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What Causes Spinal Stenosis With Muscular Rigidity?

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Posted on Mon, 7 Apr 2014
Question: I believe I have two different questions. I have several spinal disorders, including chronic low back pain, chronic neck pain, L4/L5 spinal stenosis, peripheral neuropathy, extreme at times, DDD, DJD, and several others. For the lower back spinal stenosis I decided to have surgery 8/8/12 after several spinal injections and facet burns. The surgery saved my feet as they were purple black every day by 5pm. Only through my massaging and reflexology on my feet did they survive. Thus, my surgery was successful by saving my feet at minimum and allowing myself a tremendous improvement and significant decrease in pain. However, two weeks post-surgery I started to feel unexpected and unpredicted muscular rigidity. I immediately called my surgeons office and spoke with the nurse regarding my new and scary symptoms. My exact description was, "the morning stretch most people have upon waking up, where your leg muscles and/or legs and arms, stretch to rigidity of all muscles for approximately 30-90 seconds", I am feeling mostly rigid legs, unpredictably, many times a day while walking, sleeping, sitting, etc. My questions: 1) Why didn't my Neurosurgeon validate my concerns, document the spontaneous rigid legs, and refer me to a Neurologist with this information? 2) My Neurosurgeon did refer me to a knowledgeable and extremely observant Neurologist. He provided new medications and a follow-up in 3 months. **At this point, I am still unaware that my sensations are valid and real.** Apparently the appropriate protocol was followed, but I also fell 5-9 times within the 3 month period between appointments. I called the front desk many times, but the messages NEVER reached my Neurologist and team with any accuracy. 3) I need a Competent Neurologist close to home at Duke, UNC, or East XXXXXXX with the time and resources to help me understand my choices. I also have white matter on my brain that did not exist in 2005. And my cervical spine has significant disc desiccation. I have no idea if the cervical disc desiccation can be improved, slowed down, altered or any step to improve my life. Please provide any advice, explanations and a referral to a knowledgeable Neurologist to address my rigidity, cervical spinal issues, and the white matter on my brain. I have a 9-year old and a 20-year old. I am 46. I want to live, travel, exercise, play with my children, care for myself while handling my household chores and finding a JOB. The life I just described seems impossible but I am optimistic and will put the hard work in!! My chronic pain and very low endurance hinders any possibility of the activities described above actually returning to my life. Please help, Kindest Regards, XXXX ***When replying to my questions above, would you also include my original description (above)?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar (8 hours later)
Brief Answer: Neuromodulation including spinal stimulation Detailed Answer: Hi, I understand the ordeal of symptoms that you currently go through. I empathize how difficult is it to run a family and fit into a job with these problems. I motivate your optimism. Your set of symptoms would not fit into a single diagnosis but may have multiple etiologies. The rigidity in the legs and spontaneous resolution after 90 seconds does seem to interfere with your daily life now and then. This does not seem to leave you disabled very soon. Have courage and fight for you life you will get it back. I am not sure if the symptoms were progressing since then. If the symptoms are after surgery it could be nerve entrapment in the scar tissue. It needs to be documented with various investigations and good clinical examination. I think you should be benefited with a Neuromodulation therapy which includes spinal stimulation, peripheral nerve field stimulation and dorsal root ganglion stimulation. The neuromodulation team should include pain physicians, psychologists, physiotherapists and neuromodulation nurses. This is not all, few centres also offer epidural pain injections. You should call your Neurologist to know about these. If your Neurologist or the front desk does not listen or offer you appropriate help you should seek alternatives in your area. Pain management services are available in Southern Village (UNC) at: 410 Market Street, Suite 362 Chapel Hill, NC 27516 Phone: (919) 843-6688 All the best.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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Answered by
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Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 2242 Questions

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What Causes Spinal Stenosis With Muscular Rigidity?

Brief Answer: Neuromodulation including spinal stimulation Detailed Answer: Hi, I understand the ordeal of symptoms that you currently go through. I empathize how difficult is it to run a family and fit into a job with these problems. I motivate your optimism. Your set of symptoms would not fit into a single diagnosis but may have multiple etiologies. The rigidity in the legs and spontaneous resolution after 90 seconds does seem to interfere with your daily life now and then. This does not seem to leave you disabled very soon. Have courage and fight for you life you will get it back. I am not sure if the symptoms were progressing since then. If the symptoms are after surgery it could be nerve entrapment in the scar tissue. It needs to be documented with various investigations and good clinical examination. I think you should be benefited with a Neuromodulation therapy which includes spinal stimulation, peripheral nerve field stimulation and dorsal root ganglion stimulation. The neuromodulation team should include pain physicians, psychologists, physiotherapists and neuromodulation nurses. This is not all, few centres also offer epidural pain injections. You should call your Neurologist to know about these. If your Neurologist or the front desk does not listen or offer you appropriate help you should seek alternatives in your area. Pain management services are available in Southern Village (UNC) at: 410 Market Street, Suite 362 Chapel Hill, NC 27516 Phone: (919) 843-6688 All the best.