ger715, thanks for sharing. Sorry you are still under pain mgmt. after all these years! The pain clinic here is staffed by neurosurgeons and ortho doctors as well. I will be seeing a dr. not a pain mgmt. specialist for the second opinion. They are all affiliated with the hospital next door to clinic so if surgery is called for it will be performed - or at least that is what I've been told. I am financially unable to argue much.

You said that you had a laminectomy...that was done prior to your fusion for L4/5? Was it a "minimally" invasive laminectomy or the traditional? I did speak with a neurosurgeon's office, one who is highly thought of in the area (also big $$), and was told that she does not do the minimally invasive procedures (like the 1st ortho wants to do on me) because the outcome to that is not as good as traditional.

ger715, you also spoke of nerve compression. My MRI states "mass effect on nerve root". Bumping around to different medical sites, I gather that compression and mass effect are interchangeable. Do you know that to be true?

As far as any epi's, I am not sure if I could ever go that route. I had a set of 3 cervical years ago, and I had a debilitating headache for 24 hours afterward -felt like my head was going to literally explode. Completely drained on the 3rd from the pain the day before. I have since found out that I am allergic to cortisone medications. Do they still perform lumbar epi's if that is the case?

Sorry for all the questions!!.....just nervous, can't sleep, & these constant nerve spasms are maddening!!!!!!!!!!