3 months post R ankle ORIF! Nerve damage

I had horrific nerve pain from damage to my sciatic nerve after hip surgery in 2013 for impingement of the sciatic nerve.

The nerve pain was beyond anything I could have imagined, unrelenting, throbbing, aching, burning, spasms all at once, always 8/10. Eventually I had to have epidural nerve blocks into my spine 6 months post op as I just couldn't take it and I was by myself in London. I had some relief but also had underlying partial dislocating of the same hip so I was nearly demented for 2 yrs before I finally had further surgery to stabilize my hip in Feb 2015.

As for the nerve pain, I never felt much relief of the medication like Gabapentin but I think for some ppl it works. For the rest? I was told that's the way it was and to just deal with it and take the medication. It is resolved now but took around 18 months. I was very depressed, crying, always angry etc.

I know how you feel. I can't tell you much except sympathise. It will recover but it takes time. Sorry I don't have better news.

Sincerely

Melissa

33 from Australia

so sorry to hear of your pain. I'm 5 mos post op ORIF and was diagnosed at 2 mos with RSD or CRPS. It's main feature is pain beyond the injury. I'm on gabbapentin cream with ketamine that goes on the base of my spine. It has nipped my nerve pain literally in the bud.....I'm still not walking so you are way ahead of me.  Otherwise maybe it's has to run its course, I understand from others here it's a very slow healing journey with nerve pain. Wishing you well 👣

I forgot to add that the ORIF consists of two long plates and twelve screws of varying lengths.  I definitely felt the nerve stretch and pins and needles at the time of the fall. The orthopaedic surgeon was staggered at severity of the fractures at the time and kept reiterating before surgery that it was no ordinary broken ankle  ( very reassuring .......NOT).   Added to these injuries I also tore ligaments in the right knee so couldn't use the knee scooter ( too swollen and painfull ) and 5 days post op fell off my walking frame breaking my coccyx!   I have every confidence in his ability but don't see him again for about a month.  He has been reluctant to become involved in the ongoing pain issues because he sees the end result of pain med addiction.  My GP on the other hand has been marvellous with trying to get me pain free without getting me addicted but it has proved impossible.  The opioids I am trying to restrict predominately to night time in an effort to get some sleep and the Lyrica likewise.  Unfortunately if I take them during the day in significant doses I have found that they give limited relief but sedate me big time.  I also have the comorbidity of Type 2 diabetes that has been very hard to control on these medications as therapeutic doses make me very nauseated with vomiting and other gastro complications.  

I was was very interested to read the suggestions re RSD and CRPS and sincerely sympathise with those suffering these conditions.  I am trying to remain optimistic that due to the severity of the dislocation and fractures even in the eyes of the surgeon that time will bring some improvement and that the nerves heal.  On the other hand I noted from reading about RSD and CRPS that diagnosis in the first 6 months is important to the long term outcome so will definitely raise these diagnosis's with my GP and get referred if necessary.  I don't think I could be as brave and enduring as you have been Melissa!  I note you are Australian as am I.   I have definitely noticed redness and the joints feeling very warm particularly at night. I cannot bear any pressure at all on the top of my foot which makes it very hard to wear a shoe of any kind.  

Jannie, I am very interested in the cream you describe and will discuss it with my GP next week.  I must admit the depression was really getting me down big time with the crying and frustration.  I am lucky that I was able to have a psychologist consult me weekly by phone in the earlier stages and certainly this forum and your answers have all been reassuring that it is not in my mind and I just have to be patient.  

three years later. I fell and broke two bones in my ankle (same leg) and it was much less painful, even with surgery.  I'd say it's the muscles and ligaments that are doing you in. With my ankle it seems that the more I try and use it, the more the nerves are active. Probably part of the healing process. I'd take a pain killer at night so I wouldn't have restless leg and pin pricks in my ankle while elevated at rest. It does get better with time. What I did work on was getting back my flexibility before everything turned to stone. At 5 months I'm almost walking normally, thank goodness.

58 I thought maybe my age had to do with the length of time for healing i will be watching the responses to come up with anything new to try !

i hope I don't go have to go through this again. I feel a bit derailed and less focused in my life direction. Anyone want to take a cruise? I do have a slight limp still....