[Micodiscectomy, Laminectomy & Laser Decompression] Debilitating pain 3 weeks after herniated disc surgery (discectomy)?

[Betty]

I can barely type this 3 weeks after surgery because of the uncontrollable pain. I had a herniated disc fixed and a foraninotomy on L4/L5. I am taking 6-8 Percosets a day. Now my leg is burning too.Doc said 5 days ago pain was not normal, did another MRI and said there was nothing serious! What the heck is going on?Surgery seems like the worst mistake I've ever made. I can't stop thinking I will never recover. Have decided a second opinion is in order.I am in Massachusetts.If anyone has anything to add please let me know. Any reccomendations for good surgeons in my area? Thanks folks,Betty

[Gilbert P]

Hi Betty

Try to see another doctor to get another opioion

All The Best

Gil

[KBear]

Welcome Betty. I have zero experience with the surgery you had, so I really don't know what to expect post op. That said, it does sound like your symptoms are pretty extreme after, so I would follow up with another doctor and make sure it's really 'normal.' It is common after spine surgery to have an increase in symptoms, ie. leg pain when you hadn't had it before, nerve pain, more pain, etc. It may be nothing, but I would err on the side of caution and get an opinion or two more.
Kathy

[Betty]

Hi Kathy, thanks for the response. I will see my doc tomorrow. I have my fingers crossed. I just want my life back. Whats your experience with this whole back thing?

[KBear]

Hi Kathy, thanks for the response. I will see my doc tomorrow. I have my fingers crossed. I just want my life back. Whats your experience with this whole back thing?

If you look below my post, in my 'signature' you can see all the treatments I have done. Basically everything conservative known to man, I have tried.... epidural injections, facet injections, physical therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, Idet surgery and so on. I did that stuff for 3 years with no success. I was referred to chronic pain management at 28 years old and told that there was nothing else that could be done for me. I then found a pain management doctor who told me about ADR. I had disc replacement surgery in March of 2009. It took 18 months to fully recover, but I am now pain free and expecting my 3rd child, something I was told would never be possible with my back. It's amazing after 4.5 years of pain to be pain free and I am so very grateful.

[Justin]

I can barely type this 3 weeks after surgery because of the uncontrollable pain. I had a herniated disc fixed and a foraninotomy on L4/L5. I am taking 6-8 Percosets a day. Now my leg is burning too.Doc said 5 days ago pain was not normal, did another MRI and said there was nothing serious! What the heck is going on?Surgery seems like the worst mistake I've ever made. I can't stop thinking I will never recover. Have decided a second opinion is in order.I am in Massachusetts.If anyone has anything to add please let me know. Any reccomendations for good surgeons in my area? Thanks folks,Betty

Hi Betty,

Welcome to the other side of spine surgery. Your post-op pain, this early out--3 weeks, sounds normal to me. The percocet is a short-acting medication for pain. You might want to have a conversation with your surgeon or pain management doctor (or whatever doctor is writing your pain medications) about a long-acting pain med. This long-acting med can be used every 12 hours and then the percocet would be used when you have "break-through" pain.

Many Spine Patients have increased pain post-op.

Can you describe the type of pain you are having (sharp, dull, pins and needles, burning, constant, intermittent, etc.?

If the new MRI looks good and everything looks OK, I would suspect that you pain will decrease over time. Your body just went through a MAJOR surgery and it takes time for the pain to subside. Unfortunately, it's not an over-night thing to start to feel like yourself again.

Please keep us posted.

[Cindylou]

Hi Betty,

Welcome to the other side of spine surgery. Your post-op pain, this early out--3 weeks, sounds normal to me. The percocet is a short-acting medication for pain. You might want to have a conversation with your surgeon or pain management doctor (or whatever doctor is writing your pain medications) about a long-acting pain med. This long-acting med can be used every 12 hours and then the percocet would be used when you have "break-through" pain.

Many Spine Patients have increased pain post-op.

Can you describe the type of pain you are having (sharp, dull, pins and needles, burning, constant, intermittent, etc.?

If the new MRI looks good and everything looks OK, I would suspect that you pain will decrease over time. Your body just went through a MAJOR surgery and it takes time for the pain to subside. Unfortunately, it's not an over-night thing to start to feel like yourself again.

Please keep us posted.

Hi Betty, I definitely agree with Justin. I was just wondering how your appointment went last week. Can you fill us in? Things should begin to calm down but I understand, it is the whole unknown of surgery that can be overwhelming and downright confusing....especially if your surgeon did not make you fully aware you could have increased pain after surgery. Please let us know how you are doing. We care. Cindylou

[Betty]

It's now been 30 days. I'm gettin worse.Saw my surgeon which I have little faith in now, and he just said that there's a small % of patient's that have this prolonged pain after surgery. BS! I now cannot walk or stand without unbelievable pain. I do get to the bathroom. I'm on Oxycodone and Oxycontin and Neurontin. I also now have surface nerve pain on my affected leg (dysesthesia). You can't believe what that's like.I have wrapped it in an ace bandage which helps a bit. I have another appt. for a second opinion with a doc at Beth Israel in Boston. I can't believe what is happening to me. I don't even look like me anymore. I'm hoping that this new doc will see something on my two MRIs that the first one missed. thanks for all the help so far... Betty
ps can i mention doctor's names on this site?

[Cindylou]

It's now been 30 days. I'm gettin worse.Saw my surgeon which I have little faith in now, and he just said that there's a small % of patient's that have this prolonged pain after surgery. BS! I now cannot walk or stand without unbelievable pain. I do get to the bathroom. I'm on Oxycodone and Oxycontin and Neurontin. I also now have surface nerve pain on my affected leg (dysesthesia). You can't believe what that's like.I have wrapped it in an ace bandage which helps a bit. I have another appt. for a second opinion with a doc at Beth Israel in Boston. I can't believe what is happening to me. I don't even look like me anymore. I'm hoping that this new doc will see something on my two MRIs that the first one missed. thanks for all the help so far... Betty
ps can i mention doctor's names on this site?

I am so sorry Betty for your continued increase in pain. Have you had a new MRI or Cat Scan since your surgery? I cannot recall if you said you had or not. Sorry. Yes, you can mention Dr.'s names. I am reconsidering here and am glad you are getting a second opinion, at this point. After 30 days, and this is only my opinion as I am no Dr., but if you are saying your pain symptoms are now worse than beforesurgery at 30 days out, I think a second opinion just could be in order. Again, this is just my 2 cents. It could be absolutely nothing since you are still such early days since surgery, but here's what questions you need to ask yourself before this second opinion, as it is critical to help the doctor help you as best you can. Can you describe your pain? Is it a different pain than pre-surgery? The same pain, only worse? The same pain, with additional worsened pain symptoms? Throbbing? Pulsing? Burning? Aching? Stabbing? Is it constant or intermittent? Does anything make your pain better? What makes it worse? These are all the types of questions this second opinion doc will be asking you, so try to really consider what best fits the type of pain you are having. You'll feel more prepared when you go into the appointment. I actually had a significant increase in pain after my ALIF 2.5 years ago. Now again, increase in pain after surgery is very normal, but mine was stupid, over the top, out of control, pain.....very different from my pre-surgery pain. My descriptors were enough to concern my surgeon so he ordered another MRI, and sure enough, he found bone cement that had leaked out onto my S1 nerve root, and hardened on it, instead of where it was supposed to harden, in the fusion site. So, he had to open me back up 30 days later in an attempt to chip out as much of the bone cement as he possibly could. I am only telling you my story as things can go wrong. Surgeons are only human. I certainly doubt this is what happened in your particular case, but that is why it is so important to describe in this second opinion appointment as precisely as you can, what your pain feels like, it's onset, if it is constant, or intermittent, etc. Oh, let me just say, the surface nerve pain you describe, does sound very normal. It is called distraction pain. The nerves get extremely out of sorts when moved, stretched, pushed around, and this pain will eventually go away....but can take weeks up to months. Please keep us posted after your second opinion....when is it, by the way? I will keep you in my prayers. Take care Betty, and again, I hope you begin to get some relief soon. Cindylou