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Failed fusion,Suggestions please?

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Chronic Pain
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Posted 10/9/2014 8:53 PM (GMT -8)
I am new to the group so I will give a little of my back ground. I hurt my back about 6 years ago at my job but never said anything . I thought it was a pinched nerve. I was wrong !! I had a mri done and I had a bulging, torn and ruptured disc at L4,L5 and S1 . My sciatica never was pinched between my disc and vertebrae. I tried everything before having surgery. Well I had a fussion and have 5 pins and screws in my lower back . Well I just found out my fussion failed and I have very bad nerve damage. I just had a spinal myleogram and have been in serve pain for 4 days . I don't want to sound like a baby but I am only 37 and all I want is to feel better and have a few pain few days. If anyone knows anything I could try or read on I would greatly appreciate it .

Post Edited By Moderator (nvrthesame98) : 10/10/2014 3:15:43 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/9/2014 9:24 PM (GMT -8)
Zooey,
Welcome to HW, here's a few questions that your post brings to my mind.What kind of work were you doing 6 years ago? How long after the initial "pinched nerve syndrome" did you have the MRI? Exactly what do you mean by " My sciatica nerve was never pinched between my disk and my vertebrae"? These are the sort of things we need to know to be able to help you.

I hope that you will flesh out your post a bit so that some of our back experts can chime in with some help for you because you are right, 37 is awfully young to be cut up as much as you have been. . . Q
Posted 10/10/2014 1:32 AM (GMT -8)
Welcome Zoey to the CP forum at HealingWell! I gave your post a heading as you will get more replies and Google cannot categorize it for archives without one!

Failed fusions are something we actually see far too often unfortunately! I believe your saying you did not have sciatic nerve involvement prior to the fusion but when it collapsed or failed to fuse it became involved or pinched?

Its common for most spinal injuries at some point to involve the sciatic nerve and it's also one of the hardest pain issues to control. Most of us get some breaks where it will leave or let up from time to time. We also are on are one of the meds specifically for sciatica or neuropathy. Are you on lyrical or cymbalta?

Has the Dr's asked you about doing a revision? What things are you currently doing to deal with the pain?
Posted 10/10/2014 2:33 PM (GMT -8)
Hey Zoey and WELCOME! I'm sorry for your suffering from your failed fusion. There are some great folks here that can advise you, if you give a little more detail.  You have found a place with compassionate folks who understand and care.

~~Dixie

Posted 10/11/2014 6:51 AM (GMT -8)
Hello Zoey!…and Welcome!

…..I too am one of the many members here that suffers from a failed fusion. (L4,L5-L5,S1)
There are many medications used to deal with pain, and some are only effective for nerve type pain, as already suggested. Many patients usually have to use both types of pain meds for better overall coverage. Nucynta is a med that treats both kinds of pain, and many patients do well with it. I have been on it for well over two years now and it is still effective.

Can we ask which meds you have tried to date? Living with constant pain is, and can be very tough to live with. We sympathize with you, and understand exactly what your dealing with.

SE
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