Hi moms! So I had my son on Sept 6th. I had a natural delivery with epidural. After the epidural wore off my right leg was still numb from the knee down. I couldn't walk by myself and even fell in the bathroom. It is still numb but not as bad, it really weak from the knee up and numb from the knee to ankle. I can't bend it and put pressure on it cause I will fall. The docs are saying its a pinched nerve from pushing, if its not better at my 6 week check up they will start me on PT. Has anyone ever had this? Its really a bummer. I have read the samething happening to other people and they have had MRI's and found nothing and are doing PT. I was just wondering if anyone had heard or had the samething happen??? I wanted to start back running when I can and now im afraid that isn't going to be possible :(
Thanks!!
i would be pushing for pt NOW. why should you have to wait and be in pain for 6 weeks. you have a newborn to take care of.
I had a botched epi that paralyzed my right leg from hip down. They first told me it was a pinched nerve for a couple hours after the baby was born, then when it was not coming back online and I couldn't stand, I had x-rays and 2 physicians come and check it out. I had residual nerve damage in my leg from the epidural and the medications in it. I Could NOT feel or use my leg for 4 days after the birth. I was immediately put into PT. I had to have others hold my baby so I could walk. The hospital deflected PT fees, but they did not settle on any malpractice issues, because I signed a contract to have the Epidural done, and apparently in the fine print somewhere, this is addressed. Nerve damage, permanent and temporary can occur during the procedure.
When my hip and leg was finally in working order, I had a lot of pain. My hip for a while, then my knee, then my foot. I still have numbness in the side of my upper thigh, and below the knee in the calf. From what the therapist says, sometimes nerves can regenerate, sometimes not, but it takes a long time. My son is 2 and I am still in PT. I suggest going to your OB or general Doc, with the problems. Rule out blood clots, and any other damage, and tell them you want to get back to running, that you need to get some relief. That is dangerous if you cant trust your own leg.
It does sound like you injured or bruised your sciatic nerve. I had back surgery for nerve damage on the L3 - L5, 2 years ago. I had weakness in my upper legs and pain down the back of my legs. After the surgery, my right calf was numb. The surgeon said that sometimes happens. It may get better, it may not. (That would've been good to know BEFORE the surgery! Not that it would've changed anything).
Anyway, for me it took about 2 - 4 weeks to have feeling again, and there are still days when I have numbness.
Ask your doctor for a recommendation. I have used a chiropractor in the past and it did help. I would also recommend an xray or MRI prior to any treatment. For me they did the treatment first and then when I didn't get better they did the xray and MRI. They found damage but no one knows when it happened or what caused it.
Which leg is it?? Sometimes the left one will get a blood clot that causes issues post-partum. I did have a clot that was found about 5 days postpartum, I didn't have the "normal" sighs, just had pain that moved & that concerned me. They can do an ultra sound of the leg to see if that is what it is. MRI's are good, but you can also have a nurve conduction test done... they do hurt a bit though to see if there is an issue with how the nerve is woorking, but there is no guarantee that they will find anything wrong.
I was thinking the same thing as Laurie. You could use a chiropractor. I'd do that, to be honest.
After my second child was born, my hip hurt so much that I had to put my foot up on a box when I washed the dishes. I went to the chiropractor and you know what he did? He lifted my leg up and pulled on it. He did it twice and no more pain. (And no more box in the kitchen floor.)
Go to a chiropractor!
Dawn
I just got home from my chiropractor. I see him once a month at the least, and more if my body just refuses to stay where it's supposed to be. My two major issues are my shoulders and hips.
My hips have been giving me issues since I gave birth the third time and just got worse after the fourth birth. Like someone else mentioned, he has me lay on my back, he lifts my leg up and slightly out and he yanks on it. Instant relief and it typically lasts for at least a month. (Usually more, but I always go in to have it check because I run and play sports as much as my body will let me.)
Mama, get thyself to a chiropractor! ;)
PT? You mean the doctor can't show you what to do? did he step out of the room that day in med school? For the money-why don't you try craniosacral therapy?
Sounds like sciatic problem, from giving birth. This is because you may have pinched your back or were in a strange position for a while during the birth.
We're you on a soft bed? That can cause this. You may have needed a bit more support on your lower back.
This can be normal, but if you do not believe or trust your doctor, get a second opinion.
