I view another board pretty frequently and this one was recommended for neuro issues.

I had 2 level ACDF on C5/6 & 6/7 on Jan 2nd of this year. My recovery was moving along quite nicely, until about April. I developed L'Hermitte's sign, and was having a hard time walking for exercise. It's gotten worse: I can't walk more than a few blocks, and my legs feel like rubber, my feet burn and hurt almost all the time now. The L'Hermitte's has faded, but I believe that the Trileptal I'm using for nerve pain has helped with that. Now I am experiencing numbness in my chin. I have had MRIs of my entire back, Evoked Response Potential Tests, and a myleogram. The NS says my neck is fine, my neurologist feels it's time for me to go to Mayo Clinic, since the chin numbness cannot be related to my neck surgery. I did have some delay between my feet and brain when the ERPT was done. Both the auditory and visual tests were good, so my neuro says he doesn't think it's MS.

OK, SO WHAT IS IT THEN?! I'm tired of hurting all the time. I'm crabby and find myself not wanting to go places because I won't be able to make myself comfortable.

I know I haven't suffered as long as some, but until a year ago, I could pretty much do anything I wanted. I'm 45, and after my neck surgery, when I started feeling better, my goal was to get in tip top shape before I turned 50! Now I feel like I'm 70, going on 80!

My frustration level is high, as is my anxiety level. I googled "numb chin" last night, and raise my anxiety level a few notches - there wasn't much good to be said about having a numb chin!!

I just need to vent - thanks in advance to anyone who might read and respond.

-Julie

Hello Julie and welcome to NeuroTalk.

I don't know what it is that's causing your symptoms but I hope your doctors figure it out soon.

Feel free to explore NeuroTalk and ask questions.

Hi Julie,

I've been having the chin numbness. (Okay, so when I googled it, it made me write a brief will the next day.)

I was also having my left arm be so numb it was like dead weight.

Mine came at a time of increased stress.

Are you aware of more stress? in addition to the stress from the illnesses, I mean?

Oh, and the leg thing... not so fun.


But.

For me the chin numbness goes nearly away with a B12 shot... sometimes I need two. And if I don't try to skip a day with the B12 shots, I don't have the arm numbness.

The rubbery legs... that seems to almost go entirely away if I just don't overdo the exercise. For me, a LOT of exercise is to walk around my garden (sort of a big circle) four times.

I was having an extremely sharp pain in the top of my leg, not quite where the hip joint is, and that would make me feel as if I would fall down when it happened.

Then it stopped happening and I was so glad and relieved, and I fell down twice that week. (unexpectedly, for no reason that I could identify. I just lost my balance.)

But, I am SOOOO lucky, because the first time I fell into an iGourmet box that I'd saved because it was sooo cute: it was lined with styrofoam and was like a little cooler. It was, of course, actually meant to be a little cooler. And then the second time I fell going through a doorway, so that time I had something to grab onto and again did not hit the floor.


I've had a lot of different experience with nerve problems: I was "profoundly" deficient in B12, then I lived in hydrogen sulfide and thought my B12 deficiency was getting worse, only really it was the hydrogen sulfide, then I got tetanus which is a central nervous system disease.

For all of these things B12 was significantly helpful.

I have B12 shots because they are highly cost effective.

You can try B12 by getting the Methylcobalamin lozenges. I would get the 5mg ones and take three a day (dissolve under tongue) for a week.

That would sort of be the equivalent of being started on B12 replacement therapy.

And, Extremely Important: keep notes on your symptoms, the amount of B12 you have... and any daily changes.

That way you can see if it helps. I believe it is likely to help.

Vitamin B12 is a highly effective vitamin, so you will feel results in two to three weeks or less. If you don't... I mean, I can't imagine what it could be where you would not feel results.

(((((((((Julie))))))))))

Hi Julie. Yet another with a very full plate!

Welcome to NeuroTalk. You'll find everyone here just wonderful and our mods very helpful, loving and supportive.

You may want to visit the spinal disorders forum. Here is the link: http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forumdisplay.php?f=22

Another forum you may seek help from is the chronic pain forum. Here is the link for them. http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forumdisplay.php?f=10

Pain is so wearing. Let friends here help you through it.

Julie,

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. There are a great number of members willing to help in any way they can possible.

I see that Consider has given you some information and I am also sure their will be in here as well. I am not that familiar of your symptoms, but as I said there will be others coming in who will. And believe me we are all here for ones to vent.

Hope to see you in the other forums.

Darlene

Hi Julie and Welcome.... Sorry about your pain, etc.... But, you have come to the right place for info, suggestions and a caring community of people......

take care and I really do hope you can get some answers soon. Maybe a a trip to Mayo would be a good idea, or at least another opinion.....

Thanks to all who replied...I really do need to start a journal of how and what I'm feeling and what's helping...I have talked about it a few times, but really do need to get going on it. I just feel way to young to be this disabled, and not ready to accept my current level of health (or lack thereof) as something I need to live with for the rest of my life.

Just wanted to say thanks and return a group hug!

Hi, I'm Todd, I sort of have similar problems, but with mine it's RSD. but what is similar it sounds as if you have an electrical problem from the nerve root damage. check there. Good luck.

Hi, Julie, welcome to NeuroTalk!

Jump in anywhere and let us know if we can help you navigate or locate information.

See you out there!

i had a c5-6 anterior fusion with donor bone and plate and screws in may 2006 after the surgery i also had a numb chin unfortulatly my surgen screwed
up and i had to get a posterior revision surgery this past april this doc was wonderful even though the surgery was very painful much worst then going though the front i am now very good and going back to work next month, my job entitles alot of heavy lifting but i healed enough to go back anyway after this last surgery i had no chin numbness. the doc had to clean up the other doctors mess and in doing so had to more the plate off the nerve which the other doc didn't do right, so if this is the kind of surgery you had it is possible that the plate is on a nerve . hope this helped and good luck to you deb