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Posted 8/25/2010 8:37 PM (GMT 0)
Does anyone have calf pain from back problems? I have a call in to the PM doctor......extreme calf and foot pain. Foot going getting "stuck" and toes curling, and EXTREME pain in calf, and front of lower leg. Leg pain is my main complaint since my surgery, but today and yesterday just bad bad bad. Any ideas??
Posted 8/25/2010 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
I am so sorry that you are having this pain and I can relate! It is terrible! My main problem is in my lower back, but I have terrible pain in my calf's and feet at times. My feet get such terrible cramps it will wake me up from a dead sleep. And they are not the type of cramps that you can walk off....they hurt so bad I can't walk. My doctor told me it was from nerve impingement. I am not sure if yours is caused by the same thing but just wanted to let you know that I do have these types of pains also. Hopefully you PM doc will be able to help you!!

Take care!
Beckey
Posted 8/25/2010 10:08 PM (GMT 0)
That sounds very painful. Is it in both legs or only the side with the broken foot? If it is just the one side (or maybe both?) and it's a "new" symptom I would guess it is from having that cast on for so long. Obviously it is pretty difficult to walk normally with something like that on your foot. I know when I had surgery on my ankle that by the time I got the cast off everything was all jacked around, my back, my leg, etc. I hope that it just takes some time before things get back to normal for you. Maybe a nice massage or two will help those muscles relax and remember how to contract properly. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you for a speedy resolution. Lisa
Posted 8/26/2010 4:25 AM (GMT 0)
Hydrangea, it sounds like you may have an impingement on your spinal cord (hope I spelled that right) ....you certainly do need to be seen right away. From reading your earlier post, I'm guessing that the disk they thought might be OK for several more years, could be the problem. This is just of course a guess on my part, but do not delay in getting it checked out. If you do not hear from the Dr tomorrow, I would go to the ER.

I too, am curious as to the question, that it might be the same leg as your broken foot. It could be a complication from that as well.

Please do keep us posted on this when you find out. I'm always looking for your post and try to follow them closely, since we had fusion surgery's about the same time.

Take care!

SE
Posted 8/26/2010 2:48 PM (GMT 0)
I sure hope you've heard back from your dr. I had to respond because as of late i've had some calf pain and foot pain and toes curling up in both feet and was wondering the same thing if it could be from my lower back problems. Let us know what your dr. says and i hope you get relief soon.

Kay
Posted 8/26/2010 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
well............pm nurse called back and left a message. After talking about the problem in detail yesterday and telling her that there really must be something else we can do for the pain, and this symptom from my stenosis and herniated disc. His solution of course is s to just call in more norco!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What the heck???? I have an appointment with him on the 13th for another epidural, but if the first one did nothing, then I am sure the second one will do nothing again. I know the solution to the problem is another surgery, which of course is not something I will jump into any time soon. I do have a appointment at Rush at the end of September.

The thing that really gets me upset is that the PM doctor is so fast to just call in more drugs, then he will be just as fast to tell me that I have been taking Norco for far to long. I know that he is a PM doctor, but there really has to be another solution to this problem.

To answer your question gecogirl......nope, other foot and leg!!
Thanks everyone for you support....SE I also try to follow your post, even if I do not always respond to them, I am thinking about your recovery as well.
I wish everyone well!
Hydrangea
Posted 8/26/2010 7:45 PM (GMT 0)

   Hydrangea....I really wish you would go back to you're PCD and follow up on this problem with him. The symptoms you display are serious and should not be toyed with by a PM, who makes his money on Epidurals. I fear if you wait too long, you may suffer permanent damage. (IMO) It's one thing to be in great pain, and it is quite another to have your body start to deform because of nerve damage. I have seen both....people who after surgery, return back to normal form, and walked properly, and then I have seen at least two employees who suffered permanent nerve damage because they waited too long.

   Of course, you should listen to your PCD, and or a surgeon, who you trust first. I just want you to be on you're toes and really think this through. I bleieve that surgery should be a last resort, but not avoided if needed.

   Hydrangea, I also do not want to go through the back surgery again, but if it is to the point that I don't have too many more options, and may suffer even worse in the future, I would consider it again for sure!

     I'm hoping that some of the other veteran members here can shed more light on this than maybe I have. And of course....I always stand to be corrected in a Positive way :)

      Auntkay, I hope you are reading this as well, as I worry for the both of you, with the symptoms you display.

      I really dont mean to be little PM's, but they generally mask a problem not fix it. If your PCD says there is too great a risk for surgery, or that there is nothing else that can be done...then by all means we want you to be comfortable and not suffer.

      Yes!....there is a need for PM's but when you may have a disk rubbing on your spinal cord, and an Epidural has not reduced the swelling....please look at other options and keep an open mind about it.

      We all want the best for you both! We relly do! :)

       Take care, and please continue to post here! We Care! :)

      SE:)

Posted 8/26/2010 9:47 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks .....sometimes thats all we need is someone else looking in to give us advice. Sometimes the pain really consumes me, it helps when everyone here brings some clarity on the issue. It is so hard for us to deal with our own pain, and so easy for members that are suffering with pain to reach out to other to help. I thank you all for that.
I guess a PM doctor really does make his money on the epidurals, and other tortures that they preform. LOL I have been his patients for many many years! If yet another surgery is in my future I will have to come to grips with it. Sure don't want to be like this for ever.
Another this that has made me a little freaked out......the insurance company called and has a new plan for Chronic Heath Issues that I qualify for. Man that was a slap of reality.Not sure if they are refuring to Crohns disease or the back......Don't want to even call them.

Can you say....pitty party !!!
Posted 8/26/2010 9:54 PM (GMT 0)
Did you have this calf pain before you broke your foot? Lisa
Posted 8/26/2010 9:54 PM (GMT 0)
i have calf and foot pain that started after my fusion. is it tingly, pins and needles, shooting pain.? does it start from your back and go down or start in you calf or leg? i was told if it didn't go away within 18 months after fusion then it would not. a doctor suggested taking the b-vitamin inositol 3000mg-3grams/day for 3 months. i tried it and it was greatly improved and still is. best wishes to you
Posted 8/26/2010 10:08 PM (GMT 0)
I actually just posted on another thread about Metanx. (vitamin B) have been on it for only two weeks. I do hope it will work.
My foot and leg pain was there before my fusion, but has gotten progressively worse since my surgery. The cramping and toes curling was there before, but the extreme cramps and foot getting stuck are new. My surgeon also said the same thing about it not going away, but was concerned that the pain has increased, with different symptoms. MRI showed severe stenosis in addition to herniation at L4 L5 . (he did not want to do surgery on that level at the time. He seems to think pain is from Stenosis.
No pain does not shoot, (only have had that happen a handful of times) starting at back and shooting out the toes!!
Spinal Soldier...When was your fusion? and at what Levels. have your symptoms improved after surgery, stayed the same, or progressed?
Posted 8/26/2010 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
Gecko girl.....yes had pain before broken foot, but not as intense. Dr. does not think it is realated to the broke foot or cast.....but who knows possibly could be?
Posted 8/26/2010 11:35 PM (GMT 0)
my fusion was 10/1/08. my back is much better but the nerve pain was bad until the inositol reigimen. i ran out of inositol for 2 days and i could notice it coming back before i bought another bottle of the twinlab brand. now i take a matinence dose of 500mg 2 times a day. my fusion is L4-S1, interbody and posterior. i had a great surgeon.
Posted 8/27/2010 1:40 AM (GMT 0)
Oh OK. Thanks for letting me know that. When I hear symptoms like that I often think it is muscular in nature because every time you change the way you walk, etc because of pain if you do it long enough you can set yourself up for muscle imbalances. I am the poster child for muscle imbalances. Those are "fixable" without surgery but unfortunately many in health care don't recognize or think of it being a cause. I had that problem myself for several years. Now that I have someone working on the imbalances I am finally making progress and healing. I am thankful for that. I really hope for you that it is something like that instead of more back issues. Good luck and please take care, Lisa
Posted 8/27/2010 1:49 AM (GMT 0)
I wish had an answer, but I can only offer support on this one. My fusion L5-S1 was in March of 2009. Legs and feet haven't really been a problem other than me sort of dragging my right leg and walking like a duck. I would certainly have it checked out with whoever you can trust the most asap. Don't wait and regret it. Perhaps if I hadn't waited my problems wouldn't be the same as they are today.

I wish you all the best!
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