HISTORY: Husband had discectomy, microdescectomy in Jan, 2009. He had decompression, spinal fusion of L4, L5 and SI in October 2011. Ever since then he has deteriorated to having extreme back pain in the in the area of his surgery and below and numbness, loss of feeling in his right foot, and leg.

We got a second opinion on by husband's back. This is after we saw another surgeon who was convinced that his trouble was in the sacroliac region and could be helped with SI Joint Fusion Surgery. According to this new neurosurgeon the site that was operated on looks good, he stated that most of the sight has fused, contrary to what the other doctor said, however he attributes his pain and numbness to nerve damage and suspects that it might be peripheral neuropathy. He calls surgery on the SI Joint to be Psycho Surgery and to not let anyone touch his back again.

He still has back pain along with numbness radiating down his right leg and foot. He can't walk and can only sit or stand for about 10 - 20 minutes. The back pain extends from L4 to the Sacroiliac Region.

We need to go see a Neuromuscular Neurologist next but I need to find a good one.

Do any of y'all have any recommendations? We live in Southeast Texas and are willing to travel.

Also, we will be going to his PCP next week, I'm intending on asking him to check several things in his blood work, his B12 level is one of them.

Any suggestions on what tests he should run? I'm at my wits end, we've got to find him relief so I can go back to work.

Thanks for any help y'all can give!!

Welcome rsmtexasaggie.

Not sure if this might help with the travel and you may already know about it:

louisiana

The Neuropathy Center of Excellence at Louisiana State University HSC

John D. England, M.D., F.A.A.N.
Director

Amparo Gutierrez, M.D., F.A.A.N.

Austin J. Sumner, M.D.

Maria Weimer, M.D. (at the Children’s Hospital)

Angela Coleman, R.N., Nurse Coordinator

2820 Napoleon, Suite 700
New Orleans, LA 70115
Tel: (504) 412-1517

Thanks for the info. Still searching.

And he just left it at that? He did not offer any other information, options, etc. ???

When was the most recent MRI performed, if one was done?

What testing has been done since the last surgery? Any nerve conduction studies? Any EMG to test the muscle involvement?

Sometimes a really good pain management physician turns out to be better at helping than a neuro. (At least in my case that was MY experience.)

Wishing you the best.