OfflineHi guys,
I finally had the big back (alif L4 & L5) surgery after 17 years of pain and it's going so much better than I ever expected. I'm walking 1 1/2 miles a day and I think that is helping. I havn't slowed down much.
My question is: I have some numbness on my top left thigh from where the leg starts to halfway down. The doc says that it will probably go away but I'm kind of worried that it won't. Also, I did a bunch of walking the other day (shopping) and that same leg swelled up from my knee down to my toes. I called the doc's medical asst. and he said that it wasn't getting enough blood flow, etc, etc.
Has anyone had a similar experience or know what knows what and when this is?
Pamerita
ALIF L4/L5 6/9/08, L4/L5 herniation, L2/L3 bulge, C4/C5 bulge, C5/C6 herniation, C6/C7 spurs
Many ESI's and PT
Pamerita
Numbness after surgery is quite common as they get very close to the nerves and irritate the heck out of them. I had a lumbar surgery a couple of years ago and had numbness in my right thigh for several months after. It was quite severe at first and then gradually lessened. Give it time, these things usually resolve themselves. Try to be patient, which is easy to say, but you have come this far! Sounds like otherwise you are doing well. Keep up the good work. Best to you.
Missy
Laminectomy L4-5 (1982), Discectomy L4-5 (1983), Discectomy L4-5 (1990), Discectomy L4-5 (1991) Yes, it was the disc that wouldn't die! Fusion L4-5 (1992), Dynesys L3-4 (2006), Fusion C5-6 (1993) and C6-7 (1999), Foraminotomy C7-T1 (2008)
I am glad that you had your surgery and that you are feeling so good. Did u had this numbness before surgery or is this new? If you had it before it might go away eventually since the nerves take a while to re-generate, if you never had it before I would be concern about it. Try not to do too much until you can see your Doc or his assistant and keep an eye on it, if it gets too swollen I would call your Doc's service ASAP. Take care.
3 level 360 fusion L2 thru L5 11/07-Laminectomy w/Foramitonomy 1/08. Diagnosed w/ fail back syndrome in May of 08, had SCS implanted in June of 08. 70% free of pain after SCS. Have 2 broken screws might have instrumentation removed in the fall.....
To answer your question: Yes it's new. I didn't have the numbness before so yes, I'm a little concerned.
Hey, did you get over you virus? I hope you're feeling better. I can't imagine having to puke when you back hurts!
thank you,
pamerita
ALIF L4/L5 6/9/08, L4/L5 herniation, L2/L3 bulge, C4/C5 bulge, C5/C6 herniation, C6/C7 spurs
Many ESI's and PT
I had an ALIF L5 on 5/8 and had no unusual numbness prior to my surgery but woke up from the surgery with no feeling in my left foot, the doctors told me it was nerve related and could take up to 6 months to get back to normal. The first week went by and all was well but by the second week my leg behind the knee (hamstring) started hurting bad to the point I couldn't straighten the leg at all and the pain went down gradually from hamstring to calf. It was horrible for days. I used a lot of ice/heat combinations and my husband would massage it really hard and deep for me....unfortunately it takes time. My doctor offered me a different pain medicine that helps with nerve related issues but I opted not to use it and wait it out..it took a few weeks (I was lucky). You should keep track of it for a few days and keep notes to discuss with your doctor if it worsens at all.
Rotten
Car accident 8/31/07, Land and Aquatic PT from 9/07-11/07, 3 Nerve Blocking Spinal Injections 11/07-1/08, ALIF L5 S1 5/8/08
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass..It's about learning to dance in the rain!"
Hi rotten,
Taking notes is a really good idea and I'll have something more tangible to show the doctor.
pamerita
ALIF L4/L5 6/9/08, L4/L5 herniation, L2/L3 bulge, C4/C5 bulge, C5/C6 herniation, C6/C7 spurs
Many ESI's and PT
Hi Pamerita....2 1/2 weeks post op from an ALIF is still very early stages and this is possibly just normal nerve reactions following the surgery. During surgery the surgeon moves around the nerves a lot and it is quite normal to feel new nerve sensations or even some increased nerve pain for a period of time after surgery - this was definitely the case for me.
The swelling sounds something different though (but I am not a doctor!). Best thing is to keep communicating with your doctor about any possible issues or concerns that you have. He/she is there to support you right through your recovery period so don't hesitate to contact them at any time.
Severe Degenerative Disk Disease and severe bilateral foraminal stenosis at L5-S1. Laminectomy & fusion in Dec 2006. Hardware removed due to issues, in July 2007. Now living a back pain free life.
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Hi guys. I had a three level fusion 20 weeks ago, and am coming along great. Just FINALLY started PT last week. My Neuro didn't want me doing squat until I was almost totally fused, except walking. Which I've been doing 1-1/2 miles for about 13 weeks. It took me 7 weeks from the beginning to even get there.
After surgery I was left with a numb left leg, very irritating. My NS told me it would go away slowly. After I finally got to come home after my 12 day stay between hospital and rehab (to learn how to walk and climb stairs) just so I could come home, I had a visiting nurse twice a week, which was awesome, she was great and very compassionate! Anyway, I got a marker and started drawing around the area of numbness for her and my own comfort that it was going away. (My nurse got a kick out of it)
But it was shrinking slowly. I was so excited cause it was so irritating. Bad thing is, it is now centralized in my left knee-cap and halfway up the inside of my thigh. I have to use a cane, due to "I can't feel the mechanics of my knee-cap and if it's working properly" so I wouldn't be able to feel if it were to go out and I would fall. OMG, that would be horrible after what I've been through.
The last time I saw my NS, (when he finally told me the good news about fusion and starting PT, I tell ya, I was on a cloud that day.
I told him about my knee-cap and thigh still being numb. He said "it may take up to a year to go away". Gee thanks....
"MillieKeyLargo" from this forum told me something that absolutely made since. My surgeon not only fused L-3,4,5 together, but when I originally did my on the job injury (1 year prior) I had a hairline fracture on the bacl side of S-1 that had calcium build-up on it, due to work-comp not performing surgery when they were suppose to. (which is another long story, work-comp didn't perform my surgery, I had to end up going to my own health care provider through hubby insurance after one year of jumping through hoops with w/c, I had to get fixed!!!, thus a HUGE lawsuit is happening as we speak!!!) It all worked out for the better anyway cause I had one of the best Neurosurgeons in the Denver area perform my fusion, instead of the idiot Orthopedic surgeon that work-comp set me up with, eeewwww it makes me cringe to think it could of been them and I could be crippled the rest of my life.!!
Anyway, Millie said that "there are probably bone fragments hitting against your S-1 creating the numbness", which totally made since. He filed down bone spurs and cleaned up the calcium build-up from fracture on the S-1. My NS said, that is very possible, but it should go away with time.
But the only way to fix it, is to go back in and clean it up. NO WAY!!!! I've come too far, and am doing too good for a 52 year old female, who smoked for 32 years, and is post-menopause (bone loss anyway). I am doing excellent (all docs keep telling me). There ain't NO WAY I would even consider getting opened back up and start from square one. I WILL LEARN TO LIVE WITH IT!!!
"If you're lucky enough to live in the mountains, you're lucky enough"
Your experience sounds a lot like mine. I quit smoking 4 years ago after a 13 year habit and have osteopenia (which is not good).
I wonder why they didn't take out the bone fragments when they were in there. I hope I don't have them.
I'm just going to give it some time and see what what happens.
pamerita
ALIF L4/L5 6/9/08, L4/L5 herniation, L2/L3 bulge, C4/C5 bulge, C5/C6 herniation, C6/C7 spurs
Many ESI's and PT
Hey Bruce,
I agree with you on the numbness. I felt it was probably temporary but am concerned about the swelling. I have talked to the doctor's asst. because my doc is out of town and he told me to ice it and put it up. I did all that and it returned to normal. But that doesn't answer my question of why it did that and will it do it again.
pamerita
ALIF L4/L5 6/9/08, L4/L5 herniation, L2/L3 bulge, C4/C5 bulge, C5/C6 herniation, C6/C7 spurs
Many ESI's and PT
I had numbness in my left thigh right after my 2nd micro and asked about it about a year later (i know I waited a long time) and after seeing my MRI it was just a nerve in my hip being irritated because of how long I was on my front durring surgery. Thank goodness it wasnt from a disc and thank goodness it didn't happen after my recent fusion. It actually got completeely relieved after my fusion.
thats my story
-Jess
Unknown "POP" at age 17; 7 car accidents in 5 years; PT every year since 1996 (6 months at a time)
2005-2006: Epidural Steroid Injections, SI Joint injections, Microdisectomy L5-S1
April 2007: Microdisectomy, Laminectomy, Farinotomy same level, different surgeon
Nov 2007: Osteotomy on Left heel and ankle reconstruction
June 19th 2008: 360 Fusion on L5-S1
I'm 4 weeks post op plif 1 level L4-5 minimaly invased spinal fusion. The same thing with me. I have had problems with the right side for 2 years. After surgery my back pain is better and no more right sided pain and weakness it's moved to the left. my ns says that normal and numbness and pain is likely for up to a year and will change places all the time.
Pamerita; That's a good question. I was in surgery for almost 4 hours,...maybe they (he) was getting tired and didn't clean it thoughoughly. I'm just hoping that if that's what it is, (bone fragments) that with TIME they move away from the area and my numbness dissapears!! It's really is a irritating and aggravating situation. It's really the only part of my 3 level that I'm not happy with. And you can't see what the problem is on x-rays.
NS said, give it some more time. Maybe a year. But like I said, "I'll be darned if I let them go back in to figure it out!!". NO WAY!!!!
"If you're lucky enough to live in the mountains, you're lucky enough"