Re: A note about numbness

[Guest guest]

- I have been having the same thing happen to me now for years- and I have never had revision surgery. My ortho claims with me, its just poor circulation from the orginal surgery. Its an awful feeling and with me, its happening far more often then it used too. I just live with it- along with all the other spinal issues........sigh.

Karyn

From: <elizabethrgonzalez@...>Subject: A note about numbness Received: Saturday, June 12, 2010, 10:43 PM

I had my initial revision surgery in 2001, followed by additionalsurgeries in 2004. I had numbness in various parts of my body which cameand went over the months after each series of revisions. I was told thatthis was to be expected after the kind of nerve resections, etc., thatare an inevitable part of massive spinal reconstruction. It takes a gooddeal of time for the nerves that have been cut during surgery toregenerate.I must confess I am still having numbness -- not constantly butintermittently -- as of now, June 2010. Most commonly my feet and legsgo numb; at other times, it is my hands.One type of paresthesia I often experience resembles a rather extremeversion of having a body part "go to sleep." When I have been sitting ina leaning-forward position for a period of time with my elbows restingon my thighs (a bad habit), I sometimes find that I can not stand orwalk normally when I

get up. I have little or no sensation in eitherleg or foot. My legs start buckling under me, so that I have to grabonto something for support to keep from ending up on the floor. Thislasts approximately 2-3 minutes.

[Guest guest]

Karyn,

Wow, you too! I'm so sorry you're experiencing this -- I know what a

pain it is.

It does help me to learn that I'm not alone. I was very interested to

hear that your orthopedist thought it was reasonably normal or

" expectable " after major spinal surgery. One or two of my pain guys have

suggested all kinds exotic possibilities I might want to investigate,

but I think they are just speculating. It makes sense to me that the

whole thing is just another bit of residue from all the surgery I've

had. Thanks for letting me know about your own persistent numbness.

Did the ortho have any prognosis? I hate to think it really is something

you'll just have to live with indefinitely.

Best,

>

>

> From: elizabethrgonzalez@...

> Subject: A note about numbness

>

> Received: Saturday, June 12, 2010, 10:43 PM

>

>

>

>

>

>

> I had my initial revision surgery in 2001, followed by additional

> surgeries in 2004. I had numbness in various parts of my body which

came

> and went over the months after each series of revisions. I was told

that

> this was to be expected after the kind of nerve resections, etc., that

> are an inevitable part of massive spinal reconstruction. It takes a

good

> deal of time for the nerves that have been cut during surgery to

> regenerate.

>

> I must confess I am still having numbness -- not constantly but

> intermittently -- as of now, June 2010. Most commonly my feet and legs

> go numb; at other times, it is my hands.

>

> One type of paresthesia I often experience resembles a rather extreme

> version of having a body part " go to sleep. " When I have been sitting

in

> a leaning-forward position for a period of time with my elbows resting

> on my thighs (a bad habit), I sometimes find that I can not stand or

> walk normally when I get up. I have little or no sensation in either

> leg or foot. My legs start buckling under me, so that I have to grab

> onto something for support to keep from ending up on the floor. This

> lasts approximately 2-3 minutes.

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Elizaboth....

Yes my ortho told me the original surgery left me with very poor circulation.......apparently it happens to many people, although I have never heard anyone mention it,

The Dr said there is nothing they can do now....the damage is old, so looks like i am going to have to live with it.-just another small but annoying side-effect of the orginal surgery! ugg!

From: <elizabethrgonzalez@...>Subject: Re: A note about numbness Received: Monday, June 14, 2010, 9:33 PM

Karyn,Wow, you too! I'm so sorry you're experiencing this -- I know what apain it is.It does help me to learn that I'm not alone. I was very interested tohear that your orthopedist thought it was reasonably normal or"expectable" after major spinal surgery. One or two of my pain guys havesuggested all kinds exotic possibilities I might want to investigate,but I think they are just speculating. It makes sense to me that thewhole thing is just another bit of residue from all the surgery I'vehad. Thanks for letting me know about your own persistent numbness.Did the ortho have any prognosis? I hate to think it really is somethingyou'll just have to live with indefinitely.Best,>>> From: elizabethrgonzalez@...> Subject: A note about numbness> > Received: Saturday, June 12, 2010, 10:43 PM>>>>>>> I had my initial revision surgery in 2001, followed by additional> surgeries in 2004. I had numbness in various parts of my body whichcame> and went over the months after each series of revisions. I was toldthat> this was to be expected after the kind of nerve resections, etc., that> are an inevitable part of massive spinal reconstruction. It takes agood> deal of time for the nerves that have been cut during surgery to> regenerate.>> I must confess I am still having numbness -- not constantly but> intermittently -- as of now, June 2010. Most commonly my feet and legs> go numb; at other times, it is my hands.>> One type of paresthesia I often experience

resembles a rather extreme> version of having a body part "go to sleep." When I have been sittingin> a leaning-forward position for a period of time with my elbows resting> on my thighs (a bad habit), I sometimes find that I can not stand or> walk normally when I get up. I have little or no sensation in either> leg or foot. My legs start buckling under me, so that I have to grab> onto something for support to keep from ending up on the floor. This> lasts approximately 2-3 minutes.>> >> >