Permanent pins and needles - anyone else?
Discussion
14 months ago I stopped to help a fat lady get back to her feet after she fell in the street. I slipped a disc, got a nasty tingling pins and needles in my leg, and 14 months later it's still there. Obviously I've been through the proper medical channels, and am on medication, which cuts the feeling in half, but leaves me feeling totally zonked out for the whole day.
Has anyone else experienced this? If so, did it fade with time? I'm 34 now and I honestly don't think I can stand this for another year, let alone the rest of my life. I'm told that might be the case, but thought I'd ask around to hear other people's stories.
thanks!
Has anyone else experienced this? If so, did it fade with time? I'm 34 now and I honestly don't think I can stand this for another year, let alone the rest of my life. I'm told that might be the case, but thought I'd ask around to hear other people's stories.
thanks!
OH has been suffering for a year. Pins and needles in his right leg and often it feels dead. He has suffered for a year. Finally in June this year he had an MRI scan and has been diagnosed with Stenosis. Hospital wanted to operate on him this month but due to me having cancer AGAIN and having a VERY challenging time on two different types of Chemo, one of which is very vicious his op has been delayed until November.
What really upset us was the NHS did NOT X Ray or give him a scan in June 2010 just put him on five different types of pain killers which meant he was off his head. Some nights he was screaming in pain like an animal and he is no wimp.
Just make sure you are not fobbed off and good luck.
What really upset us was the NHS did NOT X Ray or give him a scan in June 2010 just put him on five different types of pain killers which meant he was off his head. Some nights he was screaming in pain like an animal and he is no wimp.
Just make sure you are not fobbed off and good luck.
rob what meds ?
and who have you seen - have you been seen by a Neurosurgeon that does spinal surgery and/or a Spinal Injuries doc or just by Orthopods ? ( being that ortho referrals are easily available and neuro surgery is a regional service and Spinal Injuries docs are regional but the regions are big ... )
opiates may not work for this kind of pain - and other agents may be better for the pain and for their side effect profile ...
and who have you seen - have you been seen by a Neurosurgeon that does spinal surgery and/or a Spinal Injuries doc or just by Orthopods ? ( being that ortho referrals are easily available and neuro surgery is a regional service and Spinal Injuries docs are regional but the regions are big ... )
opiates may not work for this kind of pain - and other agents may be better for the pain and for their side effect profile ...
Thanks for the replies 
On the day after I lifted the lady, A&E sent me home after examination by a couple of medical students and said everything was fine, despite a pain in my back and intense buzzing down my leg. I have since seen an orthopedic/spinal surgeon in London, who said that I almost certainly did slip a disc. I've also started dating a doctor since then who says it's almost certain that's what happened. The surgeon requested an MRI in April, which showed that all my discs were back to normal again, although I still had the buzzing in my leg. I've since been referred via the NHS to a pain clinic who have started a treatment programme. I'm at stage one of three drugs to try, which is amitriptyline, and it's not really working. There's a small effect, but I still have the buzzing 24/7. I didn't sleep at all a few nights ago because of it, so it's really interferring with work and my time off
The pain clinic advised that it's probably permanent, but I find that concept so unbelievably depressing I wanted to chat to some other people who've had the same thing to learn about their experiences, and if it has faded at all over time.
On the day after I lifted the lady, A&E sent me home after examination by a couple of medical students and said everything was fine, despite a pain in my back and intense buzzing down my leg. I have since seen an orthopedic/spinal surgeon in London, who said that I almost certainly did slip a disc. I've also started dating a doctor since then who says it's almost certain that's what happened. The surgeon requested an MRI in April, which showed that all my discs were back to normal again, although I still had the buzzing in my leg. I've since been referred via the NHS to a pain clinic who have started a treatment programme. I'm at stage one of three drugs to try, which is amitriptyline, and it's not really working. There's a small effect, but I still have the buzzing 24/7. I didn't sleep at all a few nights ago because of it, so it's really interferring with work and my time off
The pain clinic advised that it's probably permanent, but I find that concept so unbelievably depressing I wanted to chat to some other people who've had the same thing to learn about their experiences, and if it has faded at all over time.
Sorry to hear about your injury.
I've got similar, P&N running up my left leg from my toes to the top of my knee.
In my case it is due to a damaged L4 vertebrae putting pressure on a disc which then is pressing against a nerve. I've had a couple of spinal surgeons opinions and they both say a partial discectomy may be needed in the future. I've got used to it after 5 years and only occasionally need ibuprofen so it sounds quite a bit less severe than yours.
Definitely worth seeking a spinal surgeon. Fortunately the Ortho who first saw me made a referral once he had seen the MRI results.
I've got similar, P&N running up my left leg from my toes to the top of my knee.
In my case it is due to a damaged L4 vertebrae putting pressure on a disc which then is pressing against a nerve. I've had a couple of spinal surgeons opinions and they both say a partial discectomy may be needed in the future. I've got used to it after 5 years and only occasionally need ibuprofen so it sounds quite a bit less severe than yours.
Definitely worth seeking a spinal surgeon. Fortunately the Ortho who first saw me made a referral once he had seen the MRI results.
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