Suggest Remedy For Severe Lower Back Pain After Surgery

Posted on Sun, 23 Aug 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 23 Aug 2015 Answered on

Sat, 19 Sep 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I had 2 back surgeries in 2014. One in May. I went back for my 6 week checkup and the surgeon found another crack in my lower spine. Told me I had to have another surgery. Surgery was scheduled for the beginning of Sept. They opened my abdomen moved my organs aside to get to my spine. Sewed me back up and turned me over and opened my lower back. Another screw and bolt was inserted. A total of 3 now. I have never completely recovered from this surgery. Still lots of pain, walk with a cane. I don't drive, Can't control the pain and my surgeon and family doctor will not give me pain killers. It was a very extreme surgery. I was in University Hospital in XXXXXXX for 5 weeks. Two weeks in the hospital and then to UH nursing home for 3 weeks. Wasn't allowed to get out of bed for the 5 weeks.
After coming home, I went to rehab.. several times.. they only hurt me more. Couldn't stand the rehab. Then I went to a rehab with a swimming pool. They worked me for over an hour. Went 2 times, couldn't stand the pain.. Stopped going. I don't know what to do about the pain. Do you have any suggestions? It's been almost a year now. Severe lower back pain... I take baths with epson salts, and lay on a heating pad. Take Advil... but quit. It didn't help. Thanks for listening

Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (40 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Accupuncture can help.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
The pain you are having is likely to be from the spine surgeries you had last year.

You have already tried pain killers, hot compress and various other medications. Apparently surgical correction has not helped you.

Perhaps physiotherapy, continued use of pain relieving medications along with alternative therapies such as accupunture may be helpful. Discuss about these options with your spine surgeon.
Alternatively you can attend a pain clinic that can prescribe the required stronger pain killers according to the severity of pain.
Few other options of treatment which may be useful in reducing pain and maintaining functional lifestyle are 'Transcutaneous Electric Nerve stimulation (TENS) units', relaxation techniques, occupational therapy approaches.

I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar