Permanent Nerve Damage ??'s

[RJF614]

Hello, and thank you for your help in advance. I have had several lamenectomies in the past at L4-L5 and L5-S1. I also had a fusion at L4-L5 in December 09. After the surgery I woke up with pain and numbness in left leg with partial foot drop and severe low back pain. In March I had MRI, which only showed extensive epidural fibrosis at L4-L5 surrounding thecal sac and exiting L4-L5 nerve roots. I had an EMG/NCS test done a few weeks ago and results said chronic radiculopathy and chronic motor unit changes in both left and right legs along with active deinervation in left leg at L4-L5. The doctor said it is permananent nerve damage. I still have numbness/burning pain in both legs and severe back pain. My Pain management doctor wants me to do a permanent SCS for the pain. Should I seek a second opinion from another neurosurgeon? My neurosurgeon has said he does not see anything on MRI and has has no answers. Also, will my drop foot eventually get worse? Does the muscles associated with the nerve damage deteriorate? Thank you again, have a nice day!!

[RJF614]

Thank you, Doctor, I actually had fusion surgery with BMP and rods/screw placement. This was 6 months ago. The neurologist that did the EMG said that the nerve damage is permanent along with the foot drop. I did not get to ask him alot of questions as I was not prepared for the answers he gave me. He said that 4 of the 6 nerves for L4-L5 in my left leg appeared to have permanent damage. I will seek another opinion from a NS that does micro surgery to see if there is anything else that can be done, either about the nerve damage or the scar tissue. Thank you for your time, I appreciate your help!

[Dr. A. Srivastava]

Hi, Thank you for your question. Usually, recovery from a laminectomy procedure takes time and as everyone is different it may vary as well.  Most of the times, one may experience back and leg pain during the recovery period. However, essentially you should avoid prolonged sitting, lifting heavy objects, bending, twisting and excessive exertion for the first three weeks. It is not like that you restrict all activities but you should gradually increase your physical activities over this period. Additionally, common complication of a laminectomy is that there is a possibility that another fragment of disc will herniate and may cause similar symptoms. Therefore, endoscopic microdiscectomy is appropriate in some specific situations, and you may check this with your treating neurologist. Hope this helps.

[Designeer]

As an amateur I have read that low level laser light therapy can speed your recovery, you have to keep believing in the regeneration of the nerve and yes the deterioration of muscle while that happens may spook you but everything will sprout back in time :-)

Get loving massage, stay active, strengthen your will to live and succeed.