I had to respond to this thread due to the title because in 2006 in June I had a 3 level spinal fusion that was a disaster...first NS cut into my spinal cord twice causing me to bleed into my spinal fluid and instead of being in hosp 4-6 days I was in 12 and DH carried me out with me yelling that they were killing me...and I came home and fell time after time, lost all control over my B&B and NS never did anything, not even a Xray and no other Dr would touch me (when I would go to ER they would send me away saying to see my NS....anyway 3 months later I went numb from my waist to the tops of my thighs and my PM had a stat MRI with Contrast to rule out CES and I was sent next day screaming and kicking all the way back to same NS that nearly killed me and he said I had arachnoiditsis and there is no cure. He recommended pain pump but no Dr will do it, would rather I take huge amounts of oral narcotics ( I also had/have muscle spasms since day one) so I take Kadian, 100mg 3xD MS 15mg 2xD and Valium 10mg 3xD for spasms (and if I stop taking them I can't pee, plus my bowel is paralyzed as well! The pain meds dulls the pain some but its always there, and no bending or twisting and if I lift over 10 lbs I go down....I have to split my housework/cooking into 10 minute increments or I think I will fall over.I still have incidents of incontinace at times, mostly I just can't go so I have RX for self cathing kits. The numbness for me has never left, only spread and when I researched it (CES) and (Arachnoiditsis) I found the number one cause was blood in spinal fluid and second was steroid epidural s. I have horrible fire like hot poker pains suddenly shoot up my rectum/vaginal area without warning and the only one that understands it is my Primary Md. My left arm has also been numb and my PM wanted to do surgery and I said HELL NO!!! I will never let another Dr touch me with a knife. I truly hope you do not have these conditions because they are progressive and forever. Be careful and good luck!