I am 9 weeks out from lumbar fusion (S1 -L4 and stabilization device L3 - L4).
I have been on up to 80mg Percocet and 1800mg Neurontin per day but have been able to reduce Percocet to about 10mg per day taken at night. I have developed a lot of numbness in both feet. I need a cane due to a problem with stability. I have developed bad short term memory loss and my wife claims I am babbling all the time. I am wondering if others have experienced these problems? Is there a normal amount of time when I can go back to my mostly sedentary job without needing Neurontin? I couldn't do it now as I must bend and lift heavy files and need my pre-surgery mental ability which is not there now. Should my doses of Neurontin soon be able to drop?
Neurontin - Is it common to have extreme leg pain after lumbar fusion?
Question posted by fastcarbon on 9 Oct 2012
Last updated on 4 December 2016 by Bubbles89148
3 Answers
Bubbles89148
4 Dec 2016
Wean off the Neurontin. You may be having severe side effects from the medication. Call your doctor about the numbness your experiencing. You are on the target dose of Neurontin and your kidneys and liver function should be closely monitored. Notify your surgeon your having these issues!!! I was on Neurontin and had memory loss and loss of coordination and muscle and tendon atrophy. Good luck
D67
18 Sep 2016
I'm wondering if your concerns have to do with the side effects of Lyrica/Gabapentin. I cannot take those for my nerve pain due to similar side effects. Have you attempted physical therapy?
bnagoh
9 Oct 2012
I have been taking Neurontin/Gabapentin for about 6 years now and I don't see a time when I will be able to stop because I have seizures which are controlled with this medication along with nerve pain from diabetes and fibro. But yes the symptoms you describe are probably what can happen with those surgeries you had. Usually it is just those symptoms that you describe that come from lower back issues. Did you have these symptoms before your surgery? You should tell your Doctor what is going on because you need to have that numbness stopped. Go see your Dr asap about these issues get them under control and then worry about the medications. Good Luck!
fastcarbon
10 Oct 2012
bnagoh: Thank you for your comment. I have told the Doc about the foot numbness and he had me get a post-op MRI which show no nerve impingement. He was surprised that both feet had numbness. Prior to surgery I had a little numbness on the bottom of my left foot but nothing on the right. I am not diabetic and understand peripheral neuropathy is related to that disease. The numbness in both feet and pain in both legs started about 10 days post surgery so I am sure the surgery caused some nerve problems. I haven't found anyone who had multi-level lumbar fusion, anterior and posterior in my case who had numb feet. I have found a lot of people with nerve pain and burning in the legs post this surgery. Steve
jaclee45
9 July 2013
I had a lamanectomy - and spinal fusion L5 S1 and level above with 2 rods, 6 screws and 2 cages, I am 11 days post op- I woke up from surgery and couldn't stand, they did xrays immediately and everything looked ok. I can walk but have right knee and part of thigh numb, can lift foot not leg, left foot and toes are numb, can lift leg but not foot, they said it should come back in a couple of months, now on day 8 started with unbearable pain in right knee like im being stabbed and my shin you can't touch or it feels like burning needles, not sure if it's neuropathy or if anything with resume to normal. Taking a fentinal patch, plus 625 of hydrocodone and no relief waiting for Dr. to call to see if i can have a differenet med, plus on top of that i found out i had anemia
due to an iron deficiency. I am week due to that as well, anyone have any advice for me
mamaburd
28 Sep 2014
I had l3l4 fusion with hardware 5 days ago. Woke up from surgery in the most excruciating pain ive ever had. It took a lot of time and drugs to control it. Started walking with walker first day, to the bathroom. My left leg pain is identical to what you are describing. Never had this pain before. My surgeon said most of his fusion patients have it to some extent due to the fact that he had to move left sided spinal nerves out of the way to insert graft and rods and because he was right handed, doing the insertion from the left. It has improved somewhat over the last few days but still have the sharp knee pain and numbness to the inside of my leg. He said it improves slowly but should go away. Still on pain meds but making sure I get up and walk at least every two hours. Sometimes I have to walk up and down the hallway to reduce the stiffness and pain. Since I cant do the stairs to the yard yet I have to make do with walking in the house.
Put on neurontin at hospital too along with muscle relaxants. Also alternate ice and heat, keeping only ice to surgical site. My first post op is at 3 weeks.
Mg21
28 Aug 2015
I'm years late seeing this post, but I'm extremely curious to hear how you all made out? Any improvement with your numbness?? I originally had a Lamy in 2013, did well postop for about 1 year, then reinjured. I had a ALIF L5-S1 fusion on Mar 12, 2015 and woke up from surgery unable to feel my right leg from the knee up to my groin. I was told that this can happen and sometimes even take up to 18 months to regain feeling, if at all. I experience all those symptoms as described, the bee stings if you will. Sometimes making me jump out of my seat. It's the end of August now and not much better. I tried Neurontin but I was weaned off due to side effects, lyrica wasn't an option for me so I'm currently on Cymbalta and Percocet. It helps at times with the stings but still no feeling. Then in July I started feeling radiating pain down my left leg. My MRI showed scar tissue that is pinching the L5 nerve root causing new pain.
At this point, I was referred to a pain management doctor for a scs because surgery to remove the scar tissue is something the neurosurgeon doesn't want to do. He said it will only return again and sometimes even worse. I'm 36, having this scs implanted at my age is scary to me not to mention it feels premature. I would think more could be done before giving up deeming it "failed back surgery". I'm just wondering how everyone is now. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks
D67
18 Sep 2016
I had a L3-S1 spinal fusion in 2/2015. I'm experiencing pain & weakness in my left leg & foot & using a walker. I'm off all pain Meds & muscle relaxers, cannot take Nuerotin or Lyrica. Before surgery most of the extreme sciatic pain was in left leg. I will soon be getting a Nerve Conduction Study & I'll be seeing a Nuerologist. Question: anyone care to comment on where I might go from there? If nerve/nerves were affected by surgery, what benefit will I get?
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