1. < Spine Health

Nerve Pain In Foot after Laminectomy

Posted by dakota24 @dakota24, Mar 18 1:41pm

I had L4/5 Laminectomy on 11/1/2024. Since the day after surgery I had terrible pain in my right foot. I did not have this pain prior to surgery. Every day I have a tingling/numbing feeling in my right foot, and at times burning sensations and also sharp nerve pains. This has prevented me from even putting on a regular shoe due to it hurting. I'm told nerves needed to find new pathways, this might get better. I cannot believe the only pathway here was to my right foot. I also still have bad lower back pain like I had before surgery. Anyone else have this? At what point will they consider injections or something other than gabapentin (which doesn't work) for this problem. It is ruining my life.

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blairs7x70 | @blairs7x70 | Apr 22 2:17pm

same thing here. December 2024 and foot and lower leg/shin still numb

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blairs7x70 | @blairs7x70 | Apr 22 2:18pm
In reply to @ysphoenix "@dakota24 See my message below (I forgot to add your handle in my original message). I..." + (show)
@ysphoenix

@dakota24 See my message below (I forgot to add your handle in my original message). I had the exact same experience as you 4 years ago (except in both feet) and can provide a lot of helpful information if you are interested.

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@dakota24 how did you get rid of the foot numbness?

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tralala | @tralala | May 14 11:04pm

@dakota24 I’m so glad I read this and hope you’ll respond with your progress. I had a Laminectomy May 1 2025 for cyst removal and same exact issue. Post op 2 weeks still rt foot pain, numb, pins needles present.

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smn1 | @smn1 | May 15 1:57pm
In reply to @ysphoenix "@dakota24 See my message below (I forgot to add your handle in my original message). I..." + (show)
@ysphoenix

@dakota24 See my message below (I forgot to add your handle in my original message). I had the exact same experience as you 4 years ago (except in both feet) and can provide a lot of helpful information if you are interested.

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Hi, ysphoenix I'm dealing with both feet as well since may of 23. So I would love to hear your experiences too. As I'm sure you know, many times the ones who should have the answers don't. And alot of times the answers they do have are vague. So any of your insights would be greatly appreciated....

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pattyo1 | @pattyo1 | May 28 11:16am

I had a very similar experience. I had a multilevel laminectomy Oct 16, 2024. I did well initially however about 10 weeks post op I began having severe nerve spasms to the degree that I could not walk! My surgeon's PA continued to say my nerves were "waking up". I eventually sought a 2nd opinion and have been diagnosed with arachnoiditis. My symptoms fit that diagnosis! I am now waiting for a spinal nerve stimulator to hopefully get pain relief.

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pattyo1 | @pattyo1 | May 28 11:25am
In reply to @dlydailyhope "@dakota24 I had full decompression and fusion of L3-L5 in August of 2024 due to degenerative..." + (show)
@dlydailyhope

@dakota24
I had full decompression and fusion of L3-L5 in August of 2024 due to degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis and neurogenic claudication pain/weakness/numbness from lower back/hips and buttocks down to legs and feet bilaterally. Lamina and foramina bone was cut away and vertebrae fused with hardware. It was an extremely painful procedure.

The day after surgery I had numbness in my right foot/toes that seemed tied to the surgery. I’m not sure if the symptoms were due to nerve injury or being irritated from movement and being freed from compression for over 12 years.

My symptoms improved over time and read that nerves can take a long time to heal. I had some new nerve pain show up in my hips/hip flexors 3 months after surgery which was excruciating but this has gotten better in month 5 and 6 post op. I am now in month 7.

Have you had any updated imaging post op? You may want to get an updated lumbar MRI by your orthopedic spine specialist/neurosurgeon and EMG/nerve conduction study from a neurologist. Spinal injections can help relieve any inflammation if your surgeon okays your seeing a pain management specialist. Please don’t suffer in silence and talk to your surgeon asap.

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Your scenario sounds so much like mine! My primary care provider was helpful in getting me a 2nd opinion. I have been diagnosed with arachnoiditis and am now waiting to have a spinal nerve stimulator. My pain has gotten increasingly worse and I no longer go out socially. I am so dissapointed in my surgeon for brushing my symptoms away. I am glad to be on a new path!!

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dlydailyhope | @dlydailyhope | May 28 1:03pm
In reply to @cbntmn "That's what the surgeon told me too about the nerves, that it could take months or..." + (show)
@cbntmn

That's what the surgeon told me too about the nerves, that it could take months or even years to get better. But after 4 years it hasn't improved. Have you had a cervical MRI? I had laminectomy in my lumbar and it didnt help lower back. My thigh on my left leg stays 50% numb all the time even when sitting down. And I went from gabapentin to pregabilin and it minutely helps. But I recently had an MRI of my neck and found I have cervical myelopethy which is closing down the root canal and am being told if I fall just right or get in a car wreck I could be paralyzed for life. But my question to them. Could that also be affecting my lower back but no one can give me a definte answer. I met with my chiropractor the other day and he gave me the analogy of "water runs down hill" so the pinched nerves and spinal cord being pinched ' could ' be affecting my lower back. My main problem is my lower back muscles start going numb when I'm standing or walking, And then my legs start going numb. I can't be on my feet for over five minutes without having to sit down or lean over something to relieve the tension, So I'm highly considering having the neck operation, I'm not excited about it but I have to try something I might as well be paralyzed I feel like I am anyway. Not being socially active and unable to do the things I want and need to do. I even had my cleaning lady fold and hang up my clothes. I roll around the kitchen on a stool to be able to cook and do the dishes. I have a chair in my shower. It's pathetic. I'm extremely overweight because of my inability to be mobile. If any one else has these similar problems please let me know and what have you had done and has it helped.

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@cbntmn
I have what you have. Cervical and lumbar stenosis, degenerative disc disease, myelopathy and neurogenic claudication.

Symptoms included daily headaches, neck/shoulder pain, arm/hand and leg/foot pain/numbness/weakness, lower back/hip/buttock pain/weakness/numbness and balance issues. I also had a change in bladder control, handwriting, hand dexterity, ability to walk fast, etc.

I had ACDF surgery on c5-c6 in 2022 and need to have c6-c7 done soon. I had lumbar decompression/fusion surgery on l3-l5 in 2024.

Have you had an updated MRI of your lumbar spine to see if you have new compression/pinched nerves?

If your spinal cord is compressed, it is important to get it decompressed as soon as possible because compression injury over a long period can cause permanent injury/damage to nerve and vascular cells in your spinal cord. The surgery and recovery was not too bad. My lumbar surgery was extremely painful in comparison.

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1 reply
smn1 | @smn1 | May 31 10:00pm
In reply to @dlydailyhope "@cbntmn I have what you have. Cervical and lumbar stenosis, degenerative disc disease, myelopathy and neurogenic..." + (show)
@dlydailyhope

@cbntmn
I have what you have. Cervical and lumbar stenosis, degenerative disc disease, myelopathy and neurogenic claudication.

Symptoms included daily headaches, neck/shoulder pain, arm/hand and leg/foot pain/numbness/weakness, lower back/hip/buttock pain/weakness/numbness and balance issues. I also had a change in bladder control, handwriting, hand dexterity, ability to walk fast, etc.

I had ACDF surgery on c5-c6 in 2022 and need to have c6-c7 done soon. I had lumbar decompression/fusion surgery on l3-l5 in 2024.

Have you had an updated MRI of your lumbar spine to see if you have new compression/pinched nerves?

If your spinal cord is compressed, it is important to get it decompressed as soon as possible because compression injury over a long period can cause permanent injury/damage to nerve and vascular cells in your spinal cord. The surgery and recovery was not too bad. My lumbar surgery was extremely painful in comparison.

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Have any of your symptoms resolved from your surgeries? And if so which ones, curious what your mri report states about your L5 S1?

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1 reply
smn1 | @smn1 | May 31 10:19pm

Do you have access to your MRI report, if so what does it say about your L5 S1 level...

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dlydailyhope | @dlydailyhope | Jun 1 6:17am
In reply to @smn1 "Have any of your symptoms resolved from your surgeries? And if so which ones, curious what..." + (show)
@smn1

Have any of your symptoms resolved from your surgeries? And if so which ones, curious what your mri report states about your L5 S1?

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@smn1

Here is what my last lumbar MRI showed in 2024.

FINDINGS:
Vertebral body height, signal intensity and alignment:
* Type II Modic endplate changes around the degenerated L2/L3
intervertebral disc.
The conus has a normal configuration and terminates at level of L1
pedicles.
At the following level(s), SPONDYLOSIS, e.g., degenerative disk disease,
infolding of ligamenti flavi, uncovertebral hypertrophy, facet arthrosis
or some combination, causes:
L2/3: Mild central and mild bilateral foraminal stenosis
L3/4: Mild central, moderate RIGHT foraminal and mild LEFT foraminal
stenosis.
L4/5: Severe central and moderate bilateral foraminal stenosis.
L5/S1: Mild LEFT foraminal stenosis.
Paraspinal soft tissues and visualized bony pelvis: The visualized
structures are unremarkable.
IMPRESSION:
Multilevel lumbosacral spondylosis, as described in the body of this
report. In particular at the L4/L5 level there is severe central and
moderate bilateral foraminal stenosis, but that has not changed relative
to most recent comparator (see above).

At the time, I had pain/numbness/weakness in my lower back, hips, buttocks, legs and feet bilaterally. Most improved after surgery but I have some residual numbness in my right foot big toe. I do have some nerve pain in my hips/hip flexors at times but I also have bilateral gluteal tendinopathy and bilateral hamstring tears so not sure if that is contributing to my sensations (don’t believe it has fully healed yet).

My compression in my lumbar spine started in 2011 and I have a congenitally narrow spinal canal so long term compression and nerve injury will take a while to heal. I was also told that you don’t really have a clear picture of surgery outcome for a full year.

For my cervical spine surgery in 2022, my c5-c6 was decompressed and fused and it relieved my daily headaches, neck/shoulder/shoulder blade pain and knots, some arm/hand pain/weakness and pain/numbness, improved bladder control, walking didn’t feel like I was wearing heavy cement boots anymore, etc. I have a new herniated disc at c6-c7 and some symptoms have returned (mostly neck pain, arm pain/weakness/numbness, bladder control issues and balance issues.

For me, I really have no choice but to have surgery when there is compression because my narrow spinal canal I was born with causes many symptoms and issues with the slightest degenerative changes. Physical therapy and spinal injection will only help so much for a short period of time.

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