could surgery for spinal stenosis cause severe uncontrollable muscle contractions?

[missnuttess]

Had surgery Jan 2005, lower back, for spinal stenosis.  MRIs show that SS is throughout my entire spine.  In 2006 I began having such severe muscle contractions, particularly in my legs, that I would have to jump out of bed and begin walking until they subsided.  The contracted muscles have a mind of their own.  I can sit and watch a muscle make my foot turn inward.  These do not always happen at night.  When I am in my car I will sometimes begin to have these muscle contractions.  This gets a little dangerous because I am in so much pain I cannot concentrate on driving.  Also, on long trips I cannot just pull over on the interstate.   I also have the muscle contractions in my upper body as well but they are not nearly as painful.  If I hold a spoon and am stirring, the muscles in my hand will begin to move to a point of my looking deformed.  This hurts quite a bit but I can take my other hand and hold my deformed hand in the position it should be in until the muscles relax.  My GP thinks this is all related to the back.  He referred me to a neurologist and I explained all of this to her but she seemed to want to go in another direction.  Asked me about carpel tunnel because on her questionnaire I indicated that I had numbness in my fingertips (I believe from the spinal stenosis), did a nerve test with electrodes? and a muscle test with a long very thin needle.  She also sent me for blood work to check my levels.  However, I think she was at a loss and suggested 3 different medications to help the pain!!!  I told her I didn't want the meds but that I wanted to know what causes the extremely severe uncontrollable muscle contractions "before" I begin taking any medications.  She then suggested an MRI but I have decided to ignore that suggestion until I talk with my GP in early February.


This discussion is related to Can Spinal Stenosis Be Cured?.

[feelingempty]

I've had 2 fusions & going on my 3rd.! You both are having what's called Extremity pains. Wherever ur disc or bone of stenosis are it all is connected to certain nerves. I have "charlie horses" & numbness tingling & spasmns in arms legs toes etc.! Unfortunetly this is the norm. It's either we have to learn how to deal w/ it or be drugged. :( U may wanna try a TENS unit. Mine works pretty well.

[spinacle_62]

Please Help,
You have described my situation almost to a tee! I am 62 year old male, Had lower back surgery, 'spinal fusion', in 2003. Have severely painful muscle contractions when I twist to a side, muscles attached to ribs contract painfully. I have to wait for muscles to relax. It also happens in my fore arms. I now have a compressed disc in neck, bulge between c-5, c-6, c-7, I have numbness in right thumb and fore finger. Also get spasms in intestines, they just lock! What do we have? Can you save me from alot of useless tests.Please e-mail me at  arthurjo-***@****. What have we Gotten?