Connection between Neuropathy and L4,L5 Issues

Good evening @seidholz, and thank you @jenniferhunter for the introduction. As a matter of fact, I was with my two MFR therapists this afternoon. Right now I am struggling with a hip socket that flakes out on me. All of a sudden, as I turn the corner into the kitchen, my right leg will collapse in pain.

I was diagnosed with SFN (small fiber neuropathy) in 2013 through the use of a stem cell biopsy in my ankle. Fortunately, I knew a wonderful lady in my mountain village who was completing her training in (MFR) Myofascial Release Therapy. I began to see her every week and she explained the process to me. If you have spent a little time reading the posts on @jenniferhunter's MFR discussion introduced in the post above, you will begin to understand how this treatment can help relieve pain and facilitate movement.

And you undoubtedly know by now that SFN and other neuropathies are the result of nerves that have been damaged or restricted by things like post-surgery scar tissue. It is also unfortunate but true that nerve cells can die and the messages to your brain are restricted or misunderstood. The result is pain. We would hope that our bodies would regenerate the nerve cells. However, that takes a long time. So if they are dying faster than being replaced, there will be pain and discomfort.

Some of us have difficulty finding the cause of this condition. In that case, our situation is labeled idiopathic. My SFN is the result of trauma from accidents, injuries, and surgeries. Do you know how you acquired your neuropathic condition?

I am going to give you a link to a series called "Strolling under the Skin". This will introduce you to a visual display of connective tissues that can become involved in your neuropathy. You will be able to see how much tissue is actually inside your body.

Let me know what you think and if you have additional questions.

May you be safe, protected and free from inner and outer harm.
Chris

I have experienced PN since August 2022. My knees to my ankles started bothering me about 4 months ago. I recently saw a back doc who told me I had arthritis in the L4 and L5 area and he prescribed a cortisone shot to my back.
(My L4 and L5 vertebrae were knocked out of alignment when I went down a flight of stairs in a metal walker at 3years old). I got the shot on 11.15.23. I am waiting for the shot to fully take effect. The doc said about 3days. It feels like some lessening is happening already. I will update in 3 to 4 days.

The way that I understand it is that if you have PN from a compressed disc, once you remove the compression, the nerve can regenerate. I think the amount of time that the nerve was under stress plays a role also. In my case, the doctor said that my muscles did not atrophy and he hopes that once the nerve regenerates itself, reconnects, I should gain strength back in my right foot (of which I currentlyfail the 'big toe test'). He said I might have to deal with the pain, numbness, pins and needles forever, however, I'm seeing other YouTube doctors say it can recover. Therefore, I'm trying to maximize my chances by the right diet, nerve gliding/flossing, PT, exercise and vitamins that promote the healing.
Except for this self inflicted PN because I waited too long to have L4/L5 surgery, I am very healthy. Knock on wood ...
I do not think the nerves regenerate themselves when you get PN from diabetes, RA medicine, chemo or the like.
This is what I understand from reading. It's not like doctors are overwhelming anybody with information. There's a doctor above that was noted as 'great'. If they were that great, why are you here seeking answers? I had to read on and off for a few months, came up with a series of questions, and before I get done asking, it seemed like my time was up. Not sure when patients have PN why can't doctors just give you a standard diet to follow, vitamins to take, and immediately refer you to PT. Such as alpha lipoic acid shows get for diabetic PN but not compression PN. I guess if they gave out standard information I wouldn't be making return visits ... ugh

The Peripheral Neuropathy Foundation just received money from Congress to help with research. No one has really done much research on the topic in a long time. I don't know if an answer will be found in time to help me but I keep looking. It has been almost two years since my spinal surgery and so far I have not felt any relief from the pain and burning in my feet. But the good thing is that the neuropathy has not progressed as I have heard that it can.

Hi Sabrina, if you don't mind what spinal procedure did you have. And does your pain and burning in your feet, radiate down your entire leg or is it localized to just the feet. Which is what i'm experiencing after surgery. One of the few things that helps maintain my sanity is orthotic insoles made by a podiatrist with shoes that accommodate them nicely...

You have read an old post. There's a lot since then. If you can, find my messages.
I've had 4 spinal fusions, the last S1-T11. My pain is mainly in my feet, at the worst it was progressing to my knees. Long story short, my new neurologist found my vitamin B6 was high so I stopped it. She also started me on Nortripyline which has decreased my pain significantly.
That's where I am now. I hope this helps. Go back and search my name if you want to read the whole story.
Good luck

I have the same problem with L4&5 which gave me spinal stenosis and NP.
I’m numb from knees down with burning pain just above my knees. I went through gabapentin, pre gab etc.
nothing worked. A dulox helped some, it’s an anti depressant. Then my pain doctor and I tried lumbar injections. She injected both side of the pain nerves exiting the lumbar region using fluoride for guiding the needles.
The pain was gone!