Much better, but confused about popping?

[mwax]

My husband is 30 years old and had spinal fusion back surgery 4 weeks ago.  He was injured at work, we went for the 1st neurosurgeon appoitnment and he ordered emergency surgery.  He said he only does emergency back surgery 2-3 times per year.  But, my husband had a crushed nerve that was causing paralysis in the left leg, he wen to doctor using cane and had been in unbelievable pain for about a month.  It has been UNREAL how much better he is already! He will begin physical therapy this week, but immediatly he had the use of his left leg again, he was taking so many pain pills before surgery, now he hasnt even had one in over a week!! But, I have a question about this popping in his back, it happens several times a day.  He is following the strict orders from the doctor, wearing restrictive brace all day, bone stimulator, muscle stimulator, etc.  But, does anyone know what exactly  the popping sound is?

[kittyluv1]

That "popping" or cracking sound is simply the result of your husband's movement.  While he had a fusion specifically to stabilize the spine and remove pressure from the affected nerves, he still has the vertebrae he started out with --- and they may make noise as he continues to increase his activity.  Did he have only posterior or anterior fixation? Or both?
I had anterior cervical discectomy and fusion C4-C7 done 2 weeks ago and my neck makes a cracking sound occasionally when I turn my neck.  It sounds worse than it really is --- the hardware that has been placed will make it difficult to sustain any significant damage to the spine without further trauma.
Depending on how many levels of the spine were fused, the adjacent levels are now under a bit more stress than before (the fused areas are not cushioning the spine like before surgery)  It is not unusual to sustain damage to the adjacent levels over time, but not usually within such a short period postop.
Based on the fact that his surgery was done on an emergency basis, it might take some time to adjust to the "new" spine he has been given.
Best wishes on his great recovery and may he continue to progress!

[MontanaGurl]

ON OCTOBER 29, 2008 ME AND MY HUSBAND WRECKED ON OUR MOTORCYCLE AND I HAD NUMEROUS BREAKS AND WAS A MULTIPLE TRAUMA PATIENT.  WELL, TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT I HAVE 2 RODS IN MY BACK AND MY BACK HAS STARTED TO POP ALSO, IT STARTED ABOUT 1 1/2 MONTHS AFTER MY SURGERY.  SCARED THE **** OUT OF ME, I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA BE PARALIZED!!  I STILL DONT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE POPPING AND MY DOCTORS TALK IN BIG TERMS AND SEEM TO BELIEVE IT IS NOTHING MAJOR THAT THEY WOULD WORRY ABOUT, BUT IT IS STILL SCARY.  I WISH YOU LUCK AND I HOPE EVERYTHING TURNS OUT GOOD!!!    ANY QUESTIONS?  BEEP ME BACK .........................FREEZING IN  MONTANA