Back surgery on L1 thro to L5-S1

[vivb]

Have already had surgery Bilateral rods & pedicle screws maintaining posterior fusion at L4-L5. There Schmorl's node herniation into superior surface of L4. Surgery went great, felt great upto last year. Then excrutiating pain in the left leg and numbness. Now Doctors tell me that one of the screws in last surgery did not heal properly. Am waiting for appointment to get a nerve blockage for pain, but need to have L1 thro to L5-S1 operated on. I can find no information regarding the major surgery. Can you give me any information on this surgery?Am really in a lot of pain. Can't sit for more than 5 min, walk too good as left leg & foot numb.  Lucky if I get 1hr sleep at a time.HELP
Thanks


This discussion is related to Lumber Disc L 3-4-5 S1.

[Chiquito]

I had my MRI taken yesterday. They showed a "abnormal disd L4 . The doctor recomended a disco gram and to decide about sergery. All the MRI shown to me just looked darker than the resr and alittle diffent shape kinda longer just a little diffrent shape at one edge of the disk. Any one know any thing about this what would u do.  He also said if i could deal with the pain not to do surgery what advices do ull have? Thanks alot

[Job777]

I sympathize, since I'm scheduled for surgery on L4-5 and, I believe, L5-S1, July 14.  Can anyone out there (in here) answer our questions?  I too have trouble because of extreme 23-year-old pain.  That's a real bummer that you have to repeat surgery.  I can also sympathize with you, since I had to have repeat neck surgery in 2004.  What advice would you folks for people like vivb and me as we wait for surgery?  I read that 80% of people get relief from leg and foot pain.  Which level controls the nerves going to the feet?  What percentage of patients are paralyzed by the surgery on the back nerves?  Thanks for your responses.  May God give you and me relief!