painful neuropathy
 

Hello, I had a bad waterskiing accident a year ago with ruptured popliteal artery and bad knee dislocation. I've had 5 surgeries for my artery. My biggest complaint now is nerve pain from my thigh down to my foot. Not a single doctor has mentioned getting to the bottom of the nerve pain just "be patient, nerves can take a year to regenerate". Well 1.5 years later, the pain is worse. First neuro did nerve conduction studies to find my saphenous nerve nonconductive and no reflex in my knee. Im seeing another neuro to talk about procedures. I feel like i have many neuromas in my leg and and wonder if because I waited so long to address the nerves, there may be nothing that can be done. Im taking 4500mg/day neurontin but the pain is excruciating at times. Thanks for any insight that you can give.

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

Have you tried Lidoderm patches behind the knee for pain?
1/2 patch behind the knee may help. Put it just above the bend on the backside of the thigh. If you wear a brace that prevents bending the knee, you could place a whole one across the back of the knee, but Lidoderms do not stick well where movement is constant.

With so many surgeries there can be scar tissue and compression issues in that area.

sympathetic nerve block
 

Hi MrsD, I did try Lidoderm, no help. Im having a sympathetic nerve block today. I think I have CRPS, this may help diagnose it...if it works. I've heard that if you do the nerve block in the beginning of the disorder, it has more of a chance of working. My injury was 1.5 years ago so I'm not too hopeful. Also I feel as if the nerve pain is spreading but my neurologist says nerve damage won't spread. I know that CRPS can spread. Do you have any experience in this area?