The "Bear Claw"

[backissues]

I have been doing fine. Then, last week on Wednesday, after not going to the pool to do my PT exercises for a couple of weeks, (I had PT from May to Sept and have a PT routine.) I did all the exercises, which includes a variety of walking in chest deep water and then cross-country skiing and bicycling in deep water. Then, I just hung in deep water with dumbbells under my armpits to hold me up. That was one of the exercises but was supposed to be with a collar around my neck and hang from that so my neck muscles get stretched. The last time I did that my neck hurt so I thought I would try just hanging.

The next day, I started having muscle aches in my lower back. This is what Ed calls the "bear claw." It is muscular. The ache doesn't stop me from doing anything but it is there. I am worried I did something that can't be undone. I have been taking Ibuprofen during the day and 4 mg of Valium at night. It is 3 days since I did the exercises.

I blame myself for this and wonder if it will resolve. Could I have stretched the distance between vertebra? Broken a rod? I've been doing so well and now...

Has anyone had this problem? Did it resolve? Is this part of the healing in the second year?

Irene

[backissues]

I'm doing better today. I guess I'll never stop worrying that I've done something wrong to end this sabbatical from the pain that I am have had.

I am preparing a meal for company. What a treat to stand and chop and prepare without pain!

Wishing you all a Healthy and Happy New Year 2012!!

Irene

[loves to skate]

Glad to hear it is resolving itself Irene. Happy New Year to you too.
Sally

[golfnut]

Irene,
I'm glad you are doing better. I had a similar experience several months ago and didn't seem to improve for quite a while. I finally called Dr. Lenke's nurse and she thought I had inflamation of some muscles due to walking up and down some really steep hills and recommended Aleve and ice and it did the trick. I know what you mean about always worrying that you've done something to cause a problem. Happy New Year!

Karen
p.s. John and I are going to attempt dancing (carefully) tonight at a New Year's Eve party.

[Susie*Bee]

The bear claw feeling I get is when I get too cold... and that's happened recently to me. Then it feels like everything in my back tightens up all up and down my spine, stretching out about 3-4" to each side, especially in my upper and middle back. We are up in Quebec with my daughter's family for the holidays... I brought a big full length down coat. My feet froze this morning, but my back stayed ok.

Glad to hear all is well, Irene. I was forever concerned that something had gone wrong when things would pop or grate or there would be a new feeling. My popping/grating was "just" arthritis in my neck. At least it wasn't a hardware problem... (smile) Best wishes for the new year and continued recovery.

[debbei]

Oh yes I still get them from time to time. They are much less frequent but sometimes they just floor me. Motrin usually helps and when they get bad I take muscle relaxants (which I haven't had in months)

I'm glad you're feeling better. I can relate to them coming on after a break of physical activity. If I try an exercise that is new to my back, that is when I'm likely to get the spasms. I try to be very careful with myself that way.

[titaniumed]

Hi Irene

Bear trap is the term I use because the gripping wont cease, just like a trap that wont let go. This usually happens in the thoracic, in a 3-4 inch wide spot centered on the spine. It’s a common with us and I still get them every once in a while and it seems like it happens when atmospheric pressure drops when a storm moves in. Being a hurricane hunter would not be a great profession due to this reason.

I usually don’t take anything if it happens and just lay down if I can....I’m not too keen on taking substances if I can solve the problem without. Eating something, taking a hot shower, and laying down are usually the 1st things I do if something is wrong, give the body some time to heal itself on its own.

Ed

[backissues]

Feeling Better and Thanks

Thanks for your encouragement and sharing your experiences. By today, I am much better. I walked 2.5 miles. I couldn't have done that a year ago.

It is great to know you are out there for help and encouragement.

Ed, I have that same 'bear claw" feeling but lower than the Thoracic, more towards the lumbar. Does it take days to go away?

Karen, We went on a cruise in December and I took a salsa dancing lesson. I didn't try to swing my hips around but just being able to stand and walk through the steps for 45 minutes for the class was great! I hope you enjoyed new years and dancing.

I need to be more careful when I go to the pool to exercise. I haven't been doing it regularly and it feels so good to be in the water that I get carried away.

Wishing you all a healthy and happy new year 2012!

Irene

[titaniumed]

Irene

Traps, not claws. The claws are when I screw up on a date that results in marks on my backside as I’m running away! he he

There are all sorts of strange feelings during a recovery, and the best we can do is to adapt to them. If there is something that’s drastically wrong, you will know. With minor issues, the best thing you can do is wait, and just take it easy. I pulled something trying to clip my toenails at 23 months post and it felt like a soldering iron down low at my L3 area on the spine just off center about an inch. It was a specific 3/4 inch dia circle of pain that lasted exactly 14 days. When I went to see my surgeon, I was riding up the elevator and realized that the pain subsided. It was a soft tissue injury. The pain was either a 10 or a 0. On or off like a light switch.

It healed itself. The body is amazing isn’t it? Each person and situation is different.

My full recovery took 2 years.

Ed

[Lorz]

I know many of you have talked about having the "bear traps" feelings that come and go, but has anyone experienced it constantly after their surgery? If so, how long did it take to resolve? I am 7 mos. post-op, and still have it constantly, along with the burning nerve pain. I am really becoming worried that it is permanent!

[bluestone]

Im 14mths post op and to me it feels like I have someones foot in the centre of my back causing a 'pressure' feeling-im presuming this is similar to the bear trap?

Its driving me crazy and some days I want to cry because I wish it would go away-some days are worse than others and only lying don relieves it, as soon as I stand again its there.

My surgeon said if I still have this at 2 years post op he will consider taking all my metalwork out so im praying that this still has chance to go away.

[annockams]

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[Lorz]

Bluestone- What you describe is very similar to what I feel. Lying down is also the only thing that relieves it. Does your surgeon feel that removing the hardware would remedy the problem? It was my understanding that it is caused by the muscles/nerves stretching, so I wonder how removing the hardware would help? I understand how you feel, I feel like crying too. It is mentally exhausting, because it never goes away! P.S. Aren't these spam messages annoying?!

[Marina63]

Bear Trap

I know many of you have talked about having the "bear traps" feelings that come and go, but has anyone experienced it constantly after their surgery? If so, how long did it take to resolve? I am 7 mos. post-op, and still have it constantly, along with the burning nerve pain. I am really becoming worried that it is permanent!

Lori, I too have had it non stop since my surgery. The tingling and burning comes and goes but it is much less than it was. My surgeon told me it would eventually go away. I have to make a concerted effort to relax my shoulders. Going to PT really helped. My therapist gave me some exercises to help move the area and work the muscles. I've been back to weight lifting which does loosen things up a bit.

I'm also thinking it may never go away. I am 6 months post op.