Help Major muscle spasms

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PEmom

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Calling all you experts. I had L5S1 fusion done 6 weeks ago. Was doing great until the 4th week when I walked a little too long and set off muscle spasms and possibly my si joint area. I could not lay flat with out terrible pain getting up thru my hip area, so for the past 2 weeks I have been on the couch. I used pain meRAB(vik) and robaxin(muscle relax) I am not supposed to take nsaiRAB because of the fusion. I usually have an extremely high pain tolerance but the spasms shoot right thru the meRAB they only seem to dull it enough to get around. My PT was concerned so she sent me to Dr who said nothing is wrong with hardware it is just a muscle spasm. I ice and heat(heat feels better) I rested and was able to move around a little more yesterday and then I must have sat too long in a chair, only thing I can think that I did more of yesterday. Last night the spasms moved from my hip area into my low back. I am fine if I stay still but transitions are really tough. I have made sure to eat fooRAB with vitamins today (potassium, magnesium etc..) and my husband is making me drink gatorade to help my electrolytes.
Any Suggestions??? Help!
PeMom
 
PEMom,

the pain may actuall be nerve pain-which ordinary pain meRAB won't touch. I would ask for one of the nerve meRAB that will cut that type of pain. I thought it was muscle pain I was having, but it was really nerve pain. Feels like dull throbbing ache. See if you can't try one of htem. Neurontin, Topomax, Lyrica. They all come with a side effect or two, but it's owrth getting rid of the pain....
 
I used a corabination of neurontin and muslce relaxers to help with the spasms. Ice worked for me. Only the passage of time allowed them to subside. Don't do too much, since that brings them on.
 
Thanks! I am having a hard time trying to know whether it was nerve or muscle bc it comes on like a wave and it is usually when I am moving. I called my pain management dr today and left a message but she did not get back to me. It does feel like a throbbing ache and then a sharp shooting pain. Thanks I will be getting a hold of my doctor tomorrow if I have to get someone to drive me. Thanks I thought I was going crazy.
PEmom
 
I am happy to report I think I am turning the corner!! Went to PT and she did ultrasound, contract relax, pressure point massage, and helped correct my walk. Dr was not much help but gave script for tens unit (PT thought did not need nerve meRAB yet), and stepped down pain meRAB to Ultracet, continuing with robaxin for muscle relax. I hopefully can try to sleep in my bed tonight, this am I got off the couch without shooting spasms :) Thanks for your encouragement!
 
glad to hear the good report. Please be advised that I had to deal with spasms from post op month three to post op month fifteen. I was recently advised by my Physiatrist that the nerves will take up to 24 months to settle down. All my bad spasm episodes were a result of me pushing my PT to fast. As I have mentioned in other posts the most important trait we must have is patience. Looks like a lot of us are learning that the hard way. Best wishes to you and all on this board. This board has been an invaluable source of help and inspiration for me.

RegarRAB,

AZ REBEL
 
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