Is surgery a trigger for Neuropathy?

Yeah.. I didn't have neuropathy a year ago, but AFTER my back surgery I did, and a year later I am still dealing with it. Had I know then, I never would have had the surgery.

I had some nerve damage after knee surgery many years ago.
After a couple years, sensation returned.

After I had my SCS removed, neuropathy developed about a year later. Not sure if there is any connection.

I never had neuropathy in my feet until after I had L4-S1 spinal fusion surgery. When I got out of bed to walk after the surgery, I placed my feet on the ground, and the ball of my left foot was numb. The surgeon said that it would probably go away with increased exercise. It only got worse, and now it has spread to my right foot. It's really frustrating and hurts like Hell after I've walked only a 1/2 mile! My feet turn beet red and burn like crazy. Now, my toes are going numb ... permanently! I'm not sure what to do about it. I've tried everything the doctors recommended.

@scampano3 I feel for you. I used to be active, at work and at home. No I don't work and can't do the things that I once did at home. I feel useless, I can't even put my foot on the floor to take a step.

My neurologist said that a flare of small fiber neuropathy is not unexpected after a stressor such as surgery. I had a PFO closure procedure mid July and it is just now being to improve, almost certainly because heart inflammation after the procedure has finally decreased. Duloxetine has helped

I didn’t read the link but I can tell you firsthand that nerve damage and nerve recovery and nerve problems can take 10 years to resolve. Nerves take 10 years to regrow and scar tissue can also cause nerve problems. My back surgery was not done early enough so I had radiculopathy as a result. But it is much more subdued after eight years as my nerves continue to rebuild and grow. Neuropathy is different, but they both can be a result of surgery or a result of scar tissue which grows and needs to be addressed. When I had cervical spine surgery, the neuropathy pain in my neck back and shoulders gets pretty bad when the weather changes from hot and dry to damp and rainy. So I use topical medicines, muscle relaxers, and even light use opioids to get through those times. I had to have two cervical spine surgeries next to each other and it reeked a lot of havoc in my shoulders and back with my nerves. It is important to have a good MFR myofascial therapist in the wing to help soothe the neuropathy and radiculopathy. Also, an acupuncturist can relieve nerve pain as well. Since I’ve had five major joint replacements, I know that healing can take years although I get back to work in a few months there’s things going on that can take a long time, especially as one ages and has these things when they are older instead of being younger. It’s just part of life and I take it in stride and every day of my life. I am grateful for all of my surgeries that allow me to live my life fully. I don’t have one single regret about any of the consequences. I have to deal with.

@loriesco Both inspiring and encouraging. Thanks for sharing loriesco!

@scampano3
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4124142/