why does my leg hurt so much

[mayad01]

hi i had an L4/S1 discectomy almost 3 weeks ago and i have pain down the back of my left leg and numbness, i thought it would have eased by now i cannot sit on a chair because the leg is painful to touch both the thigh and calf muscle seem to be affected, i did not have this before the op and it is so bad iam taking oromorph just to be able to walk, anyone else experienced this problem.i know if i go to my gp he will say just keep taking the oromorph but i do not want to be taking this for too long.

 

[oksrkwio]

Have you been checked for DVT?

 

[rockhopper121]

no i have not been checked for a dvt, because i've already had it for almost 3 weeks and its not hot or red, it just hurts like mad.

 

[plereeWeede]

Perhaps you should contact the surgical team and explain your symptoms.

 

[jietkmca]

I would agree that would be the first port of call. Surgery has gotten you to this point, and the medics involved are the right people for the follow-up. Looking back through the history I don't know what else can be offered here that hasn't already been suggested much earlier.

So I think the only useful thing I can say is don't wait another 3 weeks before mentioning this. Not that this is necessarily a DVT, however none of what you have said rules it out.

Good luck.

 

[Brandon N]

You say L4 S1? Depending on exactly where the pain is then back thigh and calf pain is indicative of an S1 disc problem. You should go and see your gp and don't allow yourself to get fobbed off. Make a list of your questions, maybe even take a friend with your for moral support and physical support. You really need to go and get checked out soon, Please don't suffer in silence.

 

[xxlivinaliexx]

You have every right to expect to see significant improvements after an operation bmw, was it a standard NHS type procedure, or something special? Your concern over taking strong drugs is also well founded, and shared by many of us! However, I would say, that it is still 'very soon' after your operation to be 'too concerned' at this time, it could well be post operative symptoms, so please don't panic yet.

Has your Consultant given you a post op exercise regieme to follow? Exercise will help reduce any post op stiffness and improve both muscular condition and blood curculation, both of which may help your suffering. You could also monitor your exercise and activity in a dairy, so that when you consult with your Surgeon next, you will have these facts to hand. I would also strongly suggest, that you keep a detailed diary of pain levels, dates and symptoms that you are experiencing.

Can you clarify please? You say you had an L4/S1 discectomy 3 weeks ago!
Do you mean that you had a '2 level procedure' done? That is to say, did you have an L4/5 (sciatic) level discectomy & an L5/S1 level discectomy? or something else?

The reason I ask is this, if you look at the neurological pathways of the autonomic nervious system, it would suggest that transferred pains, deficits and other sensory issues in the back of a patients leg, are ususally generated from the L5/S1 level.
Whilst these issues felt in the front of the leg usually eminate from L4/5 level.
I have experienced this, and believe it to be factual!

Speak soon!

Best wishes

SPINELF

 

[Draxz]

hi, thanks for the reply, all my specialist said was he was going to remove the part of the disc that was pressing on the nerve, then during the op he found lesions on the nerves and cleaned them out ,that was his words so if you understand that as i do not, all i know is that my left leg is very painful down the back of thigh and calf and my leg feels very heavy and numb and a couple of days ago the lower back pain returned, i know last time i did not see the specialist for a 1 year after for my follow up appointment ,so do i give it more time or contact him and feel a fool if this is normal, my gp is a waste of time all he will do is say keep taking the morphine.

 

[Gun-toting Miscegenist]

Hiya bmw! Thanks for the info.

Regarding what your specialist said, yes, it does make sense, but I still find his offerings to you, quite vague! He has simply given you a basic overview of a standard decompression procedure. Did he explain how the liesions were caused? Where they from a previous operation? If so what level?

Nerve strands only have pain sensors at their ends, like the finger tips, feet, back muscles and legs and so on, so when the nerve strands are sqeezed (compressed) at, let say, the L5/S1 level by a 'bulging' disc, the actual feeling of that compression will show up as a feeling of pain somewhere else (transferred pain). You see, the brain can't compute your L5/S1 compression signals, so will go hunting, by sending out warning signals to where it thinks the problem area is. If you look up on the web phantom limb pains of amputees and how the brian can be tricked by things like the 'mirror box', and also study the 'autonomic nervious system' online, these will help you understand how the neourological system operates and how signals can be confusing when you have chronic back pain.

In 2008 I underwent a successful decompression procedure, to cure my L4/5 sciatic level bone and disc impingement, after the recovery, it became clear that the L4/5 problem had been 'masking' an serious L5/S1 disc bulge and annulas leak, which is the cause of my remaining syptoms. These syptoms include: in order of occurence:

Sharp stabbing, burning and tearing pains on the right side of my spinal colum between L5/S1 and my sacroilliac joint (SI joint).

Swelling and inflamation in the same area, leading to stiffness the area of my right hip at first, then spreading to my left hip.

This inflamation triggers the brain in to 'spasming up' my lumber region, beacause it thinks there is a problem in that area and thereby tries to prevent any further damage.
(like it does after knee injury)

I 'also' have transferred leg pains, that start at my groin and tesiticles, leading down to my right foot via the the back of thigh & calf. There are also pins and needles, cramp, jumping spasms, tingling and muscle collapses, where the leg muscles no longer bare the my weight. and I fall to the ground, OOCH!
------------------------------------

With regards to wheather you see your specialist now, its up to you! You know your own body, but if you think this is a new development and is getting worse, I personnally would want to see him sooner rather than later! But please don't feel foolish, this is a life changing, chronic condition, make these medics take you seriouly! If it's normal, thats great!! and you can sleep better, knowing that better days lay ahead!!!

I think you are right about the drugs, who the hell wants to take that strength drugs for long periods?

As well as the subects above, also search www.spineuniverse.com for great independent information about your condition and articles as to the best treaments available.

Best wishes

SPINELF

 

[Cadillacman]

thanks for the info and yes i think the lesions must have been immediately after the L4/L5 op i had almost 2 years ago as the pain last time was so bad i could not turn over in bed without screaming and this time i can move about but its this pain in my left leg and now i have for the last 5 days had terrible pain just above the scar from this op and i just noticed i have a swelling about 2-3 inches above the top of the scar and i find each day it seems more painful eventhough iam doing the exercises the physio told me to do so i think i will have to take a trip to see gp after all eventhough they are all rubbish and i know they will say keep taking morphine.

 

[cfelonius]

Hiya bmw, I'm sorry for the delay in responding!!

I sincerely sympathise with your suffering and can empathise with your experience.
With regards to the physio exercise related pains, I can definately relate to that. When I underwent rehab physiotherapy, I was ill after every time session, The Physios would not listen to me, and did not log these events fact in my notes! One of the exercise they gave me made me so ill, I had to take time off rehab (3 days), they still refused to stop that technique!!

The description you gave as to the location of the worst pain, seems to put it at around the L1/2 level, does that sound about right? I think your increased pain levels are being triggered by your swelling/inflamation triggering the the back muscles nerve endings. Invest in a couple of good quality 'ice packs' and apply regularly to the swelling, That should help! Good anti inflammartory tablets are also a MUST! (Check with your GP)

Best wishes

SPINELF