Lumbar Drainage Tube

Recently, I had a cervical discectomy and corpectomy in C3-C6. They also had to replace a small portion of the Dura covering the spinal canal due to calcification. When I woke up from the surgery, I was told I had a lumbar drainage tube in that had to stay in place for 5 days and was put in ICU. On the forth day I believe, they turned me over to check the tube as they did on a regular basis but this time when they turned me back over, it felt as if both of my legs were wrapped in electrical current that extended from my lower back down through my legs down to my feet and toes. When I screamed, they turned me back over to check it and then I had excruciating pains down my legs. As soon as the ICU doctor moved the tube, the pain was gone but I had serious problems with walking, sitting and getting up. It eventually got better but from time to time I have problems. Can someone tell me what happened and if this is permanent.

Hi Susie.

It was placed because a portion of the Dura had to be replaced in my cervical spine during the surgery and they had to keep my spinal fluid below that level so that area could heal. Prior to the surgery I had been diagnosed with cervical Spondylosis with myelopathy.

I'm not sure I understand the lumbar drain for a cervical issue and I read what you said they said,just not ever seen one done that way and simply can't understand the pathology of how that would work. However I imagine when they repositioned you they caused the drain placement to shift allowing for some contact with either a spinal nerve or the sciatic nerve causing the initial issue. Back to pathology any trauma to either nerve can be a long-term problem or at the least take a long time recuperating and recovering from the trauma such as they are. Nerve cells are the slowest cells to repair and regenerate if they ever do.

Time is your best bet.