Two years after L4/5 discectomy

[Cool]

Hi, I am totally new to this, can anyone please advise.
I injured my back as a teen, 30 years ago, recurring back problems ever since. Only had leg pain before pregnancy at age 29, no back pain for five years after pregnancy. Then approx. twice yearly , what I was advised by chiropractors to be muscle spasms in left lower back. Episodes of the years became more frequent, have seen more chiros, advised twisted pelvis, given heel lifts, no change, seen physios, other osteopaths. Basically spent fortunes. In the end paid privately to see neurosurgen and paid for own MRIS. Advised quote
L4/5 loss normal disc height and T2 signal. Broadbased disc protrusion indenting the thecal sac. Bilateral facet disease resulting in moderate narrowing of central canal.". The surgeon recommended discectomy. I trusted him. Two years on, still not back at work, no old back spasms. but pain in left leg and numbness, loss of feeling in left arm and hand, continual lower back bain, and can only sit in proper position for 20 minutes, before needing to lay down. I take eight neurofen to ge me thru the day otherwise would be house bound. I have been referred the pain clinic. Need to go back to work. Sorry so long winded. Has anyone out there experienced anything similar. Very depressed, am worse off now than I was before.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Cruz C]

Unfortunately lissy, you are amongst kindred spirits on this forum, take time to look through the posts and you will see that you are not alone!
You will find solice, support, help and positive & practical suggestions from other Members who have suffered the same as you or 'worse' and understand your situation all to well.

New, different or worstening pains developing after surgery are not uncommon, the possible causes include, but are not limited to:
Wrong diagnosis.
Wrong operating area.
The destruction or damage of healthy tissue, nerves, muscles and bone during the procedure to gain entry to the working area.
Poor quality of decompression procedure itself.
Debris left in spinal or foraminal canals after the Procedure.
and so on.

Your left sided pain would suggest to me that you 'still have problems' at your L 4/5 level (posterior left), because this is the level where the sciatic nerve leaves the spinal column and goes down your bottocks & thigh and on to your left leg. However, if the pain and numbness in the left leg are in the back of the leg (like calve muscles) you my have problems at your L 5/S1 level instead, or as well as.

My personal advice would be, to find, commision and fund another private (second opinion) post operation MRI, to be carried out at an MRI Centre which is based as far away as you can physically manage and far away from the financial influences of your local trust/board area. Try:
Loadstone, BMI, Bupa or Spires.

There is also an up to date MRI machine in Gloucester, which is a state of the art 'doughnut type' machine instead of the tunnel version for those who are clostraphobic. The last time I looked it seemed quite reasonably priced.

The Loadstone MRI Centre that I used, not only reported on findings of their new MRI, but they also reviewed my 'original NHS MRI' and reported on the differences between the 2 Scans & between the 2 written reports which gave me a good (before and after) picture of my condition. You can request a copy of these scans and reports usually for a small fee (£10-£20)

Just a word of warning. you should only be taking a maximum of 1200mgs Ibuprofen per day, if you take any more on a regular basis they could cause serious problems. Be careful and get advive from your GP or pain clinic, perhaps they can proscribe different tablets to make up difference.

I hoped this helped.

Best wishes

SPINELF

 

[Amanda R]

hi spinelf, thank you so much for your help, and advice. going down the second opinion route was my gut feeling too. I know I shouldnt really consume so my anti flamatories, my next immediate port of call is to get some relief from the pain clinic, hopefully via injections. I have read a good deal of the threads and I know that there are numerous people alot worse off than myself, but as you can appreciate I never thought I would be worse off than before the op. I feel butchered, I will take all your advice on board and keep you informed. Thanks v.much again.

 

[Sarah Saxby]

Lissy, I would ask your gp for a pain management clinic appt. They will be able to give you better pain control and probably take you off the Ibobrufen and onto a better anti inflammatory. Take alist of questions with you when yo ugo see the gp too, they should be able to offer other meds that will help whilst you are waiting.

{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}} to you xxxxxxxxx

 

[Jane Mcgow]

Lissy,

Good that you have found this forum, there are some really kind hearted people on here, Spineelf and Cassie will give you great advice and make you feel less isolated - good people and they really do know what they are talking about too!!

Hope you get some positive action soon,

Essexboy.

 

[Chutch]

Essexboy, you are totally right about these pages, they have a wealth of information and are a lifeline with so many people that understand because we are all going through similar things.

Take care xxxx

 

[flsmoaacz]

Thank you essexboy, you are too kind!

Best of luck lissy, come back soon and let us know how you got on!!

Mery christmas

spinelf

 

[Dominique]

Thank you to you all for most kind words. Sorry not logged on since Dec.
PC problems mainly.
Am off to Pain Clinic soon - going to be very long winded I fear, to start with they want to look at my tens m/c and see if they have better one etc. But I have been put on waiting list for an injection in the meantime.
Also told to take Amitripylene for better sleep, but no change there.
Am also going to see GP next week for meds review, as neurofen now letting me down. Am hoping just the cold weather, and not getting any worse (if that is possible).
Has anyone had any problems with numbness in their arms following surgery. They have ruled out not coming from neck (as this knackered too) after MRI results.
Regards to you all.

 

[DizzyLorii]

Hi Lissy, its nice to see you back on thread! I hope you are well.

I hope you had good advice from Pain clinic.

I found that when I take amitripilyne (20-30mgs) at 5 - 6 pm, I get 'dopey' at around 8 - 9 pm and 'dog tired' at 10 pm. After a light pre-bed exercise, I have a good night sleep without experiencing to much 'morning dopeyness'

Numbness in the arms and hands would suggest to me a C 6/7 impingement, as these levels are where the nerves travel from down from the spinal column to the arms and hands. This may be just because of muscle spasms. If you are seeing a Osteopath or similar Therapists, ask him/her to try and release any tightness in that level, I find it works for me.

Best wishes.

SPINELF

 

[Cenymunsth]

Dear Spinelf,
Thanks for your reply. I have had previous MRI on my neck and these show no abnormalities, have been told all wear and tear. The pain clinic want me to take two amitripylene now and the my GP wants me on different pain killers. Have tried Tramadol, but spaced out and sidky. Have been given Codipar to try with diclofenac, but hate paracetemol as makes me feel sick and constipated. Dont really want to go on codine either. Can you suggest/recommend anything else.
Am trying the Tramadol again, but only taking half the dosage. Still a bit dopey, but am going to try and persevere as they did work for pain releif.

Hope all good with you and that you are having a good weekend.
Regards
Yvonne

 

[vhnvorjj]

I'm glad your neck shows no abnormalities, I would in that case, still reccomend a visit to an Osteopath or other massaging therapists to try and release any spasming reactive muscles in that area by techniques such as butterfly lifts. It works for me!
(I have this problem its a stuburn pig!!)

Regarding the tablets Lissy, have you seen the pain clinic yet?

I sticking to paracetamol, ibuprofen, codiene phosphate and 10-25mgs of amitriptilyne at 5-6 pm, because everything else makes me dangerously dopey or gives me a rotten stomach.

Take care.

SPINELF