Hi ~ Did you have this pain BEFORE the surgery? It almost sounds like the 'pinched nerve' is STILL pinched. What you describe sounds like sciatica -- and the biggest cause of that is a pinched nerve. The sciatic nerve runs from you back, into the hip and down the leg into the foot. It's the largest nerve in the body. The pain is awful -- I've had it for 25 years!!!

Try icing the back where it hurts -- use ice for 20 minutes every 2 hours. At first it will hurt, but after a minute or so, it will feel good. Do NOT use heat -- that will make the pain worse.

Call your doc and let him know what's going on. Perhaps he will refer you to physical therapy where they can help alot with sciatica. If you had this before surgery, you may just have to live with it. Surgery does NOT fix pain. Surgery ONLY corrects mechanical problems. Many times after surgery, you're left with the same pain or worse. So this might just be something that you're going to have to bear. Talk with your doctor -- he should have told you not to count on pain relief.

I wish you the very best -- please keep us posted on how you're doing. God bless & please take care. Hugs, Lee

Thank you Leeall. The pain is different; not as severe in the ankle area, piriformis and there is no longer stabbing pains on the bottom of my foot (thank goodness for that!). I wonder if now the S1 is twisting or something? I bet it is sciatica and am coming to terms with "living with it" as I don't want more surgery. I'm seeing my surgeon today and will ask what is happening.

I had a fusion done in the same area. I was fine after 10 months, still weak from wearing a back brace but there was no pain.
I think Leeall is right sounds like a pinched nerve again.
I had my fusion in 1995, and had no back problems until last year,
upon a lot of test, physio etc, an MRI was done and there is a "bone spur" being pushed on the nerve by discs above fuision. So I am awaiting surgury to have them "removed" so to speak, and if that dosent work another fusion :(
I hope you find an easy solution

Trooper

Most generally, sciatica will go away by itself, but since this has been hanging on for awhile, I'd be interested in hearing what he has to say.

Let me know --- you in my prayers. Hugs, Lee

He ordered a MRI. We'll see if it shows anything.

Great ~ he probably should have ordered this immediately!! But at least you're getting it done.

Keep us posted, okay? Hugs, Lee

I had a 3 level fusion (L1-L4) in June. The first 2 months were horrible with nerve and surgical pain. But now I am 3 months post op and feel really good. The nerve pain is gone and the surgical pain is minimal. At my 6 wk check they told me if by 3 months the nerve pain had not improved they would do some testing to see what was going on. I agree with everyone else. By 10 months you should not still be feeling like this. Hopefully they can give you some answers. I am so sorry to hear your still suffering with it. I pray it eases up for you.
Autumn

I'm finding that some people have pain in this area from the bone graft. But, I just had stem cells taken from my iliac crest. But maybe it can still cause problems?

Here's what I found:
The sensory nerves that exit in this region (cluneal nerves) may be cut, bruised, or stretched. Injury to these nerves can result in persistent pain.

Blood vessel injury can cause significant blood loss and hematoma formation.

Violation of the sacroiliac joint (where the pelvis attaches to the spine) can occur during posterior iliac crest harvest (when bone graft is taken from the back).

I had a fusion of L 3-5. It took about 9 months before I felt better. The problem was that I over did it. Lifted heavy objects and really did not take care of myself. Two years later, I have a new herniation at L 2-3. Lots of pain, numbness and weakness. I am doing all the conservative stuff all at the same time with some relief, but not enough. I worry I am going to need more surgery.

I have found that every procedure changes the nature of my pain, an injection, a surgery.

I have heard that the pain can be totally unrelated to the physical problem. Not very encouraging, sorry.