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Increasing weakness in Legs

Neuropathy | Last Active: Sep 9, 2024 | Replies (21)

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@dlydailyhope

@nancyc777

My symptoms really started in 2017 with burning feet and pins/needles, tingling in my feet which got worse in warm weather and bad symptoms at night in bed. I started taking alpha Lipoic acid and Acetyl l carnitine supplements plus used capsaicin creams, it seemed to help calm things down.

What type of pain do you have? Is it burning, pins/needles, numbness, or all of the above? When did it start for you?

I also have congenital spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis. I had ACDF surgery on my C5-C6 cervical spine due to spinal cord compression injury affecting arms/hands, legs/feet, bladder, etc. I also just had L3-L5 decompression and fusion surgery on 8/2/2024. This was for severe stenosis and neurogenic claudication which caused pain/weakness/numbness in lower back, hips, buttocks, legs and feet. Did your lumbar surgeries help relieve any of your pre-surgical symptoms? I am noticing an improvement in the pain/numbness/weakness experienced prior to surgery. Have you had an updated recent MRI to see if you have new compression?

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Replies to "@nancyc777 My symptoms really started in 2017 with burning feet and pins/needles, tingling in my feet..."

Thank you so much for replying. I take ALA, and carnitine also. The tingling burning pain in my feet settles down at night in bed, which is opposite of most “neuropathy“. The nerve pain in my feet began In 2017, but it was only mild and late in the evening but now it starts as soon as I get out of bed and Gets up to a 10 every day. I spend most of my day on the couch icing and elevating my feet. My pain is worse in the summer than it is in the winter because of the heat makes it worse. And cold relieves it a bit. Hard surfaces are worse also. I had no relief from the pain after surgery, and it has been a year well, almost a year and a half since surgery, L4/L5 fusion with three laminectomies in that area. The pain just continues to increase and get worse. Nothing has helped. I just recently had another MRI, which was OK. You have been through a lot also! I’m glad you are getting a little bit of relief now and then. I don’t think I have much numbness, but it is hard to tell because I have hammer toes also, and I can’t tell if it’s from my to deformities or if it is really numbness. But it is definitely pins and needles tingling burning pain. I put menthol cream on my feet and that helps a little bit temporarily. Icing with gel packs 10 minutes at a time on the couch, and sometimes cool water in a bucket helps. 🤗. Unfortunately, doctors have been unable to help me or come up with a diagnosis. I have had every lab test imaginable, I have had veins and arteries tested, and try to be medicine there is with no success.