Surgery and nerve problems

[waterlady]

Has anyone experienced nerve problems soon after surgery. I had my gallbladder out almost three years ago, and it has been suggested to me that my problems could be due to nerve damage.

[Hidden]

Hello waterlady, I think it might help if you explain what you mean by nerve problems and how they are affecting you. Are you referring to being anxious or concerned or perhaps where nerves may have been severed due to the operation. One of our helpful members, jeanjeannie50 has recently had her gall bladder removed so when she sees your post, she may be able to help……

[waterlady in reply to Hidden]

Sorry should have explained more. I started with throbbing legs which spread to the whole of my body, then burning hot tingling legs and feet and finally it has been getting harder to walk. I think I have had nerve damage, it’s three years now, and I am seeing a neurologist, so hoping he can help.

[Ppiman]

I wonder whether the records of the op back then suggested the surgeon might have reason for this? I haven't heard of this, but it sounds reasonable, I suppose. Bad luck though.

Steve

[waterlady in reply to Ppiman]

I have thought this, but I don’t know how to get hold of my records, I don’t find my doctor very helpful, she makes me feel it’s all in my head, and also they are so busy these days.

[Ppiman in reply to waterlady]

I think GPs can struggle with communication at times, especially when it is a phone "consultation".

What you describe now sounds rather like something I suffer from called "peripheral neuropathy". Mine started some years back with hot feet but a few years later it got somewhat worse and seemed to spread to a tingling feeling in my hands and even cheeks if I recall. It soon calmed and for a long time seems to have settled to affect just my feet and calves, feeling rather like I have socks on even if I don't, and often hot.

My GP says it's not uncommon as we age. I'm 68 now but it was several years ago it began, as I say. I know it can vary and, I gather, even be painful. One person here wrote in recently saying they took some nerve pain tablets for it.

Steve

[waterlady in reply to Ppiman]

I think that’s what I am suffering from, exactly as you say, except I still have mine, 3 years now. My GP said I was stressed, gave me antidepressants which made me worse. In the end I took myself off to see a private neurologist, the waiting list here is 10 months. I am 75 and was very fit before my op. It would be interesting to know what nerve tablets that person was on.

[Ppiman in reply to waterlady]

I think it was gabapentin or pregabalin: both similar. I tried it once many years ago for neck disc pain and I couldn't cope with the drowsy effect that left me feeling dull-headed all day but still unable to sleep properly. Amitriptyline had a similar effect on me. My wife had much the same when given pregabalin for her disc troubles. Like you, I have been given SSRIs, too (first fluoxetine, later citalopram), and they made me feel truly dreadful, as if my nerves were "wired" along with a wide range of other side effects such as itching and yawning. I was convinced to try them a second time ("citalopram is much milder", I was told - as if!!) - so foolishly I went through the same range of side effects that took an absolute age to resolve. Oh my - I wouldn't touch them again.

So, I suspect your neuropathy might well subside and settle slowly over time, although three years is maybe too long to wait, but it's worth seeing a neurologist, although I haven't.

Steve

[waterlady in reply to Ppiman]

I have taken some of those tablets, all made me feel much worse, all you seem to be given is a tablet. I have just seen a neurologist, he said it’s either a vitamin deficiency or nerve damage. I think it is the latter, still I am having a blood test and nerve test. It’s taken this long because my doctor said I had anxiety. I hope you have sorted all your problems out now.

[Ppiman in reply to waterlady]

Well - you’re on your way to getting sorted at least. Let’s hope you get something that helps. I was told that there’s no cure for neuropathy, so I just have to live with it. In my case it’s not too bad (fingers crossed as I write that). My list of living with age related things grows ever longer! 🙄😉

Steve

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

In 2000 my gall bladder was removed.

It had disintergrated.

Surgery through keyhole with access through tummy button.

He made 4 port holes to take out bits stuck to other organs.

No nerve pain.

Bur when a cyst was taken out from under foot. I experienced numbness.

Get your B12 and Folate Acid checked. B12 should be 4-500.

B12 deficiency causes nerve damage.

cheri JOY 73 in NZ

I take 1 x under tongue SOLGAR cherry pill 2 days running of B12. Gold TOP.

[waterlady in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

My gallbladder did not bother me one bit, but I was told I had two large stones, and I was told it had to come out at some point. I somehow caught an infection, and ended back in hospital for a week. It was soon after this my throbbing started, slowly spread to the whole of my body, then burning stinging feet and legs. Are you still getting numbness in your foot. Yes I am having my B12 checked and hoping to have a nerve test, just want to know what is wrong with me.

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Waterlady

I'm wondering what your nerve problem is? If you don't want to say here, feel welcome to private message me by clicking on my name at the top of my post here and then on Message.

Jean

[waterlady in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks for getting back to me. It’s a long shot really, but since I had my gallbladder out almost 3 years ago, I have had problems with throbbing feet and legs, then burning feet and legs, now not walking well, and feet hurt. Doctor told me I was stressed, but I have managed to find a neurologist who I see next week. I am really hoping to get a diagnosis.

[2learn]

I had open heart surgery in Dec and although I experienced no pain from my chest incision everywhere else has been painful or uncomfortable. My arthritis seems much worse since the operation and pains in my arms and legs. Tried to talk to the surgeon about this but apart from suggesting painkillers they weren't interested. Some pains can be the result of nerve damage from the position you were in for the op and if not permanent damage they should ease over time. As for arthritis seems nothing can be done. I regard it as one of the major failutres of the NHS that arthritis treatment has not improved in over 70 yrs.

[Limoncello in reply to 2learn]

Hi 2learn. I had open heart surgery in April 2021 and my arthritis has got noticeably worse since then. When I lie flat in the dentist’s chair (and I’ve had to have quite a bit of work done) I get agonising burning pain in the back of my left upper arm, which disappears when I’m upright. Never happened before the op. The arthritis in my spine is affecting my right leg a lot more too and I get a sort of sciatic pain, also new since the op. I did have other burning pains in various muscles for a while after the op, and they have eased, but my rib cage doesn’t feel the same, as if it can’t expand as easily.

I think the operation can trigger inflammation in some people - whether it’s the anaesthetic, the shock to the body, who knows. I did read that anaesthetic can have this effect, but the article gave the impression it was temporary.

My IBS has also got a lot worse and I have to be far more careful what I eat.

I naively expected that the operation (two valve repairs) would restore me to full health but it hasn’t resolved my AFib (I was warned it wouldn’t). I still get breathless and my energy levels are lower even though echos show the valves are working well.

I agree that arthritis is not well understood or treated, although I am convinced that it is linked in some cases to inflammation caused by reactions to food.

[waterlady in reply to Limoncello]

Sorry to hear of all your problems. I saw a neurologist on Monday and he said I could be lacking in Vitamin B or could be a nerve problem. I am having a nerve conduction test, I think that is what they call it. Anyway these problems have been going on since my gallbladder came out in July 2019, it was my first ever op, , throbbing legs, hot feet and legs, hard to walk. Before this op I had no problems,apart from AF. I do hope your problems ease in time.

[2learn in reply to Limoncello]

Hi, I had 2 valve repair also and hoped for similar result to your hopes, but lying down at night seems to start everything aching so getting sleep and recovering that way doesn't really work. My AF wasn't resolved and I went into tachycardia this seems to have been resolved with double ablation at beginning of March, but then 3 wks and I had a TIA, so struggling with pain and balance, gradually improving but tiredness and pain are pretty constant. Think i'll talk to verses arthritis tio see if they have any knowledge.

[Limoncello in reply to 2learn]

I sympathise! It’s awful when you can’t sleep. It took a couple of months before I could sleep reasonably well but still woke at 5 ish for months. I used to get up and sleep sitting up in an armchair. I can still only sleep on my right side, on my left I feel my heart thumping too much and on my back my back and especially my hip aches. But it’s not doing my right shoulder any good always sleeping that way. My balance has deteriorated too, but I think that’s because the stiffness in my left hip has got worse. I always prided myself on my balance and used to do standing on one leg exercises. Not any more!

What medication are you on? I’m on Apixaban, Furosemide and Nevibolol - I changed from Bisoprol as I felt so lethargic on it. But I do wonder if the meds could make arthritis worse.

I hadn’t heard of Versus Arthritis, so thanks for mentioning it. Good luck!

[exmouth]

I had a new knee neatly four months ago I find it a very strange sensation I asked the consultant and he just said the nerves need time to heal I thought I’d be a lot better than I am I’ve also got arthritis in my feet other knee and hip It is wearing some days it’s like your aching all over Take care and hope you feel better

[waterlady in reply to exmouth]

I do sympathise with you, it’s horrible feeling like that. I was very fit until my gallbladder came out, now I can’t do lots of things, hopefully my neurologist will find out what is wrong with me. Take care yourself, you are not alone.