leg cramps post-op spinal fusion

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Well i had my catscan and it revealed a cage hanging out the side of the disc spilling its contents all over the nerve root, so its another surgery to get through now. Seven weeks of telling them theres something wrong and six of those weeks them telling me its normal, needless to say i'm trying to get another surgeon to do the corrective surgery.
 
Hi, I have had severe thigh calf and top of the foot cramping since my 3level fusion, the weird thing about it is i can only relieve it by sitting down, the pain goes instantly, i was wondering if anyone else who's had back surgery on here has also suffered with this??
 
I suffer from those "charlie horses" also, and have since I had my surgery done 5 years ago. They are caused by nerves. When you sit and it goes away, you are releaving the pressure on whatever nerve is being comprimised. There are meRAB that can help with the nerve pain as normal pain meRAB don't touch nerve pain.

Mine come and go. I can go for months without a flare up. Then it will start and it will go on for a month every day and night. I have had them so bad at night that I get up and put my foot in the toliet. The cold seems to help break that one issue. EEUUWWEE. I make sure the toliet is clean first, trust me!:eek:

I wish that I could tell you how to get rid of them permanently, but I have yet to come up with that cure. Good luck!
 
I had a spinal fusion of the l5-s1 level on April 30,2010. This surgery was after a microdiscectomy in April 2007, pt over the years, 2 spinal epidural with no relief and another microdiscectomy in October 2009. When I woke up after the fusion, I immediately told the doctors and nurses that my 2 big toes were nurab and top of my foot which was all new. Everyone reassured me that it was the nerve trying to heal because it was covered in scar tissue. I am now almost a month post op. I can not stand or sit for more than 5 minutes. My foot feels like it's on fire up to my ankle. It's itchy too. I am also having weird pressure type feelings in the buttock groin area. I am going to the doctors tomorrow for my second postoperative visit. The first was at 2 weeks and like he said after past surgeries, he continued to feel it was the nerve healing. I am very frustrated because I am almost sure that the nerve is not healing but actually compressed. How can I get the doctor to listen to me?It seems like our symptoms and situation are very similar and I don't want to have to go through this for 6 months before they become proactive. Thanks for any advice you may have...
 
You are lucky the doctors found the reason for your nerve pain. My boyfriend has it really bad and they can't see anything wrong. He goes for another CT scan this week but he isn't healthy enough to even go for another surgery if something shows up. Good luck to you! Hope you get better soon.

Lynne
 
Thanks for the reply, the worst part of it i never had any cramps before surgery just radiating pain in the thigh, i also have other new symptoms nurab toes burning toes and shins and still the same pain so far as i did before the surgery, i'm booked for a catscan monday hoping it will show the problem.
 
Hi LAOS99, I would take someone in with you to see the Doctor you will feel less intimidated and a extra pair of ears is also good, write down your symptoms in my experience they never let me finish, if you have been talking to his MA thinking they are giving him messages about you make sure they have, my surgeon thought i was just having a few leg cramps which can be normal she never told him i could not walk at all for almost 3 week and in screaming the house down agony. If he trys a nerve block and stronger muscle relaxers to get you walking better which they tried with me at 4 week and theres no improvement for the morning after i'd be ringing off the hook for a scan done. He said if no improvement in a week for me to ring for a scan appointment but it took two week for them to schedule that, nerve blocks probably have done there best at 48 hrs so i wouldnt waste time like i did last time. if all else fails get a second opinion you have a right to do so, i'm at that stage now i'm too scared for him to go in there again after the treatment ive gone through with him. Mistakes can happen and he has crippled me but to ignore me for two month is the most unforgivable.

good luck at your appointment, let me know how you get on. I know i feel mentally drained be trying to convince everybody there was something wrong i know where your coming from and its no fun waking up happy for a few seconRAB then realising its another day of hell.
 
Thenurab toes and burning sensation are all due to nerve irritation of some sort. Either the nerve is being ocmpressed or it is flared from the surgery and hasn't settled down yet.
 
Hi LYNN720, Before my surgery i had an MRI first showed a couple of bulges up and bone spurs etc he said he could do a mirosurgery to tidy it up a bit in there then i had a mylogram and that showed 3 herniations and instability so then the microsurgery turned into 3 level fusion i'd push for more tests if the CTscan dosen't show up anything that was a big differnce in the result of mine what the MRI missed.

Hope he gets to find out whats causing the pain i think that is half the battle won were back pain is concerned, good luck for the scan
 
One problem that I don't see mentioned here very much is that alot of pain is caused by lack of magnesium. Every cell in your body contains magnesium -- lacking it can cause muscle cramping as well as spasms everywhere. It is also needed for calcium absorption and alot of other bodily functions.

Some nutritional experts say that 80% of people are magnesium deficient. Also, vitamin D that is oil soluble is also needed for strong bones.

As you all know all back bones are held in place by the many muscles down your back-- and they need to be strong.
Tests for magnesium, calcium and Vit. D3 should be done at least annually.
 
Try getting some TED stockings. They are made of special material and are tight fitting to promote blood circulation.
 
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