numb mid toe and belated happy holidaysBelle! DaveD, Berenice all - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

scottieK · 01-06-2003, 03:47 AM

Dear Belle, Berenice, DaveyD and all,
Hi been awhile, Happy Holidays, I have been away and so sorry to hear Belle that you are not better, I have not caught up with all the posts but I was very upset to read you aren't better. I have been trying hard to keep up with family stuff. I put myself in bed several times trying to do all of the dinners etc. We did have a lovely christmas but mostly because I had plenty of pain med. I don't have anyone to complain to so sorry ahead of time and for the last posts if I have worn out my welcome. I just wanted to ask- with all of this standing and walking with making xmas dinner- I have more pronounced numbness in my middle toe and I took out my little book of nerves and where they show up if they are damaged and it says that the mid toe numbness is the perineal nerve and is one that travels from the s1/s2 area to the perineum. I am wondering if this is why I have so much pain in my groin and from sex. This nerve and nerves from s1 right down the tailbone continues and makes up part of the siatic bundle. I guess what I am wondering if anyone else that has had L5/S1 surgery has similar numbness which would make me think that the nerves are damaged from scar tissue and surgery. Could anyone comment- I hurt so much at times I just would like some more information. Thanks-

nanna02 · 01-06-2003, 09:44 PM

Hi Scottie !

Nice to see you back on board !!

I just came on my computer for a moment and happened to see this message of yours .
Thank you for your kind thoughts.
I wish I could help you myself regarding the Areas of pain you have and the nerves etc. but mine was the Thorasic area ,T7,T8, T9, T10, so I'm not much help with L5/S1 knowledge apart from saying I'm so sorry you are having this pain . !! ?

I guess you've done what we all have on here , looked it up on Medical Boards , but you are asking for first-hand EXPERIENCED people who can tell you , is that right?

Well here's hoping you get some good replies Scottie?..
We all need each other don't we ?..

Cheers .. belle xxx

------------------
A Friend!

OLIVER-DOVE · 01-06-2003, 10:48 PM

Hey Scottie,

Good to see you back on the boards. I found that my impontecy problem is nerve related from my T7/8. It also affects the bowel area(I have no felling in the area whatsoever). I also have residual 3 toes on the left foot which reamain numb all the time. Not to mention the 1 foot wide circles of complete numbness around the surgery cuts. Apparently those nerves were cut from the procedure. Like in that movie "Mister Deeds Go To Washington" You could hit the sites with a hammer and nail and cause no pain. Now if it felt that way around my spine I would be great. It can take a couple of years for eveything to calm down but, at the one year recovery point you only have a 20% chance of any future improvement.

You didn't say anything about medications? IF you are not in need of them then good for you. I feel much better now compared to what I was before surgery but, I still have a long ways to go to get back to normal. The independent doctor says I have a 35% loss of total ability while on my narcotics. Without them I am virtually an invilant. I still don't know what life holds in store for me but, I must find a ways to enjoy some of my life somehow. The big things I truely miss are: 1. sleeping in my own bed. 2. Making love to my wife 3. Getting on good night's sleep 4. A normal bowel movement. 5. Going on a long vacation traveling around by air, car, sea and/or train. I would do it all on some trips. 6. Going on rides at the amusement parks you know the scary ones. 7. Regain my reflexes which are severly reduced by the medication. 8. Driving my car(since the first surgery I take so many pills for pain I am worse than any drunk) Those are jusrt a few I could go on and on.

Many folks get instant relief right afdter surgery. Those who don't have to be patient and hope the nerves regenerate. I hope you are still regenerating.

Oliver

T

[This message has been edited by OLIVER-DOVE (edited 01-07-2003).]

nanna02 · 01-07-2003, 05:25 AM

Hi Oliver !!

I saw you talking here to Scottie about the time it takes for the nerves to regenerate etc. and after a year etc. only 20% chance of improvement .

What I would like to know is about you saying your reflexes have been affected by the medication.

Are you referring to your walking, Oliver as I believe mine is, due to pills I take..

Baclofen 5mg only !, every day to avoid muscle spasms..

( or Diazepam,(1 pill only) once in a blue moon))

if I don't take them I can end up with M/Sp. but yet I don't hardly EVER get M/Sp. , so what to do?

I belive the pill affected me today after taking it for stiff muscles in both rib areas !!
My leg went all slow , even worse than normal,

and the Physio comes tomorrow . How can I explain that to her ?
I have been working hard at my exercises and have a little improvement in lifting my toes off the floor /Right side. but not much else improvement.

I truly don't know if she'll believe me and I know I'm going to end up in tears if she says anything negative to me . .. I've nearly had enough of this struggle..

my bowel.. They never told me there was a possibility of nerve damage there Oliver , why don't they tell you these things before the ops?..
I have to take off to the toilet if I feel a message sneaking in to the brain and that is not good when you have no loo available ..!! Had some VERY close calls !!

I have to self -catheterise all day almost every time I want to wee, have been for about 4-5 months or more .. GREAT!! felt degraded at first ,.. have learnt to live with it now , but is there going to be any light at end of the Tunnel ???

And sex life .. well don't talk about That !!

I'll be happy/Thankful if I can just WALK without crutches even.. holding onto my husbands' arm will be ok !! ??

It's 6 months since my Third operation in 2 1/2 years and I'm still Struggling and in the same d... spot I was in long ago !!!

I guess I'm just pppppp...dddd.. off with everything ..
Never mind .. It's a New year .. hope it's a good one for us all ??.
Like to hear from you Oliver ?

and good luck to Scottie

Love to everyone

Belle NZ xxx

OLIVER-DOVE · 01-08-2003, 08:23 AM

Hey Belle,
OF any body on this site I understand your frustration and sometimes blue moods we are subject to at times. To be so long trying to recouperate and get back to some normalcy is hardest on our nerves most of all. I think that Doctors don't realize how much some little fact they forget to tell us affects our total outlook. In our condition knowledge is power to keep us stable.

I think that in your case medication could be causing some of your problems to linger. The dilema is can you afford not to take the medication. I have found that once I figured out what is medication related and what is not I could then focus on the things that need attention.

As you well know we will never be perfect. We only hope to recover enough to lead some normal form of our old lives. So, don't give up quite yet. You still have a ways to go.

Oliver