10 replies to this topic

[sugar31281]

this may be a stupid question but i'm asking cuz it drives me nuts. i am T/3 T/4 complete. no feeling in lower extremities. my legs burn and tingle like little needles are prickling me all over. it's to the point i can't sleep at night. i havn't slept in days because of this among other problems i am having that is making me sweat like crazy. i know we all have nerve pain but if i am complete i shouldn't feel anything in my legs right? is this normal?

[wiggy]

I do feel tingling in my legs. I can also feel it, sometimes, when my wife grabs my foot, when i tuck my phone under "there", when i pull out the slide board, can feel my hamstrings and calves get rock solid due to spacticity, when i've twisted my ankle too hard, all sorts of stuff honestly. It's not all the time though.

-wiggy-

(edited for sig)

Edited by wiggy, 08 October 2010 - 09:57 PM.

[qbounce]

I feel a lot past my injury too, including the back side of my legs, from my butt to my toes. It's very vague but the sensation IS there.

I don't know why that is either, as I'm also complete. There are two types of functions, motor and sensory. Apparently you can lose your motor function and still have sensory function below the injury level, and STILL be considered complete . . . just don't ask me why, 'cuz I don't understand that bit either. The important thing for me is to not look a gift horse in the mouth and be happy with the sensations that I still have.

[Trinity]

sugar31281, on 08 October 2010 - 08:58 PM, said:

this may be a stupid question but i'm asking cuz it drives me nuts. i am T/3 T/4 complete. no feeling in lower extremities. my legs burn and tingle like little needles are prickling me all over. it's to the point i can't sleep at night. i havn't slept in days because of this among other problems i am having that is making me sweat like crazy. i know we all have nerve pain but if i am complete i shouldn't fesensationel anything in my legs right? is this normal?

I am a complete injury and have no sensation as far as touch and pain ect, no proprioception below my injury level but what I do get is a constant buzzing type sensation which, for the main part, is annoying but bearable. It's like a white noise. I get neuro pain on top of this which is down right painful, this most often manifests itself as sharp pains, either a stabbing or electric shock kind of thing, at it's worse it feels like hundreds of red hot needles poking into my skin which is strange as I cannot feel my skin. around my torso and injury level I get a burning hot sensation with hypersensitivity at the injury level. The only things taht I have found that in anyway help are drugs (pregabalin, amitryptilline, painkillers) and hot baths! I think baths confuse my nerves so much that they just go into hiding for a few hours

[knightrider]

My legs are constantly burning aching and have pins 'n' needles, it's my feet that feel it the most but i'm used to it, it's nothing compared to actual nerve pain i get which is like Trinity's but mine starts on my left side around my ribs at my injury level, it starts with intense and i mean intense burning (like being burnt with a blow torch) then add what feels like being electricuted and then being sliced by a sharp knife all at once which then travels down to my left knee, it lasts anything from 2-5mins at a time and most part of it i'm holding my breath in agony, it even brings tears to the eyes, but unlucky for me, no meds i've tried have worked, so i've learnt to "man up" lol.

For the pins and needles/burning feeling, try what Trin said and have a hot bath, it does actually work, well for a little while whilst my legs are nice and relaxed.

Edited by knightrider, 08 October 2010 - 11:20 PM.

[S&W Winger]

Sugar, yes, sounds like nerve pain, etc., and variously described above...I take 450mg of Lyrica daily for mine..the worst of which is the feeling if vise grips ripping my toes...this has calmed down somewhat, but it all waxes and wanes...I get the electro-shocks, pins * needles, etc....and th nly thing that has helped is Lyrica...so far...


I am concerned abut the sweating...could be a symptom of AD...are you having a UTI, or other issue? Any other symptoms? How is your blood pressure? Please check on possible causes for the sweating...


Let us know how things are going...

[sugar31281]

well here is the update. i am over my uti. been to two different er's and about 3 doctors. tried to explainn all my symptoms, they don't seem to know a thing. i am cold sweating profusly and in chronic pain above the injury. one er di exray, said it was ok. i am so frustrated no doc will help me or give me the meds i need.

[jscott92064]

Sugar, my husband has the same type of pain you get. The burning and tinging. He takes benedryl every night to help him sleep. Sometimes I lightly tickle and scratch his back around the surgery site and that helps - probably confuses his nerves --I don't know - or just takes the pain off then. Lyrica doesn't do well for him and he prefers to be off all pain meds. UTI's make the pain worse.

Yes, this part of SCI totally sucks.

[wreckinball]

I also experience pins and needles, which in my case is connected to circulation. I cannot feel anything below my T-6 complete injury, but the sensation of blood flow and circulatory discomfort is always present.

Sometimes it feels more concentrated in my seat, and no matter how much I move to relieve pressure it just feels leaden, on fire and extremely uncomfortable; other days, my feet and lower legs will be on fire, and though doing pressure lifts will allow blood to get down to my toes, it will still be a very uncomfortable day.

I also experience stabbing pain along the line of injury, with intense pain lasting anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes. It generally only hits 2 or 3 times a day, but it is painful enough to make me cry out or wake up if it hits while I'm sleeping. I've not tried drugs for this (nor do I think I need them), but I do remember that when I was still in acute rehab and taking Neurontin, it did nothing to abate this pain. Maybe that's not the same thing?

I've just learned to accept the fact that I'll have a certain level of daily discomfort and pain, but I realize that it could also be much worse and I'm glad my pains are manageable.

[Jeanette]

sugar31281, on 08 October 2010 - 08:58 PM, said:

this may be a stupid question but i'm asking cuz it drives me nuts. i am T/3 T/4 complete. no feeling in lower extremities. my legs burn and tingle like little needles are prickling me all over. it's to the point i can't sleep at night. i havn't slept in days because of this among other problems i am having that is making me sweat like crazy. i know we all have nerve pain but if i am complete i shouldn't feel anything in my legs right? is this normal?

What you are feeling is the nerve pain and believe it or not you made be changing from complete to an incomplete diagnosis.
I have nerve pain all over.my leg spasm I have severe spasticity
I have severe problems with temperature regulation. I have spasms as well as severe Pain atdifferent points of of my body. Most of the pain is severe in legs, arms, chest, arms and ny arms
My newest symytons are above

Falling sleep
Jeanett

[Vanessamaee]

I was injured a little over 2 months ago. Im a T3/T4 complete and I had the tingling from the start. but the burning just started today. Im glad I found this. Helped seeing I wasnt the only one.