have been feeling numbness on my right leg (between knee and foot) for a total period about 5 hours since today morning. So I slowed down the lengthening speed from 1 mm per day to 0.75 mm. Is there any other action I can take to prevent possible damage?
Numbness on lower legs is very common and not a big concern. You can ask PT to teach you to do some nerve glides to stretch irritated nerves, but it won’t be as helpful as slowing down lengthening. Once your lower legs start to feel numb, it’s possible that nerve pain will be coming next. Nerve pain is different from other types of pain, it’s usually unbearable without taking pain meds like gabapentin. I’ve seen several people who couldn’t stretch and became tight quickly because of nerve pain. If you’re concerned about taking gabapentin (once you start to take it, you have to be on it until finishing lengthening), slowing down would be the best option and should help.
Quote from: SuchLL on December 19, 2021, 06:58:13 AMNumbness on lower legs is very common and not a big concern. You can ask PT to teach you to do some nerve glides to stretch irritated nerves, but it won’t be as helpful as slowing down lengthening. Once your lower legs start to feel numb, it’s possible that nerve pain will be coming next. Nerve pain is different from other types of pain, it’s usually unbearable without taking pain meds like gabapentin. I’ve seen several people who couldn’t stretch and became tight quickly because of nerve pain. If you’re concerned about taking gabapentin (once you start to take it, you have to be on it until finishing lengthening), slowing down would be the best option and should help.
Great info! I appreciate it! You mentioned about gabapentin. Do you think that has more side effect than oxy? If not, how’s gabapentin compared to Tylenol?
Quote from: SuchLL on December 19, 2021, 06:58:13 AMNumbness on lower legs is very common and not a big concern. You can ask PT to teach you to do some nerve glides to stretch irritated nerves, but it won’t be as helpful as slowing down lengthening. Once your lower legs start to feel numb, it’s possible that nerve pain will be coming next. Nerve pain is different from other types of pain, it’s usually unbearable without taking pain meds like gabapentin. I’ve seen several people who couldn’t stretch and became tight quickly because of nerve pain. If you’re concerned about taking gabapentin (once you start to take it, you have to be on it until finishing lengthening), slowing down would be the best option and should help.
Great info! I appreciate it! You mentioned about gabapentin. Do you think that has more side effect than oxy? If not, how’s gabapentin compared to Tylenol?
Quote from: TakingAction on December 19, 2021, 10:19:53 AMGreat info! I appreciate it! You mentioned about gabapentin. Do you think that has more side effect than oxy? If not, how’s gabapentin compared to Tylenol?
Both gabapentin and tylenol can be used long term. I think they’re both safe. Oxy is only safe in short term. I would not worried about gabapentin if you have to take it one day. And since you only experienced numbness for 5 hours, I think slowing down should prevent numbness in future. It’s important to let doctor know if you want to slow down. I’m not sure how fast your bones are healing, but in my case I can’t slow down because my bones are growing fast. If I have nerve pain I have to be on gabapentin. (I was on gabapentin for 2 months last year)
Quote from: SuchLL on December 19, 2021, 04:59:54 PMBoth gabapentin and tylenol can be used long term. I think they’re both safe. Oxy is only safe in short term. I would not worried about gabapentin if you have to take it one day. And since you only experienced numbness for 5 hours, I think slowing down should prevent numbness in future. It’s important to let doctor know if you want to slow down. I’m not sure how fast your bones are healing, but in my case I can’t slow down because my bones are growing fast. If I have nerve pain I have to be on gabapentin. (I was on gabapentin for 2 months last year)
Thank you for letting me know. I have been crazy researching about numbness on the forum for the past 24 hours, and I found that Dr. Assayag is super concerned about numbness based on his scary comment in the following post:
"Numbness should be IMMEDIATELY assessed by the surgeon. The first step is to SLOW DOWN lengthening. Nerve territory should be identified and appropriate nerve release should be done (if possible) . Before more damage is done. It is an URGENCY -Dr. Michael J Assayag MD FRCSC, Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Surgeon"
http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=65627.0
However, Dr. Paley's Guidebook says that the key danger/symptom to look for is NOT numbness BUT "weakness or paralysis of muscles" on Page 26. After I read about Dr. Paley's guidebook again, I think it's inappropriate for Dr. Assayag to scare readers by mentioning "nerve release" (surgery) when the post is about numbness, not a weakness of muscles. The "never release" (AKA nerve decompression surgery) is certainly URGENTLY needed to prevent permanent foot drop ONLY if there is a "weakness of muscles" not due to numbness based on the Paley Guidebook.
Now, if the symptom is only numbness but NOT a weakness of muscles, then there is no need to slow down the lengthening speed, right?
Quote from: TakingAction on December 19, 2021, 11:13:40 PMThank you for letting me know. I have been crazy researching about numbness on the forum for the past 24 hours, and I found that Dr. Assayag is super concerned about numbness based on his scary comment in the following post:
"Numbness should be IMMEDIATELY assessed by the surgeon. The first step is to SLOW DOWN lengthening. Nerve territory should be identified and appropriate nerve release should be done (if possible) . Before more damage is done. It is an URGENCY -Dr. Michael J Assayag MD FRCSC, Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Surgeon"
http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=65627.0
However, Dr. Paley's Guidebook says that the key danger/symptom to look for is NOT numbness BUT "weakness or paralysis of muscles" on Page 26. After I read about Dr. Paley's guidebook again, I think it's inappropriate for Dr. Assayag to scare readers by mentioning "nerve release" (surgery) when the post is about numbness, not a weakness of muscles. The "never release" (AKA nerve decompression surgery) is certainly URGENTLY needed to prevent permanent foot drop ONLY if there is a "weakness of muscles" not due to numbness based on the Paley Guidebook.
Now, if the symptom is only numbness but NOT a weakness of muscles, then there is no need to slow down the lengthening speed, right?
Why would u not tho ?
It does not matter if Assayag is wrong, giving ur soft tissues less trauma is always gonna be beneficial .
If I was you , I would slow down to 0.75 mm a day for few days at least.
Its not a sprint but a marathon therefore 0.50 or 0.75 mm of gains lost in a matter of a 2 or 3 days time frame , might be way more beneficial in the long run then to keep doing 1mm a day for a faster lenghtening process but a worst rehab in the long term .
You are doing this once in a lifetime ,some more days won't be brutal so please slow down if your bone regeneration its not very fast to fear pre consolidation.
Quote from: Masteryourlife on December 20, 2021, 12:43:21 AMWhy would u not tho ?
It does not matter if Assayag is wrong, giving ur soft tissues less trauma is always gonna be beneficial .
If I was you , I would slow down to 0.75 mm a day for few days at least.
Its not a sprint but a marathon therefore 0.50 or 0.75 mm of gains lost in a matter of a 2 or 3 days time frame , might be way more beneficial in the long run then to keep doing 1mm a day for a faster lenghtening process but a worst rehab in the long term .
You are doing this once in a lifetime ,some more days won't be brutal so please slow down if your bone regeneration its not very fast to fear pre consolidation.
Well, the numbness frequency and period are decreased today. Also, Dr. Paley’s guidebook mentioned the real danger of nerve injury happens only if the weakness of muscles happen. So I don’t see the point of delaying the lengthening again today. Delaying the lengthening feels like stuck in a traffic jam and not going to places….
Quote from: TakingAction on December 20, 2021, 01:27:39 AMWell, the numbness frequency and period are decreased today. Also, Dr. Paley’s guidebook mentioned the real danger of nerve injury happens only if the weakness of muscles happen. So I don’t see the point of delaying the lengthening again today. Delaying the lengthening feels like stuck in a traffic jam and not going to places….
Ya I was told numbness is ok and not a big concern. Weakness of muscles is serious. If I only feel numbness and nerve pain, I would just keep doing 1mm per day and start to take gabapentin. However you mentioned you feel painful every day, so slowing down should also reduce the pain and make life easier. I understand why you don’t want to slow down though.
Quote from: TakingAction on December 20, 2021, 01:27:39 AMWell, the numbness frequency and period are decreased today. Also, Dr. Paley’s guidebook mentioned the real danger of nerve injury happens only if the weakness of muscles happen. So I don’t see the point of delaying the lengthening again today. Delaying the lengthening feels like stuck in a traffic jam and not going to places….
Numbness is normal. It will go away a few weeks into consolidation period as your nerves begin to catch up.
Nerve pain is a very different subject. If you feel significant nerve pain, such as a thunder-like striking pain, it may be better to slow down. Consult with Robbins.
Numbness could eventually lead to nerve pain, but not always.
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