Pain and Neuropathy all over body after Ulnar surgery

Posted by follest @follest, Dec 26, 2024

Trying to find a solution, and yes I recently contacted Mayo clinic for help.
Heres my story, can anyone relate and did you find a solution at Mayo or other clinic.
In December 2023 I had a work injury to my arm that I thought would go away. It did not. Shortly after I experienced pins n needles in the baby finger and ring finger. I thought it would also go away. By March I had to seek medical help as my hand was no longer functioning properly with fine motor function. Hospital tried anti-inflammatory for a week and did not resolve.
My Chiropractor actually pushed for worker injury and restricted use of my left arm for 2 weeks. At this time, work said Bye, come back when your better. Long story short, after multiple delays, my hand turned into the Ulnar claw and I received Ulnar Transposition surgery with AIN Sets surgery and Guyan Canal release surgery. My hand returned to normal, meaning no more claw. 1 year recover was expected. Within 2 weeks after surgery, my thumb, index and middle finger went numb. Saw surgeon immediately. Suspected median nerve may have got compressed during surgery. Ultrasound and EMG showed very minimal compression, not enough to cause this issue. A Cortisone shot in the wrist only helped joint pain in those fingers.
Prior to that surgery on the left I was fighting with Workers comp, to get the right looked at as it was hurting the same and I did not want delays that lead down the same path of claw hand and serious atrophy as my left hand had so much atrophy it looks like a monkey paw. But it functions.
The new numbness, eventually lead to serious lower back pain one day that I attributed to Sciatica from sitting too much during recovery. After three adjustments at chiro, it wasn't Sciatica, and now my right foot was in serious pain and numb.
I woke up one morning and every extremity was on fire, with pins and needles, my legs were extremely weak and could barely hold my weight. Of course hospital did bloodwork and EKG and said we see nothing, come back if it gets worse. I went back again weeks later and got the same response.
Next I went to a different hospital when it was extreme and they tried to send me away also. I demanded a neurologist or MRI and refused to leave. They set me up with an MRI on my spine which showed a problem and had me come back for contrast MRI. The final outcome was they found no issues, the first MRI was an error.
They sent me to a neurologist, who sent me for a Brain MRI, this came back clear also. No lesions in spine or back. Great! Thats positive.
Then sent me for an EEG to see if I was having seizures. This was also clear.
December this year they finally approved my Right Ulnar surgery only required transposition.
A week before this surgery all neuropathy FINALLY stopped. I was sooo happy and felt normal.
2 days before surgery, it all came back. All extremities and testicles.
I reluctantly went into surgery where I received the Brachial Plexus Nerve block again and general anesthetic.
I woke up from surgery and everything was gone again.
The next morning, I felt GREAT!, even my right arm had minimal pain. All day was good.
The next morning everything was back again only this time with vengeance! It has been this way everyday since.

I believe this is definitely POST SURGICAL INFLAMMATORY NEUROPATHY. I also believe from research that IV Methyprednisolone or IV immunogobulin would rest my immune systems response.

The following medications were of no help
Gabapentin - garbage
Pregablin - garbage
Nortryptilene - garbage but no side effects
Trazadone - no help
Celecoxib - mad inflammatory response worse. I believe it tried to correct the immune issue but not strong enough so it just aggravates it.

Has anyone had this issue and what worked if you were solved. At this point, I can barely walk, all extremeties are on fire and getting no help and no sleep because night time is ten times worse.

Thanks all

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuropathy Support Group.

Welcome @follest, It must be extremely frustrating having the symptoms/pain go away only to come back with a vengeance. I wasn't familiar with post surgical inflammatory neuropathy so did a little research and listened to this 2010 Mayo Clinic video on the topic. It does sound like what you have described.


I did a search of Connect for "post surgery inflammatory neuropathy" and found a few members who have commented on the topic. I thought it might be helpful to look through their comments while you wait for members with experience to respond. Here's the link to the search results - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/comments/?search=post%20surgery%20inflammatory%20neuropathy.

Have you discussed your thoughts on the possibility of post surgical inflammatory neuropathy and treatments that might help with the surgeon or your primary care team?

REPLY
@johnbishop

Welcome @follest, It must be extremely frustrating having the symptoms/pain go away only to come back with a vengeance. I wasn't familiar with post surgical inflammatory neuropathy so did a little research and listened to this 2010 Mayo Clinic video on the topic. It does sound like what you have described.


I did a search of Connect for "post surgery inflammatory neuropathy" and found a few members who have commented on the topic. I thought it might be helpful to look through their comments while you wait for members with experience to respond. Here's the link to the search results - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/comments/?search=post%20surgery%20inflammatory%20neuropathy.

Have you discussed your thoughts on the possibility of post surgical inflammatory neuropathy and treatments that might help with the surgeon or your primary care team?

Jump to this post

This video is what ensured me that I was correct in my thoughts regarding what could be going on with me. Prior to surgery I was extremely healthy and hard working, lifting sheets of metal all day long with no issues. Thanks

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@johnbishop

Welcome @follest, It must be extremely frustrating having the symptoms/pain go away only to come back with a vengeance. I wasn't familiar with post surgical inflammatory neuropathy so did a little research and listened to this 2010 Mayo Clinic video on the topic. It does sound like what you have described.


I did a search of Connect for "post surgery inflammatory neuropathy" and found a few members who have commented on the topic. I thought it might be helpful to look through their comments while you wait for members with experience to respond. Here's the link to the search results - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/comments/?search=post%20surgery%20inflammatory%20neuropathy.

Have you discussed your thoughts on the possibility of post surgical inflammatory neuropathy and treatments that might help with the surgeon or your primary care team?

Jump to this post

I have discussed this and they act like they do not know it exists. I am seeing my Neurologist again in January and have this video already for her along with documented studies and cases so she can see for herself.

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The Title of this should actually say. Post Surgical Issues, Pain and Neuropathy All over body after Ulnar surgery(s)

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@follest

The Title of this should actually say. Post Surgical Issues, Pain and Neuropathy All over body after Ulnar surgery(s)

Jump to this post

Thanks @follest, we modified the title close to what you suggested but are limited to 70 characters so had to tweak it some.

REPLY
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