Hi There. I have nerve damage to the sciatic and perineal nerves due to an epideral I had for pain control. I had an epidural twice previous to this when I gave birth and had no problems. The one that caused the damage (may,1999)left me in severe pain ans after 11 days in the hospital I left unable to walk on my own. I have gotten somewhat better but I still am in pain daily and suffer from neuropathy from my toes to my waist on the left side. Please email me if you have any info on this kind of thing. I would really like to talk to someone who understands what I'm going through. I have pretty much settled into the fact that I will never recover fully from this. Thank you, Beth

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Beth

Dear Beth:

I do have the same problem and am searching for answers as to prognosis and what I can do or can't do. My problem is a result of lower spinal cord issues that have been addressed through five hours of discectomy and laminectomy surgery but the numbness continues (seven weeks later). Physiotherapist diagnosed "dropped foot syndrome". I am limited to mobility with a walker..........is it likely that I will have to live the rest of my life this way....i wish someone would tell me!!!!

On the positive side, the spinal fluid leak that developed as a result of the surgery has finally stopped and the incision has healed (after being resutured three times and a blood patch procedure (man that was different). As a result of the leak, doctor ordered strict bedrest until just last week. Being vertical still seems like a privilege. Now it's time to work on my foot!!!

I wish you well. How are you doing now.

Hi Rosie,

I'm sorry to hear about your injury. I have to tell you one thing...Don't always listen to the doctors. My doctor told me I wouldn't walk again. I went from being in horrible pain just riding in a wheelchair to using a walker then crutches and finally I had a cane for a couple months. I now can walk unassisted and I can even run...kinda. My leg gives out whenever it feels so it can be dangerous for me to do some things. I was told not to do any weight bearing exercise for the first 4-5 months. My neurologist said that nerves are different than muscles...they don't get better faster by using them. They HAVE to rest and recover. As soon as I was given the go ahead I started my own physical therapy. I used the eliptical machine at the gym because it was very low impact and used weights. I think it saved me. I stuck in stage one of Reflex Sympathetic Distrophy.

Good luck with your recovery...email me if you want to talk. kbsche101@aol.com

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Beth

I have recently given birth to my first child. During the birth I recieved an epideral. Since then I have had numbness from my knees to my ankles, only in the fronts on my legs. I also have no use of my quad muscles, which makes it almost impossible to walk and impossible to squat down (no sitting or standing on my own). I had an EMG done today which revealed nerve damage. I was just wanting to talk to someone who could relate with me, and hopefully shere some usefull information.
jaime

I have had the severe back pain ever since I gave birth to my twins. I was given an epideral, and he hit the wrong spot. It took him three tries before he got the epideral in properly. I feel the pain in one specific area, on my lower back, left side. It is a constant pain, and nothing works to help it. I am wondering if it is nerve damage as well.

I have recently given birth to my first child. During the birth I recieved an epideral. Since then I have had numbness from my knees to my ankles, only in the fronts on my legs. I also have no use of my quad muscles, which makes it almost impossible to walk and impossible to squat down (no sitting or standing on my own). I had an EMG done today which revealed nerve damage. I was just wanting to talk to someone who could relate with me, and hopefully shere some usefull information.
jaime

Hi Jamie Beth. I am Diane and have recently suffered what appears to be the same injury as you. On the 25th of April I gave birth to my 4th child. I have been unable to walk unassisted since. I am seeing my 3rd neurologist and have had an MRI and they want to do 3 more as well as an EMG. No one can give me a prognosis or what my recovery will be. I am a dance teacher, so to not have full function is frigthening. I have no use of my quad muscle in the left leg and have about 90% recovery in the right. My leg is still numb mainly in the front. I am in therapry and their have been theories of epideral damage to it's only the peripheral nerve and will grow back. I am extremely frustrated and was encouraged when I read your board.