Re: Back Surgery effects

[Guest guest]

Hi I had back surgery in April and my right leg is now dumb from the inside of

my right thigh down past the knee to my calf. My back surgeon says it has

something to do with my CMT even though he really isnt sure.. I feel he hit a

nerve when he was doing the surgery and wouldn't take the blame for it. I also

have horrible sciatica nerve pain on the right side. Perhaps maybe he was right

that the nerve pain and numbness is due to my CMT. They told me about a year it

should come back. Its been 5 months and I have seen and felt some improvement

but not much. I am still thinking he hit a nerve because I couldn't walk for 3

weeks with my entire right leg being in pain and numb.

Carol

[Guest guest]

Carol,

I too had back surgery in April. This was my 2nd, the first in 2002 was for a

ruptured disk, April's surgery was for a different problem, bone squishing

nerves, that caused hip pain, but nothing in thigh and leg. My surgeon is very

conservative, we tried everything both times before surgery ( i.e., PT, chiro,

Eidurals, Facet Joint injections, experimental Enbrel. Nothing worked to

allievate the pain.

So I have had 2 very successful fusions (first fusion at L5 S1), was on IV

antibiotics during surgery and a few days after. Was up and walking the next day

both times. Had PT for 2 weeks following the first surgery, but only 5 days

following the 2nd.

Any pain I had was post-op. The pain was worse after #1 surgery due to the use

of a part of hip bone cut to use in the fusion. At the end of 3 months I was off

all pain meds, and back to regular life and work out. At 6 months the implanted

bone stimulator came out - that was 3 months earlier than usual, so said the

doctor. I had no pain whatsover afterwards.

Back surgery #2 was a little different. Bone was removed (cleaned out) from my

spine to allow pressure off the squished nerves. Then a fusion was done at L4

and L5. No bone was needed as there is some kind of new gel he used, plus

hardware, like #1. I was off all post-up meds within in a month and back to the

gym. The surgeon was amazed that I had so much flexibility so quickly. We agreed

this was possibly a result of me loosing weight and working out regularly

beforehand, as well as not taking pre-op pain medications. Both times I had no

post op complications or problems with pain, whether or not it radiated into my

hips or legs. I had no numbness or nerve pain after the surgeries. It's been

about 5 months since the most recent surgery, I am more active than ever. The

stimulator comes out next month - again, 6 months post-op.

Are you getting physical therapy? May I ask what kind of back surgery you had?

May I ask if it was done by a neurosurgeon or an orthopedist? Both of mine were

done by a highly skilled spine orthopedist.

The purpose of back surgery is to alleviate the pain. I would ask your surgeon

more questions about the surgery - get his written report and find out exactly

what was done. Was it laser, or the gold standard? Then discuss this pain with

him, and if needed get another opinion. If you don't have any hardware inserted,

insist on an MRI or CT with contrast dye which will show the exact problem you

are having now.

Gretchen

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