Question:
Numbness in left leg after GB surgery

I just spent 5 days in the hospital with pancreatitis (sp?) and I had to have my gall bladder removed. I had my gall bladder surgery on Monday (9-15-03)and on Tuesday, I noticed that I had a bruise on my left hip and the top portion of my left leg (above my knee) was numb. The nurse told me that is sometimes common after surgery and it will go away with time. It is now Thursday and it still is numb. It doesn't hurt at all and there is no discoloration, it just feels numb. It seems to go away a little bit, but then comes back. Other than that I have very little abdominal pain and I feel great!!! Has anybody else experienced this numbness after surgery and if so, how long will it last???? Thanks for any help or info.    — Roger C. (posted on September 19, 2003)

September 18, 2003
I had numbness in my left thigh and hip after surgery. It was like a pins and needles pain. I would notice it more when I was laying down. My surgeon and the nurses at the hospital told me it was from being on the operating table in the same position for over 4 hours. They said the nerves get pinched. The numbness finally went away sometime in the 5th or 6th week.
   — ckreh

September 18, 2003
Hi Roger...My doctor told me the same thing that Kristen's told her. I had the same numbness above my knee on the outside of my thigh, but mine was on the right side. It took longer for mine to go away though. I had the numbness for the first 4-5 months after I had surgery, but it did eventually go away...Good luck! Denise
   — lily1968

September 19, 2003
I had a similar problem post op rny. Mine was on my outer thigh half way between my hip and knee. The problem was not only was it numb, but at night it would 'freak out' with a very painful bout of the pins and needles thing so bad that I couldn't sleep laying down for almost the first month after my surgery. I asked my surgeon about it and he said that it *could* be from the grounding patch they use when they operate on you. I asked what in the world that was supposed to mean and he said that they 'ground' you to the table with low voltage electricity (usually on the hip, but or thigh) so they don't electrocute you while they are operating. I asked when this would go away and he said that it sounded like I had some nerve damage from it and that it could take up to six months to heal. Now at almost 8 months post op, I'm still slightly numb in that area. I also recall having this 'numbness', although not as severe, from my other two past surgeries.
   — eaamc

September 19, 2003
Hi Roger, It will go away, I am almost 4 mos out and it is finally going away....
   — Kriola

September 19, 2003
I had the same problem after my WLS in May 2002. Both legs were numb from the knee to the hip on the outside of the thighs. It took over a year for the stabbing pains to stop and the feeling to start coming back. Now it's much better but still numb in spots. I figure in another year or so it should be back to normal.
   — Vicki H.

September 19, 2003
I woke up with left foot numbness after WLS. It's because you were laying so still and flat on a hard surface and it put pressure on your nerves in your back which feed the legs etc. Try an ice pack right on the lumbar spine for a few days and see if that doesn't help. If after a few weeks it's still there then call your PCP and get it checked out further. Good luck and I hope it improves soon.
   — zoedogcbr

September 19, 2003
This is similiar to sciatica but it involves a different nerve.It's called meralgia parasthetica.It's caused by a superficial nerve in your groin area that is being compressed.This can occur just from being overweight or from how they position you in surgery.I've had it for years due to my weight.Over the counter capaisin cream is helpful.
   — jennifer A.

September 19, 2003
I too had meralgia parasthetica. I'd had it off and on, if I stood a long time, during my fat years. But after surgery it was severe for about 2 weeks in certain positions. Then it disappeared. I guess I just lost enough weight that the pressure on that nerve was diminished.
   — Margaret G.