Question
Hello,
I was given a spinal block for my C-section last week.  Since then there has been some numbness/tingling in my left foot.  My left foot never went back to normal after the spinal block.  Obviously this concerns me as the numbness/tingling is constant.  What happened and what do I need to do at this point?

Thank you in advance for your assistance!

Answer
foot numbness, foot pain, nerve damage, nerve irritation, nerve fibrosis, scar tissue,

Hello Stephanie,

Sorry to hear of your situation.

You received a spinal block injection procedure, C-section surgery, and have subsequent foot numbness/ tingling.  What happened?

First, I would speak to the doctors that treated me.  You can speak to the OB/gyn who delivered your baby (congratulations), ask if this subsequent complaint can be due to the C-section  surgery, the prolonged position you were in, anything related to that aspect of delivering your baby.  

Second, I would speak to the Anesthesiologist who performed the spinal block procedure, ask if this is a condition related to that procedure; how often does this happen, is it transient or permanent, and is any treatment recommended?

If you did not have this complaint prior, if you never had this complaint prior, if this condition came about subsequent to the procedure - then in all likelihood, this condition is related to the procedure;  ask these doctors your questions.  Was this possibility discussed beforehand?

Chiropractic office s  see many patients during pregnancy  (makes the pregnancy easier, makes delivery easier) and after birth.   Birth is a vigorous, strenuous process-   C-section or vaginal.  Birth can cause back problems, pinched nerves, pain/ numbness/ tingling.  Perhaps your complaint is due to that aspect.

Chiropractic office s also do see people after spinal blocks,,,, it seems as if the block can cause a temporary numbness for the surgery, but sometimes irritate nerves and leave residual pain/ tingling/ numbness. The Chiropractic Adjustment seems to lessen the symptoms and hasten the recovery.

I would not hesitate to speak to your treating doctors who assisted in your birthing process.  I also would not hesitate to see your local family Doctor of Chiropractic for evaluation and perhaps treatment if appropriate.

Doctors of Chiropractic are often thought of as 'back doctors' or 'spine specialists', but actually the full impact of Chiropractic is achieved through the nervous system.  Your numbness/ tingling is a nerve symptom, and would probably benefit from Chiropractic care.
Here is some information I hand out in my Staten Island Chiropractic office:

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Lower  Back  Pain  (LBP):          Low  Back  Pain  can be caused by many different things.  Big, BAD, catastrophic things like a tumor or a cancer can cause low back pain (only a proper exam by a licensed doctor, like your Doctor of Chiropractic, or your family Doctor of Medicine, can evaluate your signs and symptoms, and perhaps refer for testing).  Big, bad things like a Herniated Disc, sciatica, possible fracture or dislocation can cause LBP (again, best evaluated by your DC or MD, and perhaps referral).  Bad things, like  - Sprains, Strains, contusion, or Vertebral Subluxation Complex (all very efficiently diagnosed and treated by your Doctor Of Chiropractic.  LBP can come from a motor vehicle accident, sport injury, slip, trip, fall, arthritis, lifting improperly, or even bad posture in standing, sitting or sleeping.  All of these things often have a Lumbar (Low Back) Vertebral Subluxation involved.
              Vertebral   Subluxation   Complex    (a.k.a.  憇ubluxation?
The vertebral subluxation complex is the underlying cause of many healthcare problems.
A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.

This is a serious condition identified by its five parts:

    Spinal Kinesiopathology:
         This is fancy way of saying the bones of the spine have lost their normal motion and position. It restricts your ability to turn and bend. It sets in motion the other four components.

    Neuropathophysiology:
         Improper spinal function can choke, stretch, or irritate delicate nerve tissue. The resulting nerve system dysfunction can cause symptoms elsewhere in the body.

    Myopathology:
          Muscles supporting the spine can weaken, atrophy, or become tight and go into spasm. The resulting scar tissue changes muscle tone, requiring repeated spinal adjustments.

    Histopathology:
         A rise in temperature from an increase in blood and lymph supplies result in swelling and inflammation. Discs can bulge, herniate, tear, or degenerate. Other soft tissues may suffer permanent damage.

    Pathophysiology:
         Bone spurs and other abnormal bony growths attempt to fuse malfunctioning spinal joints. This spinal decay, scar tissue, and long-term nerve dysfunction can cause other systems of the body to malfunction.

The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position.
         Automobile accidents, improper lifting, improper posture, alcohol, emotional stress, chemical imbalances, and long periods of sitting can cause the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
          Vertebral  Subluxation  cannot be corrected through chemicals (medicine), stretching, yoga, vitamins or physical therapy alone.  Subluxation- a neuro/skeletal/muscular- mechanical-  problem requires a mechanical   correction-  -  -    a manipulation,     best performed with the chiropractic adjustment.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

揚inched  Nerve?  ( Also Known As-  neuritis, neuralgia, brachial-neuritis )
Sometimes  we  can  wake  up  with  a  憄inched nerve?  or  a  muscle spasm.... sometimes a slip, trip, fall, heavy lift, or even a motor vehicle accident can cause a 憄inched nerve?  Very often -  the true    c a u s e   of  the pinched nerve, painor numbness  in the:    neck and/ or  shoulder  and/ or  arm  and/ or  hand;   pain in the back and/ or   buttock/ hip/ leg/ knee/ foot -  is a misalignment,  a  慿ink?in the neck- more properly termed a Vertebral Subluxation.
              Vertebral   Subluxation   Complex    (a.k.a.  憇ubluxation?
The vertebral subluxation complex is the underlying cause of many healthcare problems.
A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.
This is a serious condition identified by its five parts:
      Spinal Kinesiopathology:
         This is fancy way of saying the bones of the spine have lost their normal motion and position. It restricts your ability to turn and bend. It sets in motion the other four components.
      Neuropathophysiology:
         Improper spinal function can choke, stretch, or irritate delicate nerve tissue. The resulting nerve system dysfunction can cause symptoms elsewhere in the body.
      Myopathology:
          Muscles supporting the spine can weaken, atrophy, or become tight and go into spasm. The resulting scar tissue changes muscle tone, requiring repeated spinal adjustments.
      Histopathology:
         A rise in temperature from an increase in blood and lymph supplies result in swelling and inflammation. Discs can bulge, herniate, tear, or degenerate. Other soft tissues may suffer permanent damage.
      Pathophysiology:
         The VSC contributes to OsteoArthritic degeneration.  Bone spurs and other abnormal bony growths attempt to fuse malfunctioning spinal joints. This spinal decay, scar tissue, and long-term nerve dysfunction can cause other systems of the body to malfunction.
The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position.
         Automobile accidents, improper lifting, improper posture, alcohol, emotional stress, chemical imbalances, and long periods of sitting can cause the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
          Vertebral  Subluxation  cannot be corrected through chemicals (medicine), stretching, yoga, vitamins or physical therapy alone.  Subluxation- a neuro/skeletal/muscular- mechanical- problem requires a mechanical correction-  -  -    a manipulation,     best performed with the chiropractic adjustment.  For good health- Treat the   Cause,  not just the Symptoms.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


I hope this helps.  Congratulations again!, I wish you and your baby good luck, and Good Health Naturally (bring your baby in for a chiropractic evaluation too!- birth is strenuous on the baby also),
this is your Staten Island Chiropractor signing off,

Dr. Victor Dolan, DC
http://drvictordolan.chiroweb.com      (email newsletter)
http://www.DocDolan.net   
http://www.GoodHealthNaturally.info