Question 1

how long do nerves and muscles take to heal after back surgery?

Accepted Answer

It varies: It depends on how much irritation there was before surgery, how long it was there, and how much of those tissues were manipulated during that procedure. Many will improve quickly (days to weeks), others take months, and some never fully recover. Follow your surgeon's instructions, and ask questions if your recovery is delayed.

Question 2

what to do if i had a lower back surgery 5 years ago an still have a lot of muscle pain what can i do?

Accepted Answer

Spine Pain Options: This chronic pain in the distribution as you suggested is the result of an irritated nerve or facet joints or other injury typically in the lumbar spine (low back) which are caused by herniated disks, spinal stenosis or degenerative disc disease,  etc requiring further evaluation by a spine specialist and may be candidate for facet injections/radiofrequency ablation and epidural steroid injection.

Question 3

extensive back surgery because of a t11 burst fracture in 2005..including instrumentation...past year several pulled muscles in that area. worried?

Accepted Answer

Probably not, but...: If pain persisting, you probably should return to your surgeon for follow up x-rays

Question 4

does pain killer and muscle relaxer medications react to anesthesia after 24 hours of back surgery? i took hydrocodine/acetaminophen 5-325 tb & tizanidine on the second day after surgery then after 1 hour i felt dizzy and fainted twice?

Accepted Answer

: The effect of the anesthesia should be fully gone by 24 hrs.  The post-op meds may have exacerbated a blood pressure drop which caused syncope, and the effect of the two is additive.  Discuss this with your doctor, so that meds can be properly adjusted for your needs.

Question 5

i have just had back surgery to take pressure off my nerves 3 days ago. is it normal to have muscle pain in your leg while it heals?

Accepted Answer

Yes: It can be normal to have some residual pain in the lower extremity after back surgery. You should notice less intensity in the pain and hopefully less numbness, tingling, weakness, etc. If you notice worsening pain, and changes in bowel/bladder function, worsening numbness/tingling, or other issues, please contact your surgeon.

Question 6

back and shoulders are knotted up from muscle spasms. i have ms. why would the area feel hot to touch, but no where else? i'm currently relapsing.

Accepted Answer

Hot: Localized increase in temperature may represent localized infection called cellulitis. Seek medical attention

Question 7

muscle spasms legs, feet and side back come and go, mild but noticeable. had for 1 month. is it ms, als will i get paralysed ?

Accepted Answer

No: Someone has been reading too many medical horror stories. It is mega highly unlikely that spasms in an otherwise healthy 20 year old represent anything but overuse or electrolyte disturbance. The diseases you mention generally do not begin like that. See your family doc for an evaluation and reassurance of the correct diagnosis, so you can get this problem resolved.

Question 8

could i have multiple sclerosis even if my mri was normal? i have a lot of the symptoms (muscle spasm, weakness, tingling down my back and legs), but my mri didnt show anything. can an mri miss ms?

Accepted Answer

This : This is very, very tricky. Yes, there are reported cases of mri-negative ms, but they are very rare, so it is paramount to rule out other conditions. It also helps if you get your MRI done on a 3 tesla magnet, which provides higher resolution and better detail than lower strength magnets.

Question 9

numb/tingling in hands, legs, and feet on both sides. muscle spasms in legs, back and arms. loss of balance, dizzy, stiff. is it neuropathy or ms?

Accepted Answer

Bad choices: You probably don't need or want to pick A or B. Both require a doctor's DX and TX and it might be another thing altogether. A common cause of neuropathy is a diabetic condition w/ other signs too - are you a diabetic? Get into care if 'yes'! MS usually starts a bit later in age. Have an exam to find an answer. Best!

Question 10

hip/ butt muscle spasms on left side like charlie horse.  recent ms dx. possible symptom? very painful lasted 2 days already. suggestions?

Accepted Answer

SOME THOTS: Pain is very common in ms, and can present numerous ways, and even migraine is present in ms pts at a frequency of 2-4 times normals.  However, your muscle spasms could represent a separate process in hip, back, pelvis. (unlikely, but if you were given steroids, check for avascular necrosis in hip).  Lastly, do not want to second guess your doc, but there are oral meds now (no needles).

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Doctor answers about:

Muscle spasms after back surgery

A member asked:

How long do nerves and muscles take to heal after back surgery?

A member asked:

What to do if i had a lower back surgery 5 years ago an still have a lot of muscle pain what can i do?

A member asked:

Extensive back surgery because of a t11 burst fracture in 2005..including instrumentation...past year several pulled muscles in that area. worried?

A member asked:

Does pain killer and muscle relaxer medications react to anesthesia after 24 hours of back surgery? i took hydrocodine/acetaminophen 5-325 tb & tizanidine on the second day after surgery then after 1 hour i felt dizzy and fainted twice?

A member asked:

I have just had back surgery to take pressure off my nerves 3 days ago. is it normal to have muscle pain in your leg while it heals?

A member asked:

Back and shoulders are knotted up from muscle spasms. i have ms. why would the area feel hot to touch, but no where else? i'm currently relapsing.

A member asked:

Muscle spasms legs, feet and side back come and go, mild but noticeable. had for 1 month. is it ms, als will i get paralysed ?

A member asked:

Could i have multiple sclerosis even if my mri was normal? i have a lot of the symptoms (muscle spasm, weakness, tingling down my back and legs), but my mri didnt show anything. can an mri miss ms?

A member asked:

Numb/tingling in hands, legs, and feet on both sides. muscle spasms in legs, back and arms. loss of balance, dizzy, stiff. is it neuropathy or ms?

A member asked:

Hip/ butt muscle spasms on left side like charlie horse. recent ms dx. possible symptom? very painful lasted 2 days already. suggestions?

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