L5 S1 Surgery

[pdzfish]

I had a secind back surgery Discectomy on my L5-S1 disc (right side this time- left side 10 yrs ago). after surgery my right leg sciatic pain level 8-10 was gone. Some minor twinges but those only laseted a few minutes. 7 days after surgery I had to go to doc, did not sit unless reclined and laided in office. My right leg pain is back to constant 6-7 level pain. Surgeons resident says this is normal but how can I go from no pain to constant pain. I CANT live like this. Could something have gone wrong? Is this possibly normal? How long should I give it? I don't go back to get staples out for 9 more days.

Thanks.

[Dr. A. Srivastava]

Thank you for your question. Although without being able to examine you, I can not offer you the specific advice on diagnosis and treatment that you need, but I would try to provide you some relevant information about your health concern.

I doubt that still there may be some nerve is compressing due to scar tissue or injured after that surgery. Sometimes these symptoms may occur due to other nerve compression. I would suggest consulting another neurologist who would like clinically examine you and/or order few investigations like MRI to reach at probable diagnosis here. Hope this helps

[Becky559]

I am so sorry you are hurting again. I wouldnt think this is normal especially if you didnt have it before now,,,,after surgery. The reason I say this, is I went through this surgery two times within a five week period because it did not hold up and a piece of disc was on the nerve causing the pain. And now I just had a fusion in the exact same area you had the discectomy.  If this doesnt go away in a few days, then you will know that you need a MRI or Myelgram to see what is going on. I hope it does get better. Just maybe the nerves are irritated and a shot of steroids would help
Becky