I'm leaking spinal fluid within my closed incision...
sacred_willow posted:
Hi, everyone. This is my first time posting anything on here. I've been reading through a lot of discussions & I'd like you guys take on my situation, please....
On Jan. 28th of this year, I had lower back surgery for a herniated disc that had ruptured. About a week after, my incision opened & I started to leak spinal fluid... my incision opened further as time passed. I will add that I informed my surgeon, even went in to show them & thought they's stitch it up, but no.. since it had opened completely, he sent me to wound care for them to tend, culture & pack. They basically refused & did a CT scan w/contrast & determined I had a pocket of CSF & also... MRSA. So, off to a 2nd surgery & I went back to the surgeon. This was 1 month & 4 days later, to "fix" the pocket & "clean up" the MRSA. Everything was great until the 2nd week after this surgery started, (which was last week) started, where I developed a cyst like "hill" on my back at the top of my now- fairly healed incision. Outside looks great but I am in severe pain down my back, buttocks, legs, & feet. I feel a burning sensation within my incision... also I can feel the CSF dripping inside... or something just like it. It feels like it did, trickling, when it was opened! So, I went in, he drained the fluid off by way of a tap last Wednesday & sent it off to be cultured again. They (his office), has been closed since then, I called this morning & will be in the office after lunch for the same thing I assume, to have it drained... it was horribly painful & I'm not thrilled at all!
Anyone have any insight as to what I need to demand of this doctor to FIX my back? I am am mother of 2 small boys, one with Autism (age 6) & my eldest with severe ADHD (age
. My husband has taken over everything to help me, over 5 months now of issues straight with my back! I wouldn't be able to cope without him, I am BLESSED! I need this resolved! Anyone have any advice or experience with these issues or something like it?
Please.... thank you & bless you
On Jan. 28th of this year, I had lower back surgery for a herniated disc that had ruptured. About a week after, my incision opened & I started to leak spinal fluid... my incision opened further as time passed. I will add that I informed my surgeon, even went in to show them & thought they's stitch it up, but no.. since it had opened completely, he sent me to wound care for them to tend, culture & pack. They basically refused & did a CT scan w/contrast & determined I had a pocket of CSF & also... MRSA. So, off to a 2nd surgery & I went back to the surgeon. This was 1 month & 4 days later, to "fix" the pocket & "clean up" the MRSA. Everything was great until the 2nd week after this surgery started, (which was last week) started, where I developed a cyst like "hill" on my back at the top of my now- fairly healed incision. Outside looks great but I am in severe pain down my back, buttocks, legs, & feet. I feel a burning sensation within my incision... also I can feel the CSF dripping inside... or something just like it. It feels like it did, trickling, when it was opened! So, I went in, he drained the fluid off by way of a tap last Wednesday & sent it off to be cultured again. They (his office), has been closed since then, I called this morning & will be in the office after lunch for the same thing I assume, to have it drained... it was horribly painful & I'm not thrilled at all!
Anyone have any insight as to what I need to demand of this doctor to FIX my back? I am am mother of 2 small boys, one with Autism (age 6) & my eldest with severe ADHD (age
. My husband has taken over everything to help me, over 5 months now of issues straight with my back! I wouldn't be able to cope without him, I am BLESSED! I need this resolved! Anyone have any advice or experience with these issues or something like it?Please.... thank you & bless you
1 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:I'm leaking spinal fluid within my closed incision...Hi, everyone. This is my first time posting anything on here. I've been reading through a lot of discussions & I'd like you guys take on my situation, please.... <br />On Jan. 28th of this year, I had lower back surgery for a herniated disc that had ruptured. About a week after, my incision opened & I started to leak spinal fluid... my incision opened further as time passed. I will add that I informed my surgeon, even went in to show them & thought they's stitch it up, but no.. since it had opened completely, he sent me to wound care for them to tend, culture & pack. They basically refused & did a CT scan w/contrast & determined I had a pocket of CSF & also... MRSA. So, off to a 2nd surgery & I went back to the surgeon. This was 1 month & 4 days later, to "fix" the pocket & "clean up" the MRSA. Everything was great until the 2nd week after this surgery started, (which was last week) started, where I developed a cyst like "hill" on my back at the top of my now- fairly healed incision. Outside looks great but I am in severe pain down my back, buttocks, legs, & feet. I feel a burning sensation within my incision... also I can feel the CSF dripping inside... or something just like it. It feels like it did, trickling, when it was opened! So, I went in, he drained the fluid off by way of a tap last Wednesday & sent it off to be cultured again. They (his office), has been closed since then, I called this morning & will be in the office after lunch for the same thing I assume, to have it drained... it was horribly painful & I'm not thrilled at all! <br /><br />Anyone have any insight as to what I need to demand of this doctor to FIX my back? I am am mother of 2 small boys, one with Autism (age 6) & my eldest with severe ADHD (age <img src="http://img.webmd.com/community/images/ooh.gif" align="top" border="0">. My husband has taken over everything to help me, over 5 months now of issues straight with my back! I wouldn't be able to cope without him, I am BLESSED! I need this resolved! Anyone have any advice or experience with these issues or something like it?<br /><br />Please.... thank you & bless you
bj1208 responded:
hi sacred_willow - welcome to the board - I am so sorry that you are having to go through this -
I'm gonna give you the best answer as possible - GET A 2ND OPINION ASAP!!!! YOU EMPLOYEE THE DOCTOR SO IT IS YOUR CHOICE OF WHAT TO DO - go see your primary care physician and let him/her know what has been going on and that you want to get a 2nd opinion of your after surgery care - your primary care doc will help you get one -
Please, Please do this as soon as possible - be sure to take all your files/films/x-rays - and hospital reports etc., the 2nd opinion doc may do his/her own tests but will want to review the other ones.
To answer your question regarding the sensations in your buttocks/legs etc., this may be from a pinched nerve PRIOR to your back surgery - Did you have a bulging disc that was pressing on a nerve root??? If so, sometimes back surgery will stir up things and make certain areas hurt worse than before surgery - this could be a healing process for it - sometimes if nerve roots are damaged before surgery and CAN be repaired by the surgery it could take a few months to a year for this to calm down. NOW that is not to say 100% that this is it - but what u describe sounds very similar to it - the 2nd opinion surgeon will confirm this.
I hope and pray that you can get the answers and pain relief that you DESERVE - Please, please keep us updated as to what happens - God Bless - Joy
I'm gonna give you the best answer as possible - GET A 2ND OPINION ASAP!!!! YOU EMPLOYEE THE DOCTOR SO IT IS YOUR CHOICE OF WHAT TO DO - go see your primary care physician and let him/her know what has been going on and that you want to get a 2nd opinion of your after surgery care - your primary care doc will help you get one -
Please, Please do this as soon as possible - be sure to take all your files/films/x-rays - and hospital reports etc., the 2nd opinion doc may do his/her own tests but will want to review the other ones.
To answer your question regarding the sensations in your buttocks/legs etc., this may be from a pinched nerve PRIOR to your back surgery - Did you have a bulging disc that was pressing on a nerve root??? If so, sometimes back surgery will stir up things and make certain areas hurt worse than before surgery - this could be a healing process for it - sometimes if nerve roots are damaged before surgery and CAN be repaired by the surgery it could take a few months to a year for this to calm down. NOW that is not to say 100% that this is it - but what u describe sounds very similar to it - the 2nd opinion surgeon will confirm this.
I hope and pray that you can get the answers and pain relief that you DESERVE - Please, please keep us updated as to what happens - God Bless - Joy
Report This| Share this:I'm leaking spinal fluid within my closed incision...hi sacred_willow - welcome to the board - I am so sorry that you are having to go through this -<br /><br />I'm gonna give you the best answer as possible - <i><b>GET A 2ND OPINION ASAP!!!! YOU EMPLOYEE THE DOCTOR SO IT IS YOUR CHOICE OF WHAT TO DO - go see your primary care physician and let him/her know what has been going on and that you want to get a 2nd opinion of your after surgery care - your primary care doc will help you get one -<br /><br /></b></i>Please, Please do this as soon as possible - be sure to take all your files/films/x-rays - and hospital reports etc., the 2nd opinion doc may do his/her own tests but will want to review the other ones.<br /><br />To answer your question regarding the sensations in your buttocks/legs etc., this may be from a pinched nerve PRIOR to your back surgery - Did you have a bulging disc that was pressing on a nerve root??? If so, sometimes back surgery will stir up things and make certain areas hurt worse than before surgery - this could be a healing process for it - sometimes if nerve roots are damaged before surgery and CAN be repaired by the surgery it could take a few months to a year for this to calm down. NOW that is not to say 100% that this is it - but what u describe sounds very similar to it - the 2nd opinion surgeon will confirm this.<br /><br />I hope and pray that you can get the answers and pain relief that you DESERVE - Please, please keep us updated as to what happens - God Bless - Joy
Helpful Tips
Making the Most of Your Doctor Visit #2
Here are the rest of the suggestions (had to break into to two parts due to the character limits) 5. Make sure that all records ... More
Was this Helpful?
22
of
35 found this helpful
- Steps For Getting Back Pain Diagnosed And Treated
- Medications for Lower Back Pain
-
Making the Most of Your Doctor Visit #1
Helpful Resources
Related News
Related Drug Reviews
- Drug Name User Reviews
Report Problems to the
Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
For more information, visit the Duke Health Spine Center
Other Back Pain Information
More Related Exchanges
The opinions expressed in WebMD User-generated content areas like communities, reviews, ratings, or blogs are solely those of the User, who may or may not have medical or scientific training. These opinions do not represent the opinions of WebMD. User-generated content areas are not reviewed by a WebMD physician or any member of the WebMD editorial staff for accuracy, balance, objectivity, or any other reason except for compliance with our Terms and Conditions. Some of these opinions may contain information about treatments or uses of drug products that have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service, or treatment.
Do not consider WebMD User-generated content as medical advice. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your care plan or treatment. WebMD understands that reading individual, real-life experiences can be a helpful resource, but it is never a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified health care provider. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or dial 911 immediately.
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
About WebMD Advertise With Us Terms of Use Privacy Policy Sponsor Policy Site Map Careers Contact Us
First Aid WebMD Magazine WebMD Health Record WebMD Mobile Newsletters Dictionary Physician Directory
©2005-2013 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.