Guest guest Posted October 6, 2008 Report Share Posted October 6, 2008 , While I don't pretend to be a doctor, I would like to suggest that you get yourself to a doctor as soon as possible. Increased numbness & tingling and pain in your extremeties could be something very serious. Have you mentioned it to your surgeon? If it was something that you've had for a while and that has stayed constant for a while, then it would be probably not be too worrisome. But since you mentioned that these symptoms have come up and worsened very recently, it may (or may not) be something that requires attention. That's my non-medical opinion anyways! > > I'm feeling a little anxious tonight...for the last few days, actually. > > I am 8 months post op (full revision deal) now and am suppose to be > getting back to work in a couple of weeks (part time) and have been > told by my surgeon that living a normal life is what I must do in > order to fully recover. He said that I can expect to have pain. No > kidding. I have never expected to be pain free! > > Anyway, before I get side-tracked. I have been trying to do as much as > I can to live a " normal " life. I have some increased pain as expected > but what is concerning me is that I am having numbness that wasn't > there before. > > My right leg has been a bit of an alien since my surgery. It was > almost a week before I could trust it to carry my weight for even a > few seconds and it has been lagging along, but recovering, ever since. > It has pins and needles and tingling and cold/wet sensations that I > have become pretty much oblivious to. Over the last few days, though, > the numbness has increased and goes right through to my foot (with a > funny pain across the top of my toes) and my right arm and fingers are > now tingling and numb off and on (my arm and hand have never been > symptomatic). > > I hate the idea of having to go and run all this past an orthopod who > will feel obligated to have me spend the day running back and forth > between his office and the xray department. Have any of you noticed > an increase in these types of symptoms as you have recovered? > > > Waiting to hear from you, > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 Hi, -- I'm sorry to hear about your symptoms. I wonder when someone will post to this group, " Guys, I had my revision surgery, and I am now 100% pain free and living happily ever after " -- that'll be the day! I suppose your doctor should be commended for not overselling the possible pain relief that may result from the surgery, but telling you to expect continuing pain likewise strikes me as slightly " godlike " . I guess surgeons will be surgeons -- so many of them seem to enjoy issuing these authoritative proclamations and pronouncements. (Don't get me wrong, I am profoundly grateful to my last two surgeons, both of them gifted revision people.) I expect the prudent thing to do is to call your surgeon and go in for the wearisome radiology if he says you should do so. Needless to say, no one in this group can tell you the significance of your numbness and tingling. But to answer your actual question -- which merely had to do with our personal post-op experience -- yes indeed, I had every kind of weird unilateral and bilateral numbness in arms, legs, hands, and sundry other body parts for several years after my revision surgeries. One pattern of numbness would go away only to be replaced by another as various damaged nerves were presumably regenerating after the surgery. I had my last revision procedure in 2004, and I must confess that I still have some episodes of numbness and tingling in various areas. I usually try to ignore it and avoid calling the doctor, but this may well be terrible advice. Especially just eight months post op, at a time when you are returning to work, you would probably do best to get an expert medical opinion. I wish I could be more helpful. Best, > > I'm feeling a little anxious tonight...for the last few days, actually. > > I am 8 months post op (full revision deal) now and am suppose to be > getting back to work in a couple of weeks (part time) and have been > told by my surgeon that living a normal life is what I must do in > order to fully recover. He said that I can expect to have pain. No > kidding. I have never expected to be pain free! > > Anyway, before I get side-tracked. I have been trying to do as much as > I can to live a " normal " life. I have some increased pain as expected > but what is concerning me is that I am having numbness that wasn't > there before. > > My right leg has been a bit of an alien since my surgery. It was > almost a week before I could trust it to carry my weight for even a > few seconds and it has been lagging along, but recovering, ever since. > It has pins and needles and tingling and cold/wet sensations that I > have become pretty much oblivious to. Over the last few days, though, > the numbness has increased and goes right through to my foot (with a > funny pain across the top of my toes) and my right arm and fingers are > now tingling and numb off and on (my arm and hand have never been > symptomatic). > > I hate the idea of having to go and run all this past an orthopod who > will feel obligated to have me spend the day running back and forth > between his office and the xray department. Have any of you noticed > an increase in these types of symptoms as you have recovered? > > > Waiting to hear from you, > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 8, 2008 Report Share Posted October 8, 2008 Thank you both for your input. I did indeed call up the local orthopod (the surgeon who did my revision is several hours away) and spent the majority of the past two days shuffling between radiology and outpatients. He ordered a cervical MRI and I should have the results in a few days. I'm glad I went to see a doctor...the MRI report should confirm one way or another if there is something happening in there that needs attention. Having said that, its very reassuring to know that the numb/buzz/tinglings are par for the course for this group. I have learned so much from the messages on this site. It has been my " Flatback and Revision Surgery for Dummies " guide since well before I had a confirmed diagnosis. Its unfortunate that the expertise has come at such a high price for some members. Ok, before I get too maudlin, I'll pass on some good advice that I learned the hard way...If you have neuropathy/numb/buzz/tinglings in your legs DO NOT try waxing! Thanks again, > > > > I'm feeling a little anxious tonight...for the last few days, actually. > > > > I am 8 months post op (full revision deal) now and am suppose to be > > getting back to work in a couple of weeks (part time) and have been > > told by my surgeon that living a normal life is what I must do in > > order to fully recover. He said that I can expect to have pain. No > > kidding. I have never expected to be pain free! > > > > Anyway, before I get side-tracked. I have been trying to do as much as > > I can to live a " normal " life. I have some increased pain as expected > > but what is concerning me is that I am having numbness that wasn't > > there before. > > > > My right leg has been a bit of an alien since my surgery. It was > > almost a week before I could trust it to carry my weight for even a > > few seconds and it has been lagging along, but recovering, ever since. > > It has pins and needles and tingling and cold/wet sensations that I > > have become pretty much oblivious to. Over the last few days, though, > > the numbness has increased and goes right through to my foot (with a > > funny pain across the top of my toes) and my right arm and fingers are > > now tingling and numb off and on (my arm and hand have never been > > symptomatic). > > > > I hate the idea of having to go and run all this past an orthopod who > > will feel obligated to have me spend the day running back and forth > > between his office and the xray department. Have any of you noticed > > an increase in these types of symptoms as you have recovered? > > > > > > Waiting to hear from you, > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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