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No knee-jerk reflex in right leg after spinal surgery?

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james57451
james57451

Hi everybody, I had spinal surgery (6 screws and 2 rods) 12 weeks ago following a quite severe fracture in the L1 vertebrae. Since then I have been having quite severe pain in my right hip area and right lower back / glute area. When trying to bend forward the pain in these areas is so incredibly sharp and slightly radiates down my leg. I also have some pain at the front of my shin to the right side of the shin bone which is quite shape and throbbing sometimes. I had my first physio session yesterday and my physiotherapist tested me knee reflexes. On the left knee things seemed to be normal enough, the knee jerk was there anyway. On my right knee, no matter what he did and what position he tried, I had no knee jerk. What could this be and is it a serious issue? Nerve damage after surgery perhaps?

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • michael54457
    michael54457 james57451

    Posted

    I put all my pain down to nerve damage caused by my surgery, plus the damage done to my spinal chord pre surgery.

    A lot of my pain has lessened in the last two years, probably due to nerves repairing.  It is a slow process, so be patient, and positive.

    • james57451
      james57451 michael54457

      Posted

      I think that seems to be what my pain is as well. It's far too sharp to be muscle pain like my GP seems to think.

      At least it's getting better! That's one good thing to hear lol! Seems to be very slow indeed, hopefully it resolves sooner rather than later if that is what it is that I feel when I bend and do certain movements.

      I'm still not sure about why my reflexes were not working on my right side though, would this be due to nerve damage possibly?

      I know an MRI scan would show nerve damage but I have heard that with the metal in the spine, you are not allowed to have an MRI done due to the magnets.

  • jessica_78456
    jessica_78456 james57451

    Posted

    Nerve damage is always a possibility but really uve. Had a big operation 12 wks is still quite early, your body may need more time to recover, but yr consultant should be able to do some kind of nerve stimulation test ?
    • james57451
      james57451 jessica_78456

      Posted

      I know that is the but it just seems so strange that I never had this pain before and it doesn't make sense when my fracture was in my L1 vertebrae, which doesn't even control the hips. I haven't seen my consultant since my surgery but yes that's a good idea and I will make him give me answers before I leave when I actually get to see him!

      Do you think that there may be a possibility that the pain is coming from the screws being too deep into a nerve root possibly? I got X-rays done in A&E a few days ago and the screws are veryy long and deep into the vertebrae, and also the bottom 2 screws in my L2 are nearly crossed and very wonky in position I don't think it looks right and neither did the doctor I had in A&E

  • Titanium_Man
    Titanium_Man james57451

    Posted

    I have extremely sensitive response in one knee and no response at all in the other knee. It has been that way since my first tumor removal in 2001. I can't tell any other difference in my legs or knees other than my weird results on the knee-jerk test. I am just extra special now smile

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