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Sun, 07/05/2009 - 20:45
Body Twitching / Spasms - 2 weeks post L5/S1 fusion
I am 2 weeks post op and doing very good (I think anyway) considering the surgery was only 2 weeks ago. A couple of nights now, I have had different parts of my body twitching or doing a little spasm involuntarily. Sometimes, it is in my back and it causes me to move involuntarily in a way that causes me severe pain and wakes me up (these back spasms have only happened while sleeping). However, last night, I was lying awake after being woken up in pain by one of these and relaxed my body only to notice that the twitching was happening in my legs and even my fingers also. It is kind of like the twitching people do when they fall off to sleep. My husband says I have been twitching for a while now (since the start of my narcotic pain meds) but only now I am being woken up because of the movement it causes in my back. I am guessing this is related to the narcotics? Anyone experience anything like this? Any suggestions? I am currently taking 20 mg. Oxycontin 2X per day with 5 mg Oxycodone or 10 mg Tramadol for break through pain and 1 Balcofen (muscle relaxer) 2X per day. I am going to try to cut out my daytime dose of the Oxycontin tomorrow and just take my breakthrough meds to see how I do - also because I want to be able to do some short driving to get my daughter from camp - if I can get off some of the meds, maybe that will help? Would love some thoughts on this, it is driving me nuts and very painful when I get them in my back.
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Lynne
Severe DDD, Fracture in L1, Facet disease, OA
Brace for fracture for 2 months
Fusion on June 22, 2009 for DDD
Fusion was Minimally Invasive, two 2.5 inch cuts in back, facetectomy was done as autograft for fusion.
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Lyne, I have same twitching, or whatever it is, usaully when I am horisontal, or in recyler, my doc said it was the myelopathy, I Not believe him, lol,, please, if you find out what it is, send my a private note in case Inot see what it is here. That is, you are gonna ask doc arent you ?
Thanx
Eve
acdf C5-6 & C6-7 with all the fix'ins
Myelopathy
Tarlov Cynst S2
SUICIDE HOTLINE:
USA: 1-800-784-2433
UK : 08457 90 90 90
ROI: 1850 60 90 90
Canada,, here is a link with the different procinces, and city's
http://www.suicideinfo.ca/csp/go.aspx?tabid=77
Hey I read your post. I had severe tear jerking spasms for a few weeks after my lumbar 2 level fusion. I was told my muscles in my back were stretched out and the nerves were also pulled on. My neuro told me everyone is different but most have these problems after type of surgery. I still get the jerks when I relax but they are not as bad now. I am 1 year post-op on my fusion. I am 2 months post-op from my metal being removed but that has not changed the spasms. I think it is permanent nerve damage, though. Sorry you hurt that bad, I hope it eases up soon.
4 total MRI's, 1 discogram, 1 myelogram, CT scan, physical therapy, ESI injections, 3 right shoulder surgeries, April 2006 L5-S1 microdiscectomy 12mm herniation, January 2008 have C3-C7 herniations with stenosis and L4-S1 annular tear, herniations, DDD, stenosis with end plate change. April 2008 ACDF C4-C6 fusion with hardware, July 2008 2 level PLIF with hardware L4-S1. Both hands Carpal Tunnel Syndrome by Nerve Conduction Study. Carpal Release done Spring 2007. June 2008 rediagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome again, April 2009 L4-S1 hardware removed/ laminectomy/ discectomy to remove additional disc, bone, and hardware. Redo Right carpal release july 2009 Still need redo surgery on left hand Carpal Release scheduled for next month August18, 2009
I use flexeril and neurotin to help with my spasms and cramps
4 total MRI's, 1 discogram, 1 myelogram, CT scan, physical therapy, ESI injections, 3 right shoulder surgeries, April 2006 L5-S1 microdiscectomy 12mm herniation, January 2008 have C3-C7 herniations with stenosis and L4-S1 annular tear, herniations, DDD, stenosis with end plate change. April 2008 ACDF C4-C6 fusion with hardware, July 2008 2 level PLIF with hardware L4-S1. Both hands Carpal Tunnel Syndrome by Nerve Conduction Study. Carpal Release done Spring 2007. June 2008 rediagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome again, April 2009 L4-S1 hardware removed/ laminectomy/ discectomy to remove additional disc, bone, and hardware. Redo Right carpal release july 2009 Still need redo surgery on left hand Carpal Release scheduled for next month August18, 2009
I occasionally get muscles spasms that result in cramping in my legs or my feet. Sometimes it's severe. Other times I can manage to get them to go away quickly. I'm seven months post-op. My last big flare-up I took Lyrica for a little over a week and the spasms have diminished for now. I imagine they'll be back. I think it's nerve damage, but not sure.
Linda
Ruptured discs L3/4, L4/5, L5/S1 May 2007
One ESI in 2007 with lots of PT
Microdiscectomy and foraminotomy L5/S1 December 2007
Worsening of symptoms (back pain, sciatica, right leg weakness) June 2008
New MRI and Discogram show all three discs torn through the annulus, left to right, all three levels
2 ESIs unsuccessful in managing pain
PT, Duragesic pain patch and percocet for break-through
Was told nothing could be done for me because I had three levels and DDD
Given option of three-level fusion after being told nothing could be done
Surgery was November 19, 2008 fusing L3/4 to S1
Attempted PLIF (from both sides) on November 19th.
Rods and pins were placed, but scar tissues prohibited removal of the old discs.
On November 24th, I had ALIF (opened from top of pubic bone to the bottom of my left ribcage) and removed the torn discs, placed dowels with cadaver bone, and some of my own bone marrow mixed with BMP. I left the hospital on the 26th of November.
Currently suffering temporary (hopefully) nerve damage of both legs and total numbness of right foot. Strange tingling in both feet at 4.5 months out of surgery. Numbness still exists in right foot at almost 9 months out.
Weaned off Fentanyl patches and only take occasional percocet for pain.
hi guys im waiting to have acdf c5/6 it was many things that made me go to the docs but most of all it was the twitching and body jumping when im relaxed,my arms,legs,even my head twitchies or jumps,
i dont take any meds at all if i can help it so i put it down to the myleopathy i guess, hope thats of any use
Spasms here too, i had them right after surgery which i was told was from all that had been done as a result of surgery, anterior approach 3 level disc replacement. they have subsided since then. the spasms i currently have are due to the nerve damage in the lumbar spine. which were replaced L-3 to S-1. it is mostly in the left leg as a result of disc herniation and nerve damage. it may diminish over time, i am over a year post op and they are still with me. Lyrica and Neurontin help if i take them on a regular basis. but after all i have been through it is nowhere at the the level of pain i was prior to surgery.
Have to ask, are these always twiches other can see, sometimes mine are like my bodyis vibrating, and I can feel it, but you cant see it, but if someone touches me, they can feel the vibrations, ususlly in legs, and arms, sometimes in chest and stomach as well,,, really freaks me out when I am trying to sleep,,, also wakes me up at time, at these times it is really bad,, not so painful, just really unnerving.
acdf C5-6 & C6-7 with all the fix'ins
Myelopathy
Tarlov Cynst S2
SUICIDE HOTLINE:
USA: 1-800-784-2433
UK : 08457 90 90 90
ROI: 1850 60 90 90
Canada,, here is a link with the different procinces, and city's
http://www.suicideinfo.ca/csp/go.aspx?tabid=77
yeah my twitchies or jumping is visible but i do get vibration in my chest muscle on my left side, also when i wake from sleep and stretch my legs my right leg goes wild for a few seconds shaking, i also get woken up by twitchies and my whole body jumps,and ive not had my surgery yet and ive been waitin since jan 09