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?Facet joint pain L4/5
Topic Started: 21 Jul 2014, 02:57 PM (277 Views)
dalhousie
Advanced Member
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I haven't been on here in a while. I'm currently being assessed by a neurosurgeon for SCS for a very disabling problem I've had for the last 4 years. It's at the thoraco-lumbar area L1/2 where I was fused - facet joint problems and also rib pain where I had a floating rib removed to gain access during the fusion op.

SCS is a long drawn out process but just to make things more complicated I've recently started with what I think is facet joint pain at L4/5 where I had artificial disc replacement in 2009. A CT scan I had last christmas showed "moderately severe osteoarthritis at L4/5) so I think this is what it might be.

It's been sore in that area on the right side and going down into my right buttock now. I think I'll have to go back to my spine surgeon and see what he says. When he did the ADR he did say he injected facets periodically for ADR patients.

Just wondered what other peoples L4/5 facet joint pain felt like or radiated to?? Although patient's experiences are individual but thought I'd ask.


2005 Anterior fusion L1/2 with BMP & floating rib removed.
2009 ADR (activ L) L4/5.
2010 Chronic pain from Facet Joints T10-L2 with lots of muscle pain
2013 Attended Walton PM Programme: not much help.
2014 Chronic Pain - Facet Joints L4-S1
2017 Nevro SCS for thoraco-lumbar & lower lumbar facet joint pain
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Alastair
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Alastair
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I'm getting facet joint problems at L1/L2, I've had injections and blocks and all sorts but nothing has worked on fairly heavy opiates now to try and reduce the pain level. One thing I would recommend is try and keep mobile keep doing your stretches and exercises if you've got any from your physiotherapist
Best,
Alastair :D
Founder of this board 24th February 2007
Slow and Steady Wins This Race
Over 23 Years experience and research into spine surgery and over 2500 surgeries discussed and recorded

ADR L5/S1 Surgery with Dr Zeegers 26th July 2002 in Munich
8 facet joint ablations 28 – 8 – 12 with Dr Baranidharan and Jake Timothy in Leeds Diagnosed Forestiers disease
Your Best Asset Is Your Health
I live in West Yorkshire aged 81 now

Knowledge is power
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dalhousie
Advanced Member
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I've tried to keep mobile these past 4 years but the deterioration has been non stop like an express train with no destination - so after 4 years of that and regular flare ups I'm very disabled with it now. My meds are not very strong and no medic seems to want to give me much - dihydrocodeine, paracetamol, nortriptyline and low dose pregabalin. A lot of people I know seem to be on heavier opiates and are a bit more active than myself.

I'm very housebound. If I go out for a stroll it amounts to about 140 yards. If I go out to appointments etc or go out anywhere it's a big flare up.

I do know of people successfully treated with the new high frequency SCS with facet joint problems with good success but of course it doesn't work for everybody - it's very individual. I have an appointment on 19th August with MRI and x-ray results to make sure they can get the wires past my fusion instrumentation at L1/2. Since then of course I've developed facet joint problems at my ADR level at L4/5.

As I see it I have 2 possible options (providing I'm suitable for SCS):

Have the SCS to cover the thoraco-lumbar region which is my main problem and see if it will also cover the L4/5 area.

Or

Before I have the SCS trial try injections and ablations for the L4/5 area. With my thoraco-lumbar problem ablations worked well for the first 7 years.

Once I've had the SCS fitted I doubt I'd be able to have any repeat radiofrequency ablations on L4/5 so maybe long term it might be better to see if the SCS would cover both areas.

Any comments??? I feel alone and in the wilderness with all this and nobody to talk it through with.

2005 Anterior fusion L1/2 with BMP & floating rib removed.
2009 ADR (activ L) L4/5.
2010 Chronic pain from Facet Joints T10-L2 with lots of muscle pain
2013 Attended Walton PM Programme: not much help.
2014 Chronic Pain - Facet Joints L4-S1
2017 Nevro SCS for thoraco-lumbar & lower lumbar facet joint pain
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Alastair
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Alastair
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If you have SCS fitted, to keep us updated we got a special thread running about it on the board
Best,
Alastair :D
Founder of this board 24th February 2007
Slow and Steady Wins This Race
Over 23 Years experience and research into spine surgery and over 2500 surgeries discussed and recorded

ADR L5/S1 Surgery with Dr Zeegers 26th July 2002 in Munich
8 facet joint ablations 28 – 8 – 12 with Dr Baranidharan and Jake Timothy in Leeds Diagnosed Forestiers disease
Your Best Asset Is Your Health
I live in West Yorkshire aged 81 now

Knowledge is power
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ajj1001
Advanced Member
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Crumbling too, no answers just saying hang in there. I have to manage activities very carefully, get it slightly wrong (just 5 mins the wrong side of what I can manage) and it sets me off. Routine works really well for me, it is very limiting but makes things possible.

I'm going for a medication review and possible change as my liver won't tolerate this long term (been on high gabapentin for 6 years), will let you know how that goes. You aren't alone msg me on FB whenever you need me. x
Std Meds Gabapentin, MR Tramadol, Paracetemol, Laxatives
2011 Sept PLIF L4 - S1
2010 May Discogram L2/L3 & L3/L4 both looking ok.
2009 May PLG Fusion L5/S1 Charite in situ
April Dismissed
2008 Caudal Epidural failed to work
2007 Deterioration L5/S1 Facet arthritis, Loss of disc height.
2004 Returned to Work
2002 Aug - physio
March 2 level ADR Charite L4/5, L5/S1
2000 Broadbased disc prolapses L4/5, L5/S1
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