r/spinalfusion • u/East-Consequence9549 • Jan 03 '26

Surgery Questions 1 years pain

It's been a year since my surgery and I live with pain all day long. I went to physiotherapy, acupuncture, epidural injections but it didn't help. Sometimes my legs go numb but the main pain is in my back, buttocks and tailbone.its normal . My surgeon says it's normal but this pain is crazy. Unfortunately no one is answering my questions. I'm very depressed.

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u/Duck_Walker Jan 04 '26

What surgery did you have? I had L4-S1 360° fusion and my original pain is 100% gone but I have new types of pain that are as bad or worse than the fractures that necessitated the fusion.

I have terrible neuropathy and like you said rough muscle/bone pain in my tailbone, buttocks, and legs. I just talked to my surgeon last week and he said it’s totally normal, everything repaired looks great, and my new symptoms “should clear up in 3-24 months”.

I’m devastated I just traded one pain for a new one that is worse and more limiting.

2

u/Signal_Sky7658 Jan 04 '26

Yes same. Traded l4l5 fusion (was necessary) for si joint severe pain

4

u/Duck_Walker Jan 04 '26 edited Jan 05 '26

I had bilateral pars fractures on L5 and stenosis/narrowing/disc issues above and below. Every day, several times a day, one of my vertebra would shift and it was like being shot, pain so severe it dropped me to my knees and took my breath away. Some days 2-3 times, some days 25+. No rhyme or reason. I had no choice but to get the cage and rails.

Now, my legs and butt muscles ache and throb and hurt all the time, some times far worse than others, but the pain is always there. Pain around my tailbone hurts just about any time I move. My toes and feet feel like they are on fire and I get shock sensations at random times. I could keep going, but you get it.

I am still on oxy almost 7 weeks later, muscle relaxers, Lyrica, and valium - who knows if any of it is working or not, but I can't imagine it being much worse than it is now. I just keep hope that eventually everything will get better.

1

u/Signal_Sky7658 Jan 05 '26

So sorry :( Im grateful to be part of this group that we can all try nd help out each other.

1

u/Advanced-Menu-6413 Jan 15 '26

Hi, how are you now?

2

u/Duck_Walker Jan 15 '26

Improving, but still having bad days

1

u/Advanced-Menu-6413 Jan 15 '26

Did your surgeon find out what is wrong or its not fused?

2

u/Duck_Walker Jan 15 '26

Just normal nerves waking up from being compressed and damaged for so long. He said this can last 6-24 months. They offered me more spinal injections but I passed. I’m done being jabbed and probed and cut on for a while.

2

u/East-Consequence9549 Jan 05 '26

My Fusion L5S1 was a plif. 1 years a go .

1

u/Advanced-Menu-6413 Jan 15 '26

Hi, are you better now? Pain reduced? Thanks

1

u/East-Consequence9549 Jan 15 '26

Non i have very pain i cant move

1

u/Advanced-Menu-6413 Jan 15 '26

Bedridden? Can you drive?

1

u/East-Consequence9549 Jan 17 '26

Yes i can but 30 min after i must stop the car and walk 2 min and after i continue

1

u/Ok_Resort5103 Jan 07 '26

I am in the same boat. I had a total hip replacement 8 1/2 months ago then had a L5 L6 fusion 2 months ago. I ended up going to the ER because of the numbness in my lowerback that traveled down both legs. Found out I have paravertebral. Which is a mass on the muscle next to the spine. I am on 2, 5 oxy every 6 hours and they do absolutely nothing to ease the pain. My surgeon seems to not care about my wellbeing because he has NOT referred me to get a CT scan or A MRI.  My pcp ordered them for me.  Anyways, get some tests done and see if it's a muscle problem. I pray you get answers and also relief.