Question, I lost nearly all sensitivity in my left shin and below on the top side of the foot. I seem to get cramps often there or just pain in general esp when the weather is weird like it has been and also if I wear a ****ty pair of shoes and walk a lot.

Who has experience with this, and what do you do to help it?

I have so far taken baths to warm and icing it when it's painful, applying icy hot patches and usually wear an ankle brace.

 

Hey Hide, what lumbar segment did you have surgery on? L4? Did you ever see a physical therapist post-surgery? It's hard to make a diagnosis online LOL, but it sounds like you might need to build up your lumbar paraspinal and lower ab strength and endurance to provide more dynamic support for your L4 segment. (This statement does not constitute any sort of professional medical advice, just some online banter with a friend haha). Anyhow, I suggest seeing a physical therapist if you can. Shawn Kelly and Leonard Hashizume in the Sports Medicine Department at St. Francis Hospital are studs! Guddo rakku!

 

L5 S1 I did about 4 months of PT post surgery.

I should do more again I say.

 

Was it a fusion you had at L5-S1?

Anyway, definitely look into it. And definitely look into St. Francis's Sports Medicine Dept. Good luck!

 

No fusion, microdisectomy.

 

Hey Hide - I had a herniated disc at L4 with some issues at L5. Basically a lot of pressure on my sciatic nerve, which left me with symptoms like what you describe. If I would stand for more than say 5min, my left leg would start to tingle and eventually I would lose feeling from the knee down basically.

Another problem I have is I have just about no arch in my left foot. So, if I wear crap shoes or do not pay attention to it for a day, I get a lot of pain. I have used green "Superfeet" inserts in some of my shoes which helps a lot, but also learned to walk again - sounds dumb I know, but especially when I lived out in HMB I would spend a lot of time walking and just started very methodically "re-learning" how I moved my left foot and ankle. I started building muscle in my left calf, and then the more I walked (I do a lot of work trips to Chicago, NY, London and such - lots of walking) the better it got. But this is all in the last few years.

The thing that helped me the most, above all, was yoga - and especially Bikram Yoga. I did it 3x a week, and still do some poses every single day. This helps a ton, and keeps my hip from hurting and my leg from going dead. I sit down so that my knees are at 90 degrees, place one ankle atop another knee, grab the other knee and pull it to my chest. Do the same on the other side. Don't pull, just put gentle pressure, count to 30, and see what you feel. Pay close attention to gradual movements and stretch 2x a day, every single day. These are the things that helped me the most.

I was prescribed VIOXX which I took until people started dying from it, then had an injection (forgot the name, brain is butter today) and they suggested surgery to relieve the pressure on the nerve. I declined the surgery, and that was in 2002. Once I started doing Yoga, my life was a whole lot better. I personally hate the idea of taking medication, or cutting stuff off my body unless it's absolutely necessary I guess.

 

looks like you have some sciatica as well.

unfortunately, back pain tends to stick around for your life. You will have flare ups (random symptoms) every so often.

Ask your specialist/physician regarding NSAIDs. If it hurts to a point that you cannot tolerate, I suggest you ask for a low dose pain killer for now

Best thing to do is do some yoga/pilates to strengthen your back and also back and leg stretches.

If you could also get a referral to a podiatrist and PT to check out your gait and alignment

 

Lots of good stuff in this thread. I think there was another thread a few years back about back pain too.

I did PT for about six months for a herniated disc, and continued doing things on my own after. Strengthening back, glutes, hamstrings, and calves helped a lot. Wearing the right shoes was super important to me, as if affected my gait, weight transfer, and pain management.

 

I live with back and neck pain every day of my life. One day I'll have to have it addressed. I have degenerative disc disease in my neck. Have a few decent days but lots of crappy ones.

What I really need to do is get in to yoga but I'm scared to be the fat guy that can't do anything. What I really wish is that yoga places would have a class for fat noobs. If I could get in to something like that I know it would help a lot.

I'm too competitive to be in a class with people doing stuff I can't. I'll do it anyways and end up farting my way to a torn muscle or two.

 

You have to start somewhere with yoga. Very few people start out as Stretch Armstrong I have been thinking about starting yoga too because of my hip/leg surgery.

As for walking? The right shoes is a myth to me. NO shoes is how your feet are designed, but not really a great situation in average society today. I broke my femur in a car accident and they said I'd never walk without a limp. They were wrong because I am stubborn, but that doesn't mean it didn't hurt. I had to re-learn how to walk. They said I should wear orthopedic inserts or special shoes and I don't and I have been fine for years.

 

i havent had surgery on my back. but i have had a blown/bulging disc develop from my downhill MTB ridinmg along with soccer as a keeper.

everynow and then, especially in the cold, i get inor spasms and excruciating pain. i also used the be a bike mechanic and would be on my feet all day. literally as soon as i began to sit down, i could feel the tension in my lower back.

what i found to work for me is water and stretching. when it gets really bad, i have the laqdy knead out the knots. an icebath is GREAT. yes it will be cold for a few mins but u and ur body will love u in the morning.

i can only recommend excessive stretching, pt, and ice.

 

Yeah a noticed that my running shoes do not provide the support they used to while my timberland boots do and they are easier to wear all day.

I should just join a yoga class.

 

WIN WIN!
babes and phy therappy!

 

Cripes, all ya old farts are making my hurt back hurt worse and I'm 40 and had no pain until my accident. Did PT went away, well at least long enough to notice it gone. Since the new accident the pain's back.

How damned old are you all anyhow? Was I just lucky until I was 37 to never have had prior issues? I don't wanna look forward to surgery some day. Short version, IMHO this last round of PT has also had serious core exercises as well as stretching intervals and constant chiropractic adjustments until two weeks ago. Come to think of it I've noticed more tingles and a sort of throbbing @ the inside of my lower leg and foot recently since the adjustments stopped.

Heck it was what, 2-3 Va-Jay-Jay meets back when I just had to leave b/c I was in so much pain. You guys have had to live with this stuff to the point of Surgery, I should be counting my blessings.

 

*Had to look before answering w/ suggestions.

Naproxen, Soma or Cyclobenzaprine. Used in combination as a NSAID and relaxant when going to bed. Helps keep things limber.

Ditto the Yoga, been trying it lately and it's helped immensely. Besides, like all guys say bro,

Yoga Pants. Worth the trip alone.