Donald Corenman MD DC | Spine Surgeon Colorado

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tine01
Participant

April 16, 2018 at 8:48 am

Post count: 11

in reply to: buttock nerve pain post microdiscectomy #28079

Hi, I had a laminotomy/discectomy 2 1/2 montha ago. Post-op my right leg is weak and I cannot tip toe that much using this leg. 2 months after doctor orders EMG , stating more chronic, active radiculopathy affecting the L5-S1 nerve roots. No focal diffuse neuropathy. Gastroc and tibialis anterior is reduced with few polyphastic. What does this means? I can now do 10 calf raises as compared to 0-3 1-4 weeks post-op. I am scared that I might not regain my foot strength and that my leg weakness is the result of my surgery.

tine01
Participant

April 10, 2018 at 12:20 am

Post count: 11

in reply to: buttock nerve pain post microdiscectomy #28059

Hi Dr Corenman,

Just a follow-up, my leg pain 2 weeks post-op subsides. My post-op MRI shows a buldge a mild indentation of the right S1 nerve root and it is also touching the left S1 nerve root. After the leg incident I feel much better with no pain. I undergone Physical Therapy at this time to strengthened my weak right leg post-op. I can do heel raises using my right leg which I cannot do post-op. But Doctor ordered EMG stating ” Chronic active radiculopathy L5-S1. No focal and diffuse neuropathy lower extremities, gastroc and tibialis anterior shows few polyphasic and reduced energy”. According to my surgeon weakness is mild. But my concern is 10 weeks post-op I am having low back pain without leg pain. Never had back pain before only sciatica. But both of my legs have tingling sensation and my left leg has a slight numb on my sole. Also, my upper back went stiff and has cramps also. MRI result of cervical MRI has mild buldge without impingement. I would really like to ask for your opinion.

Thanks

tine01
Participant

February 21, 2018 at 2:00 am

Post count: 11

in reply to: Numbness and motor weakness post-op #27665

Hi Dr. Coreman,

I am four weeks post-op. Right after surgery (l5-s1 laminectomy and discectomy) I developed numbness on the side of my foot and sole. Numbness diminished after 3-4 weeks but the numbness on the side of my sole is still there. I can move my toes but I have new reported calf weakness and sciatic pain s1 dermatone. Started PT after 2 weeks post-lp and my pain signifiantly improved. But sciatic nerve is still inflamed. My calf strength when doing tip toe slighlty improved after 2 weeks of Physical therapy but calf weakness is still there. I had a new MRI and shows inflamed S1 nerve root. My MRI shows also small focal disc extrustion mildly indenting the thecal sac and right (s1 nerve root) that was originally there prior surgery. My doctor mainly decompressed my L5 nerve which was symptomatic prior surgery. My worry is if I will recover with my calf weakness with my new MRI. I can walk fine, but I have difficulty going up the stairs.

Cristine

tine01
Participant

February 18, 2018 at 10:23 am

Post count: 11

in reply to: Four month post microdiscectomy complications? #27621

I would to ask the meaning of mild indentation of the right s1 nerve root and the meaning of abutment.

Thanks

Cristine

tine01
Participant

February 16, 2018 at 8:33 am

Post count: 11

in reply to: Symptom question #27582

I am 3 weeks post laminectomy/discectomy of L5-S1. after 1 week post-op I developed dull pain on my buttocks down to my calf. Pain is around 1-2 in the whole day and gets worst in the evening 4-5 pain scale, This week I feel pain on my groin about 1-2 pain scale. My surgeon told me to be patient and do physiotherapy for 2 weeks then he will re-assess. Taking pregabalin 150mg twice a day and celecoxib 200mg twice a day. Immediately post-op I developed numbness on my 2-5th small toes and side of my sole (s1 nerve? I guess). But it is seemingly decreased, but is still there, I have slight weakness during toe raises as per my rehab doctor. My only concern is my pain on my buttocks and calf (which if pressed is very painful). My calf is also cramping. Is this still inflamed nerves post surgery?

tine01
Participant

February 13, 2018 at 12:37 pm

Post count: 11

in reply to: buttock nerve pain post microdiscectomy #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
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Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 11 total)

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Donald Corenman, MD, DC

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81 reviews

Eric S

Sep 26, 2021

by Eric S on Donald Corenman, MD, DC

Successful pars repair at 46 years old

Back in November of 2018 (at 46 years old) I came from Vancouver BC to have a pars repair done with Dr. Donald Corenman at the Steadman Clinic in Vail Colorado. I'm finally posting this review nearly three years later in late 2021. The reason I waited so long was I wanted to know the final result before I posted my review. Unfortunately in that time Dr. Corenman has retired. Nevertheless, I want to post this review of Dr. Corenman and his staff at the Steadman Clinic in their excellent treatment of my L5 pars interarticularis.

I fractured my pars at age 42 back in 2014 when rolling on the gym floor, and was denied treatment by the Canadian healthcare system, probably due to my age. First my GP told me there was no surgical option for a pars defect, which was quite incorrect! I tried to live with it, but the symptoms worsened (periodic random spine slippage and weeks of resultant pain after just bending over to tie my shoe, so I eventually learned to mostly squat and hardly bend). When I finally consulted with Canadian spine surgeons, I was told they believed my pars defect had been congenital (since birth). This was absurd, considering I had done extreme martial arts (including jiu jitsu) for years prior, as well as 5 years of reinforcing steel full time in my 20s, probably the hardest job on the back you can find. No pars defect like mine would possibly have allowed this--ergo it was impossible that I had had the defect since birth. I did however have an asymptomatic congenital spina bifida occulta that made me more susceptible to a pars fracture. In 2014 in one instant, I went from having the strongest back people I knew said they'd ever seen, to being unable to safely bend over and tie my shoe without a non-negligible risk of my spine slipping randomly (which would lead to weeks of pain after each occurrence). This was due to the unilateral L5 pars defect, otherwise known as spondylolysis. It was when lying in pain on the floor 4 years later after maybe the 6th spine slippage event post injury, that I had had enough, and resolved to have surgery. If Canada's "universal health care" said no, I would make lemonade from lemons, and find the very best surgeon in the world at pars repairs. That was Dr. Donald Corenman. Dr. Corenman back in 2018 ran a website https://neckandback.com/ that dedicated many pages to the science of every aspect of pars repairs, from eligibility (good discs on MRI), to best surgical techniques (minimal open compared to minimally invasive), best imaging to use (i.e., O-Arm with Stealth imaging vs. older fluoroscopy), the ideal amount of BMP to use and why not use too much or too little, and much more, all to do with pars repairs, pages upon pages of his site just on the pars, with scientific references and his own extensive expert opinion. As a health research statistician, I was very impressed with this. It was in stark contrast to the websites of other spine surgeons which barely gave the pars a word or two, focusing almost exclusively on fusions. I had found the best surgeon in the world for pars repairs, and so after Dr. Corenman personally screened my MRI to ensure my discs were healthy, I booked the surgery.

Being 46 years old at the time of surgery in 2018, with a 4-year-old pars fracture from 2014 combined with a congenital SBO meant my pars fragment was somewhat atrophied, but it was "very solid", said Dr. Corenman in the operative report. Nevertheless, it was challenging with two things to fix, the pars and SBO, and OR time was around 4 hours. Recovery over the following months was guided by a very clear "Spine binder" from the Steadman Clinic with strict rules of "no BLT" (no bending, lifting or twisting), and illustrated physiotherapy guidelines. They even warned patients to avoid fish oil supplements, which could excessively dampen inflammation and hence slow bone healing. They answered many questions I had during months of recovery, with responses coming from the very supportive Lori Fugate (then director of Dr. Corenman's practice), and Ehrich Bean (then physician's assistant at the practice), as well as a couple calls with Dr. Corenman himself after two of the CT scans. Ehrich Bean offered great advice for taking the spine binder conservatively due to the nature of pars repairs vs. fusions. The final post-op CT scan I had was a couple weeks ago at 34 months post-op, and Dr. Corenman had retired, but I got a very positive and informative call from Eric Strauch (current PA at the Steadman Clinic under Dr. Corenman's replacement there, and who had also worked with Dr. Corenman previously). The staff at the Steadman Clinic were extremely supportive all the way through the process. I should mention, the local Canadian spine surgeon did offer me very good post-operative support including antibiotics as needed to deal with a mild surface incision-site infection early on, booking numerous x-rays when I felt something was amiss, as well as booking all four of my post-op CT scans. I am very grateful for that support also.

My final result shows plenty of solid bone across the pars and a healed SBO, with my vertebral body now a solid bone ring instead of being broken at two places as it was pre-op. Does my spine hold up in the real world? You bet! I have recently dug and moved several yards of dirt and sand and gravel by myself (shovel and wheelbarrow!) to fix our water main, pulled roots from the yard, moved several "portable" (these are HUGE) air conditioners up several flights of stairs my myself, and lifted weights. I now run 2 miles (3.2 KM) several times weekly with a hard 100 meter dash in the middle. I bend deeply before each run I go on, with no spine slippage. My spine feels amazing. I can bend over to do exercise, or real word tasks, with no risk of spine slippage.

My sincere thanks to God, Dr. Donald Corenman, Lori Fugate, Ehrich Bean, Eric Strauch, and the Steadman Clinic, as well as the Canadian spine surgeon who offered me excellent post-operative care back in Canada. You have all given me a new lease on life.

Sincerely,
Eric S

Robert S

May 11, 2021

by Robert S on Donald Corenman, MD, DC

Back Fusion Surgery

I had my entire lumbar spine fused in November of 2018. I had scoliosis , with pinched nerves that were so painful I could hardly walk - and standing for more than a few minutes was impossible. Even sitting was painful.
The fusion surgery produced immediate relief! And the recovery was much easier than I expected.
To this day I can do all the activities I love from hiking, to standing in a stream fly fishing to riding my bike long distances - or just walking down the street with my wife.
Kudos to Dr. Corenman and his staff, (including the two Erics) for taking such good care of me!

Leslie R

Jul 9, 2020

by Leslie R on Donald Corenman, MD, DC

TLIF

I had my TLIF surgery on 6/24/2020 by Dr. Corenman, I can not say enough good things about the Dr or his staff. I was always treated with respect and explained everything throughly, that made it easy for everyone to understand. I highly recommend Dr. Corenman and the Steadman Clinic.

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tine01

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