Question 1

i had a decompressive laminectomy in 2019. ended up with a spinal leak. spinal leak did not heal. was repaired 3 months later. i've had chronic back pain. my recent mri says there are chronic postsurgical changes of laminectomy. what does it mean?

Accepted Answer

: The films reveal the consequences of your original surgery and postoperative complications.  There is likely scarring and perhaps the presence of arachnoiditis.  These findings likely explain the persistent chronic low back pain.  Advise you avoid any invasive procedures, as these can worsen the situation.  Get physical therapy and learn back exercises.

Question 2

heavy neck pain continuous & on 03.03.2012 cervical laminectomy (c6-7) with disectomy.mri 08-04-2013central and left paracentral disc herniation  c6-7?

Accepted Answer

It is usually hard: To address this type of disc herniation through a posterior approach unless it is a very lateral or to side hnp and causing only arm pain.  Otherwise, the recommended surgery is an anterior discectomy and now with a laminectomy present a fusion has to be done.  If a laminectomy had not be done in the first place, an anterior discectomy with a total disc replacement could have been an option.

Question 3

mri of lumbar spine says i have a "left laminectomy defect, status post discetomy."  but... i never had back surgery - ever.  should i be worried?

Accepted Answer

No: Not worried, no.  It could have simply been a misread by the radiologist; sometimes the findings of surgery can be subtle and so a radiologist may have misinterpreted the study.  But the first thing I would actually check is that the MRI that is being reported is actually yours.  Sometimes results can be attributed to the wrong patient, particularly if someone has the same or similar name.

Question 4

mri - l5-s1 shows moderate desiccation w/laminectomy changes. narrowing of bilateral recesses. mild to moderate left and moderate right neuroforaminal narrowing. edema bilaterally in facet joints and edema in the bilateral pedicles.  possible injury?

Accepted Answer

See below : I’m sorry to hear about your discomfort, my profesional opinion is the thought seek immediate medical attention from a neurosurgeon.

Question 5

six weeks after laminectomy, mri shows a 9 cm pseudo meningocele coupled with head and eye pains, left leg nerve pain.  surgery to repair or wait?

Accepted Answer

Pseudomeningocoele: You a loosing CSF that will cause low pressure HA. The hole in your meninges probable needs a patch to prevent this.  Possibilities of spontaneous closure seem limited.  Get a second opinion, from a different clinic or out of town if your surgeon is reluctant to fix it.

Question 6

i need to know what color scsr tissue would be on an mri done with no contrast! i had a double laminectomy 6 mo ago, at l 4-5 & l 5/s 1.

Accepted Answer

Contrast needed to: tell scar tissue from other tissues, unfortunately. The truthful answer to your question is "gray". Scar tissue is a relatively bland gray on all sequences of a noncontrast MR. That is why contrast is recommended in patients who've had surgery. If you have MR on CD, I can review at HealthTap Concierge, healthtap.com/saurbornmd, but I may not be able to answer your question without contrast images.

Question 7

mri shows new central recurrent disc at l5-s1.  have already had 2 seperate laminectomy's about 16 months apart what is most likely the next step?

Accepted Answer

Back rehab, rest: Having had surgery already (as the risk of disability at 5 years approaches 95%), the lumbar disk protrusion is not likely the cause of any problems. (You did not mention any symptoms). It is likely due to pressure on the disks from prior surgery. In any case, rehab for you back (exercises /therapy), lots of hydration (more effective than pills) &amp; resting your back is probably the best course.TTYD

Question 8

after laminectomy ,foot pain.back mri good,foot mri good,ncv test show s/1 pinch,not on mri.neurosurgeon say nerve it self is causing pain. true?

Accepted Answer

CT myleogram: MRI can be tricky to interpret after surgery gold standard most sensitive test is CT myleogram to look for correctable S1 root impingement  if this is normal then there is nothing to fix then youll have to live with it the pain  or consider a spinal cord stimulator trial we dont fix the nerves we just take the pressure off they fix themselves not everytime but mostly

Question 9

lower back pain. i didn't have before laminectomy 9 mos ago.  surgeon says mri looks fine (no fractures, instability). thinks its muscular. possible?

Accepted Answer

Likely: After surgery, the muscles of the back weaken (much more if the surgery was extensive and muscles were cut to get to the spine).  Starting pt as soon as the surgeon says it is safe will most likely improve the pain.  Therapy should concentrate on back and core strengthening.

Question 10

laminectomy 4 mo ago. have low back pain near incision / some leg pain. epi injection didn't help. cycling/running hurts it. also tried resting. mri?

Accepted Answer

Facet arthropathy: It may be you have a facet arthropathy that is the basis for your axial pain.  Cycling and running tend to increase stress and pressure on your lower back.  Try a facet injection combined with pt concentrate on core muscle training.  Change your exercise to yoga or tai chi which has a proven record of helping low back pain, well being and core muscle strength.  They are also aerobic.

Get Virtual Care

For Businesses

About Us

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Doctor answers about:

A staple was left in after a laminectomy and found on a recent MRI

A member asked:

I had a decompressive laminectomy in 2019. ended up with a spinal leak. spinal leak did not heal. was repaired 3 months later. i've had chronic back pain. my recent mri says there are chronic postsurgical changes of laminectomy. what does it mean?

A member asked:

Heavy neck pain continuous & on 03.03.2012 cervical laminectomy (c6-7) with disectomy.mri 08-04-2013central and left paracentral disc herniation c6-7?

A member asked:

Mri of lumbar spine says i have a "left laminectomy defect, status post discetomy." but... i never had back surgery - ever. should i be worried?

A member asked:

Mri - l5-s1 shows moderate desiccation w/laminectomy changes. narrowing of bilateral recesses. mild to moderate left and moderate right neuroforaminal narrowing. edema bilaterally in facet joints and edema in the bilateral pedicles. possible injury?

A member asked:

Six weeks after laminectomy, mri shows a 9 cm pseudo meningocele coupled with head and eye pains, left leg nerve pain. surgery to repair or wait?

A member asked:

I need to know what color scsr tissue would be on an mri done with no contrast! i had a double laminectomy 6 mo ago, at l 4-5 & l 5/s 1.

A member asked:

Mri shows new central recurrent disc at l5-s1. have already had 2 seperate laminectomy's about 16 months apart what is most likely the next step?

A member asked:

After laminectomy ,foot pain.back mri good,foot mri good,ncv test show s/1 pinch,not on mri.neurosurgeon say nerve it self is causing pain. true?

A member asked:

Lower back pain. i didn't have before laminectomy 9 mos ago. surgeon says mri looks fine (no fractures, instability). thinks its muscular. possible?

A member asked:

Laminectomy 4 mo ago. have low back pain near incision / some leg pain. epi injection didn't help. cycling/running hurts it. also tried resting. mri?

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Telemedicine

Primary Care

Manage Your Conditions

Women's Health

Children's Health

Men's Health

Senior Health

Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle

Sexual Health

Mental & Behavioral Health

Travel Medicine

Urgent Care

Didn't find what you're looking for?

More of what we treat

Allergies

Antibiotics

Asthma

High Blood Pressure

Prescriptions

Type 2 Diabetes

For Businesses

Company

Health Content

Join Us

Download HealthTap

Questions?