Hola Linda,
Espero que no te importe que te contacte. 
Ya he respondido a Krista. En 2014 me hicieron una discectomía tras sufrir un dolor masivo desde 2010. Después de ver a tres cirujanos, el tercero se dio cuenta de que en 2010 ya tenía una hernia en L4 y una hernia discal rota, además de una protrusión en L5/S1. En enero de 2014, el cirujano solicitó una resonancia magnética adicional, que mostró grandes protuberancias y cauda equina, por lo que se operó inmediatamente con una discectomía. Seguí teniendo dolor hasta que dejé a mi hija en la escuela y, al caminar hacia el aparcamiento, sentí algo que se rompía y me desplomé, siendo trasladado rápidamente al hospital. Me realizaron una fusión espinal de dos niveles, una discectomía y una estabilización con 4 jaulas/bandas de resorte. Después de unas 6 a 8 semanas, intenté volver al trabajo, pero simplemente no podía soportar el dolor de espalda y, sobre todo, el dolor en las piernas. Volví a ver a mi cirujano, quien ordenó una nueva exploración, que mostró una nueva protrusión discal más arriba, en L4/5 y S1. No entiendo, y todavía no entiendo, cómo sigo teniendo protrusiones discales que me dijeron que se habían eliminado, pero el NHS dice que a veces es difícil eliminar todo y que luego intenta sanar. También mostró tejido cicatricial, pero el problema más grande fue que, como la cirugía se retrasó tanto, sufrí daño nervioso importante. Los neurocirujanos me han indicado que nunca recuperaré la sensibilidad en mis pies y que tendré un dolor ardiente severo en ambas piernas hasta la rodilla. Estoy de acuerdo contigo, es muy doloroso y encuentro que la gente a mi alrededor tiene dificultades para comprender el dolor que tenemos. En promedio, duermo solo 2-3 horas interrumpidas por noche. Me han ofrecido un estimulador del cordón espinal, pero nunca he conocido a nadie más que lo haya probado. ¿Podrías explicarme qué ocurre y si han encontrado algún beneficio con ello (entiendo que tú no lo has hecho)? Me han dicho que aquí en el Reino Unido tendré que hacer una estancia de dos semanas en el hospital para discutir qué hace, cómo afecta mentalmente y qué hacer si no funciona. Odio todo este dolor. Tengo un niño de 3 años y una niña de 6 años. Me cuesta mucho jugar con ellos, ir a eventos o incluso pasear por el parque. No puedo conducir porque es demasiado doloroso y, como mencioné, dejé el trabajo a los 37 años.
Hi,
The reason my neurostimulator doesn't work right is because the surgeon put it in the wrong place. The first one i had worked pretty good for my leg pain (this was after my first back surgery - I did not have the femoral nerve damage then - just the "regular" leg pain, achiness, tiredness and weakness from an injured back. I liked the tingling sensation. I also did not have much neuropathy then. Oh those were the good old days before 2012. But the first surgeon left half a disc at L5 which eventually collapsed and I had to have a very complicated set of 3 surgeries over a 2 day period - the lateral fusion, cage, etc on the left side - this is he one where he damaged my femoral nerve, the arterial fusion (through my stomach) and the L2-S1 fusion of my back. Aftwards the doctor refused to give me any additional pain meds other than what I was on before i came. So I was in so much pain, I literally could not move for 9 days. My left knee had pulled itself up to my chin, and I couldn't put it down on the floor, and tbey were making me use a walker to go to the bathroom. They finally moved me by ambulance to a physical rehab place, and the pain mgmt doctor there immediately tripled my pain meds (just while I was in rehab). Thank you. Anyway, I can put my leg on the floor now, but the deep burning and aching has never gone away. I cannot drive either due to the severe neuropathy and pain in my right foot. And, my 3rd major area of pain is the SI joint. I cannot sit for any length of time. Mine is the result of 2003 car accident. I was 49 then, and I'm 61 now. The first year or so you keep thinking it will get better. Then the next 5-10 years or so, you keep looking for the miracle answers. You stop complaining about your back because everyone you know is sick of hearing it. So sorry that you are so young. I have a 2 year old and a 12 year old granddaughter. I can't play with them. I used to be so active, I climbed a mountain, hiked 7 days in the grand canyon, I used to walk up and down the foothills every day, I got a master's degree and I used to park my car 2 miles away at my daughter's daycare and walkl/run to college every day - even in the snow. I was a gymnast when I was younger. I used to love to go visit Sedona, go gold panning with my boyfriend, go to the zoo, do everything I could with my grandchildren, and now I just can't. I tell my daughter that I CAN'T carry my granddaughter, yet she asks me to carry her in from the car all the time when I'm visiting. I was in so much pain on Christmas Day, I had to go lay in bed while the family was upstairs unwrapping presents and eating dinner! I left my vacation 2 days early! I don't get sleep either - it's 2:30 am here in US - Arizona. I sleep a couple hours at at a time, and I take Trazodone and tizanidine. Doctors don't understand - I had to go to a new doctor who immediaately started cutting my pain meds. So are you getting the Medtronic Neurostimulator? Not the NEVRO? I only had to stay in the hospital 2 days for mine. Pain not bad at all - just the surgery site for a couple of days. The neurostimulator helps your legs - you feel tingly feeling. You have to keep meeting with the medtronic reps to get it adjusted - after a few months, they can add different features which are very nice. I actually liked the tingly feeling, except in my feet - it aggravates the neuropathy. Like I said, the 2nd neurostimulator was put in the wrong place, and it only works from my knees to my ankles, does not help my legs.
Hi Linda,
Thanks for your reply. I am so sorry for your failed fusion and difficulties - that is horrible. So far, I have only had two x-rays since surgery. My surgeon said they looked good - and everyone recovers differently. I have followed up a few times about the continued pain, but he still thinks I am early enough in recovery, and tells me not to worry. I am going to start physical therapy and hope for the best! Working has been very difficult - sitting for long periods at a computer is so tough. I am easing back into it as much as I can. Thanks for your advice. If I still do not improve by my next follow up, I will ask for an MRI. Wouldn't it be too soon to tell Iif the fusion failed - since the fusion process takes some time? Thank you and best of luck.
Yeah, 8 weeks out is a little soon to see if the fusioN failed! More like 6-8 months! But going back to work after 8 weeks is a little rough too. My doctor had me wait 4-6 months after my fusions, but I had so many! Doctors push us too hard to return to work, I think insurance tells them wh at to do! Good luck to you! I had to quit work because I just could not sit for long periods of time at the computer. You try standing for a while, but that's hard too. Take care!
i know it is a long time ago but how is your back pain / mobility now 8 years post op? I’m down to have this op soon. Thanks.