[tine01]

#27518

What is the usual dosage of the steriod? My leg pain is still persistent, pain scale of 2-4. It is relieved with tramadol but when the medicine subsides, I still feel the pain. I keeps me worried.

Cristine

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#27519

It does take time for root swelling to be relieved. When oral steroid is necessary, I give my patients 4mg Decadron twice a day for 5 days.

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.

[tine01]

#27533

Thank you for your response. One last thing. How would I differentiate reherniation to just nervw irritation? My guess is that my s1 nerve is irritated given the numbness and pain I am experiencing. I am prayimg for more improvement this coming week.

Thanks.

Cristine

[tine01]

#27543

Just a follow-up question, My leg pain usually starts on my buttocks down to my calf, this is happening 9 days, with different varrying pain scale a day, sometimes its 1-2 only on none, sometimes it is 4-5 and the last day it is 6 (just once), startef oral steriod for two days and it seems to help with the pain. I informed my surgeon and he doesn’t even alarmed with it, since I am just 2-3 weeks post-op. Do I need another MRI? When I am not in pain I can walk without ease. My leg weakness started after surgery. According to my rehsb doctor I have slight difficulty duting toe raise.

Thanks.

Cristine

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#27627

Recurrent herniations typically cause a significant increase of pain after a simple activity but not always. A small recurrent HNP can cause slight increase of symptoms. In my practice, if there is a large increase in symptoms, a new MRI is ordered. If there is continued “irritation”, then oral steroids are used along with PT. If symptoms do not improve, a new MRI is ordered. I think it is just as common to have a seroma (collection of post-operative fluids) that irritate the nerve as a recurrent HNP in patients who have slight increased symptoms. Even though this seroma will eventually resorb away, on occasion, a patient will elect to have an aspiration to remove the seroma more quickly.

Leg weakness is another subject altogether. If you have had leg weakness that is new after surgery, a new MRI is warranted.

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.

[De316]

#27832

I am a few days away from being 4 weeks post-op from microdiscectomy at L4-L5. The first two weeks post-op I felt great. Went back for a re-check, was released to drive and given modified physical activity restrictions. Three days later, I went to an appointment, met friends for lunch, and as I was walking to my car, I had a lot of pain in my hip and calf. I figured it was just time for some ibuprofen, but that did not help at all. Went to a convenient store on the way home and didn’t think I would make it back to my car. I was doing a shuffle-hop to walk at all. I spent the next two days in bed, face down, getting up only if it was necessary. I was unable to walk w/o pushing a chair as a walker. On the third day, I was doing much better—able to be up and around and about 50% improvement in pain. Later that evening, I scooted over on my bed, got a “zing” in my back and down my leg and was back to square one. The next day, my doctor called in a Medrol Dose Pack which did not significantly improve my symptoms. I finished that two days ago and, now, he has me on Neurontin. He says it’s too early to think this is anything other than rebound inflammation—-that he is trying to make me comfortable and after 5 weeks, if it’s still not getting better, we will repeat MRI. Meanwhile, I am worse off than I was before the surgery. What are your thoughts? BTW, thank you for this forum as it has at least helped me to be patient and stay positive throughout this ordeal.

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