leg pain after back surgery

[allison74]

i had anterior lumbar fusion l5-S1 in may of 06. Immediatedly developed leg pain, with numbness and pins and needles. told surgeon on 2 separate occasions he ignored my questions as to why this happened. The last 8 months have been hell for me. i am now on 800 mg of neurotin 3x a day. i cannot put any weight on my left leg at all.i had an MRI and a Cscan done , not really a 100% sure , but it looks as though the screw on the left side of the plate in my lower back went down too far and is actually sitting on the nerve going down theleft leg. any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[ratanhospital]

Sometimes this is a temporary condition as the nerve root or roots take time to heal. This can take days to weeks. If the pain is still there after 3 months, it is unlikely to improve on its own.

[SweetPNelson]

Been there done that. Once all avenues have been exhausted and your doctors are looking at you like you're full of **** and you feel like you're going insane...I don't have an answer for you. I wish I did then maybe I can fix myself. I guess you just have to keep hobbling, crawling down that long road, endless road drudging through life like you have 800 lb. Frankenstein boots on. Feeling like you wake up everyday with a sumo wrestler hanging off your back. It basically boils down to moving to a BIG city where they have GOOD doctors. Whatever it takes. You can't let yourself be defeated by these problems. Just say to yourself...GAME ON !

[Rowdyboy]

My husband has burning and pain in his right leg two months after spine surgery what could it be

[mssoso]

I know you posted this several years ago, but this is the only article I could relate to, My Husband had the same type surgery a little over 3 weeks ago, he too said if he knew what it would be like afterward he would have not had it done.  He is experiencing severe muscle spasms in the left leg, and also in the left arm/just above the elbow area that he is completely immobile, I see a once strong man, now so weak and feeble and in tears that it is tearing me apart, he was in a re-hab for 2 weeks after surgery which was suppose to have helped him prepare for the homecoming he was discharged Friday from the Re-Hab and sent home for me to now take care of, I don't know what to do to help with the spasms, it seems like he is really slipping backwards with recovery instead of moving forward, I ws hoping that maybe you or someone can give me some suggestions and answers to what I can do? How long do these spasms last they have him on Valium but it is not doing anything, also on a Fentnyl Patch 100mcg and Oxycodone 20mg please someone give me some guidance this whole ordeal is destroying us financially, physically and emotionally, honestly it is breaking this household up and everything feels like it s falling apart

[jtxl]

Has he tried a chiropractor? I have complete loss of interspace L1 S5 and the pain in my legs has been horrible for several years. It's has been very hard to stand and walk.  I have arthritis so my rheumatologist has not checked my spine in 6 years which was ok then. Finally, I went to a chiropractor to see if they could help and that is when I found out about the disk loss. The nerve must have been hung up on something because even though I still have a lot of pain and standing/walking is hard, it is not nearly as bad as it has been. For at least a year and a half, I would have to stomp my right leg while standing to get some relief. Medicare covers the adjustments so I have been getting 3 per week for a moth and will go another month at 2 per week and then 1 per week and see how that goes. My copay is only $7 for the adjustment so I can afford to keep this up. My next doctor appointment is more than a month away so I don't know what they will suggest but the chiropractor has been helping a lot with my quality of life by keeping everything lined up right and giving the nerve some relief. Good luck, I hope he feels better

[MeLee_101]

American medicine is a joke.  I too had spinal fusion L4 L5 in 2009 due to BACK pain.  The minute i woke up my leg felt like it was being slowly cut off from the inside out. I have felt that pain everyday since..  If we lived in another country we could get stem cell nerve procedure done.  Peyton Manning NFL player did it and they healed his damaged nerve.  I am tired of docotr after doctor PRACTICING there so called medicine on me.  

[Swainspain]

Hey there, I had a fusion done of L5S1 back in Jan 2010  I had some relief for less than a year. Then the pain just started getting worse and worse. Now 4 years later after numerous tests, scans and everything else under the sun, they tell me that everything looks good. But why then do I have such excruciating pain in right leg and back after any type of activity. I can't walk for more than 5 min. No one listens, like most of you they think I just want the pills and that i'm too young (42) to have this pain. Just got declined for disability because they said my pain was "residual". How the hell do they know what my pain is. Just once I wish these people could feel the amount of pain that we have to live with everyday.

[anasazi61]

What most doctors do not seem to understand or glean from their patients is : we want pain relief. What they sale us is : we will fix the physical problem and HOPE this cures the resulting pain issues.

We are commonly kept unaware of the side effects not only from Surgical damage, hardware implementation damage and poisoning, but also the true results of the appalling number of failed surgeries where daily pain and or drug intervention is required for life.

I have found Medical Cannabis to be 90% as effective at relieving my post L4/5 Fusion low back, right leg and sciatic nerve pain, as the narcotic pain pills. I do concede that there are still times I need Opiate pain relief to control my pain at night.

I have no side effects from the Medical cannabis. The THC molecule, which does make you feel happy, in marijuana helps with chronic pain, the CBD molecule has been shown to stop siezures in persons with conditions involving musculoskeletal nerve disorders, and has anti-inflammatory properties.

I was tired ot the pills and how they made me withdraw from life even further.

I welcome interesting conversation and debate with you and others with this issue.
Shawn Jensen

[Footprint13]

In June 2013 I went for a disc removal cause of my sciatica during my operation I received a tear in my spinal core leaking fluid around my body causing headaches and sickness.Eventually getting through to doctor who done operation asked me to back to the hospital were I had to stay waiting on MRI scan during my stay my fluid started to leak out of my wound.Then my headaches and sickness returned again.With seeing a different doctor I was rushed straight to theatre to repair the tear and get a wash out .Nine days later I got home.I was home for 1 day when I stared shiffering and then hot sweats, 2 days passed my daughter said to me mummy your back is leaking again I cried .Phoning the hospital they said to return to them ,I received an infection treated with anibocitics the 3rd doctor comes to me and says the only way to get this away quickly is surgery for another flush out I cried and cried... The day had arrived theatre here I come again eventually after 2wks the infection cleared.But I have numbness in my lift leg with pins and needles, I can not bend the leg with out causing pain and it stops me from sleeping plus the cramps ahh getting worse .Now my headaches are back another MRI .I have now started to get a shakey hand when holding anything .Will this go away it stops me from driving and walking to far always have to have support when walking .....

[Dorka13]

Hi all. I had my third back surgery in seven months just two weeks ago, it was lumbar fusion. Like everybody else the back pain is gone and that is wonderful but about three days post op I developed left leg pain.. It started with my knee, I was unable to bear my own weight and was in absolute agony trying to bend my knee, that is gone now but still have the pain in my lover leg with sharp, shooting pain in my foot. Every time I wiggle my toe I it feels as though I am pulling my nerve, it has that burning sensation. I am wearing the back brace every time I am out of bed and go walking twice a day but can't do long distances just couple minutes. I van only sit in reclined position can't stand for very long so spent most of my time in bed.. I just turned 40, have two kids and a husband who is pretty much doing everything around the house.. I am now two stone heavier than I was last November before the first surgery, I try to eat healthy but.... I spoke to the surgeons secretary yesterday and told her about the leg, she is due to come back to me. I am reading all your stories and to be honest I am really scared that my leg won't improve that it will get worse.. I can't have another surgery, I've been out of work for eight months, and now I am on half my pay. Any ideas how can I get better? I am on oxynorm and targin twice a day and the secretary told its time to get off them now! I also take solpadeine and panadol when I need to and of course sleeping pills! Can anyone please give me some advice....? Thank you

[chezieh]

I am 2 weeks post surgery for l5 s1 fusion with cage, the surgery went very well, without complication an I was discharged day 3, all was fine until post 9 days when I thought I had just overdone the walking, my calves and ankles were excruciatingly painful, over the next day or so it changed from one leg to the other, came and went like a searing poker being rammed down my calf, then, numbness then pain again, I had to phone the doc and get a stronger prescription painkiller as my meds were not touching it, I presume it is nerve pain, swelling coming and going and things just settling down, its not quite as bad now but after sitting a while comes on when I stand or walk just as bad. Wasn't warned about any of this so will be reporting it when I go back on wed to see surgeon, hope it eases up soon tho.

[Tovalady]

How did things go for you!.
I'm doing that right now and I done know what to do!

[Tovalady]

How did things go for you!.
I'm doing that right now and I done know what to do!

[Brokeheartbrokeback]

Dexamethasone steroids are a corticosteroid has any body been put on this post op from lumber surgery?  10 weeks post op And a week 1/2 ago I've been off of them. Was on them 8 days and I felt and still feel weird. Nervous jittery, can't sleep feel And look puffy. Weird thing is I feel more puffy in my face and neck than really am. At first I. Could not eat enough food and went to the bathroom every hour to pee because I drank so much fluid. My mouth was dry like the desert. Could not and still can't recover. I'd rather be in this pain without those drugs. I had a revision surgery on my L5-S1,2,3 & a new fusion on L4
Had drop in foot immediately after surgery so after 10 days in hospital ( had other things go wrong ) ie; took.catheter out too early and had bladder get to 1000 cc 3 times before they recatheter'd me) got dehydrated ?? Had Iv come out. Had a pik line put in arm. Etc. I went to rehab for 7 days then was sent home I was doing ok until 1 1/2 months at home woke up and had the worst left leg pain. Just like all the stories previous to mine. It's excruciating. I would rather be pre-op than this. I've lived with this too long. I don't see doc until June 7 and I'm afraid of what he's gonna say. Because I feel like I know the answer. I had my first surgery in 09 after I was told I had DDD at 30 years old. Had surgery came out in pain. Had screw impinged in nerve root. Went back in 5 days later and they removed screw said bone graft was grafted and would hold. I was feeling ok after surgery but immediately felt pain. When I walked I had to lift my left buttock up. I complained for nearly 8 months at doc appt at home. I would call and I kept getting that's normal healing pains. Finally I get 'my doc to do MRI and ct and ta da!  My fusion was broke. Ahh really? Now back in for repair in 2000 and it was a 14 hour surgery and statute of limitations had run out so I couldn't sue. Now I'm with nerve damage and severe back pain and stuck in pain mgnt up until today 5/24/13 I'm in bed can't get left leg down to floor one or more of the sciatic nerves is pinched post op from February 18th and I have a little bruising at incision site. Hoping that's from being on my back so long at first when it started because I couldn't move for up to 8 hours sometimes. I'm home alone my husband works he comes home at lunch and doesn't get off until 7 and he's exhausted taken care of me, shopping cooking getting my meds several times a month taking care of our cats and dog laundry etc. he's at a new job 1 yr hates it. We have no family or friends here. We moved from calif. to Texas in 2009 from stress at a job that he was working at 16 hours a day he got wore out got sick and then had a seIzure  2 times in 5 weeks now he's diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy. So needless to say we've been thru a lot. Hard on marriage he's tired I'm tired where is rainbow. Is there gonna be relief in site. What if I need another surgery?  I feel in my heart I do. I can tell that something moved or broke. I'm also afraid that I could get poisoned because I'm taking so much pain meds and my doctor like to stop one and start another without weening me down. It make me nervous and I have side affects. I can go on all day about steroid injections etc. Anyone have New info or something good to say that's positive or will help me help myself. These Internet postings scare the hell outta me and also at the same time I feel not alone just a greater sadness that there are so many of us suffenring from the same pre and post op nightmares that go on and on. Sorry so long of story. Healing prayer to all before and after me.

[fellowsurgsufferer]

i had surgery L5 s1,,,my pain was due to a shift of my vertebrae therefore pressing on sciatic nerve. my surgeon put in a titanium spacer and used it as a compression n decompression. the spacer was used to push up but also to pull sideways...thats why its considered both compress and decompres. Immediately after the surgery...the original pain was gone. No more nerve burn tingling fromm hip down to foot. I only had pain in surgucal site (normal) but after 3 wks I started 2 feel the pain cming back and thought i did smthing wrong even though i followed all dr orders. i wear a custom brace when not in bed n nd 3 for 4 to 6 months. Dr. said no twisting or bending' during my 1rst post op...no complaints really...2nd i was in some pain n dr said that the friction on the nerve that was going on prior 2 surgery needs to heal due to constant friction...kinda like if u keep scrapping your skin with smthing sharp over n over again...the pain dsnt stop bc u stop scrapping at it...it needs 2 heal n can smtimes inflame. also lack of stretching dsnt help...so i hope thats what it is. makes sense. I take everything 2 help spead up recovery. was told lots of protein from red meat. body needs good nutrition 2 heal. when im not hungry i drink ensure and eat lots of anti inflam foods such as berries. tons of supp. fish oil b6 b12 L-glutamine glucosamine chondroitin d-3 iron multi probiotics lots of vit c...im still in pain but not as much. surg was done dec 10th 2012, so to early to tell...also...for u women...if u r still nenstruation the added inflammation may add to pain so take notice if thats the case. the oxycodone 10mg help n i will take 1 in the morn n 1 at night if i nd 2. its not excessive n i refuse 2 deal with the pain. if 4 months in... im still in pain then i expect smthing is wrong unless dr sees smthing wrong thats not part of the pain from healing. remember...this is spine surg not root canal but knw ur body and go with ur intuition n trust ur dr unless u hve reason not 2....OK FOR YOU WHO NEEDS A 2ND SURG N WILL HVE NO INSURANCE TO COVER,,,,IM PRETTY SURE THAT IF U CONTINUE WITH COBRA WHICH MAY COST A BIT...ITS FAR LESS THEN SURG COST. LOOK INTO THAT...IT SHLD HVE BEEN OFFERED BY UR EMPLOYER 2 CONT COVERAGE CUZ IF U DNT KEEP COV N THERE IS A GAP...UR NXT COV MAY NOT COVER WHEN U GET A NEW JOB CUZ IT MAY BE CONSIDERED PRE EXSISTING. HVE THE SURG. YOUR PAIN IS NOT WORTH DEALING WITH N MONEY WILL MEAN NOTHING IF UR I PAIN. UR FELLOW SURG SUFFERER

[RWebs]

HI I am so sorry to read your story...  whatever happened?  did your leg pain ever go away? did u have the leg pain before surgery?

I am 4 weeks post op back fusion surgery XLIF just a cage inserted into L-4/L-5 and then a clamp on my back bones.. the pain in my legs is worse now than before surgery.. I have many areas of numbness, and I have burning and numbness on my upper rgt leg..  I had had a discemoty on same location back early 90's and have lived on pain pills for the past 4 yrs and therapy and steirod injections... I got 8 surgeon opinions this year and went with the less evasive surgery.. I thought how could adding a spacer/cage hurt..  it has to help well so far I feel I am worse off now than before..  

Please reply looking forward to hear what has happened to you now

[inzan123]

hi, i had similar issues and i saw a pain mgt doc and he advice me for IDD therapy n now in 32 session most of my pain has gone say 85%. i take Lyrica 150mg /day which relives me from tingling pain.hope this will be helpful for you ............God Bless

[ddv01]

First, I apologize for the length of this post but hope it is worth reading.  I am 56 year-old woman and had my first emergency lumbar laminectomy/discectomy at L5/S1 in June 2011 when my left leg collapsed on me.  I was put into the hospital the same day with surgery 2 days later. My MRi showed that my L5 disc was so huge it was wrapped around my S-1 nerve compressing it flat and that I had degenerative disc disease throughout my lumbar spine.  I also had unbelievable amounts of electrical activity going down my left leg which felt like sparklers traveling down the back of the leg and bursting in my foot.  After surgery, I was in hospital and rehab for 4 weeks.  My left foot was numb from second toe to pinky and top and bottom of my foot, had tingling and burning in foot going up to knee, numbness in back of leg from ankle to buttocks and severe pain down back of leg (the exact location of my electrical bursts).  My surgeon indicated that it would take time for S1 to regenerate-at least 6 months to year.  Did PT, pool therapy, nerve and pain meds, etc.  By Sept. 2011 I was not getting better and was experiencing additional issues.  In Nov. surgeon suggested another lumbar MRI which showed pieces of my disc had broken off and were laying against S1 and compressing it again-surgeon said he needed to go in to remove these and rest of disc.  Underwent second lumbar surgery on Dec. 9, 2011 and dr. also found scar tissue had formed around the S1 nerve.  I stayed in rehab until Jan. 14.  This brought on new issues besides all the tingling, burning, numbness, electrical bursts and leg pain-I now developed tremors and muscle spasms in the left leg, and tingling and burning in right foot and more medication was added to the mix.  I will tell you all that the pain from this is 24/7-never let's up.  It is driving me crazy and I am unable to sit, stand or walk for any good amount of time-nightime and trying to sleep is extremely difficult-my leg cramps up terribly and I have constant electrical bursts throughout leg and foot-even meds do not help-doctor said these are my nerves misfiring from the damage I have sustained.  All of this is a form of neuropathy-surgeon finally told me that if my issues have not cleared by now, they are most likely permanent.  I was actually relieved that he was upfront with me and I was no longer waiting for something that was not going to happen.  I was unable to return to my office job of 31 years and am now unemployed.  If this weren't enough, in April 2012 I started experiencing pain in my neck, shoulders and arms, my fingers and hands were numb and tingling and I was having daily headaches.  I mentioned this to my surgeon during a follow-up appt and he suggested I get a cervical MRI.  The results horrified me-I had disc herniations at 4 levels that were already severely compressing into my spinal cord at C4-C6 along with bone spurs and severe foraminal stenosis-I didn't have to be a doctor to know that this was not good.   Surgeon told me that I needed an anterior cervical fusion at 2 levels-C4-C6 and that it probably would not fix anything that I was currently feeling but that it would prevent future paralysis that was sure to happen.  All my other doctors who saw this MRI all concurred that I needed surgery and that I was too far beyond anything else fixing this.  I underwent cervical surgery in May 2012, the third within a year.  As the doctor indicated, I am still left with numb and tingling hands and fingers. This ordeal has left me in shock and has taken a toll on my life and relationships. I am now trying to figure out how to live my life moving forward.  I can no longer work, drive, go out by myself, enjoy social situations because of the constant and never-ending pain.  The symptoms are so much worse at night and sleeping is difficult even with meds.  I am now on a path to discover anything that might help.  I am seeing pain management doctors, therapist, considering biofeedback, acupuncture, pool therapy-anything at all.  I do know that I can no longer feel sorry for myself and hope that something will change.  Someone once told me that if you can't change the situation, you have to change your attitude and this is challenging but I am trying.  My situation is not life-threatening but life-altering and for that I am thankful.  Good luck to all of us who have had our lives altered from this.

[inzan123]

hi all, i had surgery of L5s1 on 12/12/2011 and back pain vanish but came back again, most of all numbness n burning sensation in hips thighs n butt.all my genitial were numb i have cathetar on for 2 months to pass urine  n still difficult to do so n constipation + no bowl control, my neurosurgeons have no answer for my quries all they say is its normal n will go away. than i found pain mgt doctor he advised me for facet joint injection n it helped me a lot + going for IDD Therapy after which i was able to stand n walk on completation 20 sessions now i fell much better in regards to pain but i have numbness n tigling on right thigh  and burning  circle sensation. i take lyrica 150mg twice to aid sleep. its now 10months post surgery n i resume my work  but every 45 minutes i need too stand n walk else i feel  burn in my butt , hope all my bothers n sister tolerating same issues might get courage  and get well soon. oh....... take omega3 its good for nerve recovery. God Bless

[Hulagal555]

Thanks for the advice.  I'd like to add some suggestions which may have worked for me.  I had a slipped disc on L4, severe spinal stenosis, arthritis, for who knows how long. I'm 72 yrs old.  It finally became painful to do anything for 5 months, even with an epidural, unless I was on 1800mg Ibuprofen daily. Finally, I was able to have lumbar fusion and laminectomy on L4/L5. About 6 wks before the surgery, I was told to drink an ounce or 2 of Noni Juice (made in Hawaii). I still take it daily. You can find it on the website. I also mildly exercised my back and leg muscles, and lifted 2 lb weights to strengthen my arms. I ate healthy and had adequate sleep. Every night I prayed to God for inner strength to get me through the ordeal.  It also helped to know my son and his wife were flying to Honolulu to help me for a couple of weeks, as I live along.  My 3 hr surgery was on 7/20 and I was able to walk the day after.  On the 2nd night, I had pain in my right knee, so spent an extra day in the hospital.  Doc ordered Ibuprofen for the knee pain, and Hydrocodone for the incisions and pain in my upper right hip (where they chipped some bone for the cage).  After a week of taking both meds, I gradually gave up the Hydrocodone, and after 2.5 weeks, off all meds except for an occasional Tylenol at night for mild pain in the upper hip and knee. I've been walking as much as possible , although since my son's family left, I'm mostly on my own.  Had to cancel the newspaper, and minimize opening my heavy oak front door to empty trash and get the mail, although I was doing that a couple of times a day.  Have to wait for my other son or sister to help me on weekends for grocery shopping, getting clothes in and out of washer & dryer, cleaning bathroom, etc.  I got a handpicker (or whatever) to pick up light items, and sometimes use my toes.  Have to be careful about bending or twisting. Hope to try driving soon. Will have x-ray and see neurosurgeon in a couple of weeks.  Hope the x-ray shows the bone is fusing, as I may have overexerted myself opening my heavy front door and other doors in our condo bldg. So what I want to emphasize is to get healthy before your surgery, lose weight so you can lift yourself off the bed (I used the back of a folding chair next to the bed), eat healthy, take vitamins, exercise, etc.  Prayers help if you're religious.  And get some help for the first few weeks.  My family rearraged my kitchen and bathroom shelves.  Here's wishing all of you well who are  about to have back surgery. I'm writing this because I didn't have any info on what to expect after surgery.  I thought I woud be bedridden for a month, as I listened to what others went through.  It depends on each inidividual. God bless you.  

[ChefDMC]

I know the pain he speaks of.  I always elevate my legs at night.  I was lucky enough to get a hospital bed in my house - but you can use other things like pillows and wedges.  For me, the elevation helps me a lot.

[ChefDMC]

Don't mean to laugh, but I too have the outer three toes that are numb on both feet.  Know she's not alone.  Get her better soon. :)

[ChefDMC]

Most doctors are not trained in pain management.  I would do your research and find a pain mgt doctor right away.  Living with pain when you don't have to is just WRONG!  Those of us with spinal issues should not be put in the same catagory as someone off the street walking into an ER seeking some pain meds to get high.  I was treated like this for a long time.  I was acutally completely off pain meds for over a year b/c I could not find a doctor who believed my pain.  Ask around - get a good pain mgt doctor and go from there.  You need something that relieves your pain throughout the day and IN ADDITION, try other things like spinal injections (sounds worse than it is), hot tub, swimming, physical therapy, etc.  In the hospital, after my surgery, I was in so much pain and they wouldn't give me anymore meds... I said, "Can I get an ice pack?"  The oldest trick in the book, and they didn't even offer it.  It relieved my pain a little - from a 10 to an 8.5ish.  Make a list of things you want an take it to your doctor.

[ChefDMC]

I too have the numbness.... everywhere.  Well, waste down.  Mostly thighs, butt, foot.  But at first, even my privates were totally numb.  I've heard it could be because the nerves were being moved around and are swollen.  I hear this symptom is suppose to subside, but it ***** b/c we cannot take Motrin or any anti-inflamtories b/c it decreases bone growth.  So, the inflamation and swelling at the surgery site, I'm sure is causing the numbness, some pain, etc.  I will ask my doctor this week and post for ya here.  Hope you feel better!!!!!!!  Hang in there.

[ChefDMC]

I feel the same way, about the clot.  But, I think it is more just the numbness and pain at the thigh.  You're not alone.

[ChefDMC]

I read most of the posts here, and am not happy to see so much pain; However, I do feel more comfortable that I am not alone.  Before I write a novel, I must test this site to make sure my post will "post". lol :)  *ok, it works*

I am a 36 year old female, single mother, also had a rare type of spina bifida - which never bothered me until I was hurt on the job.  Actually, I had two injuries at work - both in March of 2009.  The company I worked for did not want to take responsibility for it.  So, let's brief on that note for a sec...

I was not allowed to work b/c of my injury, I had no money, and was very stressed out.  At the time, my son was only two years old.  Just him and I.  In order to pay rent and bils I sold everything I had.  Furniture, dishes, musical instraments, etc.  I let my car go (repo), I ruined my credit due to HAVING NO MONEY.  Today, it's more than three years later.  I've owned two business in the past, and now I am living in a low-income apartment, driving my old 1996 Chevy Tahoe, and instead of a couch in my living room, I now have a hospital bed in its place.  Don't get me wrong, I am a very positive person.  I actually love my little apartment.   My 5 year old son is as sweet as could be.  I have great family and friend support, etc.  I dye my own hair, which is a lot cheaper, I gave up the pink'n'white nails, gave up the iPhone, decreased my living expences, wear hand me downs and shop at thrift stores.  And, it's okay - It's really not dramatic.

What IS dramatic is that I couldn't get any support from my insurance company and they dropped me.  I had to apply for Medi-Cal, Food Stamps and Cash Aid (the total and complete opposite of Rags To Riches).

Being young, I didn't think this back injury was going to be permenant.  Boy was I sure wrong!  Fast forward to the past two months here in 2012:

I finally decided to have surgery.  I just couldn't take the pain anymore.  I had surgery at UC Davis in Sacramento, CA with Dr. J. Paul Muizelaar.  Nice Dutch man.  I asked a lot of questions as far as what type of side effects were possible, the probability of the side effects, etc.  Both my surgeon and my PCP (totally different company) mainly focused on the pain level.  They said there really is only a 50% chance the pain would subside.  As someone who has pain at the level of 7-10 on a daily basis, I would be okay with a 3-4 pain level.  I would be happy with that.  Nobody ever talked about numbness.

Surgery date: July 14, 2012

I woke up and felt as if I had just been administered an epidural, as in the type you get when you give birth.  I was numb from the waste down.  The hospital was empty at the time.  Just me, a couple of nurses and a few visitors.  I expressed my concern to the nurse and asked when I could walk.   She said, "You can walk whenever you want - your orders state it's up to you, but you cannot use a walker."  Ok, how the **** am I suppose to walk without a walker when my legs are NOT WORKING.  So, I got out of bed and held on to the rail and my legs looked like spaghetti.  I could tell my mom was  not happy with this suggestion of "No Walker".  I crawled back to bed and just stayed there.  

Finally got my own room and the numbness was really irritating.  It also hurt.  It really hurt.  I had pins and needles in my feet (top and bottom), my calves (mostly posterially), my thighs, my butt, my vagina, and up to my hips.  I expressed my concern to each nurse - their shifts changing at 7:00 am everyday.  A doctor came in to ask about my progress, then another one, then another one... and each had a different answer: "This is normal, and this is why we schedule your post-op appt 3 weeks out so the numbness will disipate by then." - "This is NOT normal," and turned to the nurse on duty, "you need to keep a close eye on her".  And a few answers in between.  

I was given NO INSTRUCTIONS UPON DISCHARGE. My medications are a mess, my left foot I cannot feel.  My legs go completly numb if I stand more than 1.5 hours... (I went to the mall the other day - big ******* mistake - thank god I brought my walker).  I have a list of questions for my doctor(s) - the surgeon AND my PCP.  I will report back to this forum to tell you all what they said about all of my questions.  

I didn't even know if I was allowed to have sex, but I did.  13 days post op.  It was gental, light and mellow, keeping my positioning very comfortable and relaxed.  But, they never said "no".  Then I read online that people are not allowed to have sex for MONTHS!  I started crying.  My "new man" was so sweet and just hugged me.

The positives are that I have great help from family and friends. My best friend is unemployed and was approved to move into the low-income apartments I live in and she will be my neighbor.  I know "low income" sounds bad, but it's ina really nice area, Cameron Park, CA.  We are in the foothills with views of Sacramento and the Sierra Mountains (we are in the foothills of the Sierras).  I love my apartment, I'm excited for my son to start soccer next week and then kindergarten the following week.  

Like I said, I will tell everyone here what the doctors said.  But, I have a question for all of you: How long can you sit, stand, etc?  I can sit for only about 20 minutes and stand for only about an hour.  Does anyone out there use a walker?  Or am I just a big dork at the age of 36 with my neon blue walker?

Thanks for listening to my story and thank you for sharing all of your personal stories as well.   ~ Chef DMC

[karebear1963]

Thank you for sharing cause I'm in tears.  I had surgery on June 20 2012 and realized I had an issue like this and didn't understand why. Now it is12 days later still have pain, but, have visit with doctor on July 3rd 2012 and will express my concerns and also let him know I have some understanding of what's going on.  We'll see, I quess, tomorrow he will X-RAY and make a determination.  Sure hope I don't need to go under again.
K-bear