Lumbar Neuropathy … how to heal … ugh

Posted by marvininhouston @marvininhouston, Sep 2, 2022

Had slight numbness from playing competitive volleyball after 50 years old. Then, in February, woke with a herniated disc. Reinjured, reinjured and reinjured, spent six months in bed or walking hunched over. At six month mark, after acupuncture, I finally got vertical and my feet got severely increased neuropathy following L5 pattern. I feel when I got my lower back curvature back, it pressed on nerve. I then noticed I failed big toe test, hence, L5 nerve root compression. The next six weeks made good progress, but then I sat in a barstool to watch a ball game, picked a couple of weeds, and the last four weeks it’s gotten worse. It was numbness to around base of toes, now getting closer to ankle. Neurologist did electrical test and said I don’t have a pinched nerve. I think he’s wrong and doing new MRI. I’ve taken nerve vitamins this past year. Blood work is good. Confused on why I’m not healing. Thoughts are appreciated!!

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darrenwilliamballs | @darrenwilliamballs | Sep 10, 2022

Any one who has delt with lower back pain and neurophy would get the L1-L5 type references. Or it just could be that having had many MRIs over the last 30 years it just sounds like standard talking.

I did find out that after 20 years I got enough feeling bask that I could tell if I was on carpet or tile and got the movement back of my toes thanks to my primary care doctor noticed a slightly above range levels of calcium but within the standard deviation for error. Luckily it was followed with a test of Parathyroid levels and they were through the roof.

Within hours of the hyperactive parathyroid removal I could move my toes and had feeling back. Lasted for 5 months now feet are numb 24/7 but still can move toes.

Hope this helps someone. My neurosurgeon has said as soon as the bulging hit the spinal cord insurance will pay for 2 rods to be attached to every vertebrae. Although I have heard of 2nd stage trial that the inject a fluid into your discs.
Wishing you success in your journey.