Hello everyone,

Just a quick (yeah right) note about my issues.

June 2006, lifting injury at work. I had back pain that quickly (5-7 days) resolved. Left with burning sensation left & right buttock and right thigh. Had first of many falls down my stairs from my left knee giving out and had minor bowel and bladder control issues. Saw neurologist 5 weeks post injury & had MRI. No neuro signs at visit (except bowel & bladder), good strength no pain other than burning sensation. 2 weeks later urgent call from neuro, MRI not good. Had NCS & EMG in the morning with results of, "slow electrical conduction and angry nerves of left leg." Continued working and having non-invasive treatment until March 2007. Had 2nd MRI and immediately referred to surgeon (neuro said significantly worse although I saw no difference from first).

Thurs., April 26, 2007, neurosurgeon took one look at MRI, assessed the weakness in left leg and discussed that bowel & bladder will not get better. Scheduled surgery for Mon., April 30, 2007. The OR was not available on Friday and she felt since I had been going almost a year with 3 herniated discs, I would be OK till then. Had fusion L3-L4, L4-L5, L5-S1 with laminectomy and instrumentation. After surgery, WOW the nerve pain in left leg is unbelievable. Still have knee weakness after 8 weeks of PT, therapist thinks it is nerve damage. My strength has improved almost to pre-injury. Muscle mass has improved (can no longer see any atrophy).

Had 10 week post op appointment with neurosurgeon. She was very pleased with my strength. She said the knee weakness is not nerve damage because I could not have had the strength increase if it were????? She did take me off work for at least 1 year and said, "The only reason for the surgery was so you did not become paralyzed in your left leg." I will be seeing a different neurosugeon in September, as my surgeon was a locum while the other was deployed to Iraq. I also have constant back pain since surgery.

Also, I have significant OA of my knees. For 3 weeks after surgery, I had excruciating pain in my left knee. Dr. figures I was not feeling pain, so I hammered that joint. I will be seeing my ortho in a couple weeks.