Pain Recurrence 18 Months After Spinal Decompression
Discussion
In December 2014 I had spinal decompression surgery on my L5 and microdisectomy on my L4 / L5 following a fall down the stairs about a year prior. This was done through Bupa through my work health insurance cover.
Around 2 months after I had a follow up consultation with the surgeon and at that point in time, everything was ok, barring obvious restrictions on lifting ability and a general need to be careful with posture etc.
Up until around Christmas this year everything has been fine, again with the obvious restrictions & need too be careful, but since then I have slowly been in increasing levels of pain to the point where the pain in my left leg is now basically back to where it was before I had the surgery. I can't walk or stand up for more than about 10-15 minutes without being in agony down my left hand side and needing to sit down to recover.
As I have changed jobs and healthcare provider, anything associated with my back is excluded from my new policy as an existing condition, so I'm paying for a follow up consultation privately this Tuesday with my previous surgeon, but have no idea what to expect. I've done some internet research which would seem to suggest that in most cases, if there is a problem you will know it 3 months after the surgery (at which point I was fine) and anything beyond that is permanent nerve damage. At 31 and with 1 child who I am currently not able to properly interact with due to the above pain and inability to walk that petrifies me!
Has anyone been in a similar situation or able to shed any light on what to expect from my follow up appointment? Or any general words of wisdom?
Around 2 months after I had a follow up consultation with the surgeon and at that point in time, everything was ok, barring obvious restrictions on lifting ability and a general need to be careful with posture etc.
Up until around Christmas this year everything has been fine, again with the obvious restrictions & need too be careful, but since then I have slowly been in increasing levels of pain to the point where the pain in my left leg is now basically back to where it was before I had the surgery. I can't walk or stand up for more than about 10-15 minutes without being in agony down my left hand side and needing to sit down to recover.
As I have changed jobs and healthcare provider, anything associated with my back is excluded from my new policy as an existing condition, so I'm paying for a follow up consultation privately this Tuesday with my previous surgeon, but have no idea what to expect. I've done some internet research which would seem to suggest that in most cases, if there is a problem you will know it 3 months after the surgery (at which point I was fine) and anything beyond that is permanent nerve damage. At 31 and with 1 child who I am currently not able to properly interact with due to the above pain and inability to walk that petrifies me!
Has anyone been in a similar situation or able to shed any light on what to expect from my follow up appointment? Or any general words of wisdom?
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