1. < Spine Health

Little to no reflexes

Posted by @EDiesel472 @ericanelson02, Dec 18, 2023

I have fibromyalgia and MS. I also have diabetes and a lumbar spine issue that requires me to have to do a 2nd major back surgery. I now have little to no reflexes now and most all of the Specialists that I see associate this issue to being because of my spine issues. All I know is that my first spine surgery where I have a cage, 2 bars and 4 screws at L4-L5 has caused the lower portion, including at the sacral level to now be severely compressed which is causing me an extreme amount of pain and discomfort. I can't sleep and if I fall asleep, I wake up with severe muscle spasms (feels like someone is squeezing my muscles and won't let go!) Anyone else struggling with little to no reflexes? What did the Specialist (which Specialty) say to you as the reason?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Spine Health Support Group.

Mentor
Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | Dec 19, 2023

@ericanelson02 You do have a lot going on and it must be hard to be in so much pain all the time. I do know that spinal stenosis can affect reflexes. I don't know how much MS affects this. I am a cervical spine surgery patient, and in working with my physical therapist and visits with surgeons before I had spine surgery, I did have diminished reflexes in my legs. At first, the reflexes ere hyper reactive which then progressed to a lesser response. I had spinal cord compression in the central canal in my neck as the cause. I did have fusion surgery at C5/C6 which resolved my spine issues.

With fusions, there is a risk that it can affect adjacent discs and it sounds like that is what you might be describing. Are you able to walk? These levels at he sacrum can affect a patient's ability to walk. Does your surgeon recommend another surgery now or advise you to wait? How is your diabetes being managed?

This is a link to a story you may be interested in about my spine surgeon at Mayo who treated a young person with an issue at the L5/S1 junction who was having trouble walking.
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/sharing-mayo-clinic-spinal-surgery-saves-teen-swimmers-mobility/

REPLY
1 reply
gramham | @gramham | Dec 21, 2023

So sorry for all your problems. I have so many damaged disc in both areas. I have had 2 spinal fusion surgeries in the lumbar area the first one when I was 18 years old. 3 thoracic compressions fractures and 3 in the lumbar spine. I have had 2 kyphoplasty surgeries in the lumbar spine. Also degenerative disc disease and several disc bulge. I have had so many cortisone injections that I have lost count. I had a pain stimulator (that didn't work for me) so I had it removed 2 years later. I have worn braces. The last one had a chest plate that interfered with my breathing. I have COPD from work related 2nd hand smoke. I have severe height loss and severe deformative at T9. My new pain specialist is going to start the nerve block procedure in the T12-L1 area. They call all this chronic pain. I have to admit that I am a little scared. I get my hopes up so high only to have all the pain back again. I had 4 children. I am 87 years old now and have lived with this pain for 67 years. I think so many earlier doctors just thought I was getting older and said there was nothing they could do. I live alone. The new pain specialist said age didn't have anything to do with it. I didn't have to live in pain. God willing this procedure will work!

REPLY
1 reply
@EDiesel472 | @ericanelson02 | Jan 31 5:35pm
In reply to @jenniferhunter "@ericanelson02 You do have a lot going on and it must be hard to be in..." + (show)
@jenniferhunter

@ericanelson02 You do have a lot going on and it must be hard to be in so much pain all the time. I do know that spinal stenosis can affect reflexes. I don't know how much MS affects this. I am a cervical spine surgery patient, and in working with my physical therapist and visits with surgeons before I had spine surgery, I did have diminished reflexes in my legs. At first, the reflexes ere hyper reactive which then progressed to a lesser response. I had spinal cord compression in the central canal in my neck as the cause. I did have fusion surgery at C5/C6 which resolved my spine issues.

With fusions, there is a risk that it can affect adjacent discs and it sounds like that is what you might be describing. Are you able to walk? These levels at he sacrum can affect a patient's ability to walk. Does your surgeon recommend another surgery now or advise you to wait? How is your diabetes being managed?

This is a link to a story you may be interested in about my spine surgeon at Mayo who treated a young person with an issue at the L5/S1 junction who was having trouble walking.
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/sharing-mayo-clinic-spinal-surgery-saves-teen-swimmers-mobility/

Jump to this post

@jenniferhunter I appreciate your kind sentiment! Here's the response to your questions.

Are you able to walk? Yes, but with a cane and walker. Depends on the day, which I use.

Does your surgeon recommend another surgery now or advise you to wait? Now, because of the pain. I was told I'm one of the few patients that have this issue where another surgery is needed due to the prior surgery area "weight of bars/screws on the spine" has caused residual pain, also pain at c-level and below at sacral level.

How is your diabetes being managed? Well-managed. No insulin but pills.

REPLY
@EDiesel472 | @ericanelson02 | Jan 31 5:41pm
In reply to @gramham "So sorry for all your problems. I have so many damaged disc in both areas. I..." + (show)
@gramham

So sorry for all your problems. I have so many damaged disc in both areas. I have had 2 spinal fusion surgeries in the lumbar area the first one when I was 18 years old. 3 thoracic compressions fractures and 3 in the lumbar spine. I have had 2 kyphoplasty surgeries in the lumbar spine. Also degenerative disc disease and several disc bulge. I have had so many cortisone injections that I have lost count. I had a pain stimulator (that didn't work for me) so I had it removed 2 years later. I have worn braces. The last one had a chest plate that interfered with my breathing. I have COPD from work related 2nd hand smoke. I have severe height loss and severe deformative at T9. My new pain specialist is going to start the nerve block procedure in the T12-L1 area. They call all this chronic pain. I have to admit that I am a little scared. I get my hopes up so high only to have all the pain back again. I had 4 children. I am 87 years old now and have lived with this pain for 67 years. I think so many earlier doctors just thought I was getting older and said there was nothing they could do. I live alone. The new pain specialist said age didn't have anything to do with it. I didn't have to live in pain. God willing this procedure will work!

Jump to this post

GOD's WILLING! @gramham Keep fighting! As HARD as it is to fight, no matter the age, I know it's hard at 87 but you have MORE LIFE TO LIVE! MORE WITH LESS PAIN! Don't give up! Yes, many Doctor's have written me off. Many, many Doctors have just said I have "too many co-morbities" that they don't even try to do anything yet alone research and respond from there. I know more about my body than most Doctors (this is the truth!). I see that you've had many surgeries on your spine, no one can get you pain free until you reach Heaven - this is the honest truth BUT a Doctor can get your pain down to (level 1 or 2 of 10). I'm not stopping neither are you. You can call your insurance and ask for a helper for you to have in-home, if you don't have one already. You can also do PT and OT, if not completed more recently than not. Blessings to you~

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.