Nerve damage after liver transplant - British Liver Trust

British Liver Trust

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Nerve damage after liver transplant

Popel profile image
5 Replies

Hi all.i was wondering if anyone has had nerve damage.four weeks ago when I had my transplant I woke up after the operation which happened to take eleven hours after a problem occurred with trying to insert a catheter which added an additional two hours onto the op (false passages) apparently in which I’m still attached to four weeks later and have to endure till end of April.so on coming around the first pain wasn’t from the operation it was my hands.its a pain I’ve still got and wouldn’t wish on anyone.apparently it’s unusual but does happen occasionally to larger people as it’s the weight on the elbows on the operation table that damages the ulnar nerve.i had to visit the neurologist while at my stay at the QE.who told me it’ll take up to four weeks to heal but there’s a chance it won’t.in hindsight wish I’d wore skateboarding elbow pads lol.luckily it not as bad as it was but the pain has been excruciating.my partner Karen who’s been through so much has to listen to me moaning about it.she jokes that I’ve had a life saving operation and im being ungrateful bitching about my hands.she does have a point though.

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Popel
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jojokarak profile image
jojokarak

Are you sure some of it isn't from the meds? The first lot of anti rejection tablets I was on give me the shakes and an awful tingly feeling in my hands and arms which lasted months

Popel profile image
Popel in reply to jojokarak

Hi there.it started straight away as soon as I woke from the operation it was instant .i still can’t feel my little fingers I’m not sure but when do they start the meds? maybe it’s when they are operating and they start the meds intravenously so it could be that.but my elbows hurt also they still feel bruised and my right hand is worse than the left.cooking the other day i burnt my little finger as there’s no feeling in either hand and accidentally left it touching the pan .even clothes touching my wrists hurt but I do get pins and needles and the shakes.i was asked in hospital was it like that prior to the operation so I don’t think they know to be honest.

Liversliver profile image
Liversliver

I'm not sure the reason why yours is happening. I have had peripheral nephropathy from liver issues for years now. First two years was me just adjusting to being in pain all the time, and the pain sucks but you adjust and it will become the new normal and eventually you just tune it out. I don't believe in certain meds as in if its a pain reducer and if not needed for my health but its for my comfort I don't take it (pain killers will only make your health worse in the long run).

Yes I had quite a lot nerve pain on my left hand for the first 6 months post transplant and it didn't really go away for another year after that. It happened because they touched a nerve when inserting the cannula during the preop prep. I still get a tiny bit of numbness on my left hand index finger over 27 months since the surgery but luckily there was no real permanent damage.

Popel profile image
Popel in reply to

That’s reassuring.you’d think my hands would be the last thing to worry about considering I’ve just had a life saving operation.😬

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