“Spinal instability or flare up?”
I had 3 lumbar surgeries, 1/2 yrs-1st one anterior lumbar fusion of L4 -s1. The 2nd surgery 8 months later-posterior fusion from l2-s1, severe muscle spasm post-op- 2 screws pulled loose and caused endplate fx, 3rd surgery, 2 screws removed from L2 and rods cut due to too much curvature, back spasm went away, now 6 months post of screw removal and rods clipped. The new onset of severe muscle spasms- no recent injury and PT was doing well. Would new muscle spasms be a sign of lumbar instability due to screw removal and clipping of the rods? Or just a bad flare-up? The muscle relaxers don't relieve the pain and pain meds barely do. I've been going on for 3-4 wks now. Standing relieves the pain, but spasms don't quit. It feels like a tight band on my back from L1 to L5 on both sides.
Male | 52 years old
Complaint duration: 20
Medications: flexeril / vicodine
2 Answers
Start acupuncture with Moxibustion weekly and massages every 3 hours while awake.
Might be but probably not.With all that surgery there’s a lot of scar which can act up.Check with your surgeon.Might benefit from a cortisone injection into the painful areas.
