Ok now here is the story....
5 weeks ago I had surgery of the L4-L5 region ,disc replacement, when I was still in the hospital my left foot was numb. I told the nurses and the doctor about it and they said it was normal and should go away.Well I also had pain in my left leg. Well after 3 weeks the numbness in my foot changed to pain and the pain in my leg got worse. So the doctor rechecked me and went with a cortison shot. That was a week ago. The pain in my leg had gone away but my foot has gotten worse. Now the past couple of days have been a night mare. The pain in my leg is comming back and my foot has gotten to were I no longer sleep.
The pain that I get in my foot is a burning tinkling pain all the time but if I move just right it feels like someone is trying to hack my foot in two. I am pretty sure it is a pinched nerve in my hip cause if I twist my leg just right it seems to lessen. I am to call the doctor on thurseday and he wants to do some die nerve test to check my nerve endings. I fear I will be back in surgery again. But right now I just need some relief any ideas would be greatful.Pain meds seem to not help at all.


HELP PLEASE

Hmmm.... I am having almost the same identical problem. Had surgery about 10 weeks ago and the pain in my back is fine and has pretty much gone away, however, my calf, ankle and foot are in horrible pain. I can walk about 10 minutes (in pain) and then I have to sit down. I am finding it harder everyday to climb stairs. Physical therapy for about 6 weeks now seemed to be helping until last week when this all happened again. I took a turn for the worst overnight. I am so close to going to the ER to see if they will take an xray of my ankle. I have never had a broken foot, but I bet this is how a hairline fracture feels. Ankle is swelling a little and my veins are starting to surface to the top, I guess from the strain. Not sure. Let me know you yours turns out, ok.

Thanks for sharing,
Paula Cianciotto

Dear IGH 70
Unfortunatley, nerve pain/symptoms on the foot can have several origins. I always ask my patients if they have any back problems, herniated discs or history of a pinched nerve in the past. Since you have a history of back surgery, there is always the possibility of developing other problems such as sharp, shooting pains to the extremity. You should go back to your orthopedic surgeon for an evaluation, you may need physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication if not contra-indicated, or steroid injection. Further neurological testing will be necessary to evaulate if the problem is secondary an impingement of the nerve/nerve entrapment, its location, deliniate specific nerve involvement and/or include whether or not there is any muscle involvement .

Good-luck and thank-you for contacting foot.com,
SBarlizo, DPM, C Ped
foot.com expert