Nerve damage from Colon resection

menright
menright Member Posts: 256 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I have had a persistent numbness in my right hand and my left thigh and groin since surgery (April 2009). The doctors at first said it was from the placement on the operating table (8hrs long) and may subside.

Many months later and I still have the numbness. I think they damaged some nerves during the surgery and cannot tell me.

I have an appointment with a Neurologist, so perhaps I will discover a solution.

Any similar conditions? I would appreciate any comments and/or fixes to such numbness conditions.

Thanks,

Mike

Comments

  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #2
    In the pelvic area..........
    are the nerve endings for it all and if they were digging around taking out the tumor and cancer they may have clipped nerves that belong to the hand and groin areas...They told me that during surgery they would be in the very close vicinity of a lot of nerve endings and it was a possibility (50%) that I would have some permanent side effects with it...I still signed on the dotted line.....as far as return feeling...nerve damage and regrowth is a very,very slow process and sometimes never occurs. I hope all goes well with you.....Clift
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #3
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • mom_2_3
    mom_2_3 Member Posts: 953 Member
    #4
    Fingers
    Mike,

    Prior to discovering the CC I had a herniated disc which caused permanent numbness in the two first fingers of my right hand. I was told by the orthopedist that they would likely always be numb (they feel like they are asleep). Perhaps there is some coincidence with your surgery and some back injury? The vertebrae at the neck are associated with finger numbness. I don't know how surgery the pelvic region could affect your fingers (although it could obviously affect the groin area).

    Probably this has nothing to do with your symptoms but perhaps it is back-related in your case.

    All the best,
    Amy
  • neon356
    neon356 Member Posts: 137 Member
    #5
    Mike, I had the same problem
    Mike, I had the same problem in my left leg- numbness, difficulty lifting my leg. The Doc told me the same thing and to give it time for the nerves to regenerate. It lasted for a long time, maybe a year or so. In my case I got better over time but I still have a slight bit of numbness but not enough to hold me back from most normal activities. I'd really like to know what your neurologist says about it.
    Carl
  • menright
    menright Member Posts: 256 Member
    #6
    neon356 said:

    Mike, I had the same problem
    Mike, I had the same problem in my left leg- numbness, difficulty lifting my leg. The Doc told me the same thing and to give it time for the nerves to regenerate. It lasted for a long time, maybe a year or so. In my case I got better over time but I still have a slight bit of numbness but not enough to hold me back from most normal activities. I'd really like to know what your neurologist says about it.
    Carl

    Nerve damage
    Carl:

    Just back from the Neurologist. He tells me that my symptoms are 3-seperate nerve related issues.

    1> My fingers is related to my funny bone nerve and likely was pinched during surgery. He further stated that nerves regenerate at 1mm per day. If this is my case if will take awhile for the numbness to go away.

    2> My thigh numbness is yet another nerve running from my spine to my hip and the onto the thigh. He said the position they put you in during colon surgery is likely the cause and time shall heal.

    3> The groin numbness is yet another set of nerves called the Sacral nerves. This is likely a severed nerve during surgery and likely permanent.

    I am going back in for a EMG which test the electrical flow of my nerves. The Neurologist is also going to look at my MRI's to see if the nerve damage can be viewed. I have had two MRI's and another one soon as part of my Chemo process.

    All in all, not much encouragement. I guess I was was hoping for a repair plan.

    Mike
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #7
    menright said:

    Nerve damage
    Carl:

    Just back from the Neurologist. He tells me that my symptoms are 3-seperate nerve related issues.

    1> My fingers is related to my funny bone nerve and likely was pinched during surgery. He further stated that nerves regenerate at 1mm per day. If this is my case if will take awhile for the numbness to go away.

    2> My thigh numbness is yet another nerve running from my spine to my hip and the onto the thigh. He said the position they put you in during colon surgery is likely the cause and time shall heal.

    3> The groin numbness is yet another set of nerves called the Sacral nerves. This is likely a severed nerve during surgery and likely permanent.

    I am going back in for a EMG which test the electrical flow of my nerves. The Neurologist is also going to look at my MRI's to see if the nerve damage can be viewed. I have had two MRI's and another one soon as part of my Chemo process.

    All in all, not much encouragement. I guess I was was hoping for a repair plan.

    Mike

    Mike....
    You have a pm........
  • vinny3
    vinny3 Member Posts: 928 Member
    #8
    menright said:

    Nerve damage
    Carl:

    Just back from the Neurologist. He tells me that my symptoms are 3-seperate nerve related issues.

    1> My fingers is related to my funny bone nerve and likely was pinched during surgery. He further stated that nerves regenerate at 1mm per day. If this is my case if will take awhile for the numbness to go away.

    2> My thigh numbness is yet another nerve running from my spine to my hip and the onto the thigh. He said the position they put you in during colon surgery is likely the cause and time shall heal.

    3> The groin numbness is yet another set of nerves called the Sacral nerves. This is likely a severed nerve during surgery and likely permanent.

    I am going back in for a EMG which test the electrical flow of my nerves. The Neurologist is also going to look at my MRI's to see if the nerve damage can be viewed. I have had two MRI's and another one soon as part of my Chemo process.

    All in all, not much encouragement. I guess I was was hoping for a repair plan.

    Mike

    nerve problems
    Mike, the good thing is that two of the problems will resolve on their own and I can tell you from experience that for the third ( groin numbness) your brain will get used to it and it will be less of a factor over time. The EMG helps to define where along the course of a nerve the problem lies.

    ****
  • coolvdub
    coolvdub Member Posts: 408 Member
    #9
    vinny3 said:

    nerve problems
    Mike, the good thing is that two of the problems will resolve on their own and I can tell you from experience that for the third ( groin numbness) your brain will get used to it and it will be less of a factor over time. The EMG helps to define where along the course of a nerve the problem lies.

    ****

    Yes it happes
    Hi Mike,
    I am also suffering from numbness in my right leg. After surgery when they want you to walk, I almost hit the ground. Good thing is the nurses were there to catch me. My surgery was June 15th and I am still dealing with it. I left the hospital using a walker and now just use a hinged knee brace and a cane. I saw the doctor a couple of weeks ago and she said this was not uncommon. I have done an MRI of the lower spine for her to examine and on the 18th of this month she will do a nerve study and an EMG to pinpoint what exactly has happened. I am not happy about it, but at least they got all the cancer and I'm here to talk about it. If you want I will keep you posted as to what they find, you aren't alone on this one.

    Don
  • menright
    menright Member Posts: 256 Member
    #10
    coolvdub said:

    Yes it happes
    Hi Mike,
    I am also suffering from numbness in my right leg. After surgery when they want you to walk, I almost hit the ground. Good thing is the nurses were there to catch me. My surgery was June 15th and I am still dealing with it. I left the hospital using a walker and now just use a hinged knee brace and a cane. I saw the doctor a couple of weeks ago and she said this was not uncommon. I have done an MRI of the lower spine for her to examine and on the 18th of this month she will do a nerve study and an EMG to pinpoint what exactly has happened. I am not happy about it, but at least they got all the cancer and I'm here to talk about it. If you want I will keep you posted as to what they find, you aren't alone on this one.

    Don

    Numbness
    Don:

    Best of luck with your recovery. Yes please keep me informed on their EMG study and any fix they propose.

    Best Wishes.

    Mike
  • coolvdub
    coolvdub Member Posts: 408 Member
    #11
    menright said:

    Numbness
    Don:

    Best of luck with your recovery. Yes please keep me informed on their EMG study and any fix they propose.

    Best Wishes.

    Mike

    Will do
    Mike,

    No problem, I will keep you up to date. As they say knowledge is power.

    Don
  • coolvdub
    coolvdub Member Posts: 408 Member
    #12
    coolvdub said:

    Will do
    Mike,

    No problem, I will keep you up to date. As they say knowledge is power.

    Don

    Update for Mike
    Hi Mike,

    I did my nerve study and EMG on Friday. DX was Femoral Neuropthy. So I have some nerve damage from surgery, but it is healing. I will be going to see a specialist who is of all things a plastic surgeon. My Doc just wants to verify her findings. Her response when I asked how long before I regain normal leg function was I can't give you an answer. Upon pressing her for an answer, she said most likely 6 months or more. I hope no longer than 6 months. She did recommend to put an ankle weight on my foot and do a leg lift where I straighten out my leg while sitting and hold it for ten seconds, she said to do this several times a day. I also asked if riding my bike would help to regain some muscle in my quads and she said yes, so I will be starting that today if my nausea goes away.

    Don
  • melissa61265
    melissa61265 Member Posts: 1
    #13
    Numbness
    Hi, I was reading about your numbness after surgery. Do you still have that problem? So to here all that you have been through. It sounds like nerve damage [obviously] I just wanted to pass on the name of an amazing Dr. Her name is Susan Mackinnon. She is located at St. Barnes Hospital located in St. Louis. She is a plastic and reconstruvtive Dr. She specializes in nerve damage to the limbs. She is saving limbs from amputation after war. She did the first hand transplant. My daughter has no feeling in her right foot after a auto accident. Doctors in my area said you just wait and see with nerve damage. They may or may not heal. I could not accept that.We got into her and she found the problem. We go June ( 2010 for her first of possibly 3. The prognosis is great. She has a blocked nerve that no one elso was able to detect. That nerve would have died over time. She probably still could have fixed it anyway. Just a much more evasive procedure. Yes! she is one of only a handful of people in the world who can do that . But she is doing it. She is the pioneer of the transplant. She is also a professor. You can google her and get alot of info on her. Hope this helps at least one person.
  • snommintj
    snommintj Member Posts: 601
    #14
    melissa61265 said:

    Numbness
    Hi, I was reading about your numbness after surgery. Do you still have that problem? So to here all that you have been through. It sounds like nerve damage [obviously] I just wanted to pass on the name of an amazing Dr. Her name is Susan Mackinnon. She is located at St. Barnes Hospital located in St. Louis. She is a plastic and reconstruvtive Dr. She specializes in nerve damage to the limbs. She is saving limbs from amputation after war. She did the first hand transplant. My daughter has no feeling in her right foot after a auto accident. Doctors in my area said you just wait and see with nerve damage. They may or may not heal. I could not accept that.We got into her and she found the problem. We go June ( 2010 for her first of possibly 3. The prognosis is great. She has a blocked nerve that no one elso was able to detect. That nerve would have died over time. She probably still could have fixed it anyway. Just a much more evasive procedure. Yes! she is one of only a handful of people in the world who can do that . But she is doing it. She is the pioneer of the transplant. She is also a professor. You can google her and get alot of info on her. Hope this helps at least one person.

    tied down too tight
    I've been without the sense of touch in both my hands since july 08. I had a 14 hour surgery and then was in a drug induced coma for 4 days. They tied me up way too tight and both my arms were almost completely numb for 6 month. Some of the nerves have grown back but still no sense of touch in either hand.
  • jenhopesprays
    jenhopesprays Member Posts: 128 Member
    #15
    I have this on my right
    I have this on my right thigh from cytoreduction surgery.

    My surgeon said it was typical because of a nerve that runs down your pelvis that branches to your leg.

    It has been 15 months and its slowly starting to come back.

    Best Wishes
  • zenmonk
    zenmonk Member Posts: 198
    #16
    numbness
    I have had nerve issues since my original surgery. Mostly in my legs and feet. I think the neuroligist may be able to provide some good answers.

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