I'm sure many of you know my history. Morton's Neuroma...both feet. Surgery....still having foot pain....PN the logical conclusion. Seizure meds....BUT....the history behind my travels began almost three years ago...before the bunched up sock feeling in my feet. I went to go for a walk one night and I had foot drop.....it went away...but it was scary! I've had a bad back for many years. L3,L4, and L5...with a touch of S1. Used to be a runner. I found that arching made my back worse. But, I decided tonight...for some stupid reason to lie on the floor and arch my back. I didn't think anything of it, until, about three hours later the outside of my left leg...in the calf area started to throb and ache. I read about dermatomes and found that it was L5! I iced it...took some ibuprofen...and within three hours, it was gone! The bad back...the foot drop...the dermatome. Noticing that when I sit I have the burning foot pain...but when I get up and walk around, it isn't as bad. I'm seeing the neurologist tomorrow. I think it is coming together and the realization that after all the pills, surgery and going crazy...it just might be my bone spurring on my back and if that is the case....I have had a couple injections in the past, but if it has gotten bad enough to cause the calf pain and the foot pain and the original foot drop! I will do anything to relieve the dermatome pain! I hope I have finally found some direction in my fog! Has anyone else gone through a surgery that may, in fact, not even been the reason for my pain? OH...my name is Jack

If it does turn out to be your back causing your PN, you might want to consult with a chiropractor/neurologist before you let anyone touch you with a knife. Have you had an MRI of the lumbar? Get a few opinions after you do if you havent already.

I've had many MRI's over the years. I do have stenosis in my lower spine. I don't have any serious disk bulges, but chiropractors get nervous when you nerve impingement. I used to go to one when my back would respond to adjustments 20 years ago. But, as time goes on.....it has gotten worse. I just didn't tie into the idea that my lower back pain could skip all the way down to my feet. I've had sciatica, and that I understand how it radiated. This is so different, but I understand how it can happen.

Now that you bring it up, I'm reminded of the EXTREME lower back pain I had after my 2nd daughter was born. They blamed it on childbirth. Then I had surgery, hysterectomy... and I swear it felt like they dropped me while I was out. My back hurt me so incredibly bad for YEARS... I still can't lay on my back without out it feeling like I get "stuck" and have to roll to my side to get up.

I wonder if that has anything to do with this now. I think I'll mention it to my neurologist. Let me know how your neuro responds to your questions.

Thanks,
Terri

Same thing happened with me with child 3,hysterectomy at 35, make you
wonder.
Jack,my mother had a big hernigaded dish,Neuro Dr. said have that done,
and you will never see me again..She did have it done..She never saw
the Neuro again. She saw a new one,back a little better,neuropathy got
worst..Think things through,and good luck Jack. Sue

Docs do love to practice their skills...on us and on our dimes.

Neuro's usually take those MRI's to eliminate possible spinal issues but they aren't expert in that area, nor should they be. I know of many friends who have had successful or not surgeries on their backs, some were lucky, others maybe not so fortunate. For that reason, were it ME with the issue, I would see a spinal specialist, not a spinal surgeon, right off. Bring your existing films and get another opinion - a specialist who will either refer you to a surgeon or try other routes of treatments before 'trying' surgery.

Surgeries on backs can be a blessing, new treatments and procedures are being developed as I write this. BUT be absolutely CLEAR about the ODDs of successful surgery outcomes. Check out the Spinal Forum and learn about some that are good or not good.

Read LizaJane's posts about her experiences and you can appreciate how easily those odds can get messed up.

You've been thru enough damage in trying to do damage control. Be very careful good person, not jump into this with out knowing where you might land. I just hope you have at least ONE PAIN FREE moment today! - j

Hi Jack, i am glad that they are on to this possibility, but i am surprised that this wasn't discussed or covered well before now, its normally checked well before this stage, this is why its so very important to make sure you have a PN expert to diagnose PN and not just a normal neuro, generally with PN any lower spinal pressure goes to your feet and cervical goes to your hands but even cervical pressure has been known to affect the feet, just to confuse us more.
I believe they have "stand up" MRI machines these days which can show another view of the spine whilst its in a upright position, were the older lay down MRI's can't.
I agree with Joe, if it was me, i would see a Neuro/chiroprator or any other alternate possibility and stay well clear of a surgeons knife.
good luck with it anyway mate,
Brian

Oh, I've done the back doctor thing many years ago. I've had injections, manipulations, MRI's....I just couldn't grasp the concept of referred pain skipping the leg and going right to the feet. The first neuro didn't even consider that when she found the paraprotein in my system. That was checked after the initial symptoms of ankle reflex diminished. MGUS does have a connection to PN. Of course, that scared the crap out of me. Even though 3 percent or more have this paraprotein in their system, I didn't need to know that I had it. I have to have it checked every year now...because there is the possibility that it could turn into mutiple myeloma....not a pretty cancer. The majority of people who have it, don't even know, unless they are tested for it because of other symptoms....like PN. So....the spine was dismissed and I was put on neurontin and told to go home. So, I lose two nerves in my feet, because majority ruled for surgery, and I didn't want to believe that I had PN. It may have been the right diagnosis, but it may not have been. Certainly, the podiatrist backed up her diagnosis with the zapping of my feet disappearing....So, it doesn't really matter anymore. I have numb feet and the zaps are gone. Could the zaps have been major irritation to my back? Looking back on it now....possibly. I won't go under the knife for my back. I've had staph infections on a scoped knee and my feet. The current Neurologist says that I probably have restless leg syndrome...reminents of plantar fascitis and an eipidural may help. YIKES!!!!!! This is enough to drive any person crazy.

I have been going throught this runaround now since the fall of 1992. I had zero reflexes at wrists, knees and ankles and severely abnormal EMG/Nerve Conduction studies. No one ever thought to check for MGUS, until I found out a number of implanted women were testing positive for this and I insisted the test be run. If I had realized the worry it would cause me, I think I would have just as soon skipped knowing...

Then I had a bone scan done... Sooo... Since I am on steroids, I lose bone mass and have osteopenia/osteoporosis. Guess what you lose when you have Multiple Myeloma... I think the results showed some lytic lesions or something like that, but the Oncologist INSISTS I do not have MM...

I have to go every 6 months. I have already passed "crazy" several times...

Welcome to the club,

Cathie

The lesions are NOT a good thing....that means the cancer has begun to eat away at the bones. I don't know who or what your doctor is talking about....but, I had the bone scan over a year ago to see if I had any lesion on the bones in my body. It is very scary....and it feels like a friggen time bomb. Again....the "regular" docs don't talk about MGUS....but read about it and do your research, and you will find that there is a definite correlation between PN and MGUS. MGUS is the initial stage...then it turns to smoldering....and after that...it blows into the real deal....painful, bone ridden cancer.....fun..huh?