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The response to the question below was authored by Marc Mitnick DPM

Foot very sensitive and burning

I had anterior lumbar interbody fusion L5-S1 aug 24, 2011. Back feels good but i hurt down my leg to my foot. My foot feels like it is on fire on top and numb on bottom. I get sharp pains like a needle is pokeing me. Sometime it feels like electrical pulses going in to my foot. It is so sensative that I can't handle anything touching it. I take percocets and neurotin but that really doesnt help. Doctor says it will heal but it has been 5 weeks since surgery and I don't know how much pain I can take. Please if you have any suggestions, please let me know. Thank you.

RESPONSE

Hi,
It would almost seem certain that the sensitivity you are experiencing in your foot is coming as a result of the back surgery you had five weeks ago. I see patients all the time who have similar complaints, to a varying degree, after any kind of fusion in the lower back.
The only problem I see if whether or not this situation will actually go away.
Keep in mind, I do not treat backs, but one of the potential problems is that your symptoms could persist.
Usually at this time, five weeks post surgery, there is still inflammation in the area which is putting pressure on the nerves in your back with the resulting hypersensitivity in your foot.
You need to speak to your surgeon about this but I would suggest you see if there is any physical therapy or other treatment available to you now that will reduce the lower back inflammation and in turn reduce your foot symptoms.
The problem with nerves is that the longer they stay irritated the way yours appear to be, the greater the likelihood that this will become a permanent situation, so any treatment that can be done now might make you a lot better off down the road.

Marc Mitnick DPM
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ADDITIONAL REFERENCES

Mayo Clinic

Johns Hopkins Medicine

MedlinePlus

Arthritis Foundation

University of Rochester Medical Center

Harvard Health

Drugs.com

American Academy of Pediatrics

Penn State Medical Center

National Institutes of Health

Columbia University Department of Rehabilitation

ScienceDirect

Stanford Health Care

Illinois Bone and Joint Institute

Mount Sinai Hospital

Institute for Chronic Pain

University of Florida Health

American Family Physician

Cedars-Sinai

University of Maryland Medical Center

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San Diego, CA

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Wonderful advice

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This is the best site for foot problem info.

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North Carolina

Many Thanks Dr Marc!
Thank you for your response. It sounds like a good plan to me. He did not cut the wart out first ...

KG

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Florida

Dear Dr. Mitnick, Thank you so very much for taking your time to answer my question. You have greatly relieved my anxiety related to the continual tingly I feel in my feet. I will share your response with my podiatrist next week. God bless you for having this question and answer page on your website! Most gratefully,

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a mom

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Bellevue, WA

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location unknown

Foot very sensitive and burning

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