Atrophy of Inner Thigh

[Dr Damien]

Dear Browntrout

LOng history, started off with minor back pain in 1990. Maybe a physio/chiro should have been the first choice before surgery,

YOu have had all these surgeries, scar tissue, excess bone growth, spinal instabilities from damaged supporting ligaments, poor spinal stabilizers all might be adding to the problems. YOu mentioned that once you bent to pull a seat out of a the deck of a bass boat and you had severe pain. you definitely have a very unstable spine hence the indication for fusion...

you mention that heat/cold helps...i presume this helps with the muscle spasm...

Are you able to bend forward? are you able to bend backwards? which causes more pain...?which relieves it? is the minor pain constant now? does it respond to movement? the numbness or ice cold feeling? do they come with movement or positions? if any of these symptoms are influenced by movement then maybe a manual therapist could be of help? if they are just constant sensations...then im not too sure,,...

you say putting a pillow roll under your left waist increases the pain...mmmmm...

you just may improve with a really detailed assessment...

[BrownTrout]

If I could ID the specific muscle or muscle group that has atrophied and I did progressive exercises to that muscle, wouldn't it improve over time? Would it improve even if the nerve in the lower back related to this muscle is still pinched a little?

The atrophy of the right leg starts immediately to the left (inside) of the knee cap and extends up the thigh about 6 or 7 inches. This inside muscle "sags" relative to that same area on the left leg. Due to this atrophy, the knee cap is very prominent relative to the left knee cap. If you know which muscle this is, what would be the best exercise to work this muscle? Is this the vastus medialis? The sartorius? Or what?

Jim