nerve damage

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My question is this: Its been 7 months since my hip replacement, I have drop food and nerve damage that the dr's all say it temporary,do they really know this for a fact? I asked alot of questions on all of my visits, even took other people with me to ask questions but really never got a straight answer about my recovery! The hip is fine, but still wonder about the drop foot and nerve damage. Will I have to wear this AFO brace for the rest of my life? Thanks, Kim

-- kimvanantwerp@insightbb.com (kimvanantwerp@insightbb.com), August 08, 2004

Answers

Hi Kim, Sorry about your condition, I have the same thing and it has been nearly 10 months for me, What kind of nerve damage do you have:? Is it peroneal or sciatic. Did you have the emg test? My Dr doesn't give strait answers either but I really beleive they don't know the answers to our questions. People all heal differently, Age and the area of the nerve damage will have different outcomes. I am 64 so will probably take longer, The nerve grows about an inch a month so knowing where the damage was would help in this stupid math equation. If you don't have pain there is a surgery called a tendon transfer that you could have done, I don't know much about it but it's worth checking into. I have alot of pain and am on alot of medication, I think you just have to be patient and watch out for depression. Don;t let it go untreated!!!!!!!!!! I wish you the best and you can email me anytime, I will share any info I find

-- Diane from Seattle (aladin806@peoplepc.com), August 09, 2004.

Me again I have a new email,,,,it is dianepen@peoplepc.com

-- Diane from Seattle (dianepen@peoplepc.com), August 09, 2004.

Hi, Kim. I had my hip replaced seven months ago (1/2/04)and am still wearing the AFO. I have had NO improvement at all, although about 10 doctors told me the nerve would regenerate. It usually does, but mine hasn't. I've had two EMGs that show severe damage to the peroneal nerve—no improvement between the first and second tests.

I am going to have the tendon transfer surgery in December. I could do it any time, but that will be convenient for me. It entails 2-3 months in a cast afterwards, but the goal is to get me out of the brace and into normal shoes.

You might want to check the thread that Diane started about four inches above this one--the title is something like "Hip replacement surgery and nerve damage—no help in 4 months."

Whatever you do, be sure to keep the tendon stretched. You can do this by standing about 3 feet from a wall and leaning into it, keeping your leg straight. Hold it for 60 seconds and do it twice a day.

Good luck to you. Feel free to e-mail me if you want to.

Judi

-- Judi Birnberg (writejudi@aol.com), August 10, 2004.


Hi Kim,

I am 33 years old and had a total hip replacement operation just under 2 years ago. I had instant drop foot and within two weeks of surgery severe nerve pain. I was in hospital for 2 months mainly to try and find ways of controlling the pain, it was the most unbelievable pain I have suffered in my life. 2 years later I am still suffering alot of nerve pain and still am on alot of heavy drugs. Doctors say that the nerve is regenerating and maybe in time it will improve more. I have just started to wear certain shoes without my AFO now so my ankle is gaining some strength. It is starting to look positive, but it does take so much time for the nerve to heal. The doctors say that my nerve may have been stretched during the surgery. I have been to sooooo many doctors and specialists but still do find it hard to get any straight answers, but i think its because they just don't know. Nerves are too hard to judge. But they do regenerate, I have shown improvement even after 2 years, not sure how much more, but just keep exercising it and try hard to stay positive!!!! I am very confident that I will be able to throw the AFO out forever one day. I bet you will too......!!!!

Take care Fiona

-- Fiona De Cata (fiona_decata@hotmail.com), September 02, 2004.


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