jawplw]

I had fusion L4 L5 S1 in 2003 and over the years my leg pain is getting worse. The doctor that preformed my surgery ran one of the screws down right next to the nerve root that runs to my right leg.
This has always given me trouble and this winter it is getting worst. My left leg has always worked good but now I am getting  scar tissue around the nerves running down to my left leg. Now I am getting a lot of pain in that leg.
I did a MRI in January 2011 and sent it to the hospital in Seattle, the doctor called me and told me the screw can not be removed without damaging the nerve that the screw is next to.
I can not sleep at night and can hardly walk, stand, or sit. I'm always in pain.
I am allergic to most pain pills so that has left me with not many options.
I am not sure if this is a good as it gets or if there is some hope out there for me.  
I guess I should add my back has never fused so it does move some and at times it pops and my leg give out and I will hit the ground without warning this is always fun.

[tdmw]

I had a 360 lumbar decompression and spinal fusion on L4-5 and L5-S1. I am 3 weeks post op as of today. The only problem I have had is pain in the left leg . The pain feels like its coming from the hip area and it comes and goes. I only take peracet 10mg/ Acetaminophen right before bed and 1 valium 10mg for muscle spasm before bed. Right after surgery I had horrible left leg pain where I could barley walk with the walker. I started walking a lot when I got home and this seems to help. I have had one really bad day yesterday and the Doc said to slow down a little. They took an x-ray of my hip and said it looks great. They did a wonderful job with the surgery and I never felt any pain from the 13cm incision on my stomach. The two 4 inch incisions on my back were also not to painful. My legs were the most painful part of all of this.
I don't regret getting the surgery done. It is a long recovery process for the fusion( I where a back brace when I am up and a bone generator for 4 hours a day to help with the fusion). If the left leg thing goes away with time this has been a very successful surgery. I can now sleep with out my spine and hips feeling like they are going to crush.
If you are going to have this surgery done buy two things- a raised toilet seat and a grabber to get anything you drop.