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Microdisectomy - Post op leg numbness

Posted , 3 users are following.

anglosaxon1
anglosaxon1

Hello folks.

Many people have commented on post op numbness. From what I have read and what I am told its fairly normal as the nerve has been damged and it will take time to heal.

I had no numbness at all (lucky me) post op  for about 3-4 days and even then it was very slight, but of course I was beginning to sit down again. I had bought a new dinner table and was actually able to sit at it and eat my dinner. Yes a great achievement, I was actually begining to resent this purchase of mine and send it back.

Anyway back to the point, 4-5 weeks in, I started getting numbness in my other leg. OMG the spectre of  REHERNIATION LOOMS LARGE; gladly not (e non) it was my piriformis playing mischief (one of the bum muscles-its triangler and goes across the sciatic nerve). I know all about the piriformius becasue my physio thought my disc/sciatica was piriformis syndrome.

Simple solution;lie on your back grab opposite knee and pull the knee across the body stretching the buttock. ensure back and hips are flat, so there is no twist in the back.

Funny enough very quickly the problem was solved. A week later the mischief decided to go for the bad leg. OMG reherniation, reherniation, its reherniation, mrs - its reherniation OMG! ring the surgeon immediately, ring the physio now.  Indeed NON !  I strecthed the buttock on the other side same technique now gone.

I think as one gets to do more walking the buttocks tighten up overnight and press on the sciatic nerve driving one insane with paranoia.   

So dont panic Jones.

I am coming up to 6 weeks post op, feel positive, but still have some way to go. BFNow.

 

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • anglosaxon1
    anglosaxon1

    Posted

    I now have 284 points, what does this mean? do I get a prize or something,soon?
  • jennifer86104
    jennifer86104 anglosaxon1

    Posted

    I've suffered with a tight piriformis for months now (had a TKR last July). It's really frustrating as I feel my knee is not too bad. I get numbness and sciatic type pain all down the leg. I have been doing the stretch you describe as well as lots of other exercises given by my physio but it still troubles me. You're lucky to get rid of yours so easily. I've posted about it several times on various threads but you're the first person to mention suffering from it too! Good luck with your recovery. Jen 
    • anglosaxon1
      anglosaxon1 jennifer86104

      Posted

      Have you had an MRI scan on your back?

      My piriformis was causing some me problems as well, I had regular sports massage and elbows in the trigger points etc.

      There was some improvement, but the scan of course showed the prolapsed disc.  My back wasn't really causing me too many problems it was the hamstring pain that was the issue.

       

    • jennifer86104
      jennifer86104 anglosaxon1

      Posted

      No, I haven't had an MRI scan. My physio seems to think it's the piriformis causing the pain. 
    • anglosaxon1
      anglosaxon1 jennifer86104

      Posted

      Hello Jenny 

      Fair enough, if it seems to be going on a bit though. Perhaps a change in tack is worth a go. Many of us who have had MDs (and I am not saying you need one or have a disc problem) have been through the mill with chiropractors (3), sports masseurs (1) and indeed physio (1). All of us say we wished we had had the scan first. 

      I was told I just had a weak quadratis laborum, then I had PS, then I was told I had Ischial bursitis. My doctor referred me to a hip specialist, who thought it was hamstring tendonitis my hip specialist ordered an MRI  (on my leg and back) and then from the results he sent me over to the back specialist. the back specialist said it was a sequesterd disc impinging on S1 nerve. I thought I had pulled a hamstring and had a knot in it!

      When I saw the disc on the scan I couldn't believe it because the pain was in my buttock and my hamstring not really in my back. Of course the nerve runs from the back right down the leg.

      Worth a consultation with a specialist, perhaps. see what the doctor says. Actually, I should have gone to the doctor first he might have bypassed all the others and saved me about £500 that I could have spent on the specialist and the scan. 

      Anyway if you Utube this, you ll get an Australian PT instructor giving you exercises to do. I actually bought half the kit in the video:

      Piriformis Syndrome / Sciatica & How To Get Rid Of This Pain In The Butt Once And For All

      Hysterical really, I was doing these exercises religiously for 5 weeks and I was actually achieving zilch. I was constantly pressing knobble type gadgets on to my trigger points to alleviate the pain--never mind.

      Do you get any respite from lying down ? or lying down with your feet up against the wall at 90 degrees? 

    • jennifer86104
      jennifer86104 anglosaxon1

      Posted

      Thanks for your detailed reply. Perhaps I should pursue it with a specialist. The physio though seemed to suggest that the problem didn't come from my back. At the moment I'm hoping the exercises and stretches will eventually get results. I'm not in severe pain all the time. Mostly it's tingling and numbness. I can definitely feel a tightness in my buttock but the pain is mostly in my thigh above the knee and at the top of my calf. The problem is I can't tell how much of this pain and stiffness is from the knee replacement. It doesn't keep me awake and I don't take painkillers it's just a nuisance and I so wanted to be more flexible after the TKR. Yes I am ok lying down but still get the tingling. 
    • anglosaxon1
      anglosaxon1 jennifer86104

      Posted

      Good luck, these things are complex. Your knee problem could be affecting your hip that could be affecting the way you walk that could be giving you nerve pain. Or in reverse, just to confuse you and me both.

      My chiropractor found some foot pain when she pressed into my left sole. she then yanked my leg and said it was out of kilter and sorted it. I didn't know I had a problem! 

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