any tips on reversing numbness following surgery?

[jasonohio]

First off, I will repeat that I am very thankful for the outcome of my surgery. However, my surgery has left me extremely numb from the waist down. This was immediately apparent to me after surgery, and I'm not certain it has changed much since. I'm a little encouraged by a variety of sensations going on, such as my feet seem to "feel" different at different times during the day. And I'm feeling some tremors or something in my legs, which I'm imagining might be my nerves trying to do something. And movement seems to change things as well, but we're under a foot of snow right now and I can 't go very far .

That said, I'm just still extremely numb - if I had to quantify it, I'd say 90% numb. Again, no complaints! I'm walking well - and otherwise ok. If it doesn't improve, I can go on like this. But I still want to do everything possible to improve my situation.

Do you veterans of surgery have any experiences to share with me. Is there anything (anything!) you tried, or did, that you think helped improve your numbness - or sped up the recovery process?

[susan]

First and foremost, congratulations on making it through the surgery (and thanks for letting us know how you are!)
Now comes the less dramatic everyday grind.
I passed my 2nd year anniversary on January 22. It has been a tough 2 years, but I can say that I am better than I was in 2008, a lot better.
I've been told that it takes 2-5 years for neural tissue to heal. I'm not sure that you can do much to speed it up, but I have been told that smoking can make it take longer, so if you smoke it is a good idea to quit. I have also been told that B complex vitamins and omega 3 fatty acid capsules may help, (I take both).
You may start to devlop muscle spasms as you start to increase your activity. I was told those increase numbness and tingling. When your neurosurgeon gives the OK, you might want to try trigger point massage. I have done that in the past and found it helpful. I can tell that when I do more strenuous activity, my numbness and tingling gets more pronounced. We are under about 2 feet of snow here in Pgh, shoveling has made everything much worse.
So, those a few things you might want to try. For the most part it will just take patience. In the meantime you will go through an adjustment to your new body state. The process hasn't been easy for me, but I am getting there (just exactly where I am going, I'm not sure!).

[Tmasgio]

Jason,
There are folks who get rid of all there numbness and for some it gets better with time. I will tell you that if your tumor was intermedullary then the numbness most likely is permanant but how severe it may be for the rest of your life no one knows. No one can tell you of course how good it will get but it does get better. I know from experience that your CNS will adjust and you will be just fine. I think in time the numbness wont bother you as much as the stiffness at least that is how it was for me.

[betty]

Hi Jason,
So sorry for the numbness. I am one year out and still have numbness in the scaupla area. I hope it gets better for you.
It's probably too soon for you but I am having good luck with trigger point injections. It lasts for a couple weeks anyway where things feel somewhat better.
So glad to hear from you Jason. Stay strong.

[Todd]

the docs generally say that what you have after a year is what you are left with but I know a guy who got a considerable amount of sensation back after 3yrs.

nerves take a long time to heal. i have that same nerve tremor. it's strange. I am coming up on my 1 yr anniversary (March 3). I'm still as numb as when I woke from surgery.

everybody's situation is different. time. it's all you can do.

[tc]

I always hesitate to comment, because I haven't had surgery yet so my situation is different. I just battle the effects of a small C-6/7 tumor constantly pressing on nerves. My big toes and my fingertips are a little numb and some patches of skin on my upper back are numb . . . but I don't have the numbness that surgery creates.

When Susan mentioned "Omega 3's", I had to jump into this conversation. I seriously added Omega 3's to my diet since last October and I am feeling so much better. Just one example: my right wrist used to tingle and feel sunburned most of the time, but now it rarely bothers me. Another thing: My thumbs are not as stiff in the morning. I still have nerve problems, but I'm so much better than last year. My neck hurts, but not as much as last year. I am off all prescription meds.

Todd was the one who mentioned the Budwig Diet to me. I don't do all of it, but the parts I adopted have made a difference. I add freshly ground flaxseed to my food at least twice a day. (grind it in a small coffee grinder - $19 from Walmart. Grind one tablespoon flaxseed per 100 lbs that you weigh.) I mix a tablespoon of flaxseed oil into Greek yogurt once or twice a day. (The oil has to be thoroughly mixed with cottage cheese or high protein yogurt to be better absorbed by your body.) There's lots more stuff to the Budwig diet than flaxseed (Omega 3's), but that part has made a huge difference to me.

Here's the video that got me started: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSoddptWL0s

There's also a group at yahoogroups.com called "FlaxSeedOil2" that discusses the Budwig diet.

I hesitate to tell people about this, because it sounds crazy but it helped me a lot. It takes some discipline to eat such a strict diet, but I'm afraid to quit now.
Teresa

PS - Jason, I continue to pray for you. I'm so glad you are able to walk well. That is a blessing. Nerves heal so very, very slowly. You have youth on your side though. I hope you see continued improvement for many years to come. It is normal to grieve the loss of what you once had and eventually accept a new "normal".

One more thought: When your surgical wounds have healed, ask for water therapy. Is there a therapy pool in your area? I go to an indoor pool a couple times a week. When I walk on a treadmill or ride a bike, my legs feel very tired and heavy (very depressing). But when I swim easy laps, everything feels good and my mood is lifted. Give it a try, if you can get to an indoor, heated pool.

[jasonohio]

I don't smoke, so that's good.

I appreciate the words of encouragement - and let me say I'm not grieving at all. I said beforehand that if I could continue being a dad to my 3 kids, then I'd happily accept whatever God left me with after surgery. I still feel that way. I'm very content, to say the least. A little (or a lot of) numbness is nothing. But I'm not going to accept it if I don't have to ...

Still looking for more ideas if anybody else comes along ...

Thanks everybody.

[susan]

Jason
I would never just accept the way things are either. I hope you didn't take what I said the wrong way. I am glad that you are able accept how things are without grieving. I didn't have that same experience. I am sorry that I don't feel the way I used to, I miss it. I have been aware that I had a tumor/surgery every waking hour for the past 2 years (probably subconsciously every sleeping hour too) and sometimes it makes me weary. I don't like that I can't do the things I used to. It is probably just a difference in our temperaments. I was not big on patience and as I said a big part of this is just waiting for healing to take place. There isn't a lot you can do in the meantime. Believe me, I have done PT, gone to rehab docs, pain docs, etc to try to deal with the symptoms.
I discovered that I had to find my own way and fight for what I needed in the years after surgery. I didn't expect that. I work in healthcare and have been disappointed that I had to struggle. I love my surgeon, but he didn't seem to give direction for the nagging symptoms I had that affected my ability to work and live my life. He saw that I wasn't paralyzed and could breathe on my own, so it was all good, but I didn't want to live with the numbness and pain if I didn't have to. Even if it would eventually improve on it's own, I wanted to get some relief in the meantime.
I think I am signing off this forum, I am seem to piss people off. Go back and read previous posts. You can't really "fix" it, it is what it is.

[jasonohio]

Hey Susan-

I hope you come back to see this. You didn't upset me ... you gave me a lot of direction. I wasn't offended by your comment about grieving. I just didn't want people to feel bad for me. Sure - I wish I could have my pre-surgery condition. But honestly, I have had a lot of great things happen to me through ths process, including meeting a lot of new friends from this website. I would rather have the current troubles than the worry that came with waiting for surgery for 4 months. I'm just so relieved, that's all. I guess everybody's different and I'm sorry for your struggles. Maybe I will still have those same struggles, or worse, ahead. I don't know.

If I never improve, I'll still be happier to fight in vain. I'm a restless person and don't like the advice that it will improve over time ... . I want to do something. That's why I asked the question, and I appreciate all the advice - yours especially Susan.

[betty]

Jason,
I absolutely love your attitude. Your kiddos are blessed to have such a dedicated Dad. A positive attitude goes a long way in our healing.