L5,S1 and Fasciculations

[diana]

Thank you in advance for any help you may provide.

My husband (37 y/o) had neurosurgery two years ago for a badly herniated L5 S1 disc.  This provided relief from terrible muscle spasms in his back and left leg and foot, weakness in left leg and foot and reduced sensation.  Six months ago he started to have fasciculations in his left calf.  Over time the fasciculations spread to his entire leg and increased in severity and frequency to the point of creating fatigue in his leg.  He revisited the neuro group.  They put him on Tegretol which helped a little but not really significantly.  Neurontin was tried next which helped even less.  The neurologist had an MRI done just to check.  Sure enough the same disc was badly herniated on the same side.  He was also found to have a narrow spinal column (congenital).  The compression on the sciatic nerve definitely warranted surgery.

Surgery was completed two weeks ago. A gel was painted on his nerve to help with build up of nerve tissue.  The fasciculations have lessened a little in both severity and frequency.  His leg is still weak which doesn't surprise me and his back is too, but that seems part of the healing process from surgery.

My questions are:
1.  Is it probable that the fascicultions will continue to diminish over time?
2.  Will the nerve continue to heal and if so how long is typical in the healing process?
3.  I understand the gel has recently been approved by the FDA.  What is the buzz on the effectiveness of this gel?
4.  How likely is a disc to herniate a third time?  More likely or no more likely than an individual who has never had a herniated disc?

Thank you!

[Pat Gorman]

Good morning
I have just been told that I have Myofacial Pain syndrome .In October I had surgery for a hurniated S1L5 hurniated disc...I take 8 tylenol #3 a day for the pain...can you tell me what causes this syndrome and if it is reconized as a disability...and will I ever be able to return to work???What could have triggered this???
Pat

[CCF Neuro[P]MD, RPS]

Dear Dee Nokes:

No, head will not break down scar tissue.  Lazer is not a precise enough tool to remove scar tissue from the nerve.  It is either surgery (likely the scar tissue will return) or ?  Sometimes rehab helps, pain management helps some, but I am afraid there is not much other than surgery one the first two fail.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[Dee Nokes on January 15 , 2000]

Hello,I have a couple of problems I would really like input on. In June 1999 I had "emergency" back surgery on a herniated disk. They took out 40% of L5. felt great!
  3 months later i felt worse than before surgery. MRI results have come back saying the same disk has herniated again but the scar tissue has grown into my sciatic nerve. I need not go into the amount of pain. My question is why can't laser surgery be done on the scar tissue? Is "pain management" the only thing left?
  In the "natural" books I have read claim that a lot of heat, especially saunas break down scar tissue. Do you think this is false hope for us who at this point are desperate for relief?
Final question, can the scar tissue eventually paralize me?

[Pat Gorman]

Dr Doctor
Thank you very much for your info you have help me out and answer more questions than some of my own doctors and I truly am gratefull!!!
Can tylenol #3 cause a higher level of enzynes???and if so what
are the symtomes if any???

Pat

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Pat Gorman:

I think you need to talk to your neurologist about pain management and what tests that need to be done.  Tylenol would not mask the symptoms nor give you the symptoms you have described.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[Pat Gorman]

Good morning
As previously discust is it possible that the tylenol that I am taking causing all of my symtoms mimaking a herniated disc symtoms I know I am grasping at straws but realy must look at all possabilities!! I take 8 tylenol a day #3's for the last year for
my hurniated disc that I had surgery for in October 1999.
Pat thanks again