I have just had an operation for a prolapsed disc in which i had wedges metel rod and a cage?

Question

since having my operation i have what you call drop foot in which i have to wear a foot brace nothing seems to be happening with my foot at the moment and im getting very frustrated it seems to be constantly numb and very cold even with pyhsio how long will i have to put up with this as its very harh to cope with as i have always been a very active peerson

Answer 1

It depends, I'm afraid, on whether the nerve is bruised or permanently damaged. You could still be having symptoms for a considerable amount of time yet.

Ask your physio to get you a dictus splint, it should feel much better and allow you to walk and function more normally. Have a look, they're being used more and more.

http://www.medcatalog.com/images/ghotex.jpg

Answer 2

I have had two lots of surgery for disc prolapses, the first time on three levels and the second on one with a bit of bone removed also. After the second surgery I had numbness and the coldness you are talking about on the right leg running down the outside just below the knee running along the outside to my little toe. It is very frustrating as you say, but it does get better eventually. Im about 18 months on and it has nearly gone now, it takes a while but it normally does get better eventually.
Keep working through it and doing your exercises, and look forward too all the great things you will be able to get back to doing. I am now back to tennis and snow skiing which is a great result. I find if you give yourself an activity based goal to work towards it really helps.
Good luck, keep going and you will get there.

Answer 3

Sorry to say but some times when you have the condition foot drop you done always get full movement bck and also no movement at all,this all depends on how bad the nerve is damaged.The splints do help we regular make these in the plaster room for patients,and yes there condition is bad when they come to us,but when we see them wks later they have improved alot so dont give up,physio do a great job and they will push you till they get progress.Good Luck

Answer 4

The reason for the numbness is probably related to muscles.
The cold to blood flow (cayenne pepper capsules help)

Much pain is from muscles below is an example of what may help (based on headaches).
Begin with a couple swigs of molasses or a couple of bananas daily - magnesium (which regulates many things in the body) and potassium (a needed building block for muscles).
Drink at least 1/2 gallons of water per day. Running a body low on water is like running a car low on oil is the analogy the head of neurology at UCDavis told my husband about 10 years ago.

Now to the cause - muscles - your back, neck shoulders and head have tender spots. They are knots in the fibers of the muscles called trigger points. It makes the muscles tight which makes them press on nerves and other things causing the pain.

The cure - start with a professional massage, you will also want to go back over any place you can get to 6-12 times per session up to 6 times per day rubbing (or lightly scratching on your head) every where that is tender until the knots go away. The place where the skull connects to the spine press up under the edge of the skull (to get to those muscles).

For more information read The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Davies. It teaches what to do and where the pain comes from.

Answer 5

Swelling around the surgical site is common and can cause temporary nerve palsy. If it does not begin to return to function within 3-6 months after the surgery, there is a potential it was damaged. In this case, IF the the nerve regenerates, it could take up to 18 months for it to heal.

I have seen this a handful of times after back surgies...only one that I know of was permanent.