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What could be the cause of my pain??

had a L5/S1 fusion 17mths ago and while it’s supposed to be 100% healed I still have pain in my back/butt/leg and I still have a bulging disc about the fusion.  I started bowling again after 9yrs the beginning of January and throwing my 3rd ball I felt something literally snap in my right butt cheek and it was and still is very painful! I still take an anti-inflammatory, one in the morning and one at night and a muscle relaxer at night since surgery.  I can’t wipe my right foot on the rug, hurts to get up in a vehicle, if I can’t use my cruise control (if the weather is bad like it has been here) then my leg and butt and back are killing me by the time I get to where I am going, I have to be careful how I walk if I slip or misstep my whatever is wrong in my butt cheek feels like it’s snapping all over again and it just hurts so bad. I had an MRI and all it shows is my bulging disc in the L4-5 but no focal protrusion!
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Avatar universal
The Toradol was awesome.  I noticed a difference within 15 minutes.  I've only had (2) injections with it and only once/year, upon flair up, but it really helped.  All of my past Mayo Dr's. had retired, but I was fortunate enough to get hooked up with a great ortho doc  @ the Mayo Clinc, Dr. Ahmad Nassr, MD.  I have a feeling that the lower laminar hook will eventually become more of an issue as I age.  It's already pressing in on my spinal column, which is why the onset of pain in the past 4-5 years.  I didn't have any pain prior to that time.  
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Avatar universal
I understand the butt/leg pain, I've been living with it for about 4-5 years now.  had a spinal fusion back in 1982 @ the Mayo clinic, due to scoliosis.  So, I've had these rods/clamps/hooks in for 38 years and just recently experiencing nerve pain.  They've got me on gabapentin now 900mg/daily.  That has helped with the shooting pains, but once a year I end up in the E.R. and get a shot of Toradol 60 mg IM along with a Rx of Prednisone for 4 days, which has helped greatly.
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So interesting. I have scoliosis and have butt and leg pain.  Did the toradol help you?
20803600 tn?1546262537
COMMUNITY LEADER
Did you have hardware places during the Fusion? When was the latest MRI done? Since the bowling incident?
You may have loosened the hardware or the screws.
If you have not had a new MRI since the bowling incident, it might be a good idea to talk to your surgeon about getting one.
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2 Comments
I had an MRI after the incident and since and the radiologist didn't say anything about it looking like something was wrong with it.
MRI looks at the soft tissues and a CT scan looks at bone. It might be worthwhile asking the surgeon to order a CT scan and look at the screws and hardware to make sure there is no shifting or loosening.
Avatar universal
I’m really glad you’ve got an appointment with a different doctor!
I am coming up on 12 yrs post fusion after 2 previous lumbar surgeries and I have worse pain then I had before the fusion. That’s why I was hoping that you you weren’t having pain before.  I don’t know if your doctor gave you a weight limit but mine said no more then 10lbs.  I’m not sure how much a bowling ball weighs. Maybe some physical therapy can get you back to where you were before the last session of bowling? I’m so sorry your going thru this. If I can help at all please let me know.
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5 Comments
I have had pain before and after surgery but my stupid surgeon acted like it was nothing.  I was never given a weight limit and that hasn't been a problem.  I was in PT after my surgery all through Jan of 2018 and that never helped my pain in my buttock/tailbone area so I just don't get it.  I am just anxious to find out what all this pain and snapping deep in my butt cheek is and what we can do about it. We have a trip to Alaska coming up in July and there is no way I will be able to set on an Airplane for 8hrs when I can't even drive 22 miles without excruciating pain.
I’m really sorry to hear how bad your doing. Unfortunately your recovery sounds a lot like mine went. I know there is a condition that can cause the symptoms you are experiencing (I think it’s called arachnoiditis.  I hope your able to find out what’s hurting so your feeling better for your trip. When is your appointment?
Thank you. My apt with the new surgeon is the 18th of March, wishing it was sooner.  We have lots of snow here and I would love to go sledding with my little ones but I can't even push them on their sleds, can't hardly get my dam boot off the right foot without help due to it hurts so back in the butt/leg to do so.  
I hear you! Call the office and see if they have a cancellation list they can put you on for a sooner appointment. I also get the whole wanting to do stuff with your kids. You and I are only a year apart in age and I have two small kids that want me to be able to do stuff with them. I’m hoping to go to the snow with them very soon too for my daughters b day coming up real soon.
Are you taking any meds for nerve pain. Maybe that is something your old doc can do for you while your waiting for your second opinion. If it’s nerve related Lyrica and Gabapentin will help.  It’s worth a shot....worse he can say is no. I hope something helps you very soon!
I have to have another fusion this time the L4-5 due to my spine being unstable.  I will do that the 28th of May.  Praying this works!!!
Avatar universal
what does your surgeon say about the pain your experiencing after having another MRI done? It seems like you had minimal pain prior to bowling....is that correct? You can still have pain with  a solid fusion and an MRI that doesn’t show much. I sure hope that’s not the case for you
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2 Comments
My surgeon hasn't seen me since my 6mth check up and even then I still complained about he pain around my tailbone area and how if I stand to long my back kills me and acts like it wants to lock up!  I am getting referred to another surgeon since the one who did my surgery don't care what else is going on with me.  Prior to the night I bowled and something snapped in my buttock region, I had bowled a couple times and didn't have any problems what so ever but now I have to be careful what I do or I tweak that spot and it will fell as tho it's snapping again and the pain is awful.  When I drive and have to use my cruise control my lower back, buttock region and on down my leg hurts and burns so bad, I just have no idea what's going on.
My husband has a very similar “butt cheek pain” that ails him 4-5 times a year. It was diagnosed as Pyramidus Mucle/Nerve Inflammation, usually but not always triggered by exertion.
The orthopedist has given him stretching exercises, similar to getting into fetal position and stretching the leg til he feels some relief in the buttock. He also prescribed Meloxicam for swelling, and gives him a shot of 80mg of Decadron (a steroid.)
My husband seems okay with this treatment, although that shot deep in the arse is not fun.
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