Re: SEVERE LEG CRAMPS EVEN AFTER SPINAL FUSION

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I had l5/S1 lumbar fusion about two years ago for spondy. I've had

severe excruciating calf pains before the surgery and post op.

As a matter of fact, I've had exercise induced leg cramps as a child

when swimming or during track and field meets.

My first severe calf pain attack that sent me to the ER was in 1998.

It was so bad that I could actually see and feel my muscles tightened

in the middle of my calves. They did a doppler scan on my legs to rule

out deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

My surgeon later told me that I possibly could be having neurogenic

claudication from spinal stenosis as oppose to venal claudication. My

MRIS showed spinal stenosis which cause my L5/S1 foraminal opening to

narrow and compress on the nerves that traverse down my legs.

BTW, I've had it happen on one or both legs simultaneously. When the

big one hits, it took several days for the pain to dissipate. I'd say

it was about a level ten because they were incapacitative.

I thought that having the back surgery will " fix " everything. WRONG.

The following year after surgery on Easter morning (2006), I had a

severe leg tsunami on both legs (level 10 out of 10)!

For some reason, it always happen in my sleep and usually the big ones

get me during the Holidays.

Everytime I saw a physician in the past they told me I do not have

enough potassium or magnesium, and they would even prescribe quinine

(which is Malaria pills) none of which never really worked.

Furthermore, I went back to my physiatrist as she and I have been

working on pre-op & post-op pain issues since 2004. She sent me to a

neurologist who immediately recognized the problem. He said I had

severe muscle fasciculation. My muscles were constantly tremoring. He

showed me using a high intensity light. It was probably related to the

stenosis that I had.

He prescribed the following simple plan for me:

1. DO DAILY CALF MUSCLE STRETCHES up to fifteen minutes per leg each

day. More specifically, do the gastroc muscles muscle stretches. You

can do the standard gastroc stretch or the doorway stretch as

illustrated in the third exercise link below (Click on " Flexibility " ,

and then click " view image " on Doorway Chest Stretch).

EXERCISE: STRETCHING HEEL CORDS & CALF MUSCLES, Posted 07/10/2007 *

PT exercises by Rick Farley

http://www.rivercityortho.com/educ/library/PT%20%20Exercises.pdf

EXERICISE: MUSCLE STRETCHES - List of passive muscle stretches. Posted

06/04/2007 *

Illustrated guide fro, Top End Sports.

http://www.topendsports.com/medicine/stretches/

Exercise for a Healthy Back - Strengthening, Flexibility, Aerobic.

Posted 8/14/2007.

NORTH AMERICAN SPINE SOCIETY Prevention & Spine Health Maintenance.

http://www.spine.org/Pages/ConsumerHealth/SpineHealthAndWellness/PreventBackPain\

/ExerciseHealthyBack/Default.aspx

2. TAKE 1000 MILLIGRAMS OF VITAMIN C AND 1000 MICROGRAMS (1 MILLIGRAM)

OF VITAMIN B-12 DAILY.

Guess what? Between doing this and acupuncture, I no longer have any

severe muscle pain attacks! I have not had one in over a year (keeping

my fingers crossed).

What I have learned about the physiology of pain in my travails, is

that pain is a learned neural memory. The brain still sends signals

down our nerves even though our sciatic nerves have been decompressed

after surgery. For the same reason, people felt phantom limbs pain

after amputation.

We have to de-program calf muscle pain through vitamin and nutriments

and specific muscle stretches & exercise. And in my, case I opted for

a series of acupuncture treatments.

Acupuncture is excellent in the reawakening/healing of the nerves

after surgery as my case illustrates. But, it may not work for

everyone. For this to work, a series of 30-minutes to one hour

treatments I will highly recommend.

I also recommend that you see a China trained acupuncturist who

studied the discipline for years. Some doctors/chiros only took a

couple of classes in Medical or Chiropractic School as an elective, so

I will lean towards someone who is highly trained and experienced in

the art.

Finally, what really paid great divident for me is the sum total

approach that my physiatrist have been espousing but I was too

lethargic or pig headed to do in the beginning - Exercise regularly,

maintain a well balanced diet, and lose weight.

I now exercise 50 to 75 minutes each morning M-F which includes

strengthening, flexibility, and aerobics. I take multi-vitamins,

Vitamin C, Vitamin B-12 & B Complex, Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM, and

Fish Oil daily. I walk everyday even in the Winter months. Monday

through Friday, I walk at least 2.6 miles which is twice around my

work complex. I have dropped a total of 56 pounds since I have

embarked on this journey two years before surgery.

My physiatrist told me the best way to lose weight is gradually. I

have maintained the caloric intake & exercise level so that I keep

from gaining unwanted weight. I don't diet, I just use portion control

and eat lots of fiber in my diet.

I believe that all of these does contribute to virtually non-existent

calf pain and to decrease in overall LBP. I can now focus on living

instead of the constant pain that I used to have.

The sum of it all, is that I am getting old (53). I need to help my

body along since gravity now rules, LOL! I feel like my old 1972 Chevy

Nova after 75,000 miles. HIGH MAINTENANCE!

LIFE IS GREAT!

CJ

Thanks for letting me join the group.I had lumbar fussion surgery a

year and a half ago.The nerve damage was so bad that I have numbness

in my foot and leg for the rest of my life.My real problem right now

is leg cramps at night.Is there anyone who has this same problem or

any relief?Thanks

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I had l5/S1 lumbar fusion about two years ago for spondy. I've had

severe excruciating calf pains before the surgery and post op.

As a matter of fact, I've had exercise induced leg cramps as a child

when swimming or during track and field meets.

My first severe calf pain attack that sent me to the ER was in 1998.

It was so bad that I could actually see and feel my muscles tightened

in the middle of my calves. They did a doppler scan on my legs to rule

out deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

My surgeon later told me that I possibly could be having neurogenic

claudication from spinal stenosis as oppose to venal claudication. My

MRIS showed spinal stenosis which cause my L5/S1 foraminal opening to

narrow and compress on the nerves that traverse down my legs.

BTW, I've had it happen on one or both legs simultaneously. When the

big one hits, it took several days for the pain to dissipate. I'd say

it was about a level ten because they were incapacitative.

I thought that having the back surgery will " fix " everything. WRONG.

The following year after surgery on Easter morning (2006), I had a

severe leg tsunami on both legs (level 10 out of 10)!

For some reason, it always happen in my sleep and usually the big ones

get me during the Holidays.

Everytime I saw a physician in the past they told me I do not have

enough potassium or magnesium, and they would even prescribe quinine

(which is Malaria pills) none of which never really worked.

Furthermore, I went back to my physiatrist as she and I have been

working on pre-op & post-op pain issues since 2004. She sent me to a

neurologist who immediately recognized the problem. He said I had

severe muscle fasciculation. My muscles were constantly tremoring. He

showed me using a high intensity light. It was probably related to the

stenosis that I had.

He prescribed the following simple plan for me:

1. DO DAILY CALF MUSCLE STRETCHES up to fifteen minutes per leg each

day. More specifically, do the gastroc muscles muscle stretches. You

can do the standard gastroc stretch or the doorway stretch as

illustrated in the third exercise link below (Click on " Flexibility " ,

and then click " view image " on Doorway Chest Stretch).

EXERCISE: STRETCHING HEEL CORDS & CALF MUSCLES, Posted 07/10/2007 *

PT exercises by Rick Farley

http://www.rivercityortho.com/educ/library/PT%20%20Exercises.pdf

EXERICISE: MUSCLE STRETCHES - List of passive muscle stretches. Posted

06/04/2007 *

Illustrated guide fro, Top End Sports.

http://www.topendsports.com/medicine/stretches/

Exercise for a Healthy Back - Strengthening, Flexibility, Aerobic.

Posted 8/14/2007.

NORTH AMERICAN SPINE SOCIETY Prevention & Spine Health Maintenance.

http://www.spine.org/Pages/ConsumerHealth/SpineHealthAndWellness/PreventBackPain\

/ExerciseHealthyBack/Default.aspx

2. TAKE 1000 MILLIGRAMS OF VITAMIN C AND 1000 MICROGRAMS (1 MILLIGRAM)

OF VITAMIN B-12 DAILY.

Guess what? Between doing this and acupuncture, I no longer have any

severe muscle pain attacks! I have not had one in over a year (keeping

my fingers crossed).

What I have learned about the physiology of pain in my travails, is

that pain is a learned neural memory. The brain still sends signals

down our nerves even though our sciatic nerves have been decompressed

after surgery. For the same reason, people felt phantom limbs pain

after amputation.

We have to de-program calf muscle pain through vitamin and nutriments

and specific muscle stretches & exercise. And in my, case I opted for

a series of acupuncture treatments.

Acupuncture is excellent in the reawakening/healing of the nerves

after surgery as my case illustrates. But, it may not work for

everyone. For this to work, a series of 30-minutes to one hour

treatments I will highly recommend.

I also recommend that you see a China trained acupuncturist who

studied the discipline for years. Some doctors/chiros only took a

couple of classes in Medical or Chiropractic School as an elective, so

I will lean towards someone who is highly trained and experienced in

the art.

Finally, what really paid great divident for me is the sum total

approach that my physiatrist have been espousing but I was too

lethargic or pig headed to do in the beginning - Exercise regularly,

maintain a well balanced diet, and lose weight.

I now exercise 50 to 75 minutes each morning M-F which includes

strengthening, flexibility, and aerobics. I take multi-vitamins,

Vitamin C, Vitamin B-12 & B Complex, Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM, and

Fish Oil daily. I walk everyday even in the Winter months. Monday

through Friday, I walk at least 2.6 miles which is twice around my

work complex. I have dropped a total of 56 pounds since I have

embarked on this journey two years before surgery.

My physiatrist told me the best way to lose weight is gradually. I

have maintained the caloric intake & exercise level so that I keep

from gaining unwanted weight. I don't diet, I just use portion control

and eat lots of fiber in my diet.

I believe that all of these does contribute to virtually non-existent

calf pain and to decrease in overall LBP. I can now focus on living

instead of the constant pain that I used to have.

The sum of it all, is that I am getting old (53). I need to help my

body along since gravity now rules, LOL! I feel like my old 1972 Chevy

Nova after 75,000 miles. HIGH MAINTENANCE!

LIFE IS GREAT!

CJ

Thanks for letting me join the group.I had lumbar fussion surgery a

year and a half ago.The nerve damage was so bad that I have numbness

in my foot and leg for the rest of my life.My real problem right now

is leg cramps at night.Is there anyone who has this same problem or

any relief?Thanks