How long before damage to nerves in back are permanent ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mznell
  • Start date Start date
M

mznell

Guest
I was very stubborn and waited 3 years before I had surgery. As soon as I was out from the anesthetic, I could tell the nerve pain was gone. During this time, I kept checking with my doctor to see if I was causing permanent damage by waiting for surgery...but he kept saying "no." If you develop "foot drop" :( you should see your doc immediately. Otherwise, other than lots of pain, you'll probably be OK.
 
Bad news here - for me it was 3 months. 3 lousy months that I spent at a chiropractor instead of getting medical treatment. Doctors kept assuring me that the nerve pain/nurabness would go away, but it hasn't. I had no idea something as short as 3 months could do it. Hard lesson learned.
 
Hey Mike,
I agree with the others.....each case is different. I think it depenRAB on how badly the nerve is crushed or affected. For me it was only 3 weeks and I had foot drop, pain, weakness. It has been almost a year and I still have pain and weakness. Good luck, I hope the injection works for you.

Deb
 
About how long if left compressed are pinched with the nerve damage be permanent?

It has been 4 months now and i will just be getting my first Epil shot, i have had the EMG test done and has " mild radiculopathy" I have been put on Gabintine for the nerve pain.

My leg pain has not gotten any better maybe alittle worse and still loss about 1.5 inch in thigh circumstane.

Doctors are talking about operation if shots do not work, Will the nerves last that long before some kind of permanent damage occurs?

Thanks Mike
 
There is no set answer --- no two people/cases are the same. If you are only 4 months out with the nerve pain, I would venture to say you won't have nerve pain.
 
I was going to say the same as what Pepper just said. I was also told that it is different for everyone. I just wanted to encourage you, that I think you will be fine, esspecially since your Drs. are now working on you.

Please keep us informed as to how you are doing.

Lorie:angel:
 
Thanks to all who wrote me on this subject...

Things seem to really get crazy, since the hernaited disc L5 S1 i told doctors that three days later i started getting pain and weakness in thigh.

Well to make a long story short it has been 4 months now, and both my Neuro and spine doc agree no way coming form the Disc that got herniated.

But during an visit to the neuro he said i had something wrong with my neck as i had " hyperreflexia" And had bad weakness in right side LE and muscle atrophy.

So now they are tested for a think either a upper neck injury are some kind of neuro problem coming form maybe the brain ( like ms) are something like that.

So i had a million blood test ( came back good) had MRI neck, brain and a brian wave test and should get results wednsday. I am hopeful it is something they can fix and then a life long problem.

I have never been really sick that much since i started working at 16yo, never a back problem seems like something went wrong when the disc got hernaited.

One thing for sure i am really confussed about this whole mess...

Mike
 
Hey Mike,
I can "hear" the frustration in your post. I'm sorry you have to endure all this uncertainty, it seems to be "the nature of the beast". Please let us know how the test results turn out and good luck.

Deb
 
Mike, it was 3 years today that I was injured. I had a laminectomy and discectomy in March. I seem to not have the pain down my legs. I do get sharp jolts and alot on tingling. I was told it takes awhile because of the length of time the nerves were compressed.
 
hello , Well I had a pinched nerve for over a year and once I got the surgery it went away just like that ...so I can testify that a year MAY be a safe bet.
good luck
 
I will say a prayer for you Mike and hope all your tests come back negative. Simple disc problems are a lot easier to deal with than the problems they are looking for.

Neck problems can be a separate problem from your lower lurabar spine. Often degenerate changes occur in the neck as well as the lurabar spine.

Hugs,
Pooby
 
I am so sorry for this additional stuff that you are having to deal with now. I will keep you in my prayers, for a quick release of any nerve damage. I am very glad that your Drs. are at least looking for the problem, so that you can then decide on a plan to hopefully fix things.

Good luck and please keep usp posted.

Lorie:angel:
 
Back
Top