8 Month Checkup

[Judy]

I went for my eight month checkup and everything according to the x-ray is fine. I explained how I continue to have nerve problems and pain in my upper left thigh. He explained that this is caused by the sciatica nerve at L5. He has now prescribed both neurotin and tramdol for the nerve. He also suggested that I go and have a nerve block done. Has anyone had any experience with this procedure.
If I did not have the nerve pain I would be totally pain free. I actually have days in which I don't. I seems to me that it depends on the weather. When it is either cold or damp or raining the nerve pain is at its highest. When the weather is hot it is almost pain free. I just can't seem to figure it out.
If anyone has had experience with a nerve block let me know, he did prescribe a selective nerve block at L5.
Thank you

Judy

[Harrison]

Judy, sorry about the nerve issue. Hang in there! You'll get some ideas from folks here I am sure.

[Rein]

Since you're still "only" 8 months out, there's a good possibility things in your body will continue to change and this situation may resolve eventually by itself.

Who did you see for your checkup? What does Dr. B have to say?

A nerve block or epidural is a temporary fix at best, *if* it works. The numbers of those one can have within a certain period of time is limited and it seems as though they actually work for only a moderate percentage of patients. Some of us have had immediate, good luck with this treatment and some have had no luck whatsover.

[Justin]

Since you're still "only" 8 months out, there's a good possibility things in your body will continue to change and this situation may resolve eventually by itself.

Judy,

Like Rein said you are only 8 months out. Sometimes it takes up to a year or more for one's symptoms to resolve, especially nerve pain--a lot of factors play into this: pre-surgical etiology, duration of disease process, existing nerve damage, disc height pre-op, etc. etc.

Hang in there--I emailed Dr. Bertagnoli and Fenk-Mayer 4 months post-op about my nerve pain (maybe it was 3 months out, I can't remember) and they said sometimes it takes people a month to "get over" the nerve pain hump and some people a year or more. Your time is coming soon!

Justin

[JB]

Hey Justin,

Do you remember what kind of pain you had/if any from 7 months to 1 year out?

[Justin]

JB,

I felt AMAZING at 6 months and took off from there. I wasn't in any pain after six months, and the pain that preceeded the six month mark was lingering nerve pain.

I did have a minor set back last August when I started school again (sitting through lecture and carry a heavy bag of books), but it was all muscular in nature.

I would give it some time--around the year mark, people really start to turn the corner.

Justin