Numbness in fingers after herniated disc - Hernia Message Board

Kathrin74 · 06-24-2007, 01:47 PM

(I posted this on the back problems board too)

Hi all,
my dad suffered a herniated disc maybe 1 1/2 or 2 months ago now. He was in great pain and had to take painkillers, and cortisone for the inflammation.
It is a lot better now and he can pretty much move around normally again. What still bothers him though is that there is some numbness in the smaller fingers of his right hand. It especially bothers him when he tries to play the piano(keyboard), or when he types on the computer, because it is difficult to coordinate the movement.
His doctor told him that it takes time for the nerves to grow back.

My question to you is, has anybody ever heard of or experienced this, and how long can it take?

I hope I can give my dad some good news. It seems to really bother him a lot. But be honest, even if you think it may be irriversible.

By the way, he is 56.

Best of thanks!

kathrin

BobM · 06-24-2007, 03:25 PM

Hi Kathrin
Do you have any more info, like which disc (or discs) was herniated? And had he had that kind of trouble for a long time, or did it come on pretty suddenly?

Lots of people here have problems with the cervical discs, and have had surgery to remove discs and fuse the vertebrae to alleviate pressure on the nerves (which can cause pain, tingling, numbness, and in severe cases muscle atrophy and loss of strength & function). Persistent symptoms warrant getting more info, like an MRI, to evaluate what is really going on - has he had any tests like that?

I have read that 95% of people who ever experience disc problems get 'better' with non-surgical treatments, so if this is true, the odds are in his favor. I am in the unlucky 5% and have had a couple of surgeries, and have experienced nerve damage that took a while to improve (for really bad cases the nerve damage can be permanent). My neurosurgeon said the nerve cells will 'heal' at about the rate of 1 centimeter per month, and the longer the problem has gone on, the more damage. It takes up to two years for some cases to improve where those symptoms go away - that is the length of the nerve from a typical neck, down the arm, to the hand.

Best luck!
Bob

Kathrin74 · 06-25-2007, 01:58 AM

Hey Bob,
thank you for your reply! Yes, it was a cervical disc, and the symptoms came on very suddenly. The pain is better now, but the numbness has persisted. His doctor also told him about the slow-growing nerves and that it can take time. I just felt that my dad was worried, and that's why I thought I'd ask here in case somebody had some personal experience.
What you say makes a lot of sense!
And I wish you the best as well!!!!

Kathrin