6/3 lumbar fusion; how long should radicular nerve pain last?

Backtracking to January 10, I had a 2-level cervical fusion. The nerve pain radiating down my right arm ceased within 48 hours.

I had a 2-level lumbar fusion on June 3, with an extra day in the hospital for pain management. During my stay my leg pain was pretty subdued. Two days after my discharge, I went to the ER with uncontrollable pain as well as pain spikes, where I was treated and released.

Last week I saw my surgeon's PA for under-managed pain. I was given a steroid injection plus a script for a steroid pack. I took the last pill this morning, but the unrelenting pain down my left leg has been horrible for the last few days.

Now what? The ER doc told me that if I came back I would probably be admitted for a day or 2, to try to find out why the pain was so unmanageable. The pain is not surgical pain; it is intense and intractable. I can't even tolerate a sheet on my leg. It hurts less when I am up and walking around the house, but I can't do that for very long and can seldom sleep.

I take a LOT of opiate meds as well as muscle relaxers, resulting from the last 5 years of intractable pain. These were increased slightly after surgery but are still inadequate.

Making matter worse is travel in the near future. A 3-hour drive to see my daughter, who is having twins today, followed by an additional hour drive for my father-in-law's funeral services (he died Friday night).

Dear straydog, thank you so much for your reply. Yes, I've been on neurontin for several years and am currently on quite a high dose (1600mg am and bedtime, plus 800 midday). My back injury is quite old and has had surgery before (2 laminectomies plus a spinal cord simulator implant), but nothing like this! I've been avoiding fusion for 24 years, but the time had come, especially given the large amount of narcotics I was taking.

I will try again to convey the degree of pain to my surgeon, and reconsider another visit to the ER.

Thanks again for your help.

Arizona when you say it hurts for the sheet to touch your leg, is there anything else going on with that leg like,temperature change in the skin going hot to cold, does it ever look like the skin is mottled, any swelling?

Just doing some thinking. You sure have had more than your fair share with this mess. Take care..Susie

Straydog, thank you for asking. we've been keeping a close eye on it, and I'm having none of those symptoms. The nerve pain has eased a lot today. I hope the change is permanent, but time will tell, especially how I sleep and feel tonight.

It's not only one day at a time, it's one hour at a time, isn't it? Sigh, I want to get well! Thank you all for you answers and concerns.