neuropathy post-cystectomy

Yep mine came a couple of weeks out of the hospital....but i had been so numb in that area before that...i figured everthing just woke up!! Pat

This is about the neuropathy.
I propose a question:
I had my RC April 25th '07 and did not have nerve tingling in the left leg until about 10 days after surgery. At the same time I had pain in my lower back that was incapacitating and I went back into the hospital for 10 days for testing, etc.
The pain was diagnosed as an abcess in the lower spine (probably due to a bad epidural April 25th) and IV antibiotics were begun.
I guess the question is: Has anybodys nerve/leg problems come on a week or two after the surgery? I have it in the left leg and thought it was due to the spinal abcess.
Aren't we having fun now....

Hi Guys.....well gee i thought i was the only one with a pain down my leg...mine started down my left thigh ..near the femoral to my knee....Sharp pain on walking...very distressing. I actually went to a really really good chiropractor and i've never been to a chiroprator in my life....i didn't want him anywhere near my neck for sure....my internist said they're great with lower body pain.....ok..i'll try it. He had me straightened out in 6 weeks..just a variety of exercises and ice packs on the area in my back near my spine. I still sometimes feel it coming back and i do the exercises myself and it seems to work....now i'm over 4yrs out. My other leg just started to bother me a couple of days ago.....but feels a bit more like sciatica.
I guess this must be fairly common.

Hi Holly,

Sorry to hear you had similar problem with your nerves in your leg. What you discribe sounds exactly how my leg feels. They told me the same thing that it was probably a result of positioning on the table for 9.5 hrs. No one mentioned to me prior to my RC that this was a risk.
For me The P/T helped quite a bit. I hobbled in using a cane to walk and after 4 weeks I was able to walk without the cane. I went to P/T for 8 weeks total until my insurance co. said " thats enough"

I have a pain management doctor to help with the nerve pain . They have me on Neurontin and Methadone for the nerve pain. They also have been giving me an IV of Lidocane once a month. This has helped but I now only take half of what they prescribe. I feel better mentally but have a little more pain.
Dealing with the nerve pain has been more difficult for me than anything else. I keep waiting to wake up in the morning when the pain will be gone. Has not happened yet. The Doctors keep reassuring me that it will "come back" and that it is a slow process. My Neurogist stated it will probably take a year. I hope I can have patiences for that long.

I have been trying to walk as normal as possible, standing straight and trying not to lock out my knee. Its difficult but doing this helps.

I ve tried heating pads and ice. Neither one seem to help much.

I find it very frustrating when I try to do normal home duties. But I try to do them anyways. Takes me alot longer than normal.

I am significantly better than I was a 3 months. Which is where you are. Please keep the faith. I do . It will get better. I total understand how difficult it is for you. Once you start the P/T you should see some improvement.

For me I try to remain positive.

Take care

Dave

Thanks Sarah and all,

Just thinking about possible scar tissue is distressing....I have surgical scars looking like a freaky map...I had a hysterectomy 4 yrs ago with 9" horizontal scar, strangulating hernia 20 odd yrs ago with diagonal scar, and a tubal and a few diseased lymph nodes removed back then as well. I have had probs with adhesions and twice portions of intestines were removed. Once for hernias due to gargrene, and once for RC neobladder. These areas can affect that nerve? Just seems weird to me lol They also took 25 nodes at RC as I was T3 - maybe this came close to the nerve. lol - oh well, what is...is Thanks again, Holly

Hi Holly

Sorry to hear about the problems with your femoral nerve, hope things begin to improve soon.
I had my surgery a year ago and it's only in the last couple of months that I have been (mostly) free of the tingling and nerve sensations down the front and side of one leg and the front of the other. My GP says that the nerves do recover, but it is a slow process. If the nerve is pinched or trapped by scar tissue that is another matter that may need some further intervention.
Best of luck
Sarah