It's been almost 5 months since my TKR and I've had a difficult time with my quads not responding to treatments, making it hard for me to walk, do stairs, get up from a sitting position ect. Had an appointment with my surgeon for the results of the MRI & EMG he ordered. It seems I have nerve root compression (medical term for pinched nerve) at the second & third vertebrae., which of course controls the quads. My options are back surgery or spinal injections, not thrilled with either choice. Will make an appointment for consultation with spinal surgeon and listen to what he says.
hi patty
sorry to hear that....how on earth do they think that happened? anything to do with the op ?
seems most strange dusnt it ?
off for my nerve conduc studies tomorrow
hope you ok
helen x
I've had the spinal injections 3 different times over the past 15 years. Had good luck but it always took either 2nd or 3rd one in the series to get max relief. They really are not bad. They use a little lanicane to start the numbing process and then you feel pressure with the actual injection but not real pain. It takes 24 to 48 hrs for it to kick in and the good long term relief. 5 years ago I had decompression surgery on the L4-5 and it was a God send. Went in absolute agony, barely able to walk with help of a cane. The minute I woke up I could feel the relief and never have had the same kind of pain or even close to it since
Helen,
I probably had the pinched nerves, nerver bothered me, but the surgery aggrivated it and made it worse. This may sound crazy but I'm glad something showed up and the problem can be fixed. Best of luck to you with your nerve study tomorrow.
Keep well, Patty
OFG,
Thank you for letting me know about your experience with the spinal injections. I've been some research on the spinal injections and I think that's what I'm going to do.
Hope all is good with you, Patty
Hi Patty, I have also been having a hard time with quad activation. The term that they have given me is Femoral nerve palsy...which means the quad on the tkr side doesn't contract so, just like you, difficult to walk...stairs are a nightmare (I bought a leg brace that is locked at the knee to wear when I have to go up or down stairs...and has really helped my confidence as the muscle slooooowly gets stronger). Interestingly, the PT said that sometimes the tourniquet they use during surgery can pinch these nerves/muscles. I'm interested to see how you get on..it may not be the same situation but hopethis helps you out. This whole recovery thing feels like more than I signed up for. Good luck with the consult. Donna xx
Hi Helen, are you also having muscle strength issues?
Donna, I haven't heard of Femoral nerve palsy but it does sound like we have the same issues. I at first thought the tourniquet was to blame for my quad problems but my surgeron assured me that wasn't the case. The MRI showed I do have pinched nerves which effect the quads, which wasn't caused by the surgery. My consult about spinal injections isn't till next week and I'm keeping all my options open, even thinking about a consult with a chiropractor. The recovery does seem to get overwhelming at times and it will get better!
Good luck to you, Patty
hi donna
i had an arthroscopy over 2 years ago and since then am unable to activate my quads, at one point they hinted it was the tourniquet then when i mentioned solicitors they said it def wasnt tourniquet, some kind of quads palsy maybe femoral nerve palsy...but they just dont seem to know. they gave me a full leg brace, M4XLock, to try and stabilize the knee to stop me falling..i go to physio but nothing seems to work. dont relayy get pain...just my quads wont work...cant do straight leg raise..no loss of feeling etc....all weird !!!! and frustrating !!!
x
hi patty
just wondering...do you have pain/lack of feeling/tingling etc in your quads?
i dont haave any of that , no problem with sensory issues only motor issues....and the surgeons keep changing their minds what it is/ how it happened...etc
x
I don't have pain or tingling either..it just won't move much and has only started to move this past week, which is 5 weeks post op.
weird isnt it ? mine wont move at all after so long and my quad in atrophy
x
Oh wow..I hear you. Very frustrating indeed, no pain here either, no numbness just lack of movement. I can finally move the foot about 30 degrees when I am on the pt bench or my bed but not when I am sitting down with the foot on the floor. It feels like even ehen I do manage to move it that the hip flexors are doing some of the work. At this point I bet you'd just like to know what's happening and how to fix it..never mindif and who to sue! I am sure you'd just like some light at the end of this tunnel Dx
So could the spinal anaesthetic have caused this? I have thigh numbness and nerve pain which I am pretty sure the tourniquet caused (plenty of articles on internet about this, and about the optimum pressure to avoid this problem) and I also have tingling and burning feet which is only post operation, which I think might have been caused by the spinal as it is in both feet. . . Going for EMG on 17th August, so it will be interesting to see what that comes up with! I don't expect any ttreatment really, as it is not as bad as yours. . my muscles respond OK, although not very strong, but that's probably my fault for not exercising more! Hope the spinal injections work for you . . it's a never ending business isn't it!
Helen,
I don't have any pain or tingling in my quads, just motor issues also.
Hi, With the exception of my quad problem, I've had no real issues from my TKR, no thigh numbness or burning/tingling. Good luck with your
EMG, keep us posted, Patty
hi there
had emg and nerve conduction studies this am...was ok...very nice chap... who said he could not get any reading at all from the quad muscle....my other leg was fine. the nerve readingseemed to be ok, but weaker again than the normal head.....he will write his report and send to my consultant....so i will have to wait and see. he did say the problem is definately in the thigh/quad.
so, another wait for another appointment !!!
x
Do they say what resolution there may be after all their tests are completed?
The MRI & EMG have been completed, my surgeon said my options are spinal injections or spinal surgery and more physical therapy. I don't want anymore surgery, so I'm actually going to talk to a chiropractor and see what options he has for me.
Do not worry if it turns out you need surgery.
I am the reverse to you. I had neurosurgery two years ago this month for herniated disc and also opening up my spinal canal which had collapsed inwards in two places trapping nerves so a double op. I was in a wheelchair quite a bit of the time when out - particularly for hospital visits or supermarket - anywhere where distance was involved. The operation partly solved the problem but still cannot walk too far because lower spinal canal also too narrow (they only operate on one level at a time) and I still have neurogenic claudication. This is unlikely to be the case with you.
I am now in the position of awaiting a TKR which has happened because the leg in question was my good leg and had taken all the punishment with my back.
Having been following this forum to give myself clues for the TKR to come, I am convinced the neurosurgery was a piece of cake. I kept on my medication for about a month (GP instruction) but had very little pain, no loss of sleep or depression. The only bizarre thing (and this depends on the thought process at the hospital concerned) you had to stay in bed for two weeks, getting up for a walk round every hour or so, but you were not allowed to sit down except for the toilet. During that period I did exactly as I was told, watched TV and read, entertained visitors, flung on my tracksuit from time to time and extended my walking up the road. Like the leg ice packs after exercise on back. I even went back to work at three weeks - only for two days - we work on communication skills with doctors several weekends per year. It worked fine as by then I was up to short periods sitting and then standing. The consultant I was working with was heavily pregnant and we made a great team. I did the role plays sitting down (15 minutes each) then we both stood up to give the doctors feedback (10 minutes). I lasted the day tired but pain was fine.
So ....... if it turns out to be surgery do not expect it to be like your TKR. Alhouth I had injections for my leg which only lasted two weeks hence the TKR, I was never given the option with my back. They took one look at my MRI scan and said operation. Hope this encourages you.