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  • ChronicBackPain1234
    Member
    Post count: 1

    Hello Dr.

    I am hoping you can help me with some information, I have been suffering from back pain and nerve pain ever since I had a spinal fusion a few years ago; L5-s1 PLIF after 3 herniation’s at the same level. I am now going to have a 4th surgery in April and am trying to get some information about how my problems would be classified for a data search….

    I have been diagnosed with Cervical and lumbar spondylosis, retrolisthesis (which is getting worse), and nerve damage which is causing the pain in my leg (detected from an EMG).

    Are these classified as spinal diseases/disorders or are they more defined as being problems as a result of a spinal cord injury?

    I ask because I trying to decide if another surgery is worth it because if they are diseases/disorders then they may be worth it but if they are caused by spinal cord injury then I worry another surgery would make things worse.

    Thank you so much for all you do.

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8660

    The information you supply is not specific enough to understand if surgery will be helpful (or even needed). I assume that your PLIF (fusion) of L5-S1 was successful (no pseudoarthrosis) and the nerve was adequately decompressed. Did you gain relief of leg and back pain from that surgery? Full relief or partial relief? Did the symptoms change after surgery?

    Detection of nerve damage by EMG might be helpful. What nerve (or nerves) were detected to be injured? Did this EMG point out partial recovery or continuing denervation? Which nerves?

    Retrolysthesis by itself is just an indicator of degenerative disc disease. This might or might not help to indicate back or leg pain.

    See the section “how to describe symptoms” to better understand how to describe what you are experiencing. A synopsis of the MRI, X-ray and CT scan finding would be helpful.

    Dr. Corenman

    PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
     
    Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
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