2 questions: post ACDF and low back pain

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sbbo97

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Hi all,
I have 2 questions...

#1 - I had a 2 level ACDF back in Dec 2005. Never had any pain or troubles with it at all. Recently, however, I'm noticing a crunching/grinding noise when I turn my head or when I bend my head forward. It's not painful, but a bit unnerving. Is this normal? (It was C4/C5/C6)

#2 - I also have something going on with my lower back... I do have some slight herniations at L4,L5,S1 - but rheumatologist seems to suspect facet joint arthritis. I'm currently taking an anti-inflammatory for it... it helps a little. I'm wondering if the facet joint arthritis would also cause these 2 painful symptoms as well:
a) I get severe/shooting pain across lower back and sacral area whenever I sneeze.... Thankfully I haven't had a cold in a while so there's no need to cough. yikes!

b) even the slightest arching of my lower back is quite painful. Even sitting here right now, if I tilt my pelvis forward it's that same stabbing pain in my lower back.

BUT - here's the thing... sometimes the random pain I feel is also lower - like across the back of my sacrum. Is that referred pain? or do you thing something could be going on there.. For instance, going over the speedbumps in the parking lot while driving even generates pain.

I'm typically not a whiner and for the most part, don't really even mention this to anyone. But - trying to pinpoint my problem is frustrating for me. Is this ALL related to facet joint arthritis? The sulindac she prescribed me doen't touch some of these pains.....

Any ideas?
 
hiya sbbo97,

It sounRAB like if the antiimflammatory doesnt touch some of your lurabar pain, perhaps it is a pinched nerve problem. I am 3 weeks post op lurabar fusion and had a horrible nerve flare up from my right hip down to my calf and no narcortic pain reliever even touched the pain. I had to be admitted to the hospital on monday morning and they got my pain back down and I am now taking lyrica for the nerve pain. I am on lots of medication but I will tell you, if it is a nerve flare up, you will need a different medication to relieve the nerve pain. Maybe go to your doctor and tell your doc what pain you are having. That can get worst and it is very painful. Good luck to you......

LYNN
 
Hi - I am awaiting an ACDF in February for C6/7 so I have started lurking on these boarRAB for info etc.

I am not sure about your other problems but after childbirth I had an episode of coccydynia as well as sciatica. No medical knowledge here, but I think basically it is an inflammation of the coccyx at the very base of your spine. It might not be what you have but you may wish to look it up and see if your symptoms correspond.

Hope you are feeling better soon,

Love, bobbyboo x
 
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