Foraminotomy, what are the issues (Scar Tissue?)

[JRS11]

Hello all. I have Stenosis I think between S1 and L5. Have had sciatica issues off and on for about 12 years... It has gone down and up....it went haywire in June and has calmed a bit but my quality of life has gone downhill. I know that I probably should have a foraminotomy and want to know if scarring is a big issue (my physical therapist suggest that with proper exercises scarring might be prevented or minimized. Now my entire back is a mess but nobody wants to touch the rest of it as fusing etc. can make my back much less stable than it is now, so a foraminotomy has been suggested and I have appts with some Neurosurgeons and Orthopedic surgeons. Just looking for what others have experienced.

[Gilbert P]

Hey I had one and the scar tissue ,made me worse we nred to talk

Gil

[JRS11]

Hey I had one and the scar tissue ,made me worse we nred to talk

Gil

Thanks Gil, I need to know what happened and if there are ways to avoid it (I know scaring is different for each person).

Thanks again

Joel

[Justin]

Hi Joel,

Welcome to the Spine Patient Society.

Hello all. I have Stenosis I think between S1 and L5. Have had sciatica issues off and on for about 12 years... It has gone down and up....it went haywire in June and has calmed a bit but my quality of life has gone downhill.

I'm sorry to read that you have been dealing with spine issues. However, you are in the right spot for support.

I know that I probably should have a foraminotomy and want to know if scarring is a big issue (my physical therapist suggest that with proper exercises scarring might be prevented or minimized. Now my entire back is a mess but nobody wants to touch the rest of it as fusing etc. can make my back much less stable than it is now, so a foraminotomy has been suggested and I have appts with some Neurosurgeons and Orthopedic surgeons. Just looking for what others have experienced.

Unfortunately, we don't really have a "say" about how much scar tissue the body will produce. It is a natural reparative process that varies greatly from one Spine Patient to the next. However, superficial scar tissue can be manipulated and "broken up." The scar tissue that could potentially form around nerve roots post-operatively is another ball of wax entirely.

Good luck with your neuro/orthopedic surgeon appointments. Please keep us posted--we are here to help!

[JRS11]

Hi Joel,

Welcome to the Spine Patient Society.



I'm sorry to read that you have been dealing with spine issues. However, you are in the right spot for support.



Unfortunately, we don't really have a "say" about how much scar tissue the body will produce. It is a natural reparative process that varies greatly from one Spine Patient to the next. However, superficial scar tissue can be manipulated and "broken up." The scar tissue that could potentially form around nerve roots post-operatively is another ball of wax entirely.

Good luck with your neuro/orthopedic surgeon appointments. Please keep us posted--we are here to help!

Thank you Justin

[Cindylou]

Welcome Joel, Glad you found us. Sorry for the reasons, but this is a great supportive community with lots of folks in similar circumstances (some better, some worse) who can provide the support you are looking for. I will look forward to hearing the results as well, after your ortho appointments. That will get things started, and give you a diagnosis, which is also critical. I know sometimes I have felt like just screaming at the doctor: it hurts right here! Why can't you just figure it out and fix it! Seems like it should be so easy-peasy, to find the source (s) of a pain generator. I have since learned otherwise. However, that is not true for everyone's circumstances. A discogram is also a huge tool to help identify discs that are pain generators, so that may be something to mention at your appointments as well. Good luck! And I look forward to hearing from you again soon, Cindylou