Numbness and tingling

[Michele]

Hi everyone. I am new to this group. I am so glad I found it! I am a 53 year old female with terrible arthritis and had a subtalar fusion 5 1/2 weeks ago. My surgeon tried doing it with just the little incisions but he wound up having to open in up across the top of my ankle because there was a piece of bone broke off the size of his pinky in there. Ive hot 2 screws one from the top and one through my heel.5 days after surgery I got a hard cast put on but that only lasted 2 days and I had to go in and get it cut off because of the burning, tingling, and numbness. It was unbearable. My doctor said I had cast chlostrophobia. He put another splint wrap on like when i left the hospital for 2 more weeks until i got my stitches out and then put me in an aircast. Thank God I can take it off. My foot and toes are numb, burn, tingle and I have stabbing pains like someone is stabbing me in the foot with a hot sharp knife knives and a million pins. Sometimes hot and sometimes freezing. And on the front of my toes it feels like theres jagged glass grinding on open blisters! This is the only way I can describe it! It hurts more than my ankle ever did on its worst day! Pain meds and muscle relaxers dont even help. I'm guessing this is the nerve pain a few people have mentioned. Its miserable and constant. I'm trying the different temperature water therapy I read on here but nothing yet. Does anyone know how long it takes to get better?

[April Weber]

Hey Michele, 

I am so sorry your are dealing with this (neuropathy). I too have neuropathy. It was pretty severe for the first 10 weeks post op. I am still dealing with it 7 months later.I tried oral and topical gabapentin and it didn't help. I have found CBD oil helps me significantly, and highly recommend it. If you have Facebook, there is a really informative group called "CBD oil users" 

Good luck to you, I hope your symptoms improve soon! 

On Sun, Mar 31, 2019, 2:42 PM Michele <mgreg...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi everyone.  I am new to this group. I am so glad I found it! I am a 53 year old female with terrible arthritis and had a subtalar fusion 5 1/2 weeks ago. My surgeon tried doing it with just the little incisions but he wound up having to open in up across the top of my ankle because there was a piece of bone broke off the size of his pinky in there. Ive hot 2 screws one from the top and one through my heel.5 days after surgery I got a hard cast put on but that only lasted 2 days and I had to go in and get it cut off because of the burning, tingling, and numbness. It was unbearable.  My doctor said I had cast chlostrophobia. He put another splint wrap on like when i left the hospital for 2 more weeks until i got my stitches out and then put me in an aircast. Thank God I can take it off. My foot and toes are numb, burn, tingle and I have stabbing pains like someone is stabbing me in the foot with a hot sharp knife knives and a million pins. Sometimes hot and sometimes freezing. And on the front of my toes it feels like theres jagged glass grinding on open blisters! This is the only way I can describe it! It hurts more than my ankle ever did on its worst day! Pain meds and muscle relaxers dont even help. I'm guessing this is the nerve pain a few people have mentioned. Its miserable and constant. I'm trying the different temperature water therapy I read on here but nothing yet. Does anyone know how long it takes to get better?

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[Michele]

Thank you April. Does the nerve pain affect the way you walk? Did your doctor give a reason for the nerve damage? I have an appointment tomorrow and this is going to be my topic of conversation. It doesnt seem like many people get it. Why would we be the "lucky few"?

[April Weber]

I don't think it really effects my walking. I still have pain in my ankle when I walk, but I've been told it can take a long time to fully recover. My doctor said its normal and that the nerves are trying to heal. This was my 3rd surgery in 3 years on the same foot, so that's quite a lot of trauma. It takes a long time for nerves to start regenerating. I would definitely have a conversation with your doc though.

On Sun, Mar 31, 2019, 3:34 PM Michele <mgreg...@gmail.com> wrote:

Thank you April. Does the nerve pain affect the way you walk? Did your doctor give a reason for the nerve damage? I have an appointment tomorrow and this is going to be my topic of conversation.  It doesnt seem like many people get it. Why would we be the "lucky few"?

[April Weber]

Please let me know what your doc says! Good luck today!

[Michele]

Will do. My appointment isn't until 4:15. I had to make it late so my husband could drive me there. Hope you have a good day! 🙂

[Susan Doran]

Good luck

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 1, 2019, at 11:09 AM, Michele <mgreg...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Will do. My appointment isn't until 4:15. I had to make it late so my husband could drive me there. Hope you have a good day! 🙂
>

[Michele]

Thank you!

[Michele]

So I went to my appointment and I'm 2 days short of 6 weeks. He said hes happy with the way its fusing. I asked about the numbness and tingling pain and he said it just happens sometimes. That's pretty vague. He said it should get better with time. I hope that's true. I go back in 18 days and hopefully get to start partial weight bearing and physical therapy. I was the last appointment of the day and I feel like they just want to get out of there!

[ladybrook3]

I have an appointment tomorrow with another podiatrist.  My orginal one wants to fuse my foot, but because I have bone degeneration disease and my spinal fusion has already slipped and caused the remaining disks to collapse or bulge, she is telling me I will have to be off my foot for a minimum of 6 months.  And then there is no guarantee that it will hold. 

I've looked at all the forums and many have found that amputation is a better option. 

I'm scared and I dont know what choice to make 

Cynthia 

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

[Meg Gwaltney]

Cynthia,

Has your podiatrist done a lot of ankle fusion surgeries? Personally, I would go to an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in ankles and has done hundreds of these surgeries. 

My fusion surgery was done by a renowned surgeon who trained others from around the world. My outcome was great and I have rheumatoid arthritis, a complicating factor. 

Meg

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[Michele]

I also have rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. That's the reason I had to have the fusion. Degenerative arthritis damage.You need to find an experienced surgeon for sure. I had to quit taking my Xeljanz because it slows healing and lessens ability to fight infections. I will start taking it again when I'm completely fused.

[ladybrook3]

This new dr who I'm going to see tomorrow specializes in ankles.  He is part of the Orthopedic Institute of Paducah.  

[Meg Gwaltney]

Cynthia, 

I’m glad you’re going to someone who specializes in this type of surgery. It’s so important. Ask how many fusions he does a year and what the success rate is. 

Please let us know how it goes tomorrow and what he/she says. I hope you get the information you need. 

Meg

[Meg Gwaltney]

Michele,

I’m on Enbrel and had to stop it 2 weeks before and didn’t resume it for a few weeks after. My most recent surgery was a total knee replacement in June 2017. Same thing for that surgery. It’s so hard. The pain of surgery and the pain of RA when you’re off your meds.

Hope you’re doing well now.

Meg

> On Apr 1, 2019, at 8:21 PM, Michele <mgreg...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I also have rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. That's the reason I had to have the fusion. Degenerative arthritis damage.You need to find an experienced surgeon for sure. I had to quit taking my Xeljanz because it slows healing and lessens ability to fight infections. I will start taking it again when I'm completely fused.
>

[ladybrook3]

Thank you. I will. 

[Russ Ferns]

All sounds very familiar, put up and shut up is how I feel on the plus side 8 1/2 weeks in and mine is slightly better.

On Mon, 1 Apr 2019, 23:39 Michele, <mgreg...@gmail.com> wrote:

So I went to my appointment and I'm 2 days short of 6 weeks. He said hes happy with the way its fusing. I asked about the numbness and tingling pain and he said it just happens sometimes.  That's pretty vague. He said it should get better with time. I hope that's true. I go back in 18 days and hopefully get to start partial weight bearing and physical therapy.  I was the last appointment of the day and I feel like they just want to get out of there!

[frto]

After 6 months ankle 1 month  triple neck fusion at this time restricted to elliptical because of neck, been through tingling hot and cold ankle, heel cracking and peeling,  Best advise i can give is elliptical, pool, hot tub, and sauna as soon as doctor says what ever you can handle.  Personally at 7.5 weeks on ankle did 6 mile walk found  caused a lot of swelling so went to elliptical as much as 8 miles, at 14 weeks joined ymca wish i had done sooner but waited till i turned 65 for discount, started using pool sauna and hot tub did great for swelling and cracking heels was in pool for up to 2.5 hours.  Then neck fusion 2 days later on elliptical worked my way up to 13 miles. Just went back to ymca added sauna and hot tub to elliptical. I took pain killer for three days after ankle surgery hoping it would do something for nerves in foot, but didn't help so have not taken any pain killer since, none for neck fusion.  I'm not one for taking pills but have been taking calcium, a multivitamin,and B3 my diet is a high protein and fiber including oatmeal protein bars, protein shakes like ensure, zero calorie jello and sports drinks, fruit and v8 juice.  i try to burn off as many calories as i eat during day on elliptical  not counting my evening meals as i gained 24 lbs after ankle fusion when i didn't watch what i was eating.  Since joining ymca have almost lost 40 lbs. Being retired helps with having time to exersize as much as I'm able to now but it does help with healing and pain reduction for me.

Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

-------- Original message --------

From: Russ Ferns <russf...@gmail.com>

Date: 4/2/19 2:21 AM (GMT-05:00)

To: ankle-fusi...@googlegroups.com

Subject: Re: Numbness and tingling

[Heidi Bliss]

Hello Michele,  I saw your post and was wondering how you are doing after a year?  I could have written your original post.  I am just over 3 months post op.  Still have the issues.  I was diagnosed with CRPS with a pain doctor two weeks ago and am having a lumbar spinal nerve injection this Friday.  

Thanks,

Heidi 

[Laura Kott]

12 weeks out from a subtalar fusion.  I have a lot of pain with weight bearing.  I think I may have a torn tendon.  I see my doctor next week.  Wishing you the best.    It’s a very slow recovery.

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[Caroline Levine]

Heidi,

I'm so sorry you're having all this pain.  I wish I had an answer for you.  I can only hope your orthopedist can help you.

Caroline

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[Tracy Craft]

I still have some pain and lots on numbness and tingling after 20years from the first surgery.

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 3, 2021, at 7:32 AM, Caroline Levine <carolin...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Caroline Levine]

Yes, so do I.  My lst fusion was in the 90's.  Have had 2 more, one in '17, one in '18.  Both feet have some numbness, esp. the operated one.  I'm handicapped.  Can still walk but should use my rollator or get a better cane.  I cannot walk a whole block now.  That said, the foot is mainly painless unless I use it too much.  It's a good tradeoff.

Caroline

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