Sural nerve damage
June 8, 2011 by mark5tewart
The lateral side of my foot is still numb and my doc suggests that there could be damage to the sural nerve - either from the rupture or the surgery, although he says he avoided the region during the op. He assures me the numbness will go away but hasn’t indicated by when. I’m keen to hear from anyone else who has experienced this recently - is there anything I can do, eg. massage, to get teh feeling back sooner?
For three weeks after the surgery, the area under the incision was numb and then as I put weight on my foot it started going away.
I hope yours go away too!
Sorry, Mark, but there really isn’t anything that you can do to quicken the process. Assuming a sural nerve injury, check the following link about peripheral nerve injury: http://www.columbianeurosurgery.org/specialties/peripheral-nerve/treatment/about-peripheral-nerves/. This describes things far better than I can. Although it mentions muscle function, the same holds true for sensory function. Hang in there, Ron
I’ve read that the higher incidence of sural nerve damage was one reason why laparoscopic (minimally invasive) ATR surgery didn’t seem to be competing with conventional (”open”) surgery. But that’s close to ALL of what I know, sorry! Hope the numbness goes away soon, Mark.
I had a problem with this too. Prior to this happening to me, my son had an accident with some metal lawn edging where he almost completely sheared off about 1/3 of his foot. His nerve damage was extensive. Throughout that ordeal I ended up learning a lot about nerves in the foot. His surgeon told us that what you have at around 9-10 months post surgery/injury, is what you will probably live with for the rest of your life. So if your numbness is still there at 6 months, don’t panic. Keep working on it.
Like I said earlier, some nerve damage happened to me. It happened on my second surgery for my right side. At first I was numb and then for several months I had some painful burning. Sometime at around 7 months post-op, I woke up one morning and it was gone. It has felt fine ever since. Hang in there and happy healing!
Sounds like we are in the same boat. I had my surgery the friday after memorial day and got out of my cast and into my boot two weeks later. Numbness starts just at the top of the incision and wraps around the outside of my foot almost to my 4th and 5th toes. Dr told me today that they may have “clipped” the sural nerve. Told me that I should mark where the numbness starts and ends and check it in a month. The nerve is supposed to heal about an inch a month, from the top of the leg down. If it isn’t progressing in a month or two, I have two choices: live with it forever (”it is non-essential”) or go to a plastic surgeon who may be able to correct it. Which to me means one choice, the question is, who is gonna pay for it. Let’s stay in touch.
It’s hard to tell whether the numbness is improving with time given the size of the area affected; I’d probably say it’s not. That said, since I introduced a dorsiflex into my stretch, I have been feeling a tingling amongst the numbness. Hopefully this will improve as the movement improves; its still pretty swollen down there. I’ll keep you posted..
Please do keep me posted. How long ago did you get the surgery? Looks like it was nearly 11 weeks ago. Mine was 4. I’ve had tingling (almost like star bursts) the whole time but haven’t felt much improvement. Are you still in a boot or anything? They plan to have me with full weight, no support in another 4 weeks.
11 weeks post-op and I’ve been in a boot for 5 weeks now - 1 week to go. I’ve been walking w/o the boot at home for 10 days now with no problems, apart from the numbness
Curious, does the numbness impact function? I’ve read a lot about where the sural nerve is used as a donor nerve in other parts of the body so I’m curious as to what happens when it is not active. Does it cause you to limp?
No limp or impact to function, just numb
There is a possibility I have sural nerve damage. Have gone through an d x-ray and MRI with a orthopedic doctor. He know wants me to go to a neurologist. The “pain” I feel is certainly bearable. I am concerned, if it is the nerve, about going through surgery. Is it possible to jsut leave it alone or will it get worse? Thanks.
I have Sural nerve damage and was caused by injury from a dog bite. I am 5 weeks out and still have minor swelling, scarring but some of the feeling,sensation is back. The side of my foot and small toe is still numb. I saw a neurologist today and he instructed me to take vitamin B1. This helps the healing process of the nerve. I believe it helps with the myelin sheath that surrounds the nerve. He suggested Lyrica or Neurontin for discomfort but the pain, bursts of burning is tolerable without the prescription med., for me.
Early on, i experienced severe burning pain and red skin in damaged area so bad that water hurt running over my foot. The next day i woke up it was gone and had gotten some sensation back. The Sural nerve grows at one inch per month and depending on degree of damage sometimes it can take 6mos to one year. The last 2 stages of Sural damage require some form of surgery but the numbness can be lived with for sure with complete function, mobility with no noticeable issues. I still run,work out with my numbness. It feels weird in some situations but tolerable.
Try ESWT it seems to work pretty well in taking the edge off the severe shotting pain and also freeing up any adhesions of scar tissue post op.
I had surgery November 2011 to repair a tendon and remove a cyst that was wrapped around my sural nerve the surgeon could not get all of the the cyst out and after surgery on my foot was numb and had excruciating pain to the point where my foot would just give out on me and I couldn’t walk on it at all. This went on for an entire year. November of 2012 I had a nother surgery to repair a complete collapse of my foot and told this new surgeon to please look at my sural nerve because the pain. he looked at it and didn’t even touch it because there was so much scar tissue and the cyst wrapped around the nerve. so now I am 4 weeks post op and the pain from my sural nerve is 8 on a scale of 1 to 10. which it was before that the numbness that I had after my first surgery never went away well maybe it diminished a little bit but not completely. and that was after a year. this surgeon has told me that I could get injections to kill the sural nerve to stop the pain but that would result in permanent numbness. Not sure what my next step will be if I don’t get at least 90 percent recovery
I have chemotherapy induced neuropathy that I was going to treat with nerve block injections. (it has helped many patients with diabetic neuropathy). During my second series of injections, the nurse hit my sural nerve, and I’ve had nothing but severe pain, swelling and discomfort since. I’m taking Lyrica and hydrocodone for pain, but sometimes even it’s not enough. I’m sad, discouraged and depressed. Can I expect to recover, or not? How long should I expect it to take? Will it ever be less painful. I’m still ambulatory and mornings are better, but by evening, especially if I’ve been on my feet or walked some, I pay for it dearly. Is there anything I can take/do for the swelling. Feels like my ankle joint is wanting to freeze up. I haven’t been able to wear a shoe for weeks now, and have been wearing a man’s XL slipper! Am I doomed, or will there be some recovery?
I have had 2 surgeries on my peroneal brevis and 3 on my Achilles tendon along with ESWT. During surgery in Jan 2012 the Doc poked around the sural nerve looking for a neuroma. I think he cut the nerve. It has been a searing pain ever since. He also did not repair the brevis and I had another surgery Dec 2012 to fix the brevis and also tighten up the retinaculum along with PRP in the Achilles.
The 2nd Doc thought maybe the sural pain would go away after the brevis was repaired but it hasn’t. The top of my foot is numb to the touch but I can feel nerve pain under the skin. The back of my ankle is terribly painful all the time and it runs half way up my calf. It hurts so bad when I walk or if it’s not elevated. So far I’ve had this pain 13 months. I’m on a time release pain reliever every day and also use Lidoderm pain patches. I can’t imagine living this way for the rest of my life. I can’t walk to my mailbox or drive muchless go back to work.
@Patti, let me know how you do with your pain and recovery.
I had an operation in September 2013 to repair a achilles rupture and still have sural nerve damage with a lot of swelling and pain and periodic sharp pain. Very frustrating.
I have a achilles rupture and then subsequent operation (laparoscopic) in September 2012. I have severe sural nerve damage, swelling and pain. Very frustrating.
For what its worth the pain I was feeling 12-14 months ago has subsided with time, almost to the point where I can only feel a mild sensation when I touch the top of my foot.
Hopefully with time, your respective feelings of pain and discomfort lessen and become more manageable.
I had achilles tendon repair surgery on Feb 4, 2013. From all the symptoms, I’m quite certain I have sural nerve damage. My foot in numb from the back of my heel all the way around the outer foot to my 4th and 5th toes.
The first 4-5 weeks, while in a splint and then boot, I also had burning shooting pain that would become almost unbearable. Now it is just mainly numb with tingles and occasional “shocks” or as someone else described it, “starbursts”.
Since I’m also fighting a persistent wound infection and non-healing incision, I’m feeling pretty hopeless about the whole thing.
Vanessa,
Follow your gut if you feel something is not right, tell Dr. or get another option. I ruptured my ATR 1/19/12, surgery 2/15/12, I had problems with wound drainage that Dr. kept putting me on antibotics, then I reruptured ATR. At that time I started with drainage again Dr. gave antibotics again it seemed to close up. I was casted for the rerupture out of cast in Sept. Things just did not feel right I had switched to a new Dr. at the university. I notice what seemed like swelling at the incision site. Dr. ordered MRI and it showed the rupture had not healed and there was a large amount of fluid around the old repair. They did an aspiration and it came back that it was infection. Dr. said that it probably the same infection I had last year except Dr. never treated correctly. I just had another surgery to debrie the site and they had to remove 10cm of my AT that was damaged. I am now home on IV antibotics for the next six weeks. Once infection has been proven to be gone, then they will do reconstruction of my AT.
I have been devastated by all of this and my advice to anyone is if you have any doubt at all confront the Dr or switch the Dr. you are your only advocate. Happy healing.
Vanessa, I can’t tell you much about the long-term effects of sural nerve damage, but do make sure that infection is properly diagnosed/cultured and treated until it’s gone. And good luck with it.
I am delighted that I have found this site and even more on the discussion of “sural nerve damage”. I (completely) ruptured my RF Achilles tendon on 30 March and had surgery two days later with foot in Vacoped boot at 23 degrees for two weeks, now at 15 degrees for past few days. Already at 7 day post of I had a severe “electrical” jolt (like striking your funny bone but 10 times worse) from my heel all the way on the outside of my foot towards my toe, on top as well as below. Also the outside of my foot is numb to touch but extremely sensitive to abrasion (almost like a burn wound).
I am “blessed” with an extremely obtuse and obnoxious surgeon here in Dubai (variety not great over here) who remarked that “What I am feeling is normal and due to soft tissue swelling…” - end of the discussion…
I went for my first physio yesterday and the therapist was quite alarmed - his view is that I get this “jolt” pain at the exact flexion angle every time he manipulates my ankle, points to more than just swelling - he rather suspects nerve damage or accidental nerve attachment during the surgery.
Right now the pain is so severe and occurs long before I reach the limit of current comfortable dorsiflexion which he wants me to do as part of the treatment, so it effectively prevents me from doing anything motion-wise…
Any advice or opinions on whether I am too hasty or whether in fact I have reason for concern…
Hello All,
I had surgery April 12, 2013 to repair a ruptured Achilles’ tendon. I have been having a fair bit of discomfort (aching/throbbing) while elevating legs. I have pain down the outside of my leg (perineural nerve)? It gets worst at night. Has anyone experienced this type of pain?
Hey there
after four surgeries to my posterior foot tendon, I’m still in a boot d/t swelling and pain from last surgery 2 months ago. First dr. damaged my sural nerve. both orthopedists wanted to fix my nerve. Dont’ know what to do at this point, but feel a neurologist is next, again. One told me learn to live with it versus surgery. anyone similair situation? I know, rest, elevate, ice, anti whatever. Can’t believe this is all from flat feet! guess those saddle shoe orthodics didn’t help in 6th grade.
Hey Everybody,
I just wanted to mention that I went through some issues involving the Sural Nerve during my recovery. I experienced numbness in the first 3 small toes probably about 2 weeks into healing process. It definitely freaked me out. Only lasted for a couple days. I think it just might have been part of the bodies healing process.
Anyway, wishing everyone a fast and smooth recovery
Hello all… August 9th will be 10 years and aproximately 10 surgeries that I have had severe nerve pain in the outside of my left foot. Every surgery just made pain worse and the toe amputation didn’t help either. I am taking lyrica at highest dosage 3 times daily and on hydrocodone to control pain and swelling from being on foot. I am also getting epidurals every 4 weeks to control part of the pain (the pain that feels like gas has been poured on my foot and just lit on fire) the pain over the years is horrible and nothing seems to work. I have seen over 15 doctors(orthopedic, nuerologists, pain managers, podiatrists) and have seen acupuncturists, massage therapists, holy places that have holy dirt, crystals and many other crazier ideas and nothing helps. I can not imagine having to live in this pain for the rest of my life. I suggested cutting the sural nerve and all my doctors say the pain will return and poss 10 times worse. If that we’re to happen I don’t know what I might do. If any one has had long term success with having the sural nerve removed please tell me. I am extremely desperate for any solutions that might be out there. Thank you all so much!
Hi Sharon
Sorry to hear your long term problem , I think I may have nerve damage went to NHS doc yesterday he prescribed me gabapentin which I haven’t taken yet, the side effects sound to risky if he can’t tell me it’s nerve damage, I’m paying for a private doc thurs , ill let you know how we go on and ill hopefully have some advice for you, anyways ill try my best for you
RRR
Ripraproar,
I have tried gabapentin in the past and it did absolutely no good at all. Lyrica strongest dosage, hydrocodone and epidurals have been my only source of help besides staying off my foot all the time and having it proped up all the time. I was reading about Botox shots, but really not convinced that would help. Thank you and please do let me know if you hear about anything new.
Thanks, Sharon
Hi Sharon
Thanks for your reply,
I didn’t get to see consultant until yesterday, he tells me it’s possible to taking out the nerve could help in some cases, but he would need to look case to case and his answer should not be taken as gospel.
He tells me mine could be nerve damage, but rare for nine op possibly nerve trapped by scare tissue, he adviced holding of the tablets unless in servers pain, he says he feels as I progress the nerve thing will go but if not he will investigate but to give it 6 weeks, Sharon I really do feel for you, have you checked you tube out anything on there, I personally get a lot of comfort from yt on ATR related issues.
Fwiw I’ve also read about Botox being a possibility
I had FHL ( big toe tendon transfered to replace Achilles damage) and torn perneal tendon on April 24. I had burning pain down the outside edge of my calf when I was in the hard cast. The doctor said it was due to not moving the muscle and would get better when the cast was removed. I have had a Breg walking boot for a week and still have both burning and numbness along the outside of my calf. Still need Vicodin. I still have to use crutches and am PWB. Is this a permanent condition or just part of the healing process? Any suggestions to help the healing?
Ripraproar,
I have tried oral gabapentin and it has not helped. Right now. after 18 months of bad sural nerve pain, I am using a specially compounded cream from my pain management Doc. It has the following in it: Ketamine 10%, Baclofen 2%, Cyclobenzaprine 2%, Diclofenac 3%, Gabapentin 6% and Tetracaine 2%. I use this combination 3-4 times a day. It is the first thing that has given me any relief.
Also, during my PT, I had a therapist that was trained in the Graston Technique of breaking up scar tissue and adhesions. This has also helped. I had 10 of those sessions. I take 3 Naproxen tablets a day for inflammation.
I still have pain but it is now more bearable, better in the morning and worse at night after I have have been on my feet. I actually walked 1/4 mile yesterday, the first time in 18 months for that, too. I was walking about 15 miles a week before my surgery. It is hard to wear a shoe with a back so I took them off immediately after walking. Even in the winter I am in backless shoes.
If you read my post from this past Feb you can see what my previous surgeries have been.
In addition to the above, I also “lost my heel” due to too much cutting and an infection during my Jan 2012 surgery. That took over 5 months for my heel to regrow the skin and tissue. Quite a mess.
I wish all of you the best of luck with these sural nerve problems.
Debuff,
Not only do we share the burn, I also had the breg boot I’ve not heard anyone using the same boot on here , my consultant is hoping the scar tissue will break up and undo the nerve damage
Hi deena
Thanks for your update, I’m away to read your history it sounds daunting, I decided not to use the gabapentin , thanks for the info on the compound it sounds promising, I’m really interested in the graston technique I will give it a go, I hear you on the walking, I sometimes walked 20 miles on a Sunday and did about a quarter mile today . I wish you all the luck in the world on your recovery, tans for the advice
Take care
RRR
Riparoar, how far are you from your surgery? My boot is really rigid which really increases the burn in both my foot and leg. I can hardly stand to keep it on for any length. I had to call the doc for more Vicodin because the burn kept me awake all night.Icing seems to help a little.
Debuff, RRR skipped the surgery and went non-op. that eliminates ALMOST all sural-nerve damage, but he’s hoping to be written up in a medical journal
’cause he’s exceptional! He’s got a blog page with his timeline on it, too, IIRC.
Hey norm, at least you agree with my mum, I’m exceptional
Debuff, yes sorry I’m non op and apart from a gent named Harry h on ere we appear to be the only ones with nerve issues, one advantage going non op it’s to aviod nerve damage, I’m hoping my issue goes as I recover and strengthen, re the boot I to thought a bit rigid and not flex able with rocker sole or flat option, I found making the straps as tight as possible helped a bit
Sharon, Have you tried the Lidoderm pain patch? It is a large fabric rectangle, tacky on the back medicated side, that you can wear up to 12 hours a day. If you want it smaller you can cut it before you take the backing off. I cut them in half long ways and put the strip on from just under and behind my ankle bone going up my calf. This is where I have most of my pain. The numbness goes to my toes but there is not a lot of pain involvement in that area so I don’t use it there.
I find this helps quite a bit however I have adhesive allergies and become too sensitive to the back of the patch after awhile. The patches are quite expensive unless you have insurance to cover part of the cost. That said, I’d pay any price to get rid of the pain. Cutting in half gives me enough relief and also I get two days out of each patch instead of one. I save these for days I know I’m going to have to do a lot of standing, driving or walking. Just a thought for you.
And for everyone who may have scar tissue and adhesions around the sural nerve, you may want to see if there is a therapist or dr in your area trained in the Graston Technique.
Riparoar, I wish you better luck than I have had. My original Achilles tendon injury was in 2001 and a torn Perneal brevis in 2009. I didn’t have surgery to correct either just NWB for 6 weeks with each. My Achilles developed an egg shaped lump of scar tissue that had so many microtears that it is shredding. The perneal also developed scar tissue. So the scar tissue was cleaned out and the lump removed. My
FHL - big toe tendon- was rerouted backward to attach to my calf muscle and the big toe connected to the 2nd toe. The Achilles transfer is healing fairly well, but the Perneal area is still very swollen and tender which is causing radiating nerve burning pain on the side of my foot and up my calf to my knee. So I am using ice therapy to reduce the swelling. I am PWB in a very hard stiff Breg boot with crutches. It will be 6 weeks on Tuesday- so my healing is going slower than I had expected. I’m doing leg lifts to increase leg muscles, and ankle circles, alphabet letters and toe flexes to increase flexibility. I will definitely look up the graston technique if the pain continues. Thanks for the information.
Hi Debuff
I didn’t realise you was initially non op, I have a egg shape between tendon and calf, the burning is on the inside curve of my foot is this the same place as you?
My pain isn’t intensive, just like a ripping sensation now and again and when I walk my heel feels like it’s being pulled down but that’s on a bad day, today I feel good, foot burn but it’s ok, I think today is my best day good stride slight limp pace ok
My burn is on the outside of my ankle up the side of my calf to my knee. I think the doc thought it was due to muscle inactivity and told me to massage and use heat. But that only made it worse. When. I use cold therapy to decrease the swelling the nerves kind of calm down. I also still have nerve surges and muscle cramps on the arch of my foot, but they come and go.
I am now 6 weeks from surgery. The FHL incisions are healing well, but when I put a lift under my heel I had intense pain in the center of the sole of my foot. Guess it where my big toe tendon neon is connected to a different toe tendon. So I’ve taken the lift out. The incision for my Perneous tendon surgery is still really sore and swollen which is limiting to put more weight on it. When I have gone out and walked a bit, the outer edge of the sole is swollen lumps which are so painful so I’m spending the rest of day in my cold therapy boot. Guess I’m just getting impatient.
Deena,
I have tried the lidoderm patches and got no relief. Thanks for suggesting them. Many people use them with success.
A newcomer. Three weeks ago I had wide excision on my left lateral calf for a malignant melanoma. My plastic surgeon stated that he would have to sacrifice the sural nerve, resulting in a small area of numbness on the lateral side of my left foot. Subsequently, I have severe neurogenic pain to my lateral left foot, such that the skin feels as if it has been burned and touch is intolerable. My ‘baby’ toe should have been numb and is not, walking is extremely painful, Lyrica helps but is not the answer. Up until now, I was extremely active and now hobble about and worry about the future.Any thoughts or suggestions out there?
I had achilles tendon surgery 5 years ago.
Before the surgery I did a lot of research about possible problems and side effects associated with the surgery. I found out that only less than 1% of these surgeries go wrong and usually it is due to unexperienced doctors who either cut or entrap the sural nerve. I choose one of the sports medicine “star” doctors in Santa Barbara, Dr. Richard Ryu to re-attach my achilles tendon. When I asked him before the surgery about the possible danger of cutting my nerve and his experience, he gave me very a arrogant answer, saying that he is a world-renown doctor who performs much more difficult surgeries every day and that he can fix an achilles tendon almost with his eyes closed. Apparently he did close his eyes, because sure enough he cut my sural nerve. I know this for sure because I did nerve tests with specialists after the surgery.
My life has never been the same since. I have severe pains and discomfort on the back of my leg and on the left side of my left foot. I cannot wear any shoes that are tight (Ugg boots are my only solution). My sensation is numbness on the outside but severe burning below the skin. My biggest problem is sleeping at night since I cannot touch the affected areas, meaning I cannot lay on my back or my left side, which means that I can only sleep on my right side, which by now has caused severe shoulder and neck problems and pains combined with inability to sleep at all. I am using strong sleeping pills and my condition has affected my work and my ability to be creative and productive.
The doctor is still in denial about cutting the nerve, although even the nerve specialists he sent me to have confirmed that the nerve is cut and no more information flows through. He suggested that the pain would go away in 1-2 years. That was not the case, in fact The pain is now worst then ever.
Recently Dr. Ryu sent me to a pain management doctor who gave me Lyrica. This is a terrible drug with terrible side effects, unhealthy in the long run and it doesn’t make a difference at all.
The doctor now recommends to do a series of nerve blocks, which cost 1000 US per pop and are not covered by my insurance. Here are my questions:
1. has any one tried these nerve blocks and had success?
2. what are the possible side effects? Do I loose other valuable functionality?
3. Has anyone sued his doctor for malpractice and with what success?
Bummer. Sounds like you need a good doctor AND a good lawyer. This I know from nothing. I.e. if sural nerve damage happens in 1% of ATR ops and his rate is 1%, are those 1% (incl. you) malpractice, or Best Practice?? Lawyers should know — though they’re not gods either!
Hey anyone out there with sural nerve damage you have my sympathies it has been two years since a vehicle ran over my ankle and caused me to have damage to my own sural nerve. my left three toes at the end are still numb and tingly and the pain in mu left ankle feels like.fireworks shooting up my left leg. After two years i still limp on my left ankle and struggle with weekness. they tell me surgery is not an option. if anyone knows of some sort of cure or remedy please email me at karebear43@hotmail.ca…i am waiting on a miracle abd i wish you all the best of luck.
Three months ago, I had an lumbar spinal 4-5th vertebral fusion with graft…progressed with severe pain in Sacroiliac pain both sides to mild sciatica R. in gluteal region. Bout a month ago sural pain involving R lateral lower leg and ankle, top of foot and 2, 3, 4th toes. Character of condition the is numbness, intermittant burning, and electric shocks in toes and up later aspect if leg. Im nearly weaned iff iff gabapenten asit was making me sleep too much with fatgue and loss if memory. At this point im weaning codiene, am taking only 5mg q 6 hrs. My ankle feels very stiff like it is sprained. Cant stand to wear shoes, but loose laces shoes helps navagate the Mall. Im keeping a daily track of how many episodes of these symptoms, and they seem to be less, but the pads of the affected toes are extremly sensutive to touch. Feels like a paper cut. Ice is my best friend. I bought a heraputic water cooler with tubes that connect to a water cooled pads and use it when I want to relax. .i also used a hugh power foot massager by Medi-Rub Massager 2000, and use it as it helps a lot too. The nerve seems to calm with these two items. Ive begun taking inly the mgs allowed oer day as if yesterday, and that helps inbetween other meds, if needed. it helps the achiness elsewhere. Remember gradual weaning of the gabapenten will produce the opposite symptoms it imposes..i.e. sleeiness to insomnia. I had only 2 difficult nights sleeping, every time I lowered the dose. I wish it all were gone, and from reading here, mine is as real, but, so far tolerable, though disabling at times. Hope this helps someone.
SURAL NERVE ISSUE—i know many of these posts were from a while ago . I just found out the pain i have is that i have is sural nerve pain from my Achilles rupture surgery . It is very painful ..any help from anyone on this board is greatly appreciated. How long did it last. does the pain fade? anything that you could do to alleviate the pain. i have some pain killers but they don’t do to much ….
Hi all,
I am about 9 weeks post op and I feel like I’m stuck in a nightmare. Had an Achilles transfer and started having the severe nerve pain and numbness immediately after the leg block wore off. Foot is searing burning pain and extremely sensitive to touch or even soft fabric and also pins and needles. The bizarre thing is it gets worse when foot is elevated. My surgeon sent me to a pain management Doctor to manage pain and rule out CRPS. I have been taking Percocet to manage the pain twice a day and he prescribed that compound cream someone else here described. I don’t know if it helps or not but I keep applying it. Had a day that I seemed I might be turning the corner only to be followed by 6 bad days now and counting. Nights are the worst. I haven’t been able to return to work because I still can’t manage the pain and some days I can’t even put my foot down. This recovery is much worse than I had ever imagined and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight. I am going back to see pain management Doctor soon. I have the most searing burning pain on the top of my foot, the whole left side and two small toes, the heel and the underside of my foot. My big toe is continually numb and feels like it has the sensation of being outside in the cold too long even though it’s warm to the touch. I’m starting to get depressed thinking this is never going to get better. Please dear God, let this get better. I can’t live like this indefinitely. I also go to PT 3 times and week and have followed every instruction that was given to me in the hopes of a quick recovery. But I’m starting to feel like I will never get better.
Hi Jules so sorry to hear you have been having a pretty rough time of it. Unfortunately I have not experienced anything like you have describe so I have nothing I can offer. Have you considered getting a second opinion, do they know why you are going through all this discomfort. I’m 11 weeks post ATR surgery
and it’s all going smoothly so far. I was not happy with the first surgeon I was referred to so sought a second opinion and the next person I went to was amazing and very knowledgeable had a wealth of great advise & information. The first OS offered nothing far less any sound advice. I understand you have already had surgery however there must be a reason you are going through so much agony. I do hope you get on top of this and find a light at the end of the tunnel.
Chin up Cheers Robyn
Jules,
Sorry you are having this pain. I completely can relate. I am in the same boat!!! I am 8 weeks post op from Achilles Tendon Rupture surgery. I was in a cast/soft cast for about 6 weeks then got into a no weight bearing boot since and for another 2 weeks, when i will be partial weight bearing. I had a nerve block which was great but after it wore off i was in pain . about a week after surgery my left side of my foot down thru the ankle and toes and foot had pain and numbness and starburst type pain …the nights are especially horribly painful starting right after 4pm it starts to tighten and the pain is unbearable. i went to a pain specialist and went to my OS and it looks like it is sural nerve . I may have damaged it when i ruptured my achilles. The nerve is very close to the achilles and is very painful if nipped during surgery or injured. i had been taking percocets and they helped mildly but they are too addictive and constipating. MY OS gave me a prescription for Gabapentin which is good with nerve pain. I have been taking 1 in am 1 at lunch and 2-3 nighttime …which has helped a bit..from what i have read it takes time for nerve to either grow or when you walk and have PT they can help as it could be scar tissue and they may have to break up the scar tissue. If it is damaged it grows an inch a month. It really sucks ..as for nighttime what is best for me is ambien ! i don’t take the gabapentin at bedtime if i take ambien . the ambien gives me 5 hours of good sleep( I still have to sleep with boot on ). Look up Sural Nerve pain as it sounds thats what you have . Hang in there. Im in pain 24-7 with numbness, pins and needles and starburst..i hope it subsides as i can’t imagine having this long term.
Jules, I too am experiencing sural nerve damage symptoms. It will be three weeks tomorrow that I had Achilles lengthening and bunion surgery. 4 days post op I fell but didn’t land on surgical side. I saw the doctor 6 days post op to remove the bandages which was when I noticed the numbness and tingling. I saw the dr 1 week ago today to remove the stitches and he said he didn’t cut the nerve and it’s normal to have the numbness and tingling because of the inflammation.
I’m freaking out because I can’t sleep at night with the numbness tingling and severe burning.
If I don’t see improvement within a week I think I’ll get a referral to a neurologist.
Surely wasn’t what I was expecting to deal with.
Sherry you’re not alone I have been battling sural nerve pain since my operation. The nighttime is way more painful than the morning. When 4 pm hits I know without looking at my watch. There is tingling and pins and star bursts . My Os says the nerve if damaged can repair 1 inch per month . It could also be scar tissue irritating the nerve . It is crazy painful. I have been proscribed gabapenton and it works eh eh .. Not great but ok. Ambien works better at night but you can’t take both. I’m praying the pain goes away . I’m 8 weeks post op and in another 1-2 weeks I will be partial weight bearing right now I use knee scooter. Has anyone heard of massaging the area with cocoa butter to help . I was told that might help. I’m feeling your pain …literally
Arib…. What surgery did you have? As far as healing, I’m right on track. I was on crutches for 1 week and in the boot for 2 1/2 weeks. i went back to work on Monday. Today I have more swelling, but still not anything near what I was prepared for. I’ve also read that the nerve grows one inch per month. My nights consist of ice and elevation. Quite honestly over this! Stay positive I do think once I started walking without the boot it has gotten a little better, but that could be wishful thinking too.
I had two achilles surgeries well over two years ago.I kept telling the doctor that I was in a lot of pain on the right side of my foot plus swelling.He just kept giving me medicine and creams and said time it will heal.I couldn’t stand to wear tight shoes,it was painful to touch the bed I was in pain for almost two years my doctor just kept telling me it would heal.So I decided I had enough I suffered and took this pain long enough when I decided to call to see my doctor they said he’s no longer with the practice. Im he just left now what am I to do they said I can see another doctor so I did he order a mri and when he got my results but before I go in I need to make sure that I’m certain on your problem he gave me a nerve block if that stops your pain then I found your problem. So I returned a week later I told I felt wonderful so he said I need to go in and decompress the nerve hopefully that should take care of the problem well I had the surgery he removed a cyst also so I took the six weeks to recover but it was something about the right side that I still was in pain couldn’t stand shoes or my foot to touch anything that when he said I have go and kill the nerve so I just had that done know I have questions wheter my first doctor could he have damage my nerves while doing surgeries on my achilles now I wondering if ihave a legitimate malpractice suit because he failed to figue out after both of the achilles surgeries whether or not he could possibly damaged and entrap my nerve because when I went in for my first post op appointment he said he pulled out a Neuroma and it was Begni so I’m about to get my records because the first doctor has two malpractice cases on his record now look at all I been through what are you’re thought could it be a possibility he just might have messed up somewhere
Sherry
I had a full rupture of my Achille tendon so my OS repaired it . He had me in cast with fort pointed down for 6 weeks then into a boot still no weight bearing .. Hoping to get PWB in next week to 10 days … The nerve sucks .. Yes I hear 1 inch per month … Hope the pain goes as it is going to be tough enough rehab with lout nerve issues … Staying hopeful
I tore my calf muscle off the Achilles 6 1/2 months ago, my recovery of the calf has been steady and improving, though I have a thickening of the Achilles halfway between the heel and the Calf muscle.
Through dry needling and massage The thickening and solid mass has reduced though not completely gone. I am now finding that the heal is incredibly stiff am upon stretching the heel has a burning sensation that does not seem to be getting any better.
Does anyone have any suggestions for me going forward thank you
I had my left sural nerve used as a donor nerve (for a severed ulnar nerve in my elbow). Sensation obviously is much less around the outside of the foot and ankle/shin area but you kind of forget about it and don’t really feel the complete numbness, instead just have a sense that there is some numbness. This is now 20 years later. The last month I’ve been having trouble with my calf pulling playing sports and hope it’s unrelated–but it does seem to be right where the nerve graft scar is. The scar runs up most of the calf. Maybe as you age injured spots become more fragile–I am in my early 50s now. Anyone else with a sural nerve graft surgery have calf muscle pull issues or know if this could be related to the sural nerve donor graft surgery? If so, respond to “George” please.
To George, as for the pulling calf one possibility is scar tissue building-up over the years along the old removed nerve path or scar build up encrotching on other nerves or muscle. If it’s buildup and caught early professional massaging may help or physical therapy and or injections. It could also be over use and just inflammed in which case some rest and heat should help. It could also be the start of a blood clot. Your doctor would be the best one to ask and advise you if the problem doesn’t go away soon.
Hi. .I had haglund deformity and bunion repair surgery 7/27..5 weeks later started PWB and had terrible leg pain. ..diagnosis: Complete rupture of achilles. .surgery again 9/27 to repair. ..started having severe outside ankle pain after surgery. .doc said he was no where near there during surgery…could be scar tissue buildup from both surgeries on sural nerve..he treated it conservatively over 6 weeks with steroid injections, pain creams and patches. .just kept getting worse. .. nerve tests showed damage to sural nerve. .we scheduled surgery 3 on 12/28 to see why all this pain. .also my body was rejecting hardware used in Achilles repair so he went in and removed that while I was”under”..4 weeks later now and actually am worse than when I started. .foot is screaming and swells so bad after being on it for a short time. Saw him at weeks 1 and 2 (stitches from both incisions removed) after this latest surgery. ..kept me on pain med and anti inflammatory and wanted me to be in shoe whenever possible. ..I see him again in two days. ..these last two weeks have been so discouraging. ..am now 7 months out since this nightmare started and to date have gone from one surgery to another. ..have had no PT to date..leg is like a toothpick and very weak. ..like one of the posts stated, sleeping is a nightmare. .can’t sleep on right side due to pain, but ifo go to left it is getting so sore in shoulder and hip.
Where do we go from her. ..I see him this week. ..if I don’t seem to get some answers I can live with, will probably try to get another opinion..I have a lot of faith in my doctor. .he is highly recommended and very concerned with all of this, but I can’t even begin to think about another surgery.
Reading all of your experiences is comforting to know I’m not crazy! Haha
Cathy, what you describe is horrible! It is the kind of situation we wish no one had to go through, and that we fear for ourselves.
Personally, I think you might want to go to a neurologist, taking all the tests, reports, etc. with you, preferably in a packet prepared by your surgeon. After 3 surgeries, the cost of the neurologist should not be your biggest concern, though I know insurance can get tricky. But you are having something wrong with your nerves, so a neurologist - preferably one with experience with foot surgery issues - seems like a logical next step.
And, we have members of this blog that have also had bad results after their first surgery, including sural nerve damage, so do read their blogs and ask them for suggestions.
Good luck, Cathy! And keep on posting!
Manny
to Metonia
thank you for your response about calf pull issues near the scar 20 years after having the sural nerve removed as a donor nerve.
I rested the muscle pull on the center back of the calf for a couple of weeks and practiced sports–soccer and basketball–very moderately (fast jog pace, light jumping). With moderate return to sports, the center back of the calf was okay, but. a couple of days later shooting a basketball, I had lines of sudden tightness (it made me stop all motion) in the lower back corner of the calf. It is a line of pain a few inches long in either the bottom back corner. I also had line of tightness towards the upper left corner of the calf. The direct back side of the calf is better but I haven’t pushed it. I am wondering if this could all be related to the sural nerve issue even though it is a few inches toward the outside of the zipper scar in the center back + aging. With massage (can I do it myself with a styrofoam roller?) and calf stretching strengthening/stretching and a little bit more moderate sports play, would you guess it will stop coming back (besides “normal injuries” as I age) if it is related to the sural nerve? Could it be a neuroma nerve swelling at the cut end after 20 years or with that it bother me a lot earlier if that was there. Thank you again for your earlier response. What do think about the lines of tightness towards the lower outside corner and upper outside corner of the calf? (I can do light sports with out any problem at the moment and will try to move up to moderate work optimistically).
again Metonia or anyone else please respond to “George”. Thank you.
George, I’m no doctor so I can’t make a diagnosis but it is sounding more like it may be a new issue. Age may or maynot be a factor. Arthritis is a common factor that comes with aging I’m told (and totally don’t want myself as I have it everywhere and think it’s more than just an “age” thing) and that could be the cause of some of your issues. Again a doctor is better equipped to answer you questions and evaluate you. A neurologist is better equipped to answer you neuroma questions.
Yes you can do the massaging yourself, the important thing is to not have friction against your skin so any hand cream or body lotion will work with your roller. Moving from lower extremity up works best for helping with circulation, circular motions with you hand/fingers/thumb can help breakup any muscle knots and also help with the scar tissue. But again, please follow up with your doctor if it gets worse or doesn’t improve.
Good luck
and George, if it’s hot or painful to touch don’t massage it as it could be a blood clot and massaging could dislodge the clot which would be highly dangerous if not possible fatal. Hot to touch should definately be seen by your doctor ASAP.
Hi all
I had a debridement of the peroneal tendon and repair of peroneous brevis tendon on the 7th Jan it’s now nearly 5 weeks since the op..I’ve had an infection and now I’ve got sural nerve pain which is unbearable especially evening and during the night.. The pain is from my little toe towards my ankle. side and top of foot.trying all sorts of pain killer’s but nothing is working at all I’ve even been taking morphine oral solution.
Does anybody no how long this could last for or would I need another op to remove the nerve.
I’m a window cleaner so there’s no way I can go back to work. it’s not only the pain that’s driving me mad it’s the day time tv. Help please
Roy, have you tried any sural nerve stretches?
Hi amag3232 no can’t say I have.
What kind of stretches ?
Roy, hard to describe in words how to get a stretch through sural nerve. If you search on YouTube you’ll definitely be able to find it. Its sitting down moving foot a particular way and leaning forward
Hi this is Cathy again..post 61..it’s been 6 weeks since that post and and 9 weeks since sural nerve surgery. ..and guess what. ..it’s worse than ever. ..I’m having so much pain in area behind ankle just before heel and AT…and so frustrated after 3 surgeries in 7 months. And also found out last week have a fractured pelvis, left sacro..more than likely caused thru all my inactivity and osteoporosis. ..will take about 3 months to heal ..must use walker or wheelchair to get around. am hardly able to walk with this darned foot and back. ..sorry. .just needed to vent. ..I feel like an old lady! My foot doc is on vacation til 3/14 do can’t see him till then re the extreme swelling having in that left ankle…never ends!
to Cathy Frangos. I’m sorry to hear of your problems. I had Haglunds surgery Feb 3. I discovered most of my pain was from the pressure of the elastic wrap around my ankle. Once I removed it and left foot free of everything except a sock and elevated it improved almost immediately. Every time I tried to rewrap it for protection it hurt like crazy. I ended up padding the back of my ankle before any wrapping was done with thick rolled cotton. It helped greatly with the pain when I had to go anywhere and needed the splint.
The swelling could be from a bursitis or tendinitis. From what I’ve read ankle injections actually can make matters worse and not better.
You don’t mention your age. I also have multiple bone and athritis issues. I take 4-5 chew-able vitamins a day. (double the recommended amount) and that has seemed to help my bone issues. (plus I’m a big milk drinker) I’ve never had a pelvic fracture but I did have multiple areas of pelvic ligament necrosis (death) before I was diagnosed with Auto Immune problems (which is where my immune system was attacking my healthy cells)
Is your pelvic fracture on same side as your operative side?
My suggestion would be ditch any wraps or supports while in bed with foot elevated (if ok with doctor) and work on exercising the ankle and foot. Down and up, side to side, circles as much as possible up to the point you experience pain. Hold it at that point for a ten count and relax. I’d do this with the foot hanging off the side of the bed because it was more comfortable for me and less strain on the tendon until it was built back up.
This also should not put any undue pressure on your pelvis since the leg is still supported by the bed or whatever you have it elevated with.
What I used to elevate also had an impact on my pain so I suggest playing around with different pillow types or quanitities as well as placement (example under foot, under foot and calf, under calf only, under thigh, a pillow under the mattress instead of leg etc.
I found no pillow worked best with a pillow under the bottom of my mattress for elevation.
Pillows under my knee and ankle when I was on my side also helped my hip pain. Same with different pillows under my head for my shoulder pain.
I found I needed to do back stretches to help my back pain. Basically I needed to throw my shoulders back which pushed my lower back slightly forward as I straightened my spine a few times a day to counter how I was holding myself with the wheelchair and walker.
Venting helps so don’t apologize you are not alone.
Cathy when I said foot off side I bed I meant only the foot. my calf remained on the bed.
I had ankle replacement and now rural nerve is killing me.Swells up like a cabbage patch doll. I want nerve removed.Anyone else have this condition been 3yrs.
I had a total ankle replacement june 2nd 2016..I couldnt wear the boot, because it opened up stitches at the ankle, so had to go back in hospital to close up stitches.. so got behind on physcial theraphy. But my first one was july23th. My foot is swollen and feels like my nerves are twisting into knots at the ball of my foot. My therapist could feel the knotting and said. Thats my nerves were in knots. She would put a finger into the ball of my foot at the pressure points and boy was my foot jumping. The whole bottom of my foot is swollen and numb but putting pressure into my foot would help it hurt very much , but at least hopefull this can bring the normal felling back to my foot. My ankle dosent hurt because the nerve pain is so bad. Been taking to many percet for pain, that all I want to do is sleep. I am light weight bearing on my toes. My toes dont even touch the ground becwuse of the swelling. I dont know if thix is normal, or if when I start full weight bearing it will go away. Right no it feels so hopeless, and the nights are terriable, because it want yo knot all night or stabing pains. Has anyone had the full ankle replacement and foot goes back to feeling normal like before surgery? Please let me know who you outcome was. I am 55. And I crushed my ankle in a car wreck when I was 18. So I have lived a life of pain but this is about to put me over the edge.
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I had Achilles rupture July 2015 surgery was July 28th where they reattach the Achilles December of 2015 I was having such severe pain around the sural nerve that I couldn’t even walk I couldn’t lay down I couldnt sleep. The pain was so severe. The doctor went in in January of 2015 and removd a cyst from the sural nerve and some scar tissue that he felt was causing all of this pain. As of today September 19th 2016 over a year I’m still having terrible pain with a sural nerve totally burning around my left ankle. I saw the doctor today 9/19/2016 and I am beginning a series of 7 shots… they will be done every 10 days… supposedly this will numb the sural nerve, actuality killing it. He did the first shot today. It wasn’t that terrible. I can already feel some numbness I told him I really don’t care if I never get feeling back on that side of my foot I can live with that. I cannot live with this horrible pain it affects everything from sleeping tositting to walking. So I’m very hopeful that this series of injections will kill the sural nerve and I will be able to have some peace with this foot. Has anyone else on this blog had these type of injections for the sural nerve. Im just curious to see if you have and how you came out of it thank you very much
73 Gary Archer…, please refer to my post on number 76 I’m beginning a series of shots to deaden the sural nerve from all the pain I’ve been having. I believe it is so much better alternative than surgery by dr. Assured me that after the shots I get one every 10 days 7 times after the complete series of shots are done I should have absolutely no feeling on the left side of my left foot and the sural nerve will have died. So much better than going through another surgery hope this helps
To 72 metonia
Yes I also have been having severe bone issues. I am 68 years old and it had a pretty healthy life up until several years ago. I have a type of myeloma my bones are cracking like crazy I’ve had many fractures in my vertebrae along with insufficiency fractures in my pelvis in both the right and left sacrum. I have extreme vitamin D deficiency of which were working on I recently got an infusion of reclast what you get once a year over 3 years it supposed to totally increase my bone density. Last Thursday I had sacroplasty done on my pelvis at Northwestern Hospital here in Chicago the doctor that perform this surgery is just wonderful and supposed to be one of the best in the country at this procedure I could not believe when I came out of it on Thursday that I was able to walk with absolutely no pain in my back it is now Monday and I still have absolutely no pain other than a little soreness from you from the procedure. I had an appointment today with my podiatrist to address this horrible sural pain in the foot which I’ve been having for over a year now. He suggested this series of shots instead of surgery because the sural nerve is just driving me crazy. Now that my back is improving so much I need to deal with this I got the first shot a few hours ago and I’m already starting to feel the effects of it so I’m hoping that this series of shots will do the trick thank you so much for your concern and please feel free to contact me at anytime to discuss your issues
I had Achilles tendon rupture surgery 10 months ago, and after 4 months I noticed tingling on the outside of my left foot, like sensitiveness, but only when I touch it, and it hasn’t got better. I don’t feel pain, just some soreness on the tendon area, and sometimes when I run I get a little pain on my heel (maybe a little plantar fasciitis?), but it goes away after a few minutes of running. I was wondering if anyone has had similar problems. I was thinking of getting massages to see if it gets better, it does not want to go away.
Coda - can’t help with the tingling but the heel pain could be PF. It will usually present as pain in the morning when you first start walking and go away until it gets bad enough. I would review your shoes and your gait, best with a P.T. If your shoes are allowing you to roll in then it will be putting stress on the Plantar Fascia tendon. This is common with Nikes. You may need more support and orthotics could be the answer as well as a motion control shoe. There are also ways to strap the foot which can be shown to you by a PT. Modern orthotics are flexible, custom made and can be put in almost any shoe.
I had shot 3 in series of 7 alcohol based shots to kill the sural nerve. After trying so many different things I am hopeful that this is going to work after shots 1 & 2 I started losing quite a bit of the feeling in the nerve I had shot 3 today so we’ll see where it goes it’s looking positive so I’m going to stick with it.
I cannot believe I have absolutely NO pain in left ankle sural nerve.. got shot 3 of 7 yestetday…I’ve been on my foot all day and no pain…it is truly amazing after being in such horrible sural nerve pain for a year!
As a follow-up to several previous post about the alcohol injections to kill the sural nerve. I’ve been having the sural nerve pain for over 10 months doctor finally recommended that I get a series of seven alcohol shots one every week for seven weeks he said after the 7 shot your foot will be numb from your heel and ankle around to the first two or three toes the small toe to third toe and you will no longer have any pain but you will have permanent numbness on that side of the foot. It was worth a crap shoot to me as I couldn’t live with that horrible burning pain any longer. Guess what today was my shot number 7 I’m sitting here and able to tell you I have absolutely no pain in my foot yes I have numbness on the left side of it but that’s very tolerable…if anybody’s thinking about having these injections for their sural nerve pain and you’ve lived with it for a long time I’ll tell you this is the way to go no surgery.
. injections are not that bad they freeze the top of your foot before you have it and then it’s done
Ruptured Achilles tendon July of 2014. Had the surgery. Have varying levels of sensitivity on the bottom of my foot ever since. When I wear footwear it feels like my sock is all bunched up under and just behind my toes. Sometimes my foot just feels very, very hot. Some days are worse than others, but there are no good days where that foot is concerned. Haven’t been back to the Dr. Should I go back to see the ortho or should I find a nuerologist?
I decided to go see the doctor again. 15 months after surgery and nothing has changed. I still feel the tingling on the left outside of my left foot, I think there could be some sort of nerve entrapment somewhere caused either by the surgery, or it didn’t heal properly (the tingling feeling started 4 months after surgery, so I could have screwed up by doing too much too soon?). I can do things like running, sprinting, but the left foot does not feel “normal” like my right foot. I was stubborn and quit therapy, and I was embarrassed to go back, but I took the courage and I am seeing the same doctor again. Learned my lesson. Will find out what they have to say and post here.
Mark,
Here it is, 2017 and I stumbled across your blog and posting about the nerve pain. I had ATR surgery about 6 weeks ago and am experiencing the Sural nerve pain. Did yours eventually completely go away?
-Mike
I was having pain along that nerve too and doc said it was because the surgery annoyed the nerve. Now it comes and goes (I’m at week 13 after surgery). It seems to come back when I overdo my exercising. I massage it regularly as well. Actually I massage my entire surgery area and the bottom of my foot regularly.
I broke my ankle in 2016, plus a metatarsal on the opposite side of the foot. Recently I’ve started getting pain in my ankle around the sural area. No numbness or tingling but I get a sharp shooting pain that is going to my hip. Almost like sciatica in reverse. Anyone hear about this? I see my dr in 2 weeks.
Had achilles surgery March 2017 for a left torn achilles playing basketball. Had surgery 2 weeks later and throughout the recovery process I was getting a sharp pain on the outside of my legs from the middle of the calf down to under my ankle bone. Till this day 10-11-18 if I press down or massage on the area, I still get a sharp pain. When I walk or run, I do not really feel the pain, it is only when rubbed or massage on. The outside of my foot is still somewhat numb and can get the feeling back, maybe that part of it is still recovering but not to sure.
Hi, I’m astounded at the incidence of Sural Nerve damage on this blog. I have been seeking help and legal advice following an Achilles rupture repair. I can relate to a lot of your comments. What I can’t seem to make clear to the therapists involved in my rehabilitation is the degree of pain I’m enduring. I’m unable to weight bare fully and it’s almost impossible to push off on the right foot. I’m actually a Podiatrist and cannot accept the fact that there is no treatment planning or medical protocols for this type of injury be it a surgical mistake or other!
I may have to undertake my own research I’m that angry about it.
I’m going to ask a few of you guys and gals how your progressing some years on? Hope that’s ok.
In 2015 I had my Achilles tendon repaired and developed a hematoma a the surgery site. I was in a boot for 9 weeks and 6 of those on my back with my foot elevated. It was believed scar tissue entrapped my sural nerve so it was cut and in-planted in the fascia in my leg a year later. It’s 2019 and my pain, swelling and burning is just as bad or worse. Two Dr’s agreed it was CRPS the rest say no definitive diagnosis. I go from Dr. to Dr. hoping for help but not yet. Neurontin helped for awhile at the beginning but now I mainly just hurt. Tylenol and ibuprofen are like drinking water. I’ve had compression socks, braces, special shoes, I can go on and on. I’m 52 yrs old and can’t imagine the rest of my life in this kind of pain.Any words of wisdom for me?
Had Achilles tendon repair surgery on my right foot on 7/22/2019. 2 week on splint and 3 weeks on cast, 4 weeks on boots. PT starts at 6th week. At 4th week, one week before the cast was due to be removed, I couldn’t stand the tightness and pressure of the cast anymore and went to the doctor’s office and begged the assistant to cut open the cast on both sides and wrap it up to relieve the pressure. After the cast was removed at week 5, I felt the numbness and tingling sensation on the bottom of the foot, the outside and the toes. The surgeon initially said it’s normal. A few weeks later when the numbness sensation hadn’t gone away, the surgeon admitted it was rare the numbness lasted so long and it might be caused by the cast being too tight. A podiatrist I consulted suggested I tried contrast bath (hot and ice water bath) to stimulate the nerve. It didn’t quite work. Over three months after the surgery, the numbness sensation is still there. At times I can feel the electric jolts and starburst sensation around the above mentioned affected areas and toes. On my last visit the surgeon said the electric jolts sensation is a good sign that the nerves are trying to repair themselves and 95% chance they will heal themselves, but it can take up to 12 months. If the numbness doesn’t go away after 12 months, they become permanent. I scheduled an EMG test with a neurologist in December and will find out more info.
After reading the posts in this thread the numbness issue does exist. Could it be nerve entrapped, nicked or even cut, anesthesia issue, or tight cast? I can only speculate. So far the surgeon has no clue how the nerve got damaged. Anyone has the similar experience and care to share the results? Thanks.
I had numbness around the incision site which was due to the nerves getting moved around a bit during surgery. It did take a while to go away. Over 8 months from what I recall and this wasn’t for any nerve regrowth, just for nerves to calm down. I massaged the area though I have no idea if that helped.
Hey Jesse!
I just underwent Achilles’ tendon surgery on November 7th this year (2019).
So far I’m facing the same issue. I’ve had shooting electric like pains from the back side of my lower calf and wrapping around the top side of my foot into my little toe.
Some days it’s really bad and others it’s just bad. I’m hoping my nerve is healing/growing but I don’t actually know fully.
The strange part for me is that I can actually feel the nerve on the back side of my leg. When I touch it, the pain shoot through immediately. When my foot is down my whole foot gets dark red but my pinky toe becomes the darkest color.
I pretty much keep my leg elevated and iced every moment I can but I’m not sure if it’s helping my nerve or not.
Hoping for some resolution to come in the next few weeks and am hoping/praying it’s just going through a healing phase. To think it’s possible that I might have the pain forever is beyond overwhelming.
So far I’ve had Percocet or Tylenol to fall asleep. I kee my foot propped up and sleep on my back. Sometimes I’ll slee on my right side since surgery was on my left foot.
My pain is incredibly distracting from my every day life. I can’t really focus on what’s in front of me. It’s better when I can distract myself with something like playing cards with friends or doing something that really takes my mind off of it. Deep breathing exercises helps relax me.
I’m hearing that some vitamins help with nerves healing but I’m not about it. I’ve never taken supplements and have never really found a desire to because the people who sell them are so “pyramid scheme-y”
i had my surgery for ATR on feb 15, 22. Have numbness in foot and tingling in toes the whole time. Cant sleep at night.. in a boot NWB for one more week. Does this go away or is this hell i have to live with?