My back surgery failed

[Wag]

Well, I am about six weeks into recovering from lower lumbar fusion and I'm in worse pain than I was before. Now I am pretty much completely disabled. The surgeon acknowledged I had another problem the surgery probably would not help me with but he said nothing about the possibility of making it worse.

In two weeks I see the surgeon for a follow up and right after I see another neurosurgeon about another problem. It looks like another surgery is in the future because I can't function this way. I just lie around in bed all day, any kind of minor activity or sitting exacerbates it.

I'm devestated. I live alone, I'm not sure if I can continue this way but really have no other options.

Don't have major surgery alone, it's too difficult

 

[Deleted member 8861]

Oh no. :( I'm sorry

 

[echoshifting]

Oh no, I am so sorry to hear this Wag

 

[AlteredBeast]

Damn, man, sorry to hear that? Are you in a post-acute rehab place? Medicare or Medicaid?

 

[Soliloquy of a Dogge]

I am so sorry OP. I feel your pain. I've herniated two discs and had discectomy surgery that seems to have helped to alleviate the insane pain I was suffering from. There are days where I still have trouble moving though and I'm worried that fusion surgery is in my future.

I really hope things get better for you and there's a solution that can be found.

 

[Soundscream]

Sorry to hear that.

Living alone with a back injury is the worst. I'm at somewhere near 90% recovered since my injury almost 2 years ago, and the recovery process has sucked ass.

 

[echoshifting]

Fusions are so scary, it was really irresponsible of your surgeon to not prepare you for the possibility of things getting worse. I hear about stories like that all the time in the local chronic pain community

 

[Wag]

Damn, man, sorry to hear that? Are you in a post-acute rehab place? Medicare or Medicaid?

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No, I can walk, I'm just in a lot of pain. They usually send you home after a fusion, I won't even start outpatient pt until the follow up. There's not a lot of point in doing pt because I'm in so much pain.

Most likely part of it is the meralgia parasthetica. My right thigh is completely numb and have excruciating pain in my hip/lower back.

 

[Isilia]

Wife's mother went through back surgery that thankfully went well. If he did not warn you at any step, especially in the papers you signed, you probably need to speak to a lawyer.

 

[Matsukaze]

I'm sorry things have gone poorly. I really hope that things get better in the near future and that your pain recedes soon.

 

[Citizencope]

I'm so sorry. I do know two friends that had back surgery and both had to go back for a second surgery.

Not trying to give you false hope as every situation is different but I'm hoping the doctors can get this right.

 

[Hollywood Duo]

Damn OP I hope you can recover

 

[bluexy]

I'm so sorry you're having to go through this, Wag. Really cheering for you to get the support you need from your doctors so you can be pain-free, mobile, and happy.

 

[Wag]

Wife's mother went through back surgery that thankfully went well. If he did not warn you at any step, especially in the papers you signed, you probably need to speak to a lawyer.

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I knew there was a possibility but we never discussed it, and we didn't discuss it making my other problem worse (if that is what it is, I don't even know). It was definitely in the paperwork. But nobody, not the surgeon or the nurse who works with him ever mentioned the possibility.

Having a neurectomy is not high on my list of things to do. I don't know how disabled I will be after that.

 

[Isilia]

If it was in the papers you signed, there is no legal recourse. It's just going to be a poor situation.

I feel for you. She is recovering now and just now got to the point she is somewhat independent. Hang in there.

 

[SolVanderlyn]

Really sorry to hear that. Hope your follow-up sheds light on the situation and gives you some options on where to go from here. Keep us posted.

 

[Nepenthe]

I'm sorry OP. I'm hoping this is just a setback and you can get on the road to a better quality of life.

 

[echoshifting]

Wag, I may have mentioned this to you before but have you talked to your surgeons about a spinal cord stimulator? The newer models are really impressive. Mine changed my life. The neurosurgeon you are seeing should know a lot about them.

 

[Wag]

Wag, I may have mentioned this to you before but have you talked to your surgeons about a spinal cord stimulator? The newer models are really impressive. Mine changed my life. The neurosurgeon you are seeing should know a lot about them.

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The other neurosurgeon I see at mgh after my follow up is a nerve pain specialist. I think meralgia parasthetica requires a neurectomy. I already had a nerve block injection before the surgery which didn't work. But I don't even know what's wrong at this point.

 

[echoshifting]

The other neurosurgeon I see at mgh after my follow up is a nerve pain specialist. I think meralgia parasthetica requires a neurectomy. I already had a nerve block injection before the surgery which didn't work. But I don't even know what's wrong at this point.

Click to shrink...

For whatever it's worth, meralgia parasthetica is one of the things I deal with myself, and I can set my stimulator to totally block that pain when I need to. I get 70-80% relief with the push of a button.

 

[Wag]

For whatever it's worth, meralgia parasthetica is one of the things I deal with myself, and I can set my stimulator to totally block that pain when I need to. I get 70-80% relief with the push of a button.

Click to shrink...

My right thigh has been numb for almost 2yrs now. The fusion just made the pain much worse, I think the pain I'm having in my lower back/hip is related to it. My leg hurts me so much now, unfortunately it's my driving leg.

 

[Mana Latte]

How old are you OP if you don't mind me asking? I have major back issues at 31 since I was 23 and they won't operate on me because I'm not old enough for them. I ask cause eventually I'll need it but this makes me hesitant

 

[echoshifting]

My right thigh has been numb for almost 2yrs now. The fusion just made the pain much worse, I think the pain I'm having in my lower back/hip is related to it. My leg hurts me so much now, unfortunately it's my driving leg.

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Ha ha, it's my right leg too. Outer numbness, stinging pain, stabbing sometimes, itches I can't scratch, it fucking sucks. Going on about thirteen years now.

I don't want to keep harping on it, I just don't want you to give up hope man! I'm really pulling for you. I dug up a study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/16850089/

 

[Dennis8K]

Really sorry to hear that, man.

 

[Deleted member 60582]

I'm sorry you're going through this. I hurt my back last year simply getting up off the floor after playing with my dog and had to use a cane for a full week, I can only imagine how you're feeling.

Fucked up that our doctor didn't even go over the possibilities with you, even though you both knew what could happen.

 

[Wag]

Ha ha, it's my right leg too. Outer numbness, stinging pain, stabbing sometimes, itches I can't scratch, it fucking sucks. Going on about thirteen years now.

I don't want to keep harping on it, I just don't want you to give up hope man! I'm really pulling for you. I dug up a study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/16850089/

Click to shrink...

Thx. I'll mention it to the neurosurgeon.

I can't function this way anymore, I can't drive, walk, anything without extreme pain. It needs to be treated along with my lower back pain.

 

[Nightwing123]

Damn OP I'm so sorry this happened to you. I hope things get better in the future.

 

[Deleted member 437]

Hey OP, do you have a thread where you go into more detail about your back?

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

Back surgery is an iffy proposition, hope things get better for you soon.

 

[Dog]

So sorry, I really hope things improve for you. My mum's probably going to need major neck surgery/fusion herself in the coming years not cool.

Your Dr not talking to you about the potential problems is wrong.

 

[Morrison71]

I'm sorry to hear that. Stay strong and try to keep a positive attitude. I wish you the best down the road.

 

[Deleted member 25606]

That's horrible I am so sorry. Kind of had to sit with my leg up a lot and if I go too far am shot for the rest of the day. I just got a new doctor and getting back into my proper medicine routine means no anti-inflamatories, Advil, Ibuprofen, or anything else that is anti-coagulant, can only use Tylenol and that doesn't help my leg.

Plus was honest since weeds legal and while surprisingly she doesn't have an issue with that she does want me off for two weeks (along with a bunch of other stuff) for her benefit and finding a baseline for me, plus I see the hematologist Wednesday.

So not my back but I get chronic pain, being stuck in one place, etc. Bonus points for being the leg that gets the most clots (running double numbers on DVT's with that leg) so I can't move, and sitting still is not a smart solution for my condition either.

But I hope you get better and they can get you fixed up, this kind of stuff sucks.

 

[Wag]

Hey OP, do you have a thread where you go into more detail about your back?

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There are a few I've posted. Basically I've had chronic lower back problems my whole adult life, I had a laminectomy at L4L5/S1 when I was 24, and now (51) I just had a lumbar fusion at the same place.

 

[Nothing Loud]

Well, I am about six weeks into recovering from lower lumbar fusion and I'm in worse pain than I was before. Now I am pretty much completely disabled. The surgeon acknowledged I had another problem the surgery probably would not help me with but he said nothing about the possibility of making it worse.

In two weeks I see the surgeon for a follow up and right after I see another neurosurgeon about another problem. It looks like another surgery is in the future because I can't function this way. I just lie around in bed all day, any kind of minor activity or sitting exacerbates it.

I'm devestated. I live alone, I'm not sure if I can continue this way but really have no other options.

Don't have major surgery alone, it's too difficult

Click to shrink...

are you the member where we said be careful with going forward with back surgery at such a young age? Edit: maybe not since you're 51. Back surgery is often not successful at reducing pain or increasing mobility. Did your surgeon explain these risks to you? I am so sorry to hear that it did not go well.

 

[Vilix]

I'm really sorry chief. 😕

 

[Kschreck]

I messed up two discs in my back and my legs cramp up bad daily in my lower legs. For years, daily, sometimes so bad that I cannot walk and yet doctors say they see no connection to the back. Every day if my life in the last 4 years has been hell. :(

 

[Nostremitus]

I've had two microdiscectomies and a fusion is in my future, this makes me a bit nervous...

 

[Raccoon]

I am so sorry OP. I feel your pain. I've herniated two discs and had discectomy surgery that seems to have helped to alleviate the insane pain I was suffering from. There are days where I still have trouble moving though and I'm worried that fusion surgery is in my future.

I really hope things get better for you and there's a solution that can be found.

Click to shrink...

forums are so strange

I read this and think "oh my god I'm so sorry guy whose thread about white milk made me laugh for an entire two hour road trip"

I feel more sympathy for you than I probably would most classmates

life's funny I guess

 

[MechaX]

Damn OP. I dunno if you live in the US but hopefully you can qualify for early Social Security Disability.

I deal a lot in Work Comp law and failed back syndrome/failed fusions are no fucking joke. God speed

 

[gnomed]

Sorry to hear, hope you can pull through from this.

 

[Soliloquy of a Dogge]

forums are so strange

I read this and think "oh my god I'm so sorry guy whose thread about white milk made me laugh for an entire two hour road trip"

I feel more sympathy for you than I probably would most classmates

life's funny I guess

Click to shrink...

🤗

Likewise lol.

This forum feels more familiar and like more of a community to me than a lot of my real life interactions... is that a good thing or a bad thing?

 

[leeky]

I'm so fucking sorry to hear this. I hope you are able to make a recovery or your situation improves soon. Back problems suck so damn much. My mom's side of the fam has a history of slipped discs herniated discs. Feel for you.

 

[AbsoluteZero0K]

I could not even imagine. My condolences.

 

[Effect]

Shit. I'm really sorry you're going through this Wag. I really hope this can be addressed and soon.

 

[Wag]

Damn OP. I dunno if you live in the US but hopefully you can qualify for early Social Security Disability.

I deal a lot in Work Comp law and failed back syndrome/failed fusions are no fucking joke. God speed

Click to shrink...

Already have it. It's not enough to live on. Even if it was, I want to work. I'm bored out of my mind.

 

[Wag]

I'm pretty devastated right now. Any walking or sitting more than a few minutes at a time causes extreme pain. I'm having intense sciatic pain into my left foot and my whole lower right side from my back down is messed up.

I need to go into Boston next Fri to see my surgeon and then another for my other issues. It's an all day ordeal and I really don't want to do it. Besides the fact MGH is extremely busy and is pretty much Coronavirus Central.

My main fear is that if this continues I will end up in a shitty nursing home because I have no income, can't drive anymore and really have no way of supporting myself.

 

[Apoplectoad]

The other neurosurgeon I see at mgh after my follow up is a nerve pain specialist. I think meralgia parasthetica requires a neurectomy. I already had a nerve block injection before the surgery which didn't work. But I don't even know what's wrong at this point.

Click to shrink...

I'd be careful with implanted devices, I had a full rejection with a dorsal root ganglion stimulator and my life has been hell since. My body pushed something the size of an iPhone out through the incision. You're in enough pain, you don't need to risk it.
I have something similar just it runs from the base of my spinal cord to the base of my foot, I know what you're going through with this. Hopefully you can find some kind of relief.

 

[spineduke]

that sounds really rough, is there normally a risk with back surgery further exacerbating the problem?

what kind of follow up options do you have that don't put you at further risk?

 

[The Praiseworthy]

I'm very deeply sorry to hear that... if I was living close to you I would have offered my help whenever you need :-(

Don't give up, you never know what the future might hold for you.

 

[Wag]

that sounds really rough, is there normally a risk with back surgery further exacerbating the problem?

what kind of follow up options do you have that don't put you at further risk?

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There's not much I can do at this point. Every subsequent surgery has a 50% risk of failure.

Before the surgery, even though I was pain I was able to walk a few miles each day for exercise, now I can't even walk a few blocks, drive, go shopping, and I'm in even more pain than I was before the surgery.