Question:
Anyone exeprience thigh weakness and pain post-op?

I have a question that I thought someone may be able to help me with. I had open RNY on October 21 of this year. While I was in the hopsital I noticed that my right thigh felt numb and that sometimes it would burn like it was on fire. I mentioned it to my surgeon and he said that he felt like it may be associated with a shot of heparin I had in my thigh and it would most likely go away. Well, it hasn't and in fact it's gotten worse. I have fallen once because of weakness and the pain is keeping me awake at night. More importantly, this is keeping me from exercising the way I should be. My endo doc has referred me to a neurologist that I am seeing the 30th of this month. The endo doc says that this may be a rare from of neuropathy that is concentrated in only the thigh but he doesn't think that is really the case. To make a long story a little shorter (lol) I am wondering if anyone else has ever experienced this? At my support group the other night someone said it may be a vitamin B12 defienceny (sp) but would I have experience this 3 days post surgery? Any light you can shed on this would be greatly appreciated.    — Debbie K. (posted on December 4, 2002)

December 3, 2002
I had an Open RNY, March 11, 2002. I also experience sharp pains on my upper thigh. My pain is not constant. I experienced it immediately after surgery and almost constantly the first few weeks. At my post op appointment I was told that it was probably nerve damage, and that it may or may not go away. I am eight months post op and have not had the pain for about two weeks. I hope that it is gone, but of course you should follow up with your own Doctor. Good Luck
   — blank first name B.

December 4, 2002
I also had hip pain immediately after surgery. I had it in both hips. The pain lasted until about 3 weeks post op, at which point, the orthopedic surgeon gave me a cortizone shot in each hip. (I had gone to the orthopedic for an unrelated problem, and mentioned the pain while I was there) I am now 4-1/2 months post op and have not had pain since the shot. No one knew what caused my pain either. One of those mysteries of life, I guess.
   — Darlene P.

December 4, 2002
I had exactly the same pain in my left thigh/outside like the quadricep -- it would feel numb to the touch and burn to the point of me almost screaming. At night it would wake me up and I would almost go crazy. I noticed if I kept moving around it was better and by 6 weeks after surgery it had gone away so I thought maybe it was a pinched nerve or something. Before surgery I had experienced that numbness and burning when I would stand for along time on hard surfaces (trade shows, parties etc)but never the pain and intensity that I had after surgery. I didn't even mention it to my doc and probably should have.
   — Mary U.

December 4, 2002
I have both arthritis and sciatic nerve pain, but the upper leg pain I experienced during the first several weeks post-op was totally different than either of these. Immediately after surgery, the area between my knee and my hip on both legs felt as though I had been beaten - pain, cramping, weakness, even painful to the touch. In fact, it definitely affected my ability to walk as much as I would have liked to for the first couple of weeks following surgery. By week three, post-op, the pain had subsided, and was totally gone by week six.
   — [Deactivated Member]

December 4, 2002
I first experienced the top of the thigh pain/burning after a back surgery. Surgeon said it was nerve damage and should subside. It did somewhat. After the WLS, it flared again, and is still with me, 9 months later. Doc says it is nerve damage due to surgery and may be permanent.
   — Cindy R.

December 4, 2002
I had pain and numbness in my left leg right next to the knee for months after the surgery. Doc said it was nerve damage and would eventually heal itself. It did, however it helped I think to have a nice back massage to work out all those kinks from laying on that table for four hours.
   — smedley200