Feeling Nerve Pain 11 months After Lumbar Fusion

Just like you, my doctors tell me I "shouldn't" be in this much pain, that it should all be healed and gone away by now.  I get the feeling they think I'm trying to milk this, but the truth is, this is not over.

I did have severe complications (a few of them) after my right hip replacement, and my right thigh is 3" larger than my left, so when I walk, my gait is severely compromised.

That of course, affects my low back.

My neuro (who I happen to love) told me that regarding the nerve damage causing my foot drop, to give it 14-16 months (and in that time, the maximum healing would occur).  Because I had such progressive stenosis and structural damage, they did what was called "spinal reconstruction," and he told me to be patient, and to give it up to two YEARS to see what changes will evolve.

For the first ten MONTHS, I was in a lot more pain than I am now.  Things are only now slowly subsiding, but activity can kick things back up.

When we have hardware in our back, it's my opinion we can contribute to "failed back surgery" when we don't accept, realize, and respect the fact our vertebrae are fused.  Especially with L5/S1, you will never have that flexibility back again,...as with all fusions, but in particular, that region is very tough.

Trying to bend, lift, and twist as if you had a "normal" spine without hardware, will only make things worse.

It may be too soon yet.  I would let my body continue its healing process.

If it's nerve pain, you need to be aggressively tackling that in PT because you're on borrowed time, in a window, to maximize the regeneration.

As for the pain,....that can take a while.  I'm not sure, but for me personally, I wouldn't subject my healing body to injections or anything invasive until it has the time to fully repair.

M.

I've found the "first line of defense" with many doctors is to send you off for injections.  Don't get me wrong, I get injections for both my shoulders.

But when it comes to the spine, I think it's what doctors do who don't want to deal with us, or who can't deal with us.  When there's such a profit to be made, I tend to lose faith in the actual process.  Not to mention, -- especially after what I went through with my back surgery, -- I would not allow a needle near my spine, especially because, in my opinion, little regard is given when patients have DDD or stenosis, and our anatomy is extremely tenuous to begin with, never mind guiding a needle in there!

I think Susie has the right idea, and seeing a neuro (outside the environment), getting another opinion, and seeking out other options.

To be told our pain isn't real, or that we "should be over it," is irresponsible and it sets us up for a long battle and defensive fight trying to justify what we know our bodies are going through.

I filed in May for Disability and nothing has come through yet.  For the past 15 years (prior to things sliding downhill) I worked, quite successfully, as a personal trainer.  I was recruited the last two jobs I had, so I'm not even familiar with resumes.

That is what I'm highly trained in and very good at.  That is where my confidence peaks and soars.  But I don't really see myself being able to do that again, although I don't want to give up the dream that some day enough healing will occur and my pain will be managed enough, that I can return.

Like you, I have great difficulties with endurance.  Sitting, standing, walking, stairs, lifting, bending....I have to break everything down into tiny chunks.  I know that doesn't make me a very viable candidate for employment.  (That, and I trip a lot because I have drop foot, and even with a carbon fiber brace, I'm unstable).

M.

I filed once, around 2 years ago, doing it on my own.  I just couldn't follow up or follow through on it.  It was so overwhelming.

I hired a law firm that deals exclusively with Disability now, so they do the leg work and keep me up to date.

M.

M.