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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Spinal Stenosis, Sore Feet, Numbness, Excruciating Pain, Suspected Tarsal Tunnel, Severely Damaged Nerve. Help

I am looking for a Dr. of Neurology as my question pertains to a surgery that my husband had back in April by a Neurologist in Kelowna, BC. He had a spinal stenosis surgery done in mid April 2013. This all had to do with his feet as he has had sore feet for the last 3 years. He started by going to our Family Physician who suspected stenosis from the get-go, however, he went to various specialists over the course of 2 years who suspected he might have Tarsal Tunnel but no one could say for sure. He then ended up at the Neurologist who said that all the pain in both of his feet was due to stenosis. He was experiencing excruciating pain and at the same time numbness . It was at the point wherein he could barely walk. After his surgery, he was told that because his nerves were severely damaged, it might take up to 1.5 years for him to feel a difference. It has now been 4 months and he feels worse rather than better. We are both wondering if this is normal since he shows absolutely no sign of recovery. Is it possible that there was enough nerve damage that he will never get better?
Thu, 22 Aug 2013
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Spine Surgeon,  's  Response
Hi My name is Niranjan Kavadi and I am a spine surgeon. Spinal stenosis is diagnosed in its strictest sense when MRI picture of narrowing of the spinal canal correlates with the symptoms. The classic symptom of spinal stenosis is neurogenic claudication which is described as pain/fatigue/feeling of heaviness or numbness in buttocks, back of the thigh or calves. Pain increases on standing and walking and is relieved by bending forward. Regarding your husband's case presentation of pain only in feet is not impossible but not that common with stenosis. Electromyography and Nerve Conduction Velocity or EMG/NCV test can typically distinguish pain from spinal stenosis and from peripheral causes like tarsal tunnel though the picture is not always black and white. The numbness may sometimes take 6-12 months to improve after surgery. If he is feeling worse, it would be definitely advisable to look for or rule out other causes like tarsal tunnel syndrome, vascular claudication or diabetic neuropathy. Please let me know if I can be of further help.
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Spinal Stenosis, Sore Feet, Numbness, Excruciating Pain, Suspected Tarsal Tunnel, Severely Damaged Nerve. Help

Hi My name is Niranjan Kavadi and I am a spine surgeon. Spinal stenosis is diagnosed in its strictest sense when MRI picture of narrowing of the spinal canal correlates with the symptoms. The classic symptom of spinal stenosis is neurogenic claudication which is described as pain/fatigue/feeling of heaviness or numbness in buttocks, back of the thigh or calves. Pain increases on standing and walking and is relieved by bending forward. Regarding your husband s case presentation of pain only in feet is not impossible but not that common with stenosis. Electromyography and Nerve Conduction Velocity or EMG/NCV test can typically distinguish pain from spinal stenosis and from peripheral causes like tarsal tunnel though the picture is not always black and white. The numbness may sometimes take 6-12 months to improve after surgery. If he is feeling worse, it would be definitely advisable to look for or rule out other causes like tarsal tunnel syndrome, vascular claudication or diabetic neuropathy. Please let me know if I can be of further help.