Post Laminectomy low back pain

Question

Greetings. This is my first post in health column.
I was optd on L4 Laminectomy last year Feb for Segmented Canal Stenosis. I enjoyed few good months but the pain is now back with a bang. MRI scan shows narrowing of canal and scar tissue putting pressure on the nerves. Now the pain is even worse and its very difficult make normal movments. I used to do yoga after operation and it seems to have helped but now i can only do some knee to chest streches in the morning.
Please advise what to do..

Tuckamore · Accepted Answer

Hello Shiva,

Welcome to MedHelp's Pain Mangement Forum. I am glad that you found us and took the time to post. However I am sorry to hear that your pain has returned with a vengeance.

Short term I hope you are receiving good pain management. I do not know if your country has Pain Mangement Physicians or if it is your Primary Care Physicians that care and prescribe for their chronic pain patients. What ever the case may be I hope you are being treated for your pain.

Narrowing is usually not relieved without surgery. However if I understand your correctly the scar tissue has caused the narrowing. If that is the case additional surgery will more than likely produce additional scar tissue....becoming a vicious circle.

If I were in your situation I would search out thee best neurosurgeon and request a second opinion. A great surgeon may be able to help you. We all make scar tissues to different degrees, at least that is my understanding. I could have the same surgery you had and produce much less scare tissue, while someone else may produce even more. And sometimes our body will produce more scar tissue with one surgery than it does another. So again, consulting with thee best neurosurgeon may provide you with the best options. 

I wish you the very best and hope that you will find a remedy to your pain and condition. Please let us know how you are doing.

Take Care,
~Tuck

Shiva09 · Answer

I met the Doc today..and he said exactly what you have written Tuck about the formation of scar tissue. The exact medical observation is :-
"Post-op status suggestion of an epidural scar tissue posterolaterally at L4-5 level deforming and compressing the thecal sack at this level - suggestive of FBSS. Also noted is bilateral L4-5 facet arthopathy, diffuse disc bulge at L3-4 level not causing any nerve root compression and lumbar changes"

He has presently suggested loosing atleat 15 kgs of weight and doing physio exercises only.

Tuckamore · Answer

You're welcome. 

You took the road that you thought was the best at the time. We all do that. So don't beat yourself up for your decision.

We'll look forward to hearing what the surgeon has to offer you this time. 

Peace,
~Tuck

Shiva09 · Answer

Thank you Tuck for your advice, I'm planning to visit a neurosurgeon soon. Hope he has some solution. In fact, before my Laminectomy operatiotion, the surgeon had warned me that this is a temporary solution for couple of years. Another Neurosurgeon had actually advised a more complicated operation for me with cage being fitted over L3, L4 and L5 and screw it up to stabilize the spine as i do have a little movement in L4. But this would have rendered me quite immobile..so i didn't go for it. I beleived that i can strenthen my back muscles to such an extent that it could take all the pressure but it didnt happen that way..
Anyway, let me meet this surgeon and will post his advise..
Thank you very much for you response

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