Sciatic pain from L5 / S1 facet joint senovial cyst

Brain and nerves
1

Hi there,

Has any one had a synovial cyst on the L5 /S1 facet joint.?

I have had injections to no account.

The next step is partial removal of the cyst, but it seems posible that the cyst may just grow again.

The last and final opp is removing the synovium sac (or what ever) and

fusing the two joints together. 

After that i am left with what ever the outcome is ....so i would like to hear some opinions from some one who has had the same problems.

At the moment the pain  resembles a permanent cramp down the whole 

length of my right leg............

Thank you.

2

If this is going to be op after op after op resulting in a fusion, get it done now.

Consider an LLIF.  They go in from your side LATERALLY instead of from your back (LLIF instead of TLIF). Overnight stay and zero rehab vs. 10-day stay and 6-month rehab for a standard fusion.  Just had mine done at L2/L3 three months ago for stenosis.  Yes, there is post-op nerve pain because they have to retract all the nerve roots to insert the device.  First two weeks suck but then it gets better fast.  If you can't, or won't, take nerve meds (Gabapentin, Neurontin, Lyrica, etc.) because of the horrid side effects, heating pads and Aspercreme with 4% Lidocaine help.  Muscle rubs have no effect; neither do opioids...it's NERVE pain!!!  Should have asked for Lidocaine patches... 

Need a General Surgeon to create the 12" long "tunnel" from side to spine and then the neurosurgeon does his work.  Destroy the disk, insert the "device", crank it open with an Allen wrench, backfill with bone graft from your hip, close. Picture of mine is attached (it's above my L3-S1 fusion).

Search YouTube for "globus lateral" or "LLIF" for a cute animation of the procedure.  Because they have to use an Allen wrench to crank it open, I have now given my neuro the honorary Brooklyn Sicilian Wiseguy nickname of "Tommy The Wrench".

Put the whole story plus updates here...

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-expandable-spacer-570509

Comes in parallel (the whole thing expands uniformly) and lordotic (they can control the posterior and anterior expansions separately...like my 15 mm rear / 5 mm front expansion to maintain good curvature).  Give it some thought as an option to slicing open your spine.  I was walking swiftly and climbing stairs within a few hours of waking up.  All stenosis gone; but then the anesthesia wears off and you get the nerve pain for a few weeks.

I've had 3 back surgeries, a new hip and a metal knee...plus four kidney stones.  For me, this was FANTASTIC.  Yeah, there's post op pain but after a knee replacement, this is a cakewalk.  After 45 years of hockey, ya gotta pay the price sometime.  This one had its moments but, for me, very doable.

Just sayin'...

3

Thank you for that info...........

I am not sure how all that refers to me ,as my discs are apparently OK,

My problem comes from the facet joint at the back of the spine .

through degeneration the joint is saying i want more lubrication, so oil is pumped into the sac, eventually it is like squeasing a baloon in your

hand , a bit pops out the side of the joint, this is the said cyst that as it grows larger it presses on the sciatic nerve.

I am seeing a back specialist in a couple of weeks so i just wanted to be a bit prepared.

As i understand if the cyst bit is removed ,chances are it can still fill with oil and pop out again.

With the fusion, i surmise that the disc is removed (whether it is in good nick or not) and  a spacer fitted.

But the lubricating sac in the facet joint (synovium i think ???) must go.

Some sort of spacer must also be fitted to the facet joint before the two are fused together by the brackets and screws etc.

The other choice is.......IF...... medication will relieve the pain enough 

for me to survive ( I am 80 years old) and live a near normal life,

that may be ok.......At the moment it is a test and try situation...

Thanks again for your info.