Question
Hello,  Three months ago I had six nerve roots surgically decompressed plus a multi-level fusion. I'm still having symptoms that I had prior to surgery.  I'm also having left leg and toe tingling.  Is this normal or did this surgeon botch this complex surgery? I still spend 95% of my time in bed and in pain.   thx  7.21

Answer
Hello, Steve,

I can't answer the question, "Did this surgeon botch this complex surgery?" without close-up examination.

What I can say is this:  The usual reason for nerve root compression (which would account for your left leg and toe tingling) is muscular contractions in the spinal musculature, which cause intervertebral compression, by which nerves get trapped.  Surgery can't correct that.  Period.

The tingling in your left leg may also be caused by a contracted piriformis muscle (piriformis syndrome sciatica) -- which would not be addressed in spinal fusion.  See what I mean?

If you're still contracted that way, the surgery may have done what surgery can, but you still have the underlying, causal problem.

Muscles act according to the control of the nervous system.  Conditioned postural reflexes cause long-term muscular contractions.

Those postural reflexes can be retrained to allow muscular relaxation and normal muscular control and movement, with normal comfort.

May I now refer you to some webpages with articles that explain further and give you an option for recovery:

http://www.somatics.com/back_pain_Q&A.htm
http://www.somatics.com/back_pain.htm
http://www.somatics.com/backpainreliefsantafe.htm

Start with one.  You'll get very interested and want to read the others.

with regard,
Lawrence Gold