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What Causes Pain And Spasms In Left Buttock After Laminectomy And Spinal Stenosis?
Posted on
Thu, 9 Apr 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 9 Apr 2015
Answered on
Sat, 25 Apr 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : I am 14 months post spinal fusion -L4/5 with laminectony. 2 rods and 4 screws. No bone growth yet. Yesterday pain & spasms increased significantly in left buttock. Typically i can control the pain with back brace, tylenol and tramanol. Now need oxycodone 5mg to make it tokerable.
Im on vacation and road in a car longer than normal yesterday - itherwise no unusual activity.
Could this indicate that my hardware is failing? What are the sumptoms of hardware failure?
Im on vacation and road in a car longer than normal yesterday - itherwise no unusual activity.
Could this indicate that my hardware is failing? What are the sumptoms of hardware failure?
Brief Answer:
Not due to implant failure.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
An increase in pain due to traveling is not suggestive of an implant failure. This pain will subside after rest and pain killers.
A failed back surgery symptoms include persistent diffuse, dull and aching pain involving the back and/or legs. Abnormal sensibility which may include sharp, pricking, and stabbing pain in the extremities.
persistent pressure on the spinal nerves can cause pins and needles sensations or numbness in the feet.
If the spine is stable then there is no need to worry even if there is no bone growth. The hardware should not be broken on imaging. You need rest. You will feel better after sometime.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
Not due to implant failure.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
An increase in pain due to traveling is not suggestive of an implant failure. This pain will subside after rest and pain killers.
A failed back surgery symptoms include persistent diffuse, dull and aching pain involving the back and/or legs. Abnormal sensibility which may include sharp, pricking, and stabbing pain in the extremities.
persistent pressure on the spinal nerves can cause pins and needles sensations or numbness in the feet.
If the spine is stable then there is no need to worry even if there is no bone growth. The hardware should not be broken on imaging. You need rest. You will feel better after sometime.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks - the other symptoms you described are my "usual". Spinal injections helped the sciatica a bit - more so on right side than left side. Left side has sciatica 24/7. The right side only about 1/2 the day. . Doc says the micro-movements if the back are contantly irritating my nerves . Injections have done nothing for my back pain. Ice is my friebd right now. Rest is a given - cant move much without extrene pain .
Brief Answer:
Persistent pain can be due to nerve compression.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
If you have a persistent sciatica pain even 14 months after the surgery then your nerve compression has not been properly relieved by the surgery.
Local steroid injections can help in decreasing the inflammation. Since there is no bone formation till now, a repeat surgery cannot be considered as there will not be a complete healing.
You can consult a pain specialist for proper pain relief options. Physiotherapy and TENS can help.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.
Persistent pain can be due to nerve compression.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
If you have a persistent sciatica pain even 14 months after the surgery then your nerve compression has not been properly relieved by the surgery.
Local steroid injections can help in decreasing the inflammation. Since there is no bone formation till now, a repeat surgery cannot be considered as there will not be a complete healing.
You can consult a pain specialist for proper pain relief options. Physiotherapy and TENS can help.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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