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Numbness in one shin but none in foot
Bones, Joints & Muscles | Last Active: 3 days ago | Replies (12)Comment receiving replies
I had L3-L5 decompressed and fused in August 2024. I had pain/weakness/numbness from low back to feet. The numbness has dramatically improved/reduced. I no longer get numb legs/feet after standing or walking for 5 minutes. Pain has reduced but I still have weakness in buttocks/hips/hip flexors and some nerve pain (mostly hips/hip flexors). My residual symptoms can be due to long term compression injury, damage during surgery, post surgery scar tissue formation or new spinal compression. I did some physical therapy for several months. I am getting an updated MRI of my lumbar spine in a few weeks to see if there is any inflammation/nerve compression showing the source of my current symptoms. Not sure what treatment options would be helpful. I don’t regret having surgery and will need to deal with spine issues for the rest of my life (I am 56).
Replies to "@heyjoe415 I had L3-L5 decompressed and fused in August 2024. I had pain/weakness/numbness from low back..."
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Hi Hope,
Thank you so very much for this detailed account of your lower back surgery. I'm sorry you had to have this done at such a young age. That said, you sound like a fighter and for that I certainly admire you and your courage.
I'm 71 now. I've had both knees replaced, right hip, and in August, my left shoulder. The pain relief has been incredible and for that I am grateful. Over the last 3 years I dropped my weight from 190 to 155 lbs and took up spinning at the gym 5-6x/week, along with resistance training twice a week. Diet-wise, I simply cut waaaaay back on refined sugar. Goodby Coke, hello Bai........
But my lumbar spine is a disaster area. Scoliosis, stenosis, listhesis, and overall arthritis and disc degeneration. My spinal surgeon tells me my strong core is literally holding my lumbar spine in place. And I'm sure the weight loss, which was mostly in my torso, has helped.
He also told me that if I develop sciatica, or other problems related to the lumbar spine, he'll have to fuse S1 through L5. I welcomed the joint replacements because I was sure I would be pain free after. The spine is another matter, as your comments indicate.
I'm glad you said you don't regret the surgery. That was so important for me to hear. Modern medicine produces many miracles, and some people have spinal fusion and do very well. But it is the one surgery that I fear.
(About 10 years ago, I did have laminotomies done at S1 through L5 - holes drilled in the back of the vertebrae, maintaining their structural integrity and providing more room for the sciatic nerve. Knock on wood, it's still working. I had two bouts of sciatica before this procedure and it was very painful in the back of my legs.)
It seems like you have a realistic idea of what your future will look like Hope. Again, 56 is too young to deal with this, but you obviously live in the now and are a strong person. And who knows what advances will be made in treating the spine in the coming months and years?
So thank you again Hope for your message. It has helped me tremendously. All the best to you, friend.
Joe