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Radiculopathy vs Peripheral Neuropathy - weakness in calves

Posted by domiha @domiha, May 15 8:17am

Has anyone noticed a weakness in calves/lower legs when walking? I have numbness in the bottoms of my feet, and sometimes tingling and burning. It has affected my balance a bit, but I find that wearing "nearly barefoot" shoes helps a lot, as I can feel the ground or floor better. But I still seem to have this weakness in my calves. I had lumbar laminectomy in Nov. 2022. For a year before that I could hardly walk because of pain in legs and hips. After the surgery, the terrible hip/leg pain was gone, but I then noticed numbness/tingling in my feet. After waiting 8 months to get in to see a neurologist, he reviewed my EMG and skin biopsy results and he said that rather than peripheral neuropathy he thinks I have radiculopathy, which is coming from remaining compression on some nerves in my lower back that reach down to my feet. Either way, I deal with similar issues. The neuro could not guarantee that a lumbar fusion would help with the radiculopathy. Anyone had lumbar fusion and improved?? Best wishes! Mike

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marilynstubbs | @marilynstubbs | May 17 7:58am

Check out arachnoiditis. Little heard of chronic disease that is most often caused by surgeries on the spine and epidurals.

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1 reply
heisenberg34 | @heisenberg34 | May 17 8:19am
In reply to @dlydailyhope "@domiha P.S. I was told by my orthopedic doctor I am too young to get the..." + (show)
@dlydailyhope

@domiha
P.S. I was told by my orthopedic doctor I am too young to get the laminectomy surgery and they want to delay as long as possible by doing steroid injections to manage the pain. The doctor who does my injections also told me he sees a lot of post surgery patients still getting injections so surgery doesn’t always resolve all symptoms and may create new symptoms. My new neurologist said she would get the surgery while I am younger if it would make recovery easier. I am choosing to hold off as long as possible.

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It's similar to the old saying: "Ask five doctors a question; get six different answers". More truth in that than expected.

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centre | @centre | May 17 8:25am
In reply to @dlydailyhope "@domiha P.S. I was told by my orthopedic doctor I am too young to get the..." + (show)
@dlydailyhope

@domiha
P.S. I was told by my orthopedic doctor I am too young to get the laminectomy surgery and they want to delay as long as possible by doing steroid injections to manage the pain. The doctor who does my injections also told me he sees a lot of post surgery patients still getting injections so surgery doesn’t always resolve all symptoms and may create new symptoms. My new neurologist said she would get the surgery while I am younger if it would make recovery easier. I am choosing to hold off as long as possible.

Jump to this post

It’s hard to know what to do, but I think it’s really important to try to give yourself the “best chance” by going to PT to get a good Home Exercise Program (strengthening, balance, range of motion) and perform it faithfully, buy an exercise bike (thanks for the tip, mentor John Bishop) and use it faithfully, walk daily for at least 30 minutes (I wear a brace), and hardest of all- work at getting and keeping your height/weight ratio within normal limits (decreasing stress on your spine).
I got sick and tired of the exercises and went “on strike”, only did the walking, and wow, it didn’t take long to see the difference in my abilities.

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2 replies
gregd1956 | @gregd1956 | May 18 3:41pm

Yes, I HAD or HAVE the following problems as:
1. Numbness in my feet? Yes, it’s on the bottom of my right foot
2. Weakness in side of one foot? Yes, in my right-side and could fall-down
3. Hip/leg pain? No, I had it for 2+ years ago. Falling down, hitting bottom of my legs, can’t stay up liking walking. That was before until 4 weeks age, I had a surgery on the bottom, close on the top of 1 rear end on my back, ended my pain,.. everything from each leg,- top or bottom, rear-ends, knees - the pain is gone.
4. I need to exercise from my rear-end to my feet - Stretching, bending, holding my legs. Still I have part of my balance problem, but it’s better per week ❤️

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2 replies
domiha | @domiha | May 19 3:40am
In reply to @gregd1956 "Yes, I HAD or HAVE the following problems as: 1. Numbness in my feet? Yes, it’s..." + (show)
@gregd1956

Yes, I HAD or HAVE the following problems as:
1. Numbness in my feet? Yes, it’s on the bottom of my right foot
2. Weakness in side of one foot? Yes, in my right-side and could fall-down
3. Hip/leg pain? No, I had it for 2+ years ago. Falling down, hitting bottom of my legs, can’t stay up liking walking. That was before until 4 weeks age, I had a surgery on the bottom, close on the top of 1 rear end on my back, ended my pain,.. everything from each leg,- top or bottom, rear-ends, knees - the pain is gone.
4. I need to exercise from my rear-end to my feet - Stretching, bending, holding my legs. Still I have part of my balance problem, but it’s better per week ❤️

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Glad to hear your pain is all gone!! What kind of surgery did you have? Wishing you continued progress in your recovery!! Mike

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heisenberg34 | @heisenberg34 | May 19 8:00am
In reply to @centre "It’s hard to know what to do, but I think it’s really important to try to..." + (show)
@centre

It’s hard to know what to do, but I think it’s really important to try to give yourself the “best chance” by going to PT to get a good Home Exercise Program (strengthening, balance, range of motion) and perform it faithfully, buy an exercise bike (thanks for the tip, mentor John Bishop) and use it faithfully, walk daily for at least 30 minutes (I wear a brace), and hardest of all- work at getting and keeping your height/weight ratio within normal limits (decreasing stress on your spine).
I got sick and tired of the exercises and went “on strike”, only did the walking, and wow, it didn’t take long to see the difference in my abilities.

Jump to this post

I used to cycle 30 to 40 miles a week. I tried doing exercises, but it only ramped up my pain. I don't know if it's safe to continue exercising if it only gives you more pain. If I work through the pain, will it begin to diminish, or, will I do more damage to my body. It's a conundrum.

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1 reply
heisenberg34 | @heisenberg34 | May 19 8:04am
In reply to @gregd1956 "Yes, I HAD or HAVE the following problems as: 1. Numbness in my feet? Yes, it’s..." + (show)
@gregd1956

Yes, I HAD or HAVE the following problems as:
1. Numbness in my feet? Yes, it’s on the bottom of my right foot
2. Weakness in side of one foot? Yes, in my right-side and could fall-down
3. Hip/leg pain? No, I had it for 2+ years ago. Falling down, hitting bottom of my legs, can’t stay up liking walking. That was before until 4 weeks age, I had a surgery on the bottom, close on the top of 1 rear end on my back, ended my pain,.. everything from each leg,- top or bottom, rear-ends, knees - the pain is gone.
4. I need to exercise from my rear-end to my feet - Stretching, bending, holding my legs. Still I have part of my balance problem, but it’s better per week ❤️

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I fell while skiing and hit my buttocks quite hard, leaving a gigantic swelling in each cheek and a nearly solid black stripe across the top of the buttocks. I continue to have pain in my buttocks when I sit. I'm wondering if there is something "deep, down there" that doesn't show up or isn't looked for on MRIs. What exactly did they find and what did they do?

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2 replies
cb3 | @cb3 | May 19 12:06pm
In reply to @centre "It’s hard to know what to do, but I think it’s really important to try to..." + (show)
@centre

It’s hard to know what to do, but I think it’s really important to try to give yourself the “best chance” by going to PT to get a good Home Exercise Program (strengthening, balance, range of motion) and perform it faithfully, buy an exercise bike (thanks for the tip, mentor John Bishop) and use it faithfully, walk daily for at least 30 minutes (I wear a brace), and hardest of all- work at getting and keeping your height/weight ratio within normal limits (decreasing stress on your spine).
I got sick and tired of the exercises and went “on strike”, only did the walking, and wow, it didn’t take long to see the difference in my abilities.

Jump to this post

Wow, centre, I so agree with everything you are saying. My past chiropractor told me, "Muscles have a memory." His comment kind of tickled me at first. Then my common sense kicked in and after a few bouts with self talk, I told myself, "If you don't use it, you will lose it." That's been a big ouch in my life because I don't like to exercise alone. I prefer groups with feedback and happy faces. But now that I'm in PT, I feel hope once again, and I will walk that mile once my muscles figure out their purpose in my life. CB

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1 reply
cb3 | @cb3 | May 19 12:09pm
In reply to @heisenberg34 "I fell while skiing and hit my buttocks quite hard, leaving a gigantic swelling in each..." + (show)
@heisenberg34

I fell while skiing and hit my buttocks quite hard, leaving a gigantic swelling in each cheek and a nearly solid black stripe across the top of the buttocks. I continue to have pain in my buttocks when I sit. I'm wondering if there is something "deep, down there" that doesn't show up or isn't looked for on MRIs. What exactly did they find and what did they do?

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Ask. You can request a copy of your MRI results.

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1 reply
gregd1956 | @gregd1956 | May 19 12:56pm
In reply to @heisenberg34 "I fell while skiing and hit my buttocks quite hard, leaving a gigantic swelling in each..." + (show)
@heisenberg34

I fell while skiing and hit my buttocks quite hard, leaving a gigantic swelling in each cheek and a nearly solid black stripe across the top of the buttocks. I continue to have pain in my buttocks when I sit. I'm wondering if there is something "deep, down there" that doesn't show up or isn't looked for on MRIs. What exactly did they find and what did they do?

Jump to this post

I read yours; for me, after the last 2 years until I took that from another doctor that found it, had a surgery 4 weeks ago cause there was a (I’ve lost the name that touched 2 back then he moved it away that my Doctor put it back that caused deep-pain and it’s done - thankfully)

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