recovery from back surgery

[highdesertguy]

hello everyone, I have been in this forum before and received very helpfull information. I have a new question,on sept 30 I had back surgery . 3 LEVEL laminectomy- L3-L4-L5, I did very good for about 35 days after surgery,then one day I couldnt get out of my car.
this pain, or cramps down my leg had me screaming,was taken to emergency room ,they took a cat-scan of my back, after reading the report my doctor tells me that my back is worn out,(I knew that)
and that the pain I feel is considered normal for anyone who underwent this type of surgery,,Iam on pain killers, vicodeine, soma,
relafen,. I must take this medications in order to move around the house,,,my question... is this part of recovery? this pain? and how long will it last,will it ever go away? I refuse to believe that I must rely on narcotics for the rest of my life....I gota FEELING that the doctor is not telling me everything....Iam in CALIFORNIA and this is the doctor my attorney sent me to.... thanks and God bless all of you

[Still in Limbo]

I'm Disabled from a Lower Back Surgery, and have been for 5 Years now! I had a Microdiscectomy/Laminectomy at L5/S1, and Scar Tissue encased My Spine and a Crushed Nerve Root. 21 Pills a Day just to Walk!! My Suggestion is You get a Second Opinion from a Surgeon of Your Choice. If You have an Attorney, They need to get You the Approval,,if not, You May have to Pay on Your Own, but it will be Money Well Spent! We can Guess All Day, but You need a Good Dr. You can Trust to give You the Right Direction!! Best of Luck!!

[1171]

you need a second opinion-it's required in california before spinal surgery.
the incidence of failed back surgery is quite high.

[bagpussinamerica]

I also had surgery at L5-S1. I was doing pretty well for the first few months then everything went south for the winter and left my back here. Big time pain. My problems are more complicated, though, and probably nothing like what you have. BUT my surgeon did tell me that my back was getting older along with the rest of me. But that did not cause me any type of pain like you are describing. Is the doctor you saw recently for the pain, the same person who did the surgery? If not, I would go back to the surgeon for a follow up. If it is....get a second opinion. You need more answers in any case. Doesn't seem like whoever was very explicit with his explanations. Did he go over your c-scan with you? Show it to you and talk it through?

Let us know what happens.

[highdesertguy]

this is the same doctor that performed the surgery, and no he did not show me the cat scan pics or anything, it was all verbal, I did see 3 others doctors for dif opinions
and chose this doctor because of his high-rate success surgery,
but now iam a bit dissapointed,,thanks to all for your input

[inpainokla]

i had the same surgery l4 l5 l5 s1 and and 9 months after surgery im still in pain not at the moment due to a wonderful injection that i had done last tuesday..but before that i have been in a considerable ammount of pain really bad when it gets cold..see about getting a hardware injection that thing has taken my pain level from around an eight nine to damn near nothing but i can feal it starting to wear of in the past few days

[Cycler]

" I must take this medications in order to move around the house,,,my question... is this part of recovery? this pain? and how long will it last,will it ever go away? I refuse to believe that I must rely on narcotics for the rest of my life....I gota FEELING that the doctor is not telling me everything...."

You are correct.

http://www.workerscompensation.com/forum...#pid111996

[1171]

you would have had a better outcome if you hadn't filed a comp claim
http://www.claimsjournal.com/news/nation...107075.htm
http://journals.lww.com/spinejournal/Abs...of.16.aspx

I wonder: if you withdrew your claim now would your back start getting better?
maybe they will study that next.......

[Cycler]

most likely.

[Still in Limbo]

I Skimmed over Both of those Sites 1171, and it Just Makes Me Wonder if Some of the Dr.'s may have Performed Surgery not Necessarily Needed on Patients with w/c vs. a Non-w/c Patient? I know There is Fraud Everywhere, and I'm Sure there are Surgeons that will Cut Anyone if Given the Chance. Just a Thought, I know You and Cycler have a lot of Knowledge on both Sides of the w/c System, but it is a Bit Frustrating when Studies such as These Leave an Actual Failed Back Surgery Patient such as Myself bunched into a Group. Have They Looked at Possibly how Long it took the Patient to get the Proper Medical Care due to Fights and Delays with w/c, as Opposed to Those with Their Own Insurance, that can have the Surgery Quicker, therefor Standing a Better Success Rate?