surgery

[MARGARETG]

i have had multipl injections facet joint, nerve blockers. and steroids. none have helped i have been in this pain for over two years sometime its managable sometimes not so i have meds from percicets to flexerill i dont like being stoned so i dont take them until i cant stand it no more. i have numbness pins and needles a dropped foot rt side, i have the inner groin pain and the burning pain in the calf and buttocks not sure what to do, they want ti fusse l4 l5 and s1 and widen the opening for the scatic nerve on both sides.....any advice

[star queen]

The spinal injections you mention do not work on everyone and are highly dependent on the Radiologist or Orthopedist that is administering them.  Since you don't mention the medical diagnoses, I cannot make a good suggestion as to surgery.  You indicate at the end that the sciatic nerve may be impaired and that may be the cause of your pain.  If surgery is not desired at this time, you could try accupuncture for pain relief or see a chiropractor to see if  a spinal manipulation  may be of any help.  If you go, make sure you take your xrays and xray report with you to your first visit.  Often a spinal manipulation may move the sciatic nerve giving temporary relief.  One other thing you may wish to try is massage.  The sciatic nerve goes down through the buttocks and under a small flap of muscle.  Sometimes massage of the upper buttocks may move the muscle and give temporary relief of pain. One of these things may help you control your pain.  If the pain continues you might want to think about the surgery.  Be careful and make sure that your surgeon is board certified in spinal surgeries and that the doc has done at least 500 of these proceedures successfully.  Do your homework on this doc because once the fusion is done it can't be undone.  good luck

[Anant10]

Hi,

Your complaints suggest spinal stenosis in lumbosacral region, which is causing a lot of compression on the spinal nerves. As you are experiencing intractable pain and lots of neurological symptoms, going for the surgery will be the right choice .