needing answers

[1babyboy]

I just saw the doc yesterday, though I am having more nerve problems in my legs there is nothing compressing the nerve..so is it damaged and why is it getting worse..I just dont understand..I have had nerve pain exstreme since 1999 after a rupture disc l4 l5 ..the pain never left my right leg..after three surgeries last being a fusion it is now getting worse..why..I have atrophy I am having a hard time walkinging due to the legs cramping burning and falling asleep..this has been the worst in the last month..anyone have this anyone have any ideas..

[1babyboy]

I have had all the above just about. the exseption a pain pump.. I had a spinal stimulator in 02 but the effectiveness wore off  and when I would turn it on it would cramp my upper back so bad I couldnt breath plus the placement being in my right butt cheeck did not help the pain situation ...
I had two micro disectomies in 2001 I have had numerouse shots pt pain managment doctors bio feed back so many diffrent meds I cant even remeber..I am currently on Gabatril,cymbalta,tramodal,and skalaxin.. sadly they work but not enough..my worry is after all this the last year I have gotton worse  nerve pain exspecially after the fusion and by all indacations it looks great..
the only thing I can guess is that the damage was done  in 99 and it wasnt caught so everything has been useless since? the nerve problems getting worse are scarring me.and the only help now is they want to send me to another pain doc..believe me I appreciate if they can stop the pain before I become insane, but isnt it just covering up the problem?
I have in the last month had days where my legs are asleep both it use to be just the right..I can not sleep on either hip because it causes nerve pain to worsen..I can no longer raise my big toe which feels broken when I walk..and behind my knees are killing me..added with the already pain I have shooting burning cramping and now atrophy in my right calf..will it just keep getting worse..my electrical study shows the nerve is angry as my doc put it..but it has been that way for over a year now..
Im just desperate for answers where I keep getting none...

[Dr Sharma]

Hi there. Post laminectomy syndrome refers to pain associated symptoms not relieved following laminectomy. The causes of poor results are poor patient selection, nerve root injury at the time of surgery, delayed surgery, infection in the disc space or epidural space, unrecognized lateral spinal stenosis or instability, arachnoiditis, reherniation are all possible causes. Sometimes despite appropriate surgery and pathology, being corrected psychosocial factors may contribute to the pain. The cause needs to be determined for appropriate treatment. conservative treatment to begin with includes rehabilitation like physical therapy, exercise, pain management with combination of oral drugs inc. analgesics, NSAIDs, antidepressants muscle relaxants etc. anesthetics or steroids injected in the form of trigger point injections, epidural steroid injections, selective nerve root injections. Opioids oral, implantation of pain pump, etc spinal cord stimulation and rarely, surgical intervention, like another laminectomy, vertebral fusion, and psychotherapy may help. Take care.