I have done a small amount of searching on this topic, and I can't find a definitive answer to this question, so here goes....

Over the last couple of months, I have been having some leg and chest cramps from time to time, and, while they last (generally, 20-30 seconds), they are fairly painful.

For the most part, the leg cramping occurs while I am lying down, while the chest / abdominal cramping tends to occur while I am bending over slightly, such as when I go to tie my shoes.

The leg cramping generally is the back of my legs (calves, I guess), while the 'abdominal' cramps are abdominal cramps (lack of better word choices).

Not being a doctor (although I do play a lawyer on tv http://adrsupport.org/groupee_common.../icon_wink.gif), I am presuming that there is a correlation between my multi-level lumbar ADR surgery and this cramping??

Can anyone offer any insight?

Thanks.

David

I have been having the same symptoms. The cramping has been going on for a year before the ADR surgery and has continued since the surgery. The abdominal/chest has been since the surgery. Sometimes it feels like I can't breath and like symptomatic of a heart attack. Weird. Shoot me now!!!!!!!!! I'm tired of pain though there is a light at the end of the tunnel and some fairly good days that make me believe that it is all worth it. The SI joint has been acting up for about a week again and I am scheduled for another injection. I don't want to believe that I have to have injections to keep going but I guess that it beats the alternative. Anyway I don't mean to sound pessimistic as I am usually happy and up beat on this forumn.

My assumption is that the body is still realigning and it is letting us know that it is still not happy yet. My question is this; "When is it going to get happy?"

Terry Newton

That pretty much mirrors my symptoms to a 'T'.

David

Guys, I am surprised that the chest symptoms are in common. I suppose its normal to have “settling” pains during the first 18 months post op; but the fact that you both have similar complaints is concerning. If you can, share a bit more….

http://adrsupport.org/groupee_common...n_confused.gif

Dave
I didnt have ADR but have had multiple problems with abdominal cramping and feeling like someone stuck a knife in me at times since my 2 level fusion.
Our abdominal scars are pretty much in the same area so I feel that this is relevant here as well. I had a lot of leg issues especially tightness and cramping in the back of the calf for a while too. I dont have that as much anymore.
The abdominal stuff I feel is probably due to scar tissue setting up inside. Its been almost a year for me and I know you are not too terribly far behind me in recovery times.
I dont know a lot we can do for it I do know there are some massage techniques that are good for breaking up scar tissue and that might be an option I had thought of that.
Anyway you are not alone in this My 2cents

The chest / abdominal cramping (for me) is similar to what Terry describes.

Every once in awhile (primarily when I bend over a bit to tie my shoes), I get what feels to be a muscle cramp in my abdominal / chest area.

At 35, I have never had a heart attack before, but I imagine it might feel something like this. Usually, if I straighten up my body as soon as possible, that helps the muscle cramp subside a bit, although not completely. Generally, it takes about 20-45 seconds before the cramp goes away.

...and, if I wait the 20-45 seconds, and try to return to bending over, the cramping pain will return again (which I try and avoid!).

David

david
silly question but have you addressed this problem with pro-spine yet or dr. yue?
i think it may help.
chuck

Not yet. Other than being slightly 'annoying', I don't consider it to be a big deal.

Obviously, I figured that I would float it past the community to see if there might be a correlation between ADR surgery and my symptoms.

David

I am curious as to the moving over of the stomach and what this does to the esophageal sphincter muscles that control acid reflux. Maybe what we are experiencing is asymptomatic of a surgery induced acid reflux disease. Justin/other medical experts, is this plausable?

Terry Newton

this might seem too obvious, but some of the drugs you might be taking pre-op could have life threatening side effects. might want to check into it.