Hello all,
I was hoping for someone’s opinion/advice… You can skip the background part, I know it’s wordy, but I hoped it would be helpful.
My background: had surgery Jan 6, 2014. Went well, but I had a lot of trouble sitting since the beginning. This improved with time, but has always been my “sore spot”. The pain eventually became very localized-a spot below my fusion on the right side of my spine near L5/S1 that radiates into hip and butt. Totally new pain that I got after the surgery. I spoke with my surgeon’s assistant throughout the year who was sympathetic but told me this was all normal. Unfortunately I didn’t push it until about 9 months when she finally referred me to a physiatrist who put me on Gabapentin which was very helpful for me. My pain became even more localized, but is still here.
My physiatrist ordered an MRI. There was a mild bulging disk, but nothing else really. He gave me two facet injections which did little. Then he recently gave me an SI injection 3 weeks ago. Hurt a lot and I was inflamed for 2 weeks. Then the nerve calmed down for a couple days and I thought I was good, but then it flared up again randomly.
Meanwhile, have been back to see my surgeon Dr. Arlet for my one-year check up. His bedside manner is not great, but I know he is a good surgeon. He kept saying my xray looked great (in other words- what’s the problem). He didn’t comment too much on MRI ( which is I would think would be what he’d concentrate on given the nature of my pain?) He said I could get a CT scan, but I wanted to hold off and talk to my physiatrist. My physiatrist agreed with me that the CT scan wouldn’t show much. This was right before I was getting an SI injection.
I am active every day (doing my pt, core work, gentle yoga, gentle weights, etc). Very mobile, but can no longer do elliptical or bike because it flares up pain. My pain is bad when sitting upright in the car (It’s been a year and I can’t drive without a lot of problems). And also my commute into the city is really hard for me.
My questions for everyone: do I keep pushing my surgeon for more answers on this? Or do surgeons sort of wash their hands after you after the surgery and pass you to the physiatrist? Should I focus my efforts on dealing with physiatrist? I go to see physiatrist tomorrow for follow-up from injection. He says I can do PT again which Im willing to do I guess, but don’t want to keep slow-walking this if not necessary.
Has anyone else had a weird little nerve pain (same spot always) that came up after the surgery but eventually went away? Would a ct scan really be worth it? I wanted to wait on that because I am loath to get all that radiation (im high-risk for cancer as it is). And finally would it make sense to take my xrays and MRI and get another opinion to make sure nothing is being missed? I guess at this point three people have looked at it (the radiologists, the pain doctor, and the surgeon’s office)
Sorry for the loads of questions!! I guess I had a lot on my mind!! ☺ Thank you for your patience is reading through this.
I was hoping for someone’s opinion/advice… You can skip the background part, I know it’s wordy, but I hoped it would be helpful.
My background: had surgery Jan 6, 2014. Went well, but I had a lot of trouble sitting since the beginning. This improved with time, but has always been my “sore spot”. The pain eventually became very localized-a spot below my fusion on the right side of my spine near L5/S1 that radiates into hip and butt. Totally new pain that I got after the surgery. I spoke with my surgeon’s assistant throughout the year who was sympathetic but told me this was all normal. Unfortunately I didn’t push it until about 9 months when she finally referred me to a physiatrist who put me on Gabapentin which was very helpful for me. My pain became even more localized, but is still here.
My physiatrist ordered an MRI. There was a mild bulging disk, but nothing else really. He gave me two facet injections which did little. Then he recently gave me an SI injection 3 weeks ago. Hurt a lot and I was inflamed for 2 weeks. Then the nerve calmed down for a couple days and I thought I was good, but then it flared up again randomly.
Meanwhile, have been back to see my surgeon Dr. Arlet for my one-year check up. His bedside manner is not great, but I know he is a good surgeon. He kept saying my xray looked great (in other words- what’s the problem). He didn’t comment too much on MRI ( which is I would think would be what he’d concentrate on given the nature of my pain?) He said I could get a CT scan, but I wanted to hold off and talk to my physiatrist. My physiatrist agreed with me that the CT scan wouldn’t show much. This was right before I was getting an SI injection.
I am active every day (doing my pt, core work, gentle yoga, gentle weights, etc). Very mobile, but can no longer do elliptical or bike because it flares up pain. My pain is bad when sitting upright in the car (It’s been a year and I can’t drive without a lot of problems). And also my commute into the city is really hard for me.
My questions for everyone: do I keep pushing my surgeon for more answers on this? Or do surgeons sort of wash their hands after you after the surgery and pass you to the physiatrist? Should I focus my efforts on dealing with physiatrist? I go to see physiatrist tomorrow for follow-up from injection. He says I can do PT again which Im willing to do I guess, but don’t want to keep slow-walking this if not necessary.
Has anyone else had a weird little nerve pain (same spot always) that came up after the surgery but eventually went away? Would a ct scan really be worth it? I wanted to wait on that because I am loath to get all that radiation (im high-risk for cancer as it is). And finally would it make sense to take my xrays and MRI and get another opinion to make sure nothing is being missed? I guess at this point three people have looked at it (the radiologists, the pain doctor, and the surgeon’s office)
Sorry for the loads of questions!! I guess I had a lot on my mind!! ☺ Thank you for your patience is reading through this.
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