[bugguy8]

My doctor is recommending a SCS for Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome in my ankle that surgery has not been able to fix and pains meds do nothing for.

But the question is:

I also have 2 buldged discs (MRI from several years ago). Its the L5 and S1. May be more damage as its been several years and the pain recently is just a notch under unbearable.

Will I be able to get the SCS with issue's already with some discs or will I need to have the discs fixed before I can have the SCS implant for Tarsal Tunnel SYndrome in my ankle.

I also have RSD.


Thanks in advance for any information regarding this.

[Mark56]

Hey Bugguy, your doc is the only one who can truly answer whether one issue must be remedied before another.

As for me, I had L5/S1 Laminectomy/Discectomy/Fusion in 2006 trying to overcome the pressure on my nerves which was shutting off my lower body function. This was an emergency/urgent procedure because, well, everything was stopping. Unfortunately, time proved that the nerve damage was permanent and this was the stuff which produced the agony with which I have lived these many years. SCS only recently, three weeks ago, well three and a half weeks ago, seems to have brought to me the answer to the nerve pain, not all of the other garbage that went along with permanence to my nerve damage like numbness which makes it so I don't have proprioception necessary to walk without a cane or the use of a wheelchair for long distances, but, by gum the BURNING and SPASMS which went along with the nerve damage seems to be managed by this wonder tool.

So, I would for sure take the question of whether to do one or the other or both up with your doc. Maybe the answers will help with understand more of what you are suffering in your particular case and the remedies best suited to your needs.

I was sent down the tried and true conservative treatment path which involved interminable hours of physical therapy, chiropractic, accupuncture, injections, meds, surgeries more numerous than I care to remember. The SCS option in my case was a final option, not the first. No one wanted to treat with surgery early after my car wreck because they did not believe indications warranted such early intervention. This, I believe, is what led to the permanence of my injury. Doggone it.

Hopefully, your situation will be resolved in a manner and method which will lead to early resolution and best results for your pain picture. For sure.

Hope it helps,
Mark56

[Rrae]

.......just wanted to throw this out there!
(in case you don't already know) MAKE SURE you get current MRI's
BEFORE you get the SCS implanted!!! Once it's in there, we can't ever get MRI's again.
ttys
Rae

[Mark56]

Originally Posted by Rrae

.......just wanted to throw this out there!
(in case you don't already know) MAKE SURE you get current MRI's
BEFORE you get the SCS implanted!!! Once it's in there, we can't ever get MRI's again.
ttys
Rae

Rae offers so much that is right on point in her posts! This is such a prime example. MRI is imperative before an SCS implant to search out any possible other cause of the issues and to serve as the baseline in case you need other care later,

Mark56

[fionab]

I had surgery for tarsal tunnel on both ankles, as well as nerve decompression on both legs at the outer knee area. Surgeon said all nerves were heavily compressed by fascia (hence my dx. of undifferentiated connective tissue disease)...HOWEVER, I also have had several back surgeries, one of them being at L5-S1, where I ended up with a fusion.

I'm wondering if, since you haven't had much pain relief from the tarsal tunnel surgery, the pain could be coming from your lower back. I know it is for me. All the t.tunnel surgery did for me was give me more motion/movement in my ankles/feet but did not do much to relieve actual "pain". I would encourage you to look into the possibility that the real culprit is low back stuff. If that's the case, then follow the road on that. Just a thought. Hope you find answers soon