18 mos post spinal fusion feel internal clicking??

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laf761

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Hello all...Haven't posted for 6 months or so..Been feeling relatively good. My surgery was 18 months ago...Had a fusion (L3-L4) posterior w/ roRAB/screw and a cage...Surgeon has told me I'm 100% fused..However feel a slight movement and it almost feels like a clicking internally like something is rubbing or moving.. Can this been bone spurs from the healing process. PT has told me this could be ligaments rubbing against the hardware????????Could this be possible..Should I be concerned....No real pain, just achiness after standing alot...and a bit of nurabeness and tingling in the toes...Comes and goes.

Has ANYONE experienced this?? What can possibly been done for this? Gheez praying this doesn't mean more surgery.

Would welcome any feedback. If you remeraber me I hope you are all doing better these days..:wave:

Many thanks...LAF
 
:wave:Hi LAF I remeraber you. I had my fusion of the L5/S1 done in two stages and the last part was done 17 months ago. Sorry to hear about your clicking and I think I would be concerned also. I have not fused yet but it seems my doctor doesn't want to say anything about it. I brought it up every time I went to see the PA and they wouldn't answer me but the last time she said his notes state "still healing". I have only heard mine make a noise one time when I turned and it was a click but it hasn't happened anymore.

I am sure you will hear from many more here on the board.

Linda:angel:
 
laf,

I also remeraber you and I'm glad to hear you're 100% fused, but sorry to hear of your additional problems.

The clicking certainly doesn't sound normal at all. I had an l4/L5 fusion about 10 weeks ago and I don't click. If you're concerned about it I would suggest getting an appointment with your surgeon if you don't have one coming up soon and discussing it with him/her. It may turn out to be nothing major, but better safe than sorry in this case.

Other than the clicking and some minor achiness and tingling, how are you doing otherwise? For some of us who have had recent back surgeries or are facing upcoming surgeries, I think we would love to hear how your life has changed for the better or worse and where you're at now vs. before and right after your surgery. Are you back at work? Do you still have some limitations?

Take care!
 
Thanks Brendaks1 and hello Kyma...Yes I will look into it...and get an new MRI..It only started recently after much healing..I think scar tissue can also build up and w/ movement it feels like a rubbing,not really clicking. Like I said nothing really hurts..

I am pretty good otherwise...Sometimes I totally forget I ever had surgery..damp humid days are not great (most of this summer) but I walk 2-3 miles daily...swim with no problem, and do my daily stretches and back workout...stationary bike 20 minutes whe I can...Problem is I sit too much in my office..

The pain I had BEFORE surgery was excruciating..couldn't stand up for more than 1-2 minutes, couldn't enjoy anything...The surgery greatly improved my life..Sometimes I get bummed out that I can't do what I did before any problems w/ back...was an avid modern dancer, skiier etc...I'm 55 and think I better stick to walking,biking.swimming..

Glad to hear you're doing well too...WHile I was recovering I found protein drinks a life saver..kept my energy up.....Spiru-tein ( Vanilla w/ soy) added bananas, blueberries and strawberries..really delicious and gave me strength......good source of calcium too...

Many thanks for your feedback.

Have a good weekend.

LAF

PS....Kyma how are you doing? It's been a while.:wave:
 
:wave:Hi Laf I guess I am doing as best as I can right now. When I had my last appointment with the neurosurgeon's PA I asked her about the "fusion" and she checked the surgeon's notes and he stated "still healing". Nothing about fusion so that does concern me. I have been having a lot of groin pain which she stated that wasn't coming from my lower back but it is something I never had before. I can't stand very long without my right leg going to sleep. I asked her why he had put a screw in the middle of my spine and she said that since my osteoporosis was so bad he put it there for extra support. She said she thought it was strange too so that is why she asked. I am also having really bad pains in my cervical spine also and I have already had two surgeries on that section.

We have had a lot of stange weather here this year. We have had a lot of rain, then high humidity, then cool temperatures and then it is all repeated again. STRANGE!!! Weather sure plays a lot in how I feel.

Let us know if they do another MRI and I hope things will continue to go well for you.

Linda:angel:
 
Yes the humidity is a drag..If I take a Mobic before sleep I sometimes wake w/ less inflamation..Sorry to hear of the groin pain....How long ago was your last surgery again? Forgive me for not remerabering..

Funny ever since my surgery my left hip, same one where they harvested bone marrow has bothered me..It turns out thru x-rays I have MAJOR arthritis...bone on bone, I think by stabilizing the spine it has put more pressure on the hip (just my own theory)

I suppose we still must be grateful that the pain (In my case anyway and I hope yours) isn't nearly as excruitiating as before my surgery.I guess everything is relative..There are some moments I feel great..I also get nurabess in both feet, it alternates...weird!!!

I also recently put on an extra 10 lbs..and I think that pressure is making it worse for me..Have you kept your weight in check.?

Thanks for being in touch...Lets' pray for cooler, drier weather. Where do you live again?

RegarRAB,

LAF:wave:
 
:wave: Hi LAF- I live in Western Kentucky over by beautiful Kentucky Lake in a very small town 16 miles outside of Murray Kentucky which is a University town. I have to admit I love small town living but can get frustrating because I usually go to Nashville for the specialist and that is a 2 hour drive. Actually I have gotten use to it now so not so bad.

My last surgery was March '08. I had the anterior and posterior and had the first part done in January '08 but got an infection and the final procedure was delayed until March. You are definitely forgiven for not remerabering because I have that problem also. I have problems with a lot of anti-inflammatories so I can't take Mobic because I swell so bad with all of them. I also was unable to take Lyrica and Neurontin because of severe swelling.

No- I have had a hard time with my weight. I actually gained 30 lbs after my surgery (medication) and I have finally lost 10 lbs but that can come right back real fast. I really want to get this weight off before winter because it really gets bad then. I get very discouraged and even though I can say I am some better I get frustrated because I get back spasms so bad if I try and do any kind of exercising and sometimes just standing.:( I am thinking about trying the treadmill out again and see if I can work up and get this weight off. I am having a lot of problems with my ankles and already had problems with my knees but my arthritis doctor won't give me certain medications because I ended up in the hospital with a severe kidney infection because my arthritis medicine had compromised my immune system and I ended up with E-coli infection and Sepsis. Whenthe arthritis specialist saw my ankle he thought I had injured it because of the swelling but then he did an x-ray and it all came back normal. Go figure--I sure don't understand it.

I will pray right along with you for milder temperatures and low humidity but we are getting ready for 3 days of rain this week and that usually does me in.

Take care and good talking to you again.

Linda:angel:
 
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