I am writing to discuss pain control following low back surgery. The neurosurgeon said that the surgery would stop the pain I was having before surgery, but there would still be pain from the muscles and nerves. I now find I am having sever muscle cramps ranging from my waist to my knees. It seems as though there is a muscle or series of muscles that run around the body mimicking the half circle of my hips. That is the source of my pain. I am currently on Tramadol and muscle relaxants and they help, but there is still breakthrough pain. My husband has begun massaging the area 1-2 times a day. We have a borrowed TENS unit that helped one day, and aspercream lotion and patch. Is this usual following back surgery in the lumbar region? Has anyone else experienced this follow-up pain? How have other people managed this pain? Thank you for anything you can share with me.