L5 S1 Spinal fusion Pain Left leg pain after surgery

[PatriciaM61]

I had surgery 1 month ago and on my L5 S1. I have had very bad pain in my left leg since surgery and now thhey think that perhaps a screw is hitting on a nerve causing this pain. I go for a CAT scan tomorrow, and if this IS the problem, I AM NOT looking forward to another surgery. PLEASE help! I am taking 2 Tramodol, 1 soma, and 2 Oxycodone/APAP 10/325 every 4 hours. Even this does not take the pain away but takes the edge off some so that I can stand it.We tried another pain regimine with time released Oxycontin and they were a joke. I am really frustrated that I have so much pain when I went into this thinking once surgery was over, I would be pain-free after approx. 25 years.

[BrokenCowgirl1]

I'm 6 weeks out!   For the first time in 5 years my back doesn't hurt,  I can feel my legs and feet again.  Although it is still early in my recovery it's already made at least a 50% difference in my life.   My only pain now is my calves, dr said that's my nerves waking up after being compressed so long.  At 6 weeks I can walk without a walker or cane, I can take care of my daily needs and for the first time in years, I can sleep though the nights.  I'm  still healing and I don't know if I will fuse or not, I use a bone stimulator for 2 hours a day, still no bending lifting or twisting, but I'm getting better every day.    I was told it take 6-12 months to fully heal.....but my life has already improved!   So yes, there are those of us who actually do feel it made a positive difference, at least so far.

[tnkdaddy]

this scares me. I am about to do this and I am so nervous.i am 33 and drive a truck for a living. I hope that I am able to work afterwards. my doctor said 3mo to a year recover time... I don't know what to do.

[RonInGrandRapids]

Sorry to hear about your pain. In 1996 I had a fusion done on L5 S1 and probly the worst thing I have ever had done. They sent me back to work (construction) after 6 months, myself I thought it was to soon after surgery. Things seem to be so so for first year then went down from there. Tried all sorts of pain pills and no releif until after living in pain for six years after surgery, they tried methadone and within 1 hour I knew that we were onto something that worked. Started out at 5mg 4 times a day and now after 12 years methadone has only been increased to 40mg twice a day, still have back pain but I can manage it. Shame I had to retire from being an electrician for twenty years and go on disabilaty, But I had to do what I had to do.
RonInGrandRapids

[Labones]

Hi, I realise this is 6 months after your post, but I want to tell you, you are not alone in this.  I had L5/S1 fused two years ago, and am still visiting the physiotherapist every week, am constantly tired and battle with the extreme pain.  My spine has fused and fused hard - the cage and the screws are all in the right place.  The discs above and below are starting to tear but nothing can be done to take away the pain.
I too am a single mum of two kids - and getting up every day is a task, and even worse, I still look at my shoes and have to sum up the energy to find a way to put them on my feet.  I gave up all of the pain medications - they did nothing but made me nauseous, dizzy, and feel out of control.  I came off them slowly under the watchful eye of my GP but now I am off them I feel more in control of me - even though the pain persists.
I've had all the nerve tests, MRIs, CTs, a needle with dye put into my spine, all of them post surgery and it shows nothing.
All I can say to you is look at your child/children and remember why you keep going - for them.  I have had to accept that I will now live with pain for the rest of my life, that I will need a nap for a couple of hours most afternoons just to cope and that life will never be as it was prior to my accident.
The only thing I have found freedom in, is aqua aerobics.  It is old fashioned, but it gives me a great boost and I am free from the pain for 30 minutes.
Good luck and remember to stay strong.
Lisa

[SissyWalker]

HELP PLEASE!!! I had a fusion L5 S1 in February 2009 and I am in more pain now than before my surgery. The night of my surgery I was up all night in extreme pain and crying like a baby. When my Dr. was told this the next morning he released me and did nothing to try to ease my pain. For 6 months I cried all the time because I was in horrible pain and had no idea how to ease it. My Dr. said my x-rays and MRI were fine, after that phone call I have not heard from him. I have had my family Dr. send me for more epidural/cortizone shots, I have tried numerous medications (neurotin, lyrica, narcotics, controlled, muscle relaxers and the list goes on). I have had my Dr. also send me for more opinions. Everything that has been done since my surgery is at my request, my Dr. does NOT recommend anything. I just feel I'm alone in this. Actually, I am alone in this. The Dr. that give's me the injections did a nerve test on me where he puts needles into my back and legs. He said it shows I have a nerve that is pinched. I tried the injections again and it didn't help. I finally talked my family Dr. into sending me to another neurologist. I had a test that included dye and a CT scan. My results were the fusion did not fuse , he said the screws were in the wrong place and one of the screws were loose, to me it looked like it was just hanging there but i'm not a professional. During this visit he said if he could operate and make me 50% better it would be worth it. I left and thought about everything he said and 2 months later I went back. During this visit he told me he would NOT operate and he can't say for sure this is the cause of my pain. Needless to say I left the visit crying like a baby because I thought finally someone was going to try to help me. My main problem is for the last 3, almost 4 years I have been trying to find the source of my pain and something that could ease it enough to live a normal life and I feel there is no one who believes me. I feel like I am in this alone. My fiance left because he said I never feel like doing anything, which he is right, if you are in pain like me you don't feel like doing anything. I am ill all the time, I don't want to talk to anyone, I am constantly hurting in my back, my right and left legs and feet, and I sometimes fall because my leg doesn't want to work. The smallest tasks cause me to be in horrible pain. I wake in the mornings and it begins. I can't even sleep all night, with the help of many meds. People just don't understand and many don't believe me. If anyone can help or give me any ideas of what to try next I would appreciate it. This is the first time I have asked for help from others beacuse I don't want to feel like I am whining and I know there are other people in worse shape than me but I am breaking down, I need help. I just want to be able to buy groceries or take my daughter to school without being miserable the rest of the day. I am a single mom and I have to do it all, if anyone can give me any ideas of how to do it with less pain I will appreciate it. Have a great week.

[wntnrmlife]

Yes - me.  I had a l5 s1 fusion for spondylolisthesis in Oct 2010.  After Jan 2011 - I have been virtually pain free with sporatic bouts of left leg pain after hard physical activity.  About a month ago - my leg gave out from under me and since that time - I've been having the same leg pain I had since before my surgery.  And the nail on the toe next to my big toe has fallen off.  I was up to standing for 25 minutes before needing to sit down...not any more....5 minutes MAX.  Such a disappointment.  I feel your pain.  Back to the doctor.....thought that part of my life was over.  Guess not.