4 months post op L5-S1 fusion.. need some insight for pain please..possible epidural fibrosis

Good evening,
This is my first time being on here so I'm hoping I don't bore you with the same question/issue you all have probably heard many times before on here.

I had a L5/S1 fusion done in March 2013 stemming from an auto accident last June. The numbness that I was having in my left leg has gone since my surgery, however I still have a lot of pressure and quite a bit of pain in my lower back. My hips ache a lot, and have started having pains that shoot down the front and middle of my left thigh occasionally. To top it off, I keep having horrible headaches. My surgeon is the type that comes in and see's you for 5 minutes, tells you that your healing fine and leaves. He has released me back to work for 4 hrs a day, with 25 lb weight restriction and lumbar restrictions (no bending, twisting,etc). Unfortunately, at this time the type of work I was doing before my surgery (working for a company that provides in home health care for elderly patients) doesn't have any clients that would fit my restrictions right now, so I haven't been back to work.
It is a work comp claim because I was on work duty when I was T-boned when a lady ran a red light so work comp has been paying all of my medical bills and then will get reimbursed from the auto insurance company, who has accepted full responsibility for their client running the red light. I have retained an attorney and am not only seeing my neurosurgeon who dismisses my pain and discomfort, but also seeing another doctor that my attorney has sent me to, to manage my pain and relay my issues with as well. I have decided to get a 2nd opinion from an orthopedic surgeon on my recovery, but I can't get in until the 30th of this month.
Here's my issues with my neurosurgeon. Before my first two post op appointments, he had me go get xrays so he could see how the bone growth was on top of the metal placement in my back. He said those were fine. I have been to see him 4 times since my surgery and he basically dismisses my pain issues. Every visit, I make sure I bring in a list of the symptoms/issues that I am still having and put it in my file. I don't want him coming back and saying that I have never complained about having issues. My second to the last appointment, he decided to send me into have another MRI due to my complaints (again, I think he thinks I'm full of it). In all of his doc reports after my visits he has said that I'm recovering great, and this visit from my MRI review, he put in his report that I am complaining about pain issues so the MRI was ordered. Then he put that my MRI looked fine as well as saying that he reviewed the radiologists report on the MRI and there was nothing wrong. This is very frustrating.
I obtained a copy of my MRI report and reviewed it. It says that I have 2 mild to moderate bulging discs, one at the L3 and one at the L4 level I believe. It said that the discs were not compressing any nerves. It went on to say that at the L5 level I have "epidural fibrosis" around a nerve sac, but said that it didn't look like it was compressing nerves.
I have looked up the definition of this and am seeing that it is scar tissue that will never go away and that people who have this usually experience the pain and discomfort I am having. It pisses me off that my doctor didn't even mention any of this in his appointment report. The other doctor that I am seeing from the attorney says that he's not too concerned about the bulging discs, but is about the epidural fibrosis.
Has anyone else heard of this, or can give me some insight on what I may be missing and my surgeon obviously isn't acknowledging? I'm frustrated and tired of being in pain. Some days are way too painful.
Thank you.

Hi Gena & welcome to the chronic pain forum. After reading your story it sounds like you are really having a difficult time. Hopefully soon the drs can get you feeling better.

You mentioned having bulging disc at a couple of levels and apparently you did not know they were there. There are a couple of things here that may be the answer to this. Before you had surgery I am assuming you had an MRI done on your back. Have you ever seen the written report of that MRI? If not I suggest getting a copy of it & compare it to the most recent MRI report. It is possible they were there but because they appeared to not be the levels involved causing you pain it was best to leave those alone. Another possibility is sometimes when a fusion is done the stress can cause a problem either above or below the fusion. A lot of people have bulging disc and do not know it until they have some sort of a trauma or an accident. Then they have an MRI and there is it bulging and they had no idea. Drs do not operate on all bugling disc either.

Everyone pretty much builds up scar tissue when there is a surgery involved. Some people may build up more than another person. I am one that builds up quite a bit. When back surgery is done there is always some scar tissue involved. Yes, some times people need surgery to remove scar tissue especially if the scar tissue is messing with a nerve, but this is not to say you will need another surgery. Generally when someone has a fusion it takes a at least a year some times longer to completely heal & recover from the surgery. It really sounds like you are doing pretty good especially since its only been 4 months since surgery. It really has not been that long since surgery. By CHance does any of your drs have you on a muscle relaxer? If not you may want to ask one of them to give you a script for a muscle relaxer. I feel quite certain you probably have a good bit of muscle spasms going on.

Any way, I wanted to pop on tell you hello & welcome to the forum......Susie