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  • GermanLutheran
    Member
    Post count: 2

    I am wanting to know if it is normal that a person still have muscle cramps, moderate pain and tingling in the legs almost three years after the fusion?

    I had a lumbar fusion done from the anterior approach in December of 2009. This done after two other spine surgeries. I am still experiencing everything that I mentioned in my question. My orthopedic spine surgeon that did the fusion has retired and said that nothing else can be done.

    I have read that there could be a fusion done from the backside of the spine instead of the anterior, is tha the case? If so, then I would like to have this done.

    I live in Guymon Oklahoma and would be willing to drive up to see you. This after which I have all my MRIs and x rays in hand. Allbeit, these studies are quite old, and I am sure you would like to take some more of your own. I would like to have this looked at again. I still have some instability after the fusion surgery. I had L4-L5/L5-S1 fused

    Please let me know.

    Donald Corenman, MD, DC
    Moderator
    Post count: 8656

    You have a condition called failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS). After your first two surgeries that I assume were decompressions, you eventually had an anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF). You can read about both of these topics on the website.

    The questions are if you have a solid fusion at L4-5 or L5-S1, if you have residual nerve compression of those level or some form of permanent nerve injury. The answers to those questions can be determined from a new CT scan, a new MRI, X-rays including flexion and extension films and a thorough physical examination.

    If you want to come to the office, I cannot prescribe these studies beforehand. However, I can have all those studies obtained the day you come to the office. Please call my office and talk to one of my nurses for further information.

    Dr. Corenman

    PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
     
    Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
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