sheray

Dear Dr Corenman,
Thank you very much indeed for your reply.
I share your concern about the burning sensation and the possibility that it may be chronic nerve damage. I am scheduled to see a neurosurgeon locally and expect that he will ask me to go for an MRI. In that regard, is the MRI to show any possible nerve root damage any different from a “regular” lumbar MRI?
You have mentioned an injection as part of the treatment plan. Is that to help reduce the pain?
Also, in your experience, if it is chronic nerve damage, then of course depending on how chronic it is, have you seen patients recover from such nerve damage over time?
Thank you again for your time and advice.

Dear Dr Corenman,
Your comments are well taken and appreciated. We live and learn! Thank you again for your valued time and advice. I will post further with a progress report in due course.

Dear Dr Corenman,

An update – I had my surgery one month ago. However, the endoscopic microdiscectomy through the side had complications due to anatomy and could not be completed. Conventional microdiscectomy was then performed. Basically, therefore, a procedure which should have taken an hour had the endoscopic surgery been successful took 4 hours. The reason I was given for failure of the endoscopic procedure was the narrow L5/S1 foranima and every time the surgeon placed his needle through the foranima, I felt pain.

As a result, I understand that my nerve was extremely irritated and after surgery, my right leg was very numb, in particular my right foot (sole and toes). For a few days after surgery, I had no leg pain, only the discomfort of the numbness. The staples at the incision site were removed a week after surgery. However, the leg pain returned a few days after surgery.

Since then, the numbness is getting better and at present is less, although I still have some numbness at the sole of my foot and around the toes, as well as at the top of the foot, at the ankle.

The concern I have, however, is the leg pain. It is the familiar sciatic pain I had prior to surgery, only more uncomfortable. I cannot bend forwards without feeling pain and, in fact, cannot keep my right leg straight when bending forward. The pain is sometimes in the buttocks area as well as the back of my upper leg. At other times I feel pain to the side of my knee and down the right side of my right leg, up to the ankle.

I am doing some simple stretches as well as walking daily.

I am presently taking paracetamol 2/3 times a day for the pain.

I have been told by the surgeon that the numbness and the leg pain are usual and expected due to the extreme nerve irritation. My concern is whether there may have been nerve damage and if so, what would alert me to this.

In your experience, is it normal that the leg / sciatic pain should still persist even though the herniation may have been removed? I was told it can take months to heal. In fact, prior to surgery, sleeping was my most comfortable and pain free position but now I have discomfort when lying down.

Is there anything I should or should not do to help move things along?

Also, should I go for another MRI and if so, when would be best given that surgery was a month ago?

Thank you very much indeed for your valued advice and time.