[Battista85]

#34667

Hello doctor. Last I spoke to you back in April I was recovering from a microdiscectomy and was fearful I had reherniated. Well, turns out I did,had cauda equina, and had emergency surgery. Fast forward to June when my pain did not approve at all and I had a subsequent spinal fusion. All at the L5-S1 level. I now have foot drop, which came on acutely right before the 3rd surgery.

Recovery since hasn’t been bad. Foot drop has approved a lot. However, over the last month or so everytime I sit my feet would turn a deep purple. Eventually, this started to cause a mild burning pain. That pain has become more constant, whether I’m sitting or not, though the color change still only happens when sitting. I haven’t noticed any motor weakness with these new symptoms but the pain does make me less than enthused at staying in motion, which I know isn’t the best.

I’ve had subsequent MRIs which apparently didn’t show anything of note but clearly something is up and I can only think it’s related to my back. Any idea what this can be? Thanks in advance

[Donald Corenman, MD, DC]

#34668

This color change associated with slight burning could be a mild case of CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome) which previously named “RSD”. See https://neckandback.com/conditions/complex-regional-pain-syndrome-crps-reflex-sympathetic-dystrophy-rsd-causalgia-neck/

This also could be some residual from the cauda equina syndrome.

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
 
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.

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