Loss of sensation after leminectomy

[fsdpk]

I had leminectomy L3-4 L4-5 and decompression surgery at L5-S1 10 days back. I had a slight foot drop for about one week when i reported to the neurosurgeon who advised the above mentioned surgery and hence i went through it. Everything else seems lovely. I feel better in terms of pain in the back and leg. The foot drop persists which the surgeon says will take a few weeks to improve but i have felt a definite loss of sensation on the same foot and lower leg after surgery. The surgeon says its normal because of extensive surgery that was peformed on my back and it will improve with time.
I was worried and need a specialist doctors advise in this regard. Thanks in anticipation.

[Dr Vinod]

You have a vertebral column from neck to coccyx. You have cervical nerves from the neck supplying your upper body and upper limbs like that the lumbar vertebra have spinal nerves which supply your legs.
So when you have surgeries, these nerves are disturbed, or while nerve regeneration you have these symptoms. Your symptoms have to dissapear after rigorous Physiotherapy for couple of months if not the Surgeon will explain why that nerve root is getting excited so you are having pain in the leg.
If you do not get this symptom under control after following the advice of your surgeon i would advice an expert Neurologist advice on your case.

[chandra35]

Dear Dr.Vinod.
I have already done surgery by Neurosurgeon of my spinal cord L4 to L5 on 17th March,2009 and took bed rest as per advise of my Doctor. I had a severe foot pain for about four months when i reported to the neurosurgeon who advised the above mentioned surgery and hence i went through it. Everything else seems lovely. I feel better in terms of pain in the back and leg. The foot pain persists which the surgeon says will take a few weeks to improve but i have felt a definite loss of sensation on the same foot and lower leg after one month. The surgeon says its normal because of extensive surgery that was peformed on my back and it will improve with time.
I was worried and need a specialist doctors advise in this regard. Thanks in anticipation.

chandra35

[Dr Vinod]

The Lumbar spine where you were operated has a spinal nerve which supplies that part of the leg.
You will get the sensation decrease gradually and you need to do Physiothereapy. Take care!