Sorry for what you're going through Marc. I'm a candidate for fusing S1 through L5, but have put that off by maintaining a strong core. Even so, I wake up with a very stiff lower back everyday.

When you say the muscles have "locked up" - I take that to mean they are tight to the point of pain, and massage and dry needling have not worked.

I get dry needled in my upper and lower back every two weeks. The results have been v good but have taken time. One session isn't going to help much, it takes regular needling.

I hope you find an answer Marc. Have you gotten another surgeon's opinion on how well the fusion was done/is doing?

Joe