Left upper leg neuralgia

[Deborah860]

I had L5 S1 fusion with instrumentation surgery done on the 25th of January; I woke with numbness in the left thigh and now I have a combination of numbness, pain and what feels like burning pain from 1/2 my knee cap to the top of my leg without complete relief from heavy duty medications...I was checked for DVT and do not have clots. I retain fluids in my left foot so my ankle is also painful. The pain shoots well over 10 on the pain scale when I try to decrease my pain medications as desired by the Surgeon. How long after surgery should expect this to remain a problem; mind you I did not have this before I went into surgery, my original need for the surgery is no longer an issue. This is a new complaint since surgery.

Thank you,
Deborah

[Christopher R Newey, DO]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with a doctor.

Without the ability to examine and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of the symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

There is a condition called meralgia paresthetica which might be what you are describing. It is a sensory disturbance, usually painful and burning, located on the lateral aspect of the thigh from the groin to the knee. The burning sensation is usually worsened with prolonged positions. The nerve that supplies this region courses through muscle and between tight ligamentous areas. These make it susceptible for compression, such as with wearing belts, obesity, abnormal positioning such as what might occur during a surgery, etc. Treatment includes neurontin and lyrica. Other options may include a neurectomy (surgical procedure).

I recommend that you be seen by your PCP. He/she may wish to refer you to a neurologist.

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.

[Deborah860]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004456/
Hello All,
Just wanted to let you know that this is what the outcome of my visit. RSD...or CRPS (I think these are the initials) the above web site explains the disease. I am hoping that this was not a residual effect from the surgery because I had numbness coming out of surgery in the same area of the left leg. I am so concerned and somewhat fretting over the diagnosis.

Deborah

[Deborah860]

thank you so much for responding. I did visit with my PCP and, in fact he did refer me to a neurologist. I see her on the 19th  of this month.I am on 800 mg of the generic to gabapentin 3x's a day. What is a smidgen frustrated is that I was told it did not have anything to do with the surgery and to see my medical doctor...but I did not have this before I went into surgery I came out with it right off the bat. I will look into the as far as neurectomy and meralgia peresthettica.
Thank you again for you taking the time to answer.
Deborah