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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Numbness In Hands And Legs After Spinal Fusion Surgery?

I HAD L3-L4 SPINAL FUSION SURGERY AND FOR 3 MONTHS I FELT GREAT NOW I HAVE NUMBNESS AND PAIN IN BOTH MY LEGS AND HANDS AS WELL AS MY FINGERS AND TOES CURLING. I HAVE HAD ALL KINDS OF TESTS AND ALL KINDS OF MEDICATIONS THAT DON;T WORK. NOW THEY SAY I HAVE A PINCHED NERVE AND THEY CALL IT RADICULOPATHY. CAN THIS ALSO CAUSE THE NUMBNESS AND CURLING OF MY HANDS AND FINGERS?
Mon, 25 Jan 2016
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Pathologist and Microbiologist,  's  Response
Hello and welcome to HCM,
A history of fusion surgery at L3-L4 and symptoms of developing numbness and pain in both legs is explainable.
The surgery could have led to impingement of nerve roots or the region of the nerves when they exit from the spinal canal.
The nerve roots exiting from L3-L4 supply the legs thus, the symptoms of numbness and pain are expected when these nerve roots are compressed or impinged.
However, the numbness in hands cannot be explained by compression of nerve roots at L3-L4 level.
Hands and fingers are supplied by nerve roots emanating from cervical spine.
Involvement of more than one nerve roots is called poly-radiculopathy.
You need to consult your treating orthopedician to find to cause of symptoms in legs, hands and fingers.
There is a probability that the cervical spine is also affected by some degenerative disorder.
I suggest you to consult your orthopedician for clinical assessment and thus management.

Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja Puri
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What Causes Numbness In Hands And Legs After Spinal Fusion Surgery?

Hello and welcome to HCM, A history of fusion surgery at L3-L4 and symptoms of developing numbness and pain in both legs is explainable. The surgery could have led to impingement of nerve roots or the region of the nerves when they exit from the spinal canal. The nerve roots exiting from L3-L4 supply the legs thus, the symptoms of numbness and pain are expected when these nerve roots are compressed or impinged. However, the numbness in hands cannot be explained by compression of nerve roots at L3-L4 level. Hands and fingers are supplied by nerve roots emanating from cervical spine. Involvement of more than one nerve roots is called poly-radiculopathy. You need to consult your treating orthopedician to find to cause of symptoms in legs, hands and fingers. There is a probability that the cervical spine is also affected by some degenerative disorder. I suggest you to consult your orthopedician for clinical assessment and thus management. Thanks and take care Dr Shailja Puri