Has anyone had muscle twitching, fasciculation after surgery?

robprodisc · #1 (**permalink**) 10-09-2008, 04:33 AM

For the past three months my calves and other parts of my body have continued to twitch, or as the doctor put it, have "faciculations". It has been a year since my surgery, so it my not be related.

The twitching looks like pop corn poping under the skin. Exercise will make it worse.
Currently waiting for a specialist, my wife had a patient with ALS, and she is worried.

thanks,

fireyangel76 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008, 03:44 AM

Hi Rob,
I don't know if it is usual or normal but I had it for a long time after surgery and still get it at times. Exercise also made mine worse. The good news for me is I hardly get it anymore at 20 months post op.
I too wonder if others get this.

robprodisc · #3 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008, 06:39 AM

Thanks for answering my post.

The last two months the calves have been working overtime. If i sit still for a second I notice them twitch. If you look at the leg you can see the skin moving.

Did you have it that much or just once in a while. I have to asked because most of the diseases that have this twitch are not very human friendly.

Currently waiting for an appointment from a professional. Meanwhile the muscle twitching keeps reminding me something is not right.

I would relax a little more however some of the twitch is also in the upper body as well.

Its hard not to think about it.

dshobbies · #4 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008, 06:48 PM

I'm 3 years out on a 3 level. I had muscle twitching for a long time but worse, I had muscle spasms which have subsided but are still part of my life. The worst is in my left shin. Who gets muscles spasms in their shin??? Still twitch but duration and severity have diminished to the point I hardly notice them.

However, both are better than the 'needle piercing' I felt for 1 1/2 years that took my breath away. The muscle was waking up

I wouldn't worry all that much but good that you're getting it checked out.

Dale

robprodisc · #5 (**permalink**) 10-10-2008, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dshobbies

I'm 3 years out on a 3 level. I had muscle twitching for a long time but worse, I had muscle spasms which have subsided but are still part of my life. The worst is in my left shin. Who gets muscles spasms in their shin??? Still twitch but duration and severity have diminished to the point I hardly notice them.

However, both are better than the 'needle piercing' I felt for 1 1/2 years that took my breath away. The muscle was waking up

I wouldn't worry all that much but good that you're getting it checked out.

Dale

thanks Dale, I have a few questions for you if you dont mind.

Dale did the muscle twitching cause your muscle to contract? Or was it twitching that was under the skin but did not cause the muscle to contract?

How consistant did the muscles twitch? ( for a few months, days, years?)

I also get it in the triceps and other upperbody parts. (not near as bad as the calves) . Did you get consistant twitching that was not below the surgery site.

When did your muscle twitching start, right after surgery, months later? It has been just over a year since my surgery.

Bob
s1-l5, l5 to l4. Prodisc.
Aug 2007

dshobbies · #6 (**permalink**) 10-11-2008, 01:06 AM

My muscle twitching was not in my back but in my legs. I had severe nerve damage to my left leg and to a much less extent, my right leg. I don't remember it being painful so I would have to say no, the muscle did not contract.

In the beginning, the muscles twitched in my thighs and less often in my left calf. This could last half an hour but again, was not painful, just bothersome. I could see it but repositioning didn't stop it. All of this has diminshed to the point that by the time I notice the twitching, it has already stopped.

This started at about 4-5 months after surgery and just lessened over time. I should also tell you that my leg 'died' in surgery. I was unable to feel anything or move either leg waking up from surgery. I immediately started on Neurontin and within days, I could move my legs but they both became hypersensitive with anything, including the touch of the blanket, causing severe pain. I was on crutches for 5 months and Dilaudid for 6 months. My left leg is still weaker than the right and causes its own limitations to my life.

About this time last year I decided that the Neurontin/Lyrica interfered more with my life than the pain so I chose pain. Sometimes I second guess myself but if the pain gets too bad, I just take my meds and zone out for a little while. This however is a personal choice that can only be made by the individual affected.

Did you experience any nerve damage and could this be a result of that? Do you now or did you need a pain managment doctor? He was the one who explained all of this to me.

Dale

fireyangel76 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-11-2008, 02:13 AM

Rob,
I got the twitching mostly in my thighs and calves. I recall it started soon after surgery. I also had bad muscle spasms. The twitching didn't hurt and I could see it under the skin. Like Dale repositioning didn't stop it. I never had the twitching in my arms but I did get the restless legs thing that went up to my arms though. It just got less and less as time went by. I still get it on occasion. Glad your getting getting it checked out.

robprodisc · #8 (**permalink**) 11-01-2008, 04:19 AM

Still have the Fasciculations, mostly legs but also arm, triceps. I go for a walk and it feels like I ran into a truck. And then the Fasciculation increase, seem to be directly related to the amount of exercise I get.
There is a video on youtube in Ref to Fasciculations.

You cant even forget about it, aways a twitch away.

Waiting for the Neuro Appointment.

robprodisc · #9 (**permalink**) 04-11-2009, 07:32 AM

Went to the Nero, he has booked me for MRI and EMG.

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