ftngers numb need help

[troy7]

i had surgery on my foot and have been on cruches for 7 months 2 weeks a go my left hand started hurting now my fingers are numb all the time (thumb pointing finger and middle finger ) i just started taking  neurontin today is there any thing else i shoud do the doctor said when i get back on my feet it should go away is there anything else i can do thank you

[namnam46]

Hi Troy7,

First, I want to welcome you to the PM (Pain Management) Forum and let you know that we are glad you found this Forum. We are all CP (Chronic Pain) Patients that help each other with our own expertise and experiences that we have developed through our own CP Issues.

I'm sorry that being on your crutches has hindered you and caused you new problems!! I think you already had enough, don't you? How much longer do you have to be on the crutches?

What your Doctor said, sounds correct in saying that it will go away once you are off of the crutches.  The Neurontin is used for nerve pain and that's what is, most likely, causing your hands and fingers to have this problem.  It might take a while for the Neurontin to build up in your system but after that, hopefully, you will start to feel a little relief from all of the numbness and pain.

As Sissie said there's always a walker, however,  I use a walker and while that wouldn't cause pressure on the arm pits, it would require a lot of pressure on your arms and might actually be more difficult for you in getting around as I assume that your foot is Non-Weight Bearing at the moment. I had to try to use a Walker when my leg was Non-Weight Bearing and it was next to impossible as you tent to put your foot down for balance. I wound up in a Wheelchair until I could be Partial Weight bearing. As I just mentioned, one option you always have is a wheelchair but again that is really difficult in getting around to different places unless you have someone with you at all times to get it in and out of the car for you.

I believe that they make special padded products for crutches that go over the top of the crutches that go under your arms as well as for the part that your hands rest on.  Have you checked into those products to see if they would absorb some of the pressure from your arm pits and your hands?  

Please keep us informed on what you find and how you are doing and what the prognosis is.

Best of Luck to you and I'll be looking for your updates..........Sherry :)

[bigsissie]

Take B-12 it helps nerve damage and try to pad your hand as much as possible. How much longer will you be on crutches? The longer you continue to press on those nerves the more damage there will be and it is not always reversible. Would it be possible for you to use a walker or something similar? Hope you are on both feet again soon.

Sissie