Health Update — October 1,2024

Almost six weeks ago, I had surgery on my spine. By all accounts, the surgery was a success. That said, I am dealing with post-laminectomy syndrome:

As many as 20% of U.S. individuals who undergo spinal surgery each year experience back or neck — and sometimes arm and leg — pain after their laminectomy, or spinal surgery.

Some people call PLS failed back syndrome or failed back surgery syndrome. It describes any lingering pain of unknown origin after correctional laminectomy.

Continuing or worsening pain after a laminectomy is just one possibility.

The main symptom of PLS is a lingering pain, most often in the neck or back. You may also feel pain, stiffness, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms or legs.

Many people describe the pain as a dull ache, similar to or even worse than before surgery, along the spinal column.

Others may experience a new sharp, prickling, or stabbing pain along their spine or legs post-surgery.

PLS symptoms may last for a long time, especially without treatment.

While medications or nerve block injections can relieve most of the pain, symptoms such as numbness, tingling, or weakness may take up to 1 year to resolve.

If lingering symptoms persist beyond a year, this may indicate permanent nerve damage, and they’re unlikely to go away on their own.

Currently, I have pain in my lower back/tailbone, nerve pain, and numbness in my legs and feet. This pain is different from what I had before. No sharp, biting pain, more of a dull, achy pain. I continue to use narcotic pain medications and cannabis to manage my pain. I can walk short distances without significant pain, though I tire easily.

My bowel and bladder incontinence is marginally improved. I saw an endocrinologist last week for hyperhidrosis — excessive sweating. We are in the weeds now (think Cushing’s disease), trying to figure out exactly what is causing me to sweat profusely. I had some more tests run, including a twenty-four-hour urine test. Nothing conclusive so far. I am waiting to hear back on the urine test

I see my neurosurgeon tomorrow. I am presently using a walker to walk more than a few feet. This was expected. It can take months to totally recover from a laminectomy. Depending on how long the nerves were compressed and how much damage was done, some of what I am dealing with could be permanent. I have resigned myself to the fact that this could be the outcome. One day at a time . . .

As far as gastroparesis, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, fibromyalgia, and osteoarthritis are concerned, nothing has changed. Nor did I expect them to change since the surgery had nothing to do with them.

Bruce Gerencser, 67, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 46 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

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