Heel numbness....

[t_anunson]

Hi doctor,
I`ve posted here several times before, and posted recently. After having my daughter I began having neurological problems which have gotten better and have almost diminished, which I previously wrote you about. But in my last question I forgot to ask you a couple of more things. Sometimes when I`m taking a warm/Hot shower, the ball of my left heel feels slightly numb. Also, after I wake up in the mornings after a long rest, it feels slightly numb. I still get a slight cramping sensation in my right wrist from time to time. All of my tests from the neurologist were normal. What might be causing this? Do you guys ever see women with neurology problems that go on for months and then just diminish after having a baby? Thanks for all your help.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

May be an early peripheral neuropathy or lower spine problem pushing on a nerve.  Would not worry too much about it if all of your testing has been normal and it's not significantly affecting your life and your ability to care for your child. We do see women who postpartum have neurological problems, everything from serious and sometimes devastating events like brain hemorrhage and stroke to those with vague complaints of numbness and tingling.  If the symptoms are minor, then they tend to go away with time.  We would just observe them with the next pregnancy. Good luck

[c.light]

I had my son vaginally, no mediction/epidural (natural childbirth/Bradley method).  The neuro problems seem related to me, especially with the timing.  I've read a couple of other posts in the archives from women experiencing minor problems after giving birth.  Congratulations on the baby!  I hope that your neuro problems resolve never to return.

[t_anunson]

Sometimes I have a slight dull pain behind my right eye too... I noticed this after my other problems...

[t_anunson]

Wow, completely natural!? I couldn`t have done it... I had hard back labor and she weighed 9 pds 7 oz! Almost all of my neuro problems have resolved their self and I`m feeling much better now. Yeah I`ve had a lot of other women email me about having problems after childbirth. That helped me cope with things and realize I probably didn`t have some terrible sickness!

[c.light]

I too started experiencing neurological symptoms this fall after the birth of my third child (no epidural).  It started with tingling in both legs and back pain when I was 3 weeks post partum.  I am now five months post partum and the symptoms have gone away and come back three times.  I've a normal brain and spine MRIs, normal bloodwork and neuro exams.  My neurologist seems to think that this is some sort of benign process that will go away.  I go back for a follow up in April.  I'll be interested to see the doctor's answer to your question, since my doctor didn't really think it was related to the pregnancy (but I do!).

[t_anunson]

Hi C.Light sorry to hear about your problems too. This whole situation has sucked for me! How`d you have your child, vaginally, c-section? have an epidural? I did... I almost think this was all childbirth related. Let me know what the doctor says. Take care...