What does nerve regrowth/regeneration feel like?
 

Hi all,
Im just curious did any of my fellow neurotalk friends have EXTREME PAIN and twitches with their nerve regrowth/regeneration?

I have been in extreme pain up and down my leg for the past 2 1/2 weeks now. Waking me up at night, a stabbing & throbbing pain, and unable to bare weight just like before my surgery 5 months ago. If anyone has read my post in the past, I did a brisk walk over 2 weeks ago and Ive been in pain since then. I was just getting my stride back and still walked with a little crook in my knee.

March 2016 I had surgery for peroneal nerve entrapment at the fibula head.

Thanks

Yes--
 

--the symptoms of nerve regeneration, as the nerve growth cones fight through and around other tissue and send out weird signals that the brain has trouble interpreting, can feel very much like the symptoms of increasing nerve damage, at least for a while,

The distinction, usually, is that the with nerve regeneration the symptoms tend to quiet down over time, but it may be a long time--nerve regenerate very slowly. This is why a lot of us keep symptom diaries--it may be hard to tell what is going on except in long term retrospect.

Thank you Glenn! I appreciate you answering! I also like the symptom diary idea!

This nerve regeneration issue is so unknown. I went thru hip replacement in 2010, so 6 yrs ago come Oct. And Femoral Nerve damage is what I experienced. My whole thigh, at least 80% anyway, is numb (dead). Some days I feel like I may be getting some feelings back but the couple doctors I've asked about this, both Osteopathic doctors, say they don't think the nerves will come back.

Hi JW,

I have read that nerves can be painful as they heal. After my nerve release and removal of the neuroma that had formed on the torn portion I had some pins and needles and also parathesia. Some sensations that I would have in the past experienced normally, like "tickling", just felt plain weird. It took a while and some work on sensory re-training for tickling to feel like tickling. I remember being thrilled when the feeling was recognizable.

I only experienced shooting sensations (and the feeling of water running down my leg )when the nerve was entrapped. I will on very rare occasion still get a shooting sensation but only if I have really, really aggravated things. I fortunately did not have shooting pains as I was healing in spite of a very complicated repair.

Your statement that you worsened acutely after a brisk walk sounds more like aggravation at least to me. It doesn't seem healing would come on acutely like that.

My peripheral nerve surgeon explained that the gliding surface is not always great when nerves have been worked on and they can get an adhesive neuritis as a result. Faster paced exercise has been a trigger for me and I still have to be careful with my form and how I stretch and stress the surgical area at my ankle.

I am wondering if you overdid it? If so try rest, anti-inflammatories and cool packs (not ice for nervy areas). I hope things settle soon, :hug:

I have an entrapped lateral femoral nerve from a C-section
which is now in remission thanks to Lidoderm patches. It
will still flare from using any heat source. Hot water soaks
Like a hot tub or bath, steam room or heating pad will
Set it off. So try to avoid heat if you are using that.

You might try lidocaine patches for it. Aspercreme just
released 4% OTC patches you could try . It took 2 weeks
for my remission to take effect with once a day use.

Caroline- thanks for sharing your story!

Hi littlepaw,
Rest has definitely been on my list for the past 3 weeks now. I agree I over did it but I also did a steroid pack and after the pack it came right back! Just frustrated!!! Thanks for your input! You've responded to agree of my post and it's always refreshing!

MrsD,
Thanks for your advice about so many things that could irritate and help with daily pain. I'm currently using volteran gel along with other meds to dampin the pain. You have a lot of good ideas the surgeons don't tell you!

I have an extreme form of PN and the pain is killing me. There seems no letup and my thoughts wander to chucking it all in. I take Pregabalin and I have to take Apixaban for Stroke trouble. I am quite old , nearly 86 so what does one do?