Many neuropathy issues, so why so few doctors who know?
I had a lumbar spine surgery that resulted in nerve root injury and neuropathic foot symptoms that were not present before the procedure. When I have raised this with the surgeons involved and with other neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons since, the consistent response has been that post-surgical nerve rehabilitation is outside their scope, and none of them could point me toward anyone who could help. A few suggested DRG stimulation, which I researched and found was not appropriate for my type of injury. The rest had nothing to offer at all. I have felt increasingly lost with no specialist and no path forward.
I am not trying to assign blame. I understand that surgical complications fall into a gap between what spine surgeons do and what rehabilitation specialists typically treat. But I need a way forward and I have not been able to find it through the specialists I have access to.
Has anyone here found a type of specialist, whether in physical medicine, rehabilitation, or another field, who works specifically with peripheral neuropathy caused by spinal surgery? Any direction would be genuinely helpful. Thanks
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@pauldandurand
Thank you. Its very cathartic to vent about what happens to us. It is also good to know that we are not alone in facing our health problems.
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1 Reactionget a referral to a Neurologist.
@recovery1
I have idiopathic neuropathy in both feet. I tried acupuncture a few years ago, and it did not help at all. I'm in Colorado too. Can you tell me where you went for acupuncture? I don't know if this forum lets you give references.
I suspect that the efficacy of acupuncture depends a lot on the skill and experience of the practitioner. A skilled and experienced practitioner vs. someone who went to Bob's Acupuncture School for a 10-day course.