Recovering from trauma to ankle and elbow.

[highlander67]

I was struck by a 5 foot 2x4 with steel brackets(for temp. guardrail) on it that made it 20-25 lbs dropped 3 stories.I dove to my left to avoid it and sprained my left ankle(3rd degree) got cut just below point of right elbow and had abrasions on left inside forearm from wrist to elbow.It only took 4 stitches to close the laceration and it healed very well but i've had numbness in R forearm costantly,shooting pain at wrist occasionally and now the very point of R elbow is very sensitive to touch.I've had the same issues with L ankle/foot with numbness and the shooting nerve pains.Dr. prescribed 300 mg Gabapentin along with Vicodin and ibuprofen 800mg for pain.Is this going to get better,stay same,progress? I looked at a Dr.Timothy Helm's Low Level Laser Therapy,do you have an opinion?Any info or answers are greatly appreciated.Brian Mpls,MN

[caregiver222]

The TENS works because the body can only transmit one pain signal at a time. The tiny electrical pulse is percieved as "pain".

TENS works best when there are identifiable damaged nerve passageways. It works kind of crummy when there are diffuse pain etiologies.

The slight electrical pulse over-rides the signal from the damaged nerve.

Placement of the TENS is critical.

You should visit a pain specialist with experience with TENS.

[caregiver222]

Get off the gabapentin and vicodin. They are a waste of time.  Just an opinion. The "low level" laser therapy works because of the power of suggestion. Not because the laser does anything. So I am not entirely against this.  It's not exactly quack city. About two miles west.

Continue the ibuprufin (with food) in two to four divided doses.

Accupuncture will help, as well as a TENS device.

Years ago, before Obama was a gleam in his father's eye, they used to initially prescribe a steroid, specifically, prednisone. There are all sorts of bad side effects, but prednisone remains the best way to initially dampen the inflammation. You have to tone down the inflammation.  Sixty mg the first day, decreasing by 10 mg a day. Initially lots and lost or rest.

It's very hard to get a physician to prescribe prednisone these days. Not without reason.

My two cents worth is that you are talking six to twelve weeks. (Ouch!)

Topical DMS0 (only diluted, in medical grade) is not approved, but the substance is a powerful anti-inflammatory. Do a search.

[Dr. A. Srivastava]

Thank you for your question. Recovery after such procedure takes time (three to six weeks) and as everyone is different it may vary as well.  Most of the times, one may experience hand and leg pain during the recovery period. However, essentially you should avoid lifting heavy objects, bending, twisting and excessive exertion for the first three weeks. It is not like that you restrict all activities but you should gradually increase your physical activities over this period. Additionally, what exercises or rest is appropriate in some specific situations, you may check this with your treating neurologist. Hope this helps.