I was told two years ago I needed fusion. I have now been told by two different neurosurgeons, and more recently I have developed severe groin pain and feel like I have to consicously think to lift my right leg to walk. For a year now I have also felt like I have urinary tract infections and find I don't plus intermittent bowel problems (sphincter does not work well). For quite some time physical therapy worked well, but now I can barely walk a block. Stairs are a challenge, and I am in so much pain I feel I am going to vomit. I have been seeing a pain doctor, and she wants to try a spinal injection this Thursday. I hope it helps. I have read where fusion of L1-L2-L3 is typically not successful. I have bulging at L3-L4 too and no problems at L4-L5 or at L5-S1.

Five years ago I had to have fusion of C4-C5 which helped. I cracked my C5 vertebrae many years before, and when I did the surgery, I was told no choice as I was losing the ability to use my left arm. I have pain in my neck now too due to C5 facet joint arthritis on the left side. Shots don't help so far. I am beside myself.

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. Happy to see you have come to be with us. Just let us know if we can be of any help.

As you can tell there are great number of fellow members here to assist as possible. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around.

Darlene

welcome zeba,

i'm sorry you're having to deal with all this, and pain on top of it.
it sounds like you're using your drs well as members of your medical team.
perhaps one dr could "take charge" and coordinate your care, plus give his/her opinion on the next step.

i know there's a forum here with the topic you're needing.
i hope someone will be along to give you the link.

in the meantime, i'm glad you found us. this is a great board for knowledgeable people and support.

I have had c3-c4 c4-c5 discetomy 4-1-2010 and I also had l3-l4 l4-l5 discetomy 7-14-2010. I know exactly what you are talking about I had no luck with anything prior to my surgeries and had so many urological problems, they put a nerve stimulator in me at age 29 in 2008. My neurosurgeon could not believe the urologist made such a decision without checking all of my other symptoms beforehand. Hope you get to feeling better.