I am 62 and also have weak right calf and can't tiptoe on my right leg. After MRI and CAT scans, it was diagnosed as stenosis (spinal channel narrowing due to bulging). I just had a mis discectomy surgery four weeks ago on my L4-5 to relieve pressure. I am now doing PT twice a week to rebuild the right calf strength. I will try to report back in few month on if I am able to restore any strength.
This has been really useful. I had a microdiscectomy in 2008 on my L5 disc then April 2015 I had a bulging disc on L4/L5 with which I has numbness on lower left calf and afoot, following surgery the numbness is still there on leg with freezing cold foot and muscles don't work in foot, my calf and thigh are now weakening as I walk with a limp. Physic isn't improving it either and I had nerve conduction studies done which showed the reduced feeling in my left foot and calf. From reading some of the comments above it seems I need to see a neurologist as I still feel the nerve is pinched somewhere causing this, although back pain has gone my life has changed drastically, balance has gone, pain is constant and feel 20 yrs older than I should. Can anyone else advise? I've been referred to pain management and physio, seems spinal surgeons are done with me....
I have a similar story. I had S1-L5 surgery in 2003. I had lived with a herniated disc from 1992. I lived with a medrol dosepak when it would become very agitated. Somehow in 2003, my herniated disc had ruptured and the disc fluid was spilling out onto my nerves. I had to have emergency surgery. They said I'd lose my left leg if I did't act quickly. Within 2 months after surgery I felt like a new person. Everything was back in order. I followed the PT regiment carefully and tried to stay to the course as much as possible. Sometime around 2010 I noticed my left foot cramping often when I slept and over the course of the next 6-12 months, I watched my left calf muscle atrophy just like everyone here is talking about. I returned to my doctor/neurosurgeon and after an MRI, they concluded that it is likely that scar tissue from the surgery was surpressing the left calf. They'd seen it before. The recommendation to me was to wait though as long as I had my mobility. My left calf is a good 3-4 inches smaller than my right. So it is embarrassing and unsightly, but if this is what I have do deal with so be it. Since it's been 5 years now that my calf is atrophied I will say that I wish I had focused continued workouts on my legs. I favor my right leg for most things and eventually there are ripple effects into the knee, quad and hip. So I highly recommend staying active in the gym. I have seen chiropractors, myofascial release therapists, etc trying to break up the scar tissue. I will try the EMG/NCS mentioned above - that is something I hadn't heard of. I am also going to buy one of those inversion tables in hope of relieving pressure on the nerve (if that is indeed the case). I hope this is helpful to others and if anybody learns of other options, I'm all ears. Oh - and this was a good video overview of the spine and this issue I just found. Cheers http://www.spine-health.com/video/spine-anatomy-interactive-video
I suffered a ruptured L5/S1 disc when I experienced a 10 foot fall, landing on my left hip. I had tingling/numbness down my left leg, couldn't feel my little toe and the part of my foot to which it attached. I could not raise my heels / stand on my tip toes. I was in agonizing pain, but because I feel strongly that the body has the ability to heal itself (to an extent), I wanted to find relief that did not involve surgery. Initially I found some relief in going barefoot whenever possible. It's worth mentioning that I have high arches, as I am trying to help anyone who might have had my experience and people with fallen arches might have a different experience. Five Fingers shoes made by Vibram, although unattractive, made a huge difference in my back pain. I started going on walks again. In the winter, I wear Ugg boots, which are intended to be worn without socks and provide room for toes to spread out. A few years later, my wife also suffered a ruptured disc. The neurologist said my wife's MRI indicated the worst rupture he'd seen in his full 25 years as a neurologist. She did some research and went on an anti-inflammation diet. 6 months later, she went back to the neurologist for a follow-up. Although he clearly had no interest in entertaining the idea that an anti-inflammation diet could alleviate the effects of a ruptured disc, he said "whatever you are doing, it's working." The followup MRI showed that the bulge had receded dramatically. She felt much better and has been pain free (for the most part) ever since. Because of her success, I tried the anti-inflammation diet. Prior to seeing her results, I was apprehensive because the diet requires commitment to work and meant cutting out some foods I loved. But I finally decided I was (literally!) sick of feeling pain all the time. The results were not overnight. I guess it took about 2 months to see a difference in my level of pain, and I realized in hindsight that it happened so gradually that by the time I noticed, I was feeling not just a little better, but much better . Eventually (in 2 years) got 90% of the feeling back and I now have full feeling and function. I can stand on my tip toes. I still have this weird phenomenon when I'm sitting (in any relaxed position): my left calf has little spasms in small areas all over at different times like there's a little storm going on in there. I can't feel it at all, so seeing it happen without feeling is strange.
Anyway, I hope this helps someone and will maybe keep them from going through surgery. I fought the urge to go under the knife as I was unable to sleep (attempting to sleep on the floor helped some), go to the bathroom properly (sometimes I couldn't distinguish the feeling correctly and would attempt but not really need to go), and I had to crawl most of the time, for six months! But I'm glad I did because although I expect to live with a level of pain for the rest of my life, it's small compared to what might have happened if I had surgery. As many have posted on the internet, any surgeon will tell you a discectomy is not guaranteed and might even make things worse.
The book my wife followed is called "Clean" by Alejandro Junger. She did not follow it's every word, just it's basic principles.
Ten years since my injury, I'd say I'm 95% back to normal. I have my days when I don't eat right and it affects my level of pain, but I can always get back on track by avoiding that food I knew I shouldn't have been eating anyway.
I hope someone benefits from my experience.
My problem, i can lift my two hundred pounds with my left foot but i can't get my right heel off the floor, therefore i don't have any push off with the right foot
when walking, which causes a very bad limp, kinda like having a broke toe and having to walk on your heel. Any help greatly appreciated.
Hi I can recognise what you are all saying and have been unable to stand on tip toes since an S1-L5 back fusion in 1992. No problems before the fusion afterwards the deficit has got slowly worse. I have had a spinal decompression (laparoscopic) and another "open" fusion at L4-L5 (2013) with no extra problems. The latter operation went very well and I am back to the gym an off pain meds for back pain. However, still having the same problems from the first op.
My calf muscles have atrophied over the years and I have seen a bunch of physios, podiatrists and consultants re this condition but no one to date has spelt out exactly what's has been happing and what if anything I can do to be able to manage this condition (due to lack of exercise I am a type 2 diabetic). However, my last consultant have given me the results of a motor NCS and Needle EMG that was performed and it all now fits together. Basically my right and left gastrocnemius and Tibialis anterior have been denervated due to the first operation and build up of scar tissue over the years. After 23 years there is no way back on this and the only way of getting the muscle mass back is to use estim to artificially stimulate the muscles. There are positives to this and some draw backs the major one being that the increased muscle mass is lost after stopping estim and that it does not help with walking and standing on your toes as you are reliant on estim to enable the muscles to work.
In the gym I do most exercises but for cardio rely on the cross trainer as running is very difficult. I try calf raises but do this with 20Kg and 25Kg on my right and left calf (no body weight). Walking and standing still cause me a lot of pain in my calf muscles principally because I overuse the ones that still work and get severe cramp etc. Really annoying as I used to be an active mountaineer and rock climber.
One of the issues with walking and running is that (a) my gait is basically heel to heel with no push up from the front of my foot and (b) I walk with very flat feet again as I don't push off with my toes. I have found good trainers with heel pads help as do orthotics with arch supports. However my ankles are suffering and I am trying out some combined ankle and arch supports from air-cast to assist in minimizing any damage I do from walking and manage any foot pain.
In summary my advice is to get a NCS/EMG study done as soon as possible after the back operation if you get these symptoms. The longer it is left the less you will get back in the future. It may well recover after the operation as my first surgeon suggested it would but it may not.
If you are stuck with it the NCS/EMG study should enable you and your medic to monitor the situation and to suggest the best ways for you to manage the condition in the longer term especially if your condition leaves you a medium level of long-term disability.
Barry
Cant stand on tip toes and calf muscle atrophy.
I had a herniated L5 disc that was impinching my S1 nerve. I went for about 12 months with that condition before opting for a discectomy on February 2013 I was numb down the back of my leg to my foot, but noticed my right calf muscle was feeling very tight, after my surgery and I cant tippy toe on that foot and it scares the hell outta me!! after 45 days my leg feel better but still I can't tippy toe.
Can anyone help me on this, what I need to do, exercises etc to rebuild the muscle or lessen the numbness and be able to tip toe
Carlos
I am 30 years old and 5 weeks post-surgery for what was classified as "severe spinal stenosis" caused by a herniation in the L4-L5 disc. I, like you, began with issues in my left leg first. Basically, if I lifted anything heavier than 15 lbs, I would feel pins and needles in my left leg instantly until I put the weight down.
I was not in pain, but I was concerned after it didn't go away. I went to see my family doctor and he sent me for a CT scan and was referred to physio. A few weeks later, before I could even be scheduled for physio, I woke up with the worst pain I have ever felt in my life radiating from the right side of my back down my right leg. I had to crawl on hands and knees just to get to the bathroom. 12 hours later my right leg was completely numb and I was experiencing fasticulations from my lower back right down to my foot on the right side. It was like there was an alien under my skin.
I went to the ER, where I was sent home with the expectation that I would be contacted for emergency surgery in a hospital 4 hours away, which was where the nearest neurosurgeon was located. The ER doctor did what he could, but my family physician didn't seem very concerned.
I went to see my family physician 2 days later. I had an MRI done which showed the seriousness of my condition. Other than beginning physio (where I was told straight out by the physiotherapist that he was not going to be able to help me, although he would continue with me until the doctors figured out what they were going to do) Nothing was done for 5 weeks until the local neurosurgeon came back from vacation on august 28/12. For 5 weeks, I experienced severe back pain, complete numbness/tingling in my right leg, and foot drop. I was dragging my foot behind me like quasimodo so I wouoldn't trip over my own toes as I had no control over the muscles in my ankle and foot. The local neurosurgeon asked me "why I waited so long". I was immediately sent to the ER for tests to check the strength of the muscles that controlled my bladder, which turned out to be functioning well. I was scheduled for surgery on Sept 10/12.
After the surgery 5 weeks ago, I have regained control of my ankle muscles and am no longer experiencing foot drop. I have feeling in my big toe and the arch of my foot, but the rest of my foot is completely numb. i am experiencing numbness in the back of my thigh, the back and right side of my right calf as well as the outside of my foot. I can move all of my toes, and walk with a slight limp if I sit for too long or if I sit on a soft surface like a couch, which disappears after I walk on the leg for a few minutes. I cannot stand on my tiptoes, but I can flex the muscles in my calf as long as my body weight is not on it.
Sometimes the calf muscle feels really tight, like there is a knot in it, and I occasionally experience a burning/tingling/electrical shock feeling in my right foot. I have been taking gabapentin which helps ease it some. I am fearful that the feeling in my foot will never return. I can jog without a limp although I haven't tested it out on long distance yet, but I cannot run at the moment.
Also, I am a woman and I can't wear high heels without going over on my ankle, which is a total bummer.
I go for my post-op check up with the neurosurgeon in 4 days. Hopefully he will clear me for physiotheraphy and I can begin rebuilding my strength in my back and legs. Once again, I am hoping the feeling will someday return to my foot, though I realize it could take years.
Have you experienced any improvement since your last post?
Sounds like damage to L5 nerve
I've been experiencing this for nearly 6 years since my tibia repair surgery, and all doctors tell me my issue is Functional Neurological/Movement Disorder. My right foot is always colder than the left, my body always feels like it's been superficially burnt, soles tingle when I first lay my feet on the ground in the morning, and the ball of my right foot feels tender and does a small spasm when I try to step off. Has anyone else here experienced these symptoms, and has anyone gotten help or recovered from your issues?
Get consultation with surgeon, always suggest surgery. I had normal foot and after advise of surgeon I did surgery and got nerve damage, foot drop and a lot a lot of pain. No treatment anymore.
I got a lot consultations after surgery and all the time I heard from specialists, "you got mechanically nerve damage by surgery no possibility to get back. When compression nerve before surgery it is passably relieves. Be careful, my advise look for right physical therapist, may be chiropractor, acupuncture. Acupressure was help me after surgery also swimming.
Has anyone that has responded over the last few years seen any improvement? I posted in 2016 about a sciatic nerve flare up that occurred in January 2013. I still have numbness in the left calf and part of the left foot and toes. Occasionally when standing in certain positions I get a lot of tingling through my left foot. I am hopeful that means the nerve is not permanently damaged..
My primary care DR gave me the name of a neuro-surgeon though I have yet to make an appointment as the last thing I want is back surgery that may male things worse. I am hoping there are exercises others have found beneficial to increase the muscle size. I fell that without the proper function of this muscle I'll have eventual hip and knee problems or worse.
I am 62 and also have weak right calf and cannot tiptoe on my right leg. After MRI and CAT scans, it was diagnosed as stenosis (spinal channel narrowing due to bulging). I just had a mis discectomy surgery four weeks ago on my L4-5 to relieve pressure. I am now doing PT twice a week to rebuild the right calf strength. I will try to report back in few month on if I am able to restore any strength.
I have the same thing from a sciatic nerve injury 15 yrs ago that I ignored after having injections, PT, chiropractic you name it. I walked fine with numbness down my right leg to the back of my foot up to my toes. Recently, I began to walk with a limp and finally figured out I couldn't stand on my toes on the right side. My right calf has atrophied and my CPK levels are climbing. My neurologist did a muscle biopsy which was negative. The neurosurgeon said he did se a slight bulge at L5 S1 and maybe the nerve is compressed. Nothing stands out significantly wrong but he'll do a lamenectomy to hopefully relieve the pressure on the nerve, if that's what's going on. Meanwhile the neurologist said maybe we'll do genetic testing that I have to pay $2500 for! So Im doing PT and I'll do steroid injection to see if that helps as Im now taking care of myself. This is the first so heard others have had the same problem as me. Why couldn't a neurosurgeon at a top hospital tell me this is common or happens to some? I'm going to try the anti inflammatory diet too! Anything to avoid surgery. I'm limping but I'm walking and getting stronger on the right side but it's fragile. I too had that fire dagger go down my leg after standing up from a hard surface. That pain is a killer! I ducked down Motrin and carried on entertaining my company and did not have treatment for about 10 days. Never got a definitive answer as what Happened from my physiatrist. If anyone has more positive outcomes let me know. Anyone ever stand up on their toes again with or without surgery??
Thanks!
I did get an inversion table and it was very helpful. I also take Curamin it helps with inflammation. Works great. I'm totally going to try the clean diet. Thanks everyone.
AndGil are you still here? How are you doing now?
Hello, I've exactly the same issues. Do you know how many percent disability this is? Please send me an email ***@****
Hello, I have exactly the same condition. I'm wondering how much disability this is according to medical standards. Could you please send me an email ***@****
Best regards, Oli
I meant to say my wife's followup visit was 3 months, not 6 months.
I would suggest finding a good PT. I fell herniated L5-S1 had surgery in May 2011 was totally fine until Jan 2013 when I had a sciatic flare up after that I have been limping and unable to lift up on to my toes. Have been seeing a PT for four months now and my calf muscle is a little bigger and I am able to walk using the front of my foot to some extent. When back to neurosurgeon and he did another MRI. Says there is some fullness in same area possible bone spur surrounded by sinovial cyst that is pressing on S!. He wants to do a decompress/fusion. I don't want to have another surgery more often than not I hear there is improvement if you are lucky for a short period to time but for the most part more problems arise.
Hi there, I wonder how your situation is now regarding your foot and calf. I had a similar surgery about 2 months ago and am now almost in the same state as you describe. Did you find out any exercise or anything that has helped with the numb / tingling foot and stiff calf muscles? Regards - Annie
Hope you're doing better.
I've had severe back & leg problems for about 18 years now.
6 years ago I went in for a lamenectomy to relieve severe spinal stenosis in the L3, L4, L5, & S1 area of my lower back. As it turned out the stuff that forms in the spinal column that wraps itself around the spinal chord & strangles it causing the stenosis didn't wrap itself around my spinal chord but went through it instead! The neuro surgeon told me afterward that she ended up spending 3 extra hours in there snipping & pulling & snipping & pulling little bits out from betwen the twining nerves that make up your spinal chord and it's nerve branches.
Well, as it turned out I have spinal chord damage. After all the therapy I could still only stand for a minute or so & walk maybe 50' but then there better be somewhere for me to st down or my legs would literally go out from under me.
Then I got a spinal chord stimulator put inside of me. And it was definitely better.
For about 2 years. Now I'm worse than I was before the stimulator. About 20' is a long walk!
But I also noticed my left leg was much worse & I began to notice it getting smaller. My thigh muscle is atrophying & my calf muscles in both legs stay hard as a rock. And if I try to massage them they want to charley horse on me. So that's HOW I found this site! Looking for help.
So I hope the posts keep on coming.
The only thing I can add is Aquatic Therapy. I had about 7 weeks of Aquatic therapy twice a week & it really helped but then the Medicare money ran out so I had to quit. In about a week I went back to how I was but it told me I need that warm almost hot water to work out in.
So my wife & I are betting the farm. We're refinancing to build a poolhouse & put in a heated swimming pool to excersize in. There's actually an underwater walker you can get for your pool!
Hope that helps!
Dear Colleagues
In July 2007, I underwent surgery inclusive of two {2} TOTAL DISC REPLACEMENTS in L4/L5 and L5/S1/
The original bodily discs were replaced with titanium discs and after 12 years of pain, in which the final 3 years prior were chronic, my severe pain was no longer. I mean I was totally pain free. The only let down was the noticeable atrophy in my right calf muscle. My left calf muscle radius measured 36cm and my righ a mere 25cm. Now it is obvious the reasons why the muscle withered but now I am more interested in rebuilding the damaged calf. I notie that when I consistently do caly raises, it needs to be done in the following manner to begin to get benefits. I start by perfmring raises on my strong left leg to fatigue it. By doing this, the right and weaker leg compensates by picking up the load. I then go ahead and perform 300 calf raises in 3 x 100 sets with no extra weight other than my own body. The toeher trick is to take a time ratio of 1 to 4 seconds for the complete movement of exercise. That is, raise your leg and if it takes 1 second then you MUST lower your leg over 4 seconds to work the muscle on release.
trust me this works, even if the progress in minimal. remember, the nerve needs time to recuperate and for me it has now been 5 years since my surgery and no pain. My calf is getting slightly better and it is painfully slow however; I has wastage occuring over 12 years so I must be patient. Doing nothing will ojnly add to the demise of your current condition. We need to train the brain to become more adept to out bodily function. Doing nothing requires no action from the brain, through the damaged nerve/s. to action movement.
Cheers.
so are these side effects common, or are we just the unlucky few. I'm only 3 weeks outside of an emergency microdicectomy where my entire right leg was so numb and in so much pain I was at the emergency room and 2 days later I had surgery. I however can't make a muscle with my right leg and I'm worried that the dr won't let me drive if I can't push down with my right calf. I'm walking with a limp. My balance is bad, my legs are weak. steps are terrible. Again I'm only 3 weeks out from surgery though. the funny thing is my hernated disc was pushing on my left side nerve originally and that's where all the pain and weakness was originally. the bulge was so big it hooked itslef around and impacted my right side worse than my left side was impacted. After reading these comments, I'm getting pretty nervous.