How Can Recurrent Nerve Pain After Spinal Decompression Surgery Be Treated?

Brief Answer:
Management of acute phase/ finding exact cause & specific management.

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for choosing Health care magic for your health concern.
I have understood your problem.
There are many causes for recurrent nerve pain after decompression surgery of spine.They can be cause of the pain being different than nerve pinching at spinal level ( degenerated bones- caisung recurrent herniation/compression at other places like pyriformis muscle at pelvic notch/ chronic disease like diabetes causing neuralgia/ nerve damage due to long standing/ acute compression. which would reveal after specific investigations.)
But looking of recurrent symptoms after initial pain relief , within a month of surgery -- suggests formation of fibrous tissue at surgical site causing repeat pressure on spinal pressure seems to be cause in your case.... & these case help by physiothearpy most of times ( by freeing nerve off the fibrous tissue )
So , What you need at present situation of acute pain & complete disability to move is-
* Management of acute phase- by rest/ hot & cold compresses/ pain medicines- you can try anti inflammatory medicines / steroid injection at site with help of your treating doctor for treating pain ++.It takes about 2 weeks to settle the acute signs of pain.
* after pain is reduced you need a detailed examination by surgeon to pin point the cause ( blood sugar, MRI ) * go fro specific cause of pain recurrence & it's management -(physiotherapy Exercises, medicines , diabetic control, repeat surgery with laminectomy ... if at all your doctor thinks it to be fit )
In short this should be causative analysis & management for you.
I hope that gives you sufficient information. Any thing more you need, please feel free to ask.
Thanks.

---

Brief Answer:
Palliative management is best option considering multiple surgeries & age

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for the additional information.It definitely matters in management of pain you have.
You had 7 back surgeries in past , the last one being in 2003... which offered pain control for moreover 9 years. Had neurogenic pain over 5 years after that & after 5 years of sufferings, you had the 8th surgery ( I think ) which did not help & was followed by same pain after hardly a month...
If you were in good physical condition/ fit for surgery .. doctors would have thought of spinal fusion or replacement of artificial vertebra... but,
Doctors are not ready to consider operation again after all those surgeries....probably the fibrosis caused may not get removed even with 9 th surgery ../ may be the nerve had been damaged through all those 5 years of pressure it had to bear.. making the neurogenic pain difficult to control even after surgery/ age wise degeneration might lead to repeat herniation of disc / Osteoporosis can weaken the bones to stand trauma of further surgeries.
Whatever the cause , it's safer to have palliative treatment for the problem & prevent further complications & sufferings by drastic treatments.
* In such a case You would need revaluation of the problem by investigations as suggested earlier & exclude other health conditions like osteoporosis/ diabetic neuropathy/ Pyriformis syndrome ( causing same symptoms with nerve compression at different level ). Get MRI of back for having latest information about disc problem you have.
* A concerned specific management of uncontrolled diabetes, osteoporosis & Pyriformis syndrome if found to be present ...would reduce your symptoms considerably.
- following successful management of acute phase & gradual introduction of physiotherapy,/ physical therapy under expert care & your neurosurgeon's advise would give considerable relief ( though it may take few months- year for recovery)
- Local steroid injections/ Non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs /narcotic patches do help to few patients.
- Trans cutaneous nerve stimulation/ acupuncture /mild chiropractic management are helpful.
- Having a peaceful life style , avoiding physical or psychological stress, avoiding strong movements to instigate acute exacerbation, avoiding smoking , having regular exercises advised by experts. & needful use of pain medication would make life bearable.... after all happy & self sufficient life is of utmost importance after certain stage of life .... I wish you the same !!
Hope that answers your query. Any follow up query is welcome.
Thanks

---