If I followed you correctly it means the nerve roots are irritated or damaged
If they are just irritated it could get better in a few years. If the disks have caused damage they won't get better. The doctor won't do a risky surgery to remove bone spurs. Plus the doctor didn't do the surgery to make you better but so you wouldn't get worse. A lot of times when the area around the spinla cord is swollen the cord atrophies and that can't get better
When I read what you wrote at times I thought you had the disc surgery and other times I thought you didn't ???
Oh and L5 symptoms- pain that goes into the hip, buttocks, leg and foot.
It also sounds like you have Neuropathy
India is correct the symptoms u describe are same as what I have.
herniated disks with pain/numbness/tingling..that radiates from the buttocks to the hip upper thigh and calves, I too was told this was neuropathic pain.
I've had no surgeries, the pdoc wants to try facet radiopathy...in a sense burning the nerves that are inpinged but after alot of reading I decided not to go ahead with it, he told me never consider surgery, its too risky and may leave you paralized and incontinent....
I am having cortisone to my hips for bursitis to see if that will relieve some of the pain.
You can probably get more responses and feedback on the PAIN MANAGEMENT forum, I have found there thats there's many that have similar conditions.
good luck to you
thank you for your input. I did surgery 4 years ago and now just in march this year, the symptoms resolved the first surgery and I was great for the past 4 years, but after this surgery I continue to have t he same pain shooting down the leg into the foot and problems walking, Thank you for the advise when I see my doctor in a couple of weeks I will ask about the cortisone injections. i am having a ct myelogram next week which I am really hesistant on doing, I didn't have success with epidurals during pregnancies and I have tried two selective nerve root blocks in the past and they left me in the er with severe reactions, so tthis test which is being pushed I am truly scared to do, but if it will help to figure out my situation further then I will agree, but seems too risky. I really appreciate you suggestions and response, thank you
Hi,
The symptoms that you have mentioned are due to the nerve irritation because of the bone spur and herniated disc. When the herniated disc ruptures and pushes out, the nerves may become pinched. When the spinal cord or spinal nerves become compressed, they don't work properly. This means that abnormal signals may get passed from the compressed nerves, or signals may not get passed at all. Common symptoms of a herniated disc include:
Electric Shock Pain- pressure on the nerve may cause abnormal sensations, commonly experienced as electric shock pains. When the compression occurs in the cervical (neck) region, the shocks go down your arms and similarly when the compression is in the lumbar (low back) region, the shocks go down your legs.
Tingling & Numbness- patients often have tingling, numbness, or pins and needles sensations. These symptoms may be experienced in the same region as painful electric shock sensations.
Muscle Weakness- because of the nerve irritation, signals from the brain may be interrupted causing muscle weakness.
Bowel or Bladder Problems- these symptoms are important and may be a sign of cauda equina syndrome, a possible condition resulting from a herniated disc. This is a medical emergency, and a doctor must be consulted immediately if you experience such symptoms.
If the MRI report shows bone spur and **** herniation , the nerves need to be decompressed otherwise it may lead to paralysis of the limbs. Please discuss the possibility of surgery as well as physiotherapy with your neurologist to relieve the symptoms. Hope this helps you. Take care and regards!
From what you describe, a common surgical protocol in the United States is what is called a laminectomy. I would wait before having this procedure performed. There is a new protocol available in Europe for many years, recently approved in the United States, that involves injecting ozone into the interstitial spaces to cause the swelling to subside. To my knowledge, this is, at present only performed in Nevada.
In general "workman's comp doctors" are not your friend. Their mission is to refute your claim. They rate in the same category as ambulance chasing attorneys.
You might want to undergo physical therapy by a professional with knowledge of back injuries. There are exercises which are extremely helpful. They cannot be learned from the Internet.
Cortisone injections are not a good idea, except in the very short run.
You might ask your doctor about a "TENS" device, which blocks pain signals.
I know you already had your lumbar surgery and decompression so the danger of not walking is over.Unless a new development has occurred. Many times there can be spinal fluid leakage after surgery, which is a serious condition. Also bands of scar tissue can form. So make sure you get your DX.
The bone spurs are not something in the united states that the doctor will put your health at risk for.
He may be able to make a small incision and laser them.
there are some ambulatory places that specialize in Laser surgery for bone spurs, disk herniation etc.
It is clear that chronic compression of the L5 nerve can lead to permanent damage of the nerve. These changes are often visible on MRI scan (THE L5 NERVE SIGN) but few radiologists docs know where to look to find the abnormality.