Have brought me to this board. After several years of conservative treatments, I had a lumbar fusion of L5-S1 to open up the nerve root canals and correct DDD and stenosis (Dec. 2010) A rod and two screws were used in the surgery. The recovery was horrible but after a few months I had significant improvement and was walking several miles without pain.

I recently began to experience nerve pain in my leg and foot again along with weakness in my leg. An MRI has shown that the L5 nerve is compressed and I am now scheduled for a CT scan and will see the neurosurgeon next week.

I asked what was compressing the nerve and didn't get an answer beyond the CT scan should show more. Since I thought the MRI was a better imaging tool, that confuses me.

I welcome any thoughts, suggestions or experience that anyone may have!