I have had 7 lumbar surgeries starting in 1983 with the most recent being and double ALIF, 04 and hardware removal in 06. I have multiple problems resulting from my injuries, mulitlple surgeries, etc., with severe back pain, right side of back, groin, right hip, leg, right ankle and right foot, with RSD in right foot which is a result of the surgeries. I have gone back and forth to my surgeon, local doctors, Ocmed, neuroligists, and now, for the second time, a physiatrist for assistance. I have had 2 sympathetic blocks in the past, but no real relief. My surgeon gave me Lidocaine injections, on 2 different occasions, in my back, where the rod was on the right side to see if I had infection or the rods were the issue. The Lidocaine was a godsend!!!! I haven't felt so good in my life since a few months prior to the fusion which also made the RSD in my right foot completely absent, but it wore off after an hour so the surgeon removed all the hardware, in 06, except for the spacers. My surgeon basically said that there was not much more he could do for me. I have had MRIs and EMGs, regular X-rays including on my hip, and I do have nerve damage on the right side, and I have slight foraminal narrowing on the right-L5-S1 and left-L4-5. Today I saw the Physiatrist for the second time and had an injection in my right hip to see if may help with some pain as it is hard to sit, walk, sleep, on & on. So, with that said, This morning, I had the same effects with the steroid/Lidocaine injection in my right hip/Trochanter as I did prior to the hardware removal. I immediately felt a sharp pain in the right side of my back when the doctor realeased the first part of the medicine, then I could feel fast relief in my right foot, leg, hip, groin, back. My doctor has no answers as to why it relieved the other pains. This again lasted only for 45 minutes. At this moment, my right Trochanter feels pretty darn good, but have the pain in my back, groin, leg and foot. My question is: Why did the steroid injection with Lidocaine, that I had today, give me the same relief as the 2 injections of Lidocaine in the middle of my back? The doctor and I are baffled. If anyone has any thoughts, throw them my way as I am grasping at straws and a sympathectomy is looking pretty darn good to me right now!
Cyndi