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How Can Nerve Pain In The Leg Be Treated?
Question: My 34 year old grandson had back surgery about one year ago. During the process, a nerve to his leg was severed. He has been in extreme pain ever since. They give him a shot once in a while but it doesn't do much good after a couple of days. He is on pain pills. He is too young tp go through this the rest of his life. The only thing that has been suggested is to have the ends of the nerve singed, which has to be repeated every six months or so. Is there any way to totally repair the nerve damage?
Thank you, XXXXXXX XXXX
Thank you, XXXXXXX XXXX
Brief Answer:
Some treatments recommended.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for asking at Healthcaremagic.
I carefully read your question and understand your concern.
Pain from nerve being damaged can be very troublesome and hard to treat. Sometimes trying different possible options and some patience is needed. Working closely with your doctor and doing the regular follow-ups is important.
There are some things that can be tried to help reduce the pain.
Simple pain medications we generally use for other pain is not generally effective in these cases.
Two medications that are generally recommended to release pain from never being hurt are Gabapentine and Pregabaline.
Patients need to use one or the other. It is first started with small dose and then increased gradually till the dose that helps the patient is found.
It is good to have these drugs prescribed by your doctor and monitor the effect so you can find the minimal dose that is effective to your grandson.
Chronic pain might also cause mood changes and some patients feel better with pain and mood if we add some medications that help with mood like triclyclic antidepressants like amitriptiline. A doctor needs to be consulted and prescribe it in small doses and very gradually increase while monitoring side effects and desired effect.
Some muscle relaxants like baclofen might help also when a nerve is damaged to help the muscles relax and might help with the level of pain.
Physiotherapy is very helpful to help muscles gain function and also might help with the nerve pain.
I hope this is helpful and answers to your questions but please feel free to write in case anymore clarification is needed on this.
I wish your grandson quick improvement.
Kind regards
Antoneta Zotaj, MD
Some treatments recommended.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for asking at Healthcaremagic.
I carefully read your question and understand your concern.
Pain from nerve being damaged can be very troublesome and hard to treat. Sometimes trying different possible options and some patience is needed. Working closely with your doctor and doing the regular follow-ups is important.
There are some things that can be tried to help reduce the pain.
Simple pain medications we generally use for other pain is not generally effective in these cases.
Two medications that are generally recommended to release pain from never being hurt are Gabapentine and Pregabaline.
Patients need to use one or the other. It is first started with small dose and then increased gradually till the dose that helps the patient is found.
It is good to have these drugs prescribed by your doctor and monitor the effect so you can find the minimal dose that is effective to your grandson.
Chronic pain might also cause mood changes and some patients feel better with pain and mood if we add some medications that help with mood like triclyclic antidepressants like amitriptiline. A doctor needs to be consulted and prescribe it in small doses and very gradually increase while monitoring side effects and desired effect.
Some muscle relaxants like baclofen might help also when a nerve is damaged to help the muscles relax and might help with the level of pain.
Physiotherapy is very helpful to help muscles gain function and also might help with the nerve pain.
I hope this is helpful and answers to your questions but please feel free to write in case anymore clarification is needed on this.
I wish your grandson quick improvement.
Kind regards
Antoneta Zotaj, MD
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Brief Answer:
There are some new surgical technique coming recently
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for the reply.
Nerves have some capacity to heal with time but most of the time this is limited and not to full extent.
Till late these damages have been considered not treatable or curable with any method.Mostly medicayions for nerve pain have been the ones used to a large extent.
Recently new surgical techniques are coming up that try to do nerve repair. These techniques are called nerve transfer or nerve graft.
These are new and might not be available everywhere. Your grandson might need to talk with a neurosurgeon on these surgical nerve repair techniques and weight pros and cons of them in his case.
I hope this is helpful and answers to your question but please feel free to work if anymore clarifications are needed on this.
Kind regards,
Antoneta Zotaj, MD
There are some new surgical technique coming recently
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for the reply.
Nerves have some capacity to heal with time but most of the time this is limited and not to full extent.
Till late these damages have been considered not treatable or curable with any method.Mostly medicayions for nerve pain have been the ones used to a large extent.
Recently new surgical techniques are coming up that try to do nerve repair. These techniques are called nerve transfer or nerve graft.
These are new and might not be available everywhere. Your grandson might need to talk with a neurosurgeon on these surgical nerve repair techniques and weight pros and cons of them in his case.
I hope this is helpful and answers to your question but please feel free to work if anymore clarifications are needed on this.
Kind regards,
Antoneta Zotaj, MD
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
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