Tethered spinal cord

[taclak]

I am a 50 yr old woman. In 2006 I had surgery for a thethered spinal cord. I have trouble with my left leg, beginning at the buttock down to my lower leg. The surgeon said I had damage to my myleon sheathing? What in the world is that? It has no stopped yet. I also have charlie horses at night in my legs. Will this ever go away?

[taclak]

My name is Stephanie. All of my damage id in the lumbar area. I crushed my tailbone and herniated 2 disks. I am pretty sure that is when my spinal cord tethered. I fell 5 feet onto a piling.  I was in alot of pain for many years, and after many MRI's and CT scans I ran across a Dr. who found the tethered cord. He was unsure why no one else had never seen it. I of course confirmed it with Dr's where I work. He also showed me on the scan. Wierd?? The pain in my legs was there before the surgery and still remains. The doc says that the cord was tethered too long. Thank you for the prayers. My appointment is in February.

[Caliber2005]

Hi taclak,
What is your name?
I think you need to have a positive approach for everything in life.
I can understand from your talk that you have gone through immense pain in your life and it is easy for you to sustain any pain in life. Hence after going through TENS, you feel at least some pain will come down.
Alternatively you have now become a daredevil, ready to sustain and handle anything in life.
When is the appointment with your doctor? You told your spinal cord was damaged in 1980, where was the damage and what was the results of imaging study been done?
This could be another reason for you to have pain and numbness in both legs after surgery.
I hope the best for you and would also pray for you.
Bye.

[taclak]

Thnak you very much for this information. I am making an appointment with my MD who did the procedure. I suppose my peripheal nerve may be damaged for good, I hate to admit it. My spinal cord was damaged in an accident in 1980. I waited too long to get it repaired. I had no idea what had happened to me at all. Just alot of weird symptoms and alot of pain. The truth is that I feel no better after the repair. I have followed my doctors instructions to the tee and even pushed myself more. After the experience, I am not at all eager to go through any more surgeries. I have lived with this for many years, I can handle it.

[Caliber2005]

Hi Taclak,
How are you feeling now?
I think you can take help of physiotherapy for faster recovery.
You can try a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator, which is an electronic device that produces electrical signals used to stimulate nerves through unbroken skin. The unit is usually connected to the skin using two or more electrodes. TENS works to decrease pain perception and may be used to control acute and chronic pain. It helps in regenerating nerve.
Nerves regenerate, or heal, at a rate 1 millimeter/day. The only nerves that can regenerate are the nerves outside of the spinal cord, or peripheral nerves. The nerves in the spinal cord, once damaged, cannot regenerate. However, if the peripheral nerve is severely damaged or stretched it may never heal.
Hope this answers your question about permanent damage.
Hope to see you soon in best of your health.
Keep me informed about your general well being and also regarding your current ailment.
Bye.

[taclak]

Any idea on how long it will take? There is no possibility that it could be permanent is there?

[taclak]

Thank you.

[Caliber2005]

Hi,
Usually all the peripheral nerves are covered with myelin sheath, neuroprotective and useful covering of nerves.
If this is damage then it causes tingling and numbness along the path of distribution of nerve.
What nerve root you are describing is L4 to S1. Up on surgery of spinal cord, this nerve root would have been damaged and hence the symptoms have occurred.
It will take time for re growth.
Meanwhile you can be started on pain killers and mild physiotherapy.
Hope this helps.
Bye.