left foot numbness
 

I had a microdisectomy L5,L4 s1 back in 2002, sports related. Unbelievable siatica resulting in left foot numbness and de-sensitization like its being squeezed in a ski-boot that is really tight... at ALL times. Its now 2009. Obviously the nerve damage did not get better. Is there anything anyone knows about this, or am i doomed to this for the rest of my life? Could i still have residual fragments pressing on S1 the siatic nerve?

Hi BLG,

Welcome to the forum. I'm sorry you have seemingly permanant nerve damage from your disco. I had my first one in 1994. Though it didn't result in sciatica, I do have permanant nerve damage from the procedure - along the right edge of my right foot, partially numb, I have feeling but only about 20% of what it should be. Also have 2 'dead' spots - one on outside of thigh, about 4-5" diameter and another just below knee, about 3" in diam.

My 2nd disco resulted in about a 10% loss of feeling in my left shin area, 3 level ADR four years ago, left leg sustained a lot of nerve damage though my pain management doc feels it still may come around so the jury is still out.

I'm no where close to some others on this forum but from where I sit, I would say the nerve damage is probably permanant but I suppose there could also be an underlying reason too. Certainly it is worth investigating via MRI.

Good luck to you, Dale

re nerve damage
 

Welcome blg,
I pretty much 2nd what Dale stated at the end there as I too have some permanent nerve damage from my 1992 percutaneous L4 discectomy and have had quite a roller coaster ride with symtoms esp. the first 5 years after the surgery which later settled down into rather a feeling of numbness encapsulating my right leg or as I like to think of it ~ like my real leg is encased in a covering that is made of wood (peg leg) or so it feels at times.

My first two toes on the right foot feel numb at times and I have the pins and needles sensation in the leg, sometimes feeling like water is running down my leg or something is crawling on it and there isn't of course.

The worse symtoms have eased up as I mentioned and I've been on 1800mg of Neurontin since 1998 that seems to have helped quite a bit as well as my very low dose pain medication however I still feel that the right leg/foot sensation is different than the left and more "clunky" so to speak.

Actually there is swelling of my lower right extremity that over the years has progressed to about mid calf however it's thought that might be early lymphedema. My father has a very bad case of it in his right leg which has progressed over the years... perhaps a familial condition...

Continue to get your diagnostics done that could help with some explanation is my best advice and of course seeing the most skilled specialist available that you are able for your residual symtoms would be ideal.

Thanks for getting back to me. I have nothing to lose finding a good specialist just to completely rule out any chance of these nerves re connecting. Stem cell therapy is just too far away i guess. All self induced sports related injuries. Dumb with bad genetics.

I have similar kinds of problems in my feet that a neurogist decided where coming from my neck even though I had terrible low back problems!! Sure enough my lumbar surgey resolved my lumbar pain but not the tingles burning numbness etc. Initially it was barely noticeable but now 2 years later I have the same crap in my hands but to a lesser degree. The physical evidence in my neck was borderline (but clear to the expert) at first and now its obvious. Some believe that I DO have nerve damage from the lumbar problems which were worse then evident on the MRI but its clearly evident its coming from my cervical. When I stop moving my neck it gets better. It doesnt matter what I do with my lower back.
One specialist suggested if the neck surgery does not help that something is still pushing on nerves in my lumber and then a myleogram if needed. Obviously it can be really hard to tell where it comes from but the fact that in my case lying down greatly reduces symptoms seems to indicate the damage is not permanent yet.

So, it seems these things can come from else where even if it seems to come from lumbar but not always.. I will find out very soon if they were right.