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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Had Spinal Thoracic Fusion. Why Do I Have Pain And Numbness In Limbs Now?

A little over two years ago, I had a seven level thoracic spinal fusion . Shortly thereafter, I began to have pain and numbness in my legs and hands. Toes, top, bottom, calves, thighs, buttocks , fingers, forearms, you name it. I have been seeing a pain managment doctor who has been treating me with epidural shots, which have not been working, especially recently. I have been imaged from brain to lumbar and they say everything is fine now. So why the pain. I have recently been having some palpitation that I had not mentioned.. Once bad enough to go to the ER with a heart rate of 172 according to a home machine. I was sent to a neurologist who also did some blood work that showed an elevated ESR but no findings of MS, Lupus,. etc. Now the neurologist is sending me to a cardiologist . I have a brother who almost died of heart failure two years ago at age 50 and a dad who had PAD and died of aspiration pneumonia last year. I have had diabetes for 14 years, extremely well controlled. A1C ranges have always been 5.5 to 6.4. Can you explain my leg pain. It is much worse in the evening. I usually sit in a reclining sofa. They will occasionally hurt (numbness) when I do my PT exercises.
Tue, 28 Aug 2012
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Diabetologist 's  Response
Hi there.

If your MRI of brain and spine is fine that means there is not any mechanical thing troubling your nerves and causing this pain and numbness. If I think it is because of your long standing diabetes, eventhough your blood sugar control is very good, then you need to take medications for the same which will certainly improve your symptoms. See a doctor with expertise in treating diabetes for the same. Also, if the Neurologist has missed out on any of the following tests- Serum Calcium, Phosphorus, Albumin, Alkaline phosphatase, TSH, and Vit B12, do get them done as disturbances in these parameters are likely to cause these body symptoms. All the very best.
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Had Spinal Thoracic Fusion. Why Do I Have Pain And Numbness In Limbs Now?

Hi there. If your MRI of brain and spine is fine that means there is not any mechanical thing troubling your nerves and causing this pain and numbness. If I think it is because of your long standing diabetes, eventhough your blood sugar control is very good, then you need to take medications for the same which will certainly improve your symptoms. See a doctor with expertise in treating diabetes for the same. Also, if the Neurologist has missed out on any of the following tests- Serum Calcium, Phosphorus, Albumin, Alkaline phosphatase, TSH, and Vit B12, do get them done as disturbances in these parameters are likely to cause these body symptoms. All the very best.