Help Please: Possible PN after Lumbar Laminectomy
 

I am 62 years young and residing in China. I had a back problem come on rather suddenly with a left leg burning and severe pain. My foot started to get the numbness and tingling along with the burning. I could not get around so I found an Orthopedic Surgeon in China that speaks English and specializes in spine surgery. Right away they wanted to do a lumbar fusion for L4/L5 and L5/S1 and maybe others. I was against the fusion. I am familiar with herniated discs from a prior issue in 1993. I just wanted them to do a disectomy or laminectomy, whatever they thought best. There is no way I could travel with the pain and they do not give much for pain relief in China. I had the disectomy on May 29, 2012 and felt okay for a day and then things turned south. The pain was back, the burning and numbness with tingling were also back. I was limping pretty bad but could move. I was told give it some time and it would get better. I waited a month and flew to Chicago. The Neurosurgeon did a full work up and thought the doctor in China did nothing. I had a lumbar laminectomy done and the pain is all gone. I feel much better.

However, there is the compressed nerve that is still causing me tingling, and numbeness in a couple of toes and the top of the left foot. I also have some foot drop. I attribute this to the nerve compression and the length of time it was compressed, probably 3-4 months that caused discomfort. I had the surgery in the US on 29 July. So it has been 2.5 months and I still have the tingling and numbness and foot drop.

I was doing physical therapy in the US but I am back in China and things are not always so easy.So I walk and do my own exercises and I take some supplements.

Neuropathy Support Formula: This comes in two capsules
B1 Benfotiamine 300 mg three times a day
B2 Riboflavin 4 MG three times a day
B6 Pyridoxine 4MG three times a day
B12 Methylcobalamin 2000MCG three times a day
Stabilized R - Alpha Lipoic Acid 150 MG three times a day
D Cholecalciferol 500IU three times a day
and some other ingredients.

I have not felt any relief as of yet. I will up the dosage of R-ALA to 900 MG a day. Double the dosage. I am getting another supplement from the same company that is 300MG of Stabilized R - ALA in each capsule to keep everything the same.

I have been told this is okay and that if it causes a stomach problem, cut back.

I have done a lot of reading but cannot find anything to really say that the R-ALA will work with compressed nerves but at this point I am ready to try just about anything. I have been so active with 20 years in the Marine Corps and to now be walking around with a club foot. Bad. Have to get better.

Any of your ideas and help would be greatly appreciated.

Semper Fi.

Lazer

Welcome to NeuroTalk:

I wouldn't increase R-lipoic any further. You are already taking high doses of what is in that supplement. R-lipoic is very potent, and the best version of old ALA. You don't need massive doses of it. With time it may cause a biotin deficiency...and that is because the transporter for it is also used by biotin. So adding in some biotin at a different time of day, may be helpful.

I would however consider supplements that are known to improve axon healing (where the nerves are compressed).

That would be Omega-3 fatty acids, which work with the B12, folate and B6 to remyelinate nerve sheaths. 3 fish oil daily with food, or two Krill oil regular strength, may help alot. Also this has anti-inflammatory actions.

Also I'd look into choline if you don't eat egg yolks, as choline is a major ingredient in membrane repair.

That product you are using, has to be taken on an empty stomach as two ingredients are affected by the presence of food.

I'd also make sure you are getting a quality absorbable magnesium in
your diet, or supplement at 1/2 the RDA..with a chelate (not OXIDE which is not absorbed). Magnesium can be low in many people and it
blocks the NMDA pain receptor, and also is involved with lipid metabolism to help repair nerve functions. It will also reduce some muscle tightness/spasms/twitching.
Here is more information on magnesium:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread1138.html

http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/r...fulFishies.gif

Welcome to Neurotalk! We're so glad you found us.


You will find people here to be friendly, caring, and helpful. :)

Post Laminectomy PN
 

Thank you MrsD. From all that I have seen on this sight I was hoping to hear back from you. For information: I basically eat fruit and vegetables with a little, very little white chicken and some raw salmon. History of heart problems in the family so I try to be very heart healthy. Most veggies are raw in a salad.

I do take the current supplement on an empty stomach. I understand the issue with that.

Being in China I need to order from the US. What Omega 3 or Krill oil supplement would you recommend? I am not familiar with Choline and will definitely research that one also. Where would you recommend that be purchased also? I just checked my vitamins and I am getting magnesium as in oxide so I probably need this also. Please make a recommendation.

I continue to do stretching and range of motion exercises daily. I have no real pain with this just the numbness tingling and foot drop. The muscles in my left leg do tire quickly when walking. Probably just stress on the muscles from other muscles not working.

Do many people get relief from this or is it something I should just get use to? I have heard so many stories and read so many mixed reviews.What do you think.

Thank you for your time and consideration. It is nice to have someone to go to.

Best regards,
Lazer

There are meds in the U.S. that can relieve the tingling, but if that doesn't bother you I wouldn't bother with the medications cause you can have side effects from them. I was going to recommend them if you had the burning from the nerve damage, but since you don't I guess I won't.

I'm sorry the surgery didn't correct everything, but that's the chance we take with lumbar surgery (or any surgery for that matter. :confused:) I'm glad you don't have any more pain. I wish my surgeries had been that successful.

Best of luck and keep healiing!!! God bless. Hugs, Lee :)

iherb.com ships to China:

This is a good deal affordable and quality by Doctor's Best.

http://www.iherb.com/Doctor-s-Best-M...120-Tablets/15

start with 2 of these a day--divide the dose up so you don't get loose stools.

fishoil:
http://www.iherb.com/Nature-Made-Ult...Softgels/40415
This is a good brand, I'd take 3 of these a day with food.
I'd get more than one bottle since there are only 60 in there.

Choline:
http://www.iherb.com/Country-Life-Gl...Softgels/10201
One or two of these a day.

Thank you Mrs. D. I will give it a shot and let you know how things are going. For the record, I flew fighters in the Marine Corps for 20 years and had my first problem with herniated discs back in 1993. Fought it for 6 months before I gave it to surgery. I had a great Military Neurosurgeon and I walked out 4 days later and have been fine with no problems whatsoever for almost 20 years. I am a principal at a kindergarten in China now and pick up little children all day long. Big mistake. I think if the Chinese doctor would have done a good job I would not be having these problems now because when he did the surgery there was very little tingling, numbness or foot drop, if any at all. But that mistakes just extended tings and now we wait and see.

Thank you for your time and patience with me. You have been great!!!

Lazer
(pilot call sign in the Marine Corps)

Keep in mind that PNs can be from other things.

You might want to look at our Subforum and PN forum when you
have the time.

Picking up the children....sounds painful to me!
I didn't do that with my son after he was 8mos old, when I had a disc inflammation then! (lifting out of the playpen). Put me down for several days. Luckily for me he started cruising soon after, holding on to the furniture, so I didn't have to lift up so far as before! ;)

So I only lifted him, or bent over to lift when it was very necessary. I'd have him come to me on the sofa or bed for most of our intimate moments.

I hope your back settles down. My back is pretty messed up and I only have flares now and then. I have grade II spondolithesis.

Thanks Leesa. Sounds like you have your hands full. I wish you the best of luck and thanks for thinking of me.

Lazer