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Is there any help at all for foot numbness in PN
Neuropathy | Last Active: 21 hours ago | Replies (124)Comment receiving replies
Thanks so much for your response and for letting me know I’m not the only one!
I have a theory but none of the medical professionals will acknowledge it.
In 2008, I had my first surgery for scoliosis. It was actually a 2-day procedure. I had to wear this awful turtle shell contraption for 6 months, feeling like some kind of freak. Then approximately 2 years later, I had another surgery to fuse my L5.
I can’t exactly remember when the PN was diagnosed, but the foot numbness gradually got worse. Now, in 2024, I can hardly walk. I use a walker, but only since I fell in 2023, and had to have yet another horrific surgery that pretty much sealed the deal for me. Before the broken hip, I used a cane.
Anyway, at age 74, my numbness has only gotten worse and worse. My aforementioned theory is the PN happened as a result of the very first surgery in 2008 for scoliosis, which was on my LEFT side. Hence, the main numbness in my LEFT foot. Not one of these professionals will even entertain the possibility. That, alone, baffles me.
Now, I’m far from being a doctor; however, I just can’t help but think the numbness in my LEFT foot (mainly) is related to the 1st surgery for scoliosis on my LEFT side.
In the meantime, I just continue to suffer with no relief in sight.
Replies to "Thanks so much for your response and for letting me know I’m not the only one!..."
It’s so interesting to read your comment. Had neuropathy in my feet for 12 years now and suffer from not just the numbness but also periodic pain which is unpredictable. Mine first started on my left side after having a total knee replacement. A year later I had my right knee replaced, and the same happened to that foot. It is definitely worse on my left side and has progressed over these years and has me constantly having a fear of falling and impacts my daily life. I asked the surgeon if this could possibly have been caused by the surgery and he denied it 100% as a possibility . I continue to believe that this was the cause of my neuropathy, but at this point have accepted the fact that there is nothing to change this outcome. It has been causing real problems in my feet since I don’t feel pain and have had problems that may end up , needing surgery. I’d be interested to hear how many other people have developed neuropathy after surgery on other parts of their body.
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@wascaly
I think you are into something about the origin of your foot numbness. I have cervical/lumbar stenosis, degenerative disc disease and neurogenic claudication plus cervical myelopathy which caused spinal cord injury at C5-C6 and symptoms below this level down to my feet.
I had cervical ACDF surgery in 2022 and lumbar surgery in August 2024. My numbness in my feet and pain/weakness has improved but now struggling with hip pain. I question if nerves supplying my hips/hip flexors that help lift my right leg were possibly injured.
Have you had MRIs recently for your cervical and lumbar spine to see if there is new nerve/nerve root/spinal cord compression? Have you had EMG/nerve conduction studies and/or myeloma to test the health of your nerves supplying movement/sensation to feet? You may need 2nd and 3rd new opinions. Some doctors don’t like to take patients with previous surgeries because they don’t want to be liable if anything was not done correctly or if there was permanent damage done.
I was also afraid to fall when my feet/low back/hips and buttocks would go numb while walking my dog. My lumbar surgery helped relieve some of my weakness and numbness from neurogenic claudication severe compression of L4-L5 (my surgery decompressed and fused L3-L5).