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Original poster

Has anyone experienced nerve pain from severed nerves?

39 replies

SmileyClare · 30/08/2022 19:58

I had an accident two weeks ago and in short sliced my ankle on some glass.

I've had the stitches out but unfortunately severed the nerves to my foot and I've been left with a numb foot and nerve pain like nothing I've ever experienced!

It hurts constantly especially at night, I can't bear anything touching my foot and all night it feels like someone is tickling the sole of my foot, shooting pains and I can't move my toes properly.

My gp said today, wait six weeks and if it's no better he'd refer me for nerve function tests.I feel a bit brushed off though. I probably should have made more of a fuss but not sure anything can be done?

I feel like I can't cope with this awful foot pain for months. I'm normally a cheerful person and don't complain but this is really getting me down. I feel a bit desperate and dread going to bed because it's almost unbearable at night. Painkillers aren't touching it.

Has anyone had anything like this? Please reassure me this will get better soon Sad

OP posts:
WishDragon · 30/08/2022 20:14

There are specific pain relieving drugs you can take for nerve pain, gabapentin or amitriptyline are two examples. The latter can also help you sleep. I guess the GP is doing a watch and wait attempt which isn’t necessarily wrong but doesn’t help your pain. It may be worth having this discussion with them. What pain killers are you taking now? Nerve pain can be difficult to treat and can often result in a team approach with physio exercises as well as pain relief. If things don’t improve you may need a referral to a pain clinic. The other way is to try and speak to the team from the ward you stayed on for advice.

Original poster
SmileyClare · 30/08/2022 20:27

Thanks for your reply. I'm going to call back and ask about the medication you suggested to treat the pain. A quick Google says those are anti depressants but also treat nerve pain? I'm willing to try anything at this point!

I didn't stay on a ward. To give more detail; I fell down a step in my garden onto a large (empty) champagne bottle that sliced my leg open. I wasn't even drink Blush just rushing around tidying up! Such a stupid thing to do!

I went to A and E who put ten stitches in and sent me home and they were removed by a nurse at my doctor's surgery who couldn't advise on nerve damage.
So haven't had any after care as such.

I returned to work as a cleaner (self employed) and it helps to be busy on my feet (I think?) but in the evenings and at night I'm going insane with it.

I was hoping my gp might have helped more today but now feel so pessimistic that I'm stuck like this.
Sorry I know I'm moaning.

OP posts:
Acinonyx2 · 30/08/2022 20:44

Gabapentin was my first thought. Pain is often difficult to get taken seriously and treated - I have chemotherapy-induced neuropathy (nerve damage) and I know many people in my position have gabapentin for the pain - I have it in mind if mine gets worse. They probably had no idea how damaged the nerves were (very hard to tell) or the consequences - you'll have to make it clear! Chronic pain is very depressing.

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General health
prampushingdownthehighst · 30/08/2022 20:52

I have nerve damaged behind my ear after an op and have taken amitriptyline for a while now, it does help.
Good luck, you sound like you've had a nasty injury

Original poster
SmileyClare · 30/08/2022 20:59

Thanks, I really appreciate your replies. Smile It does feel like no one is taking it seriously so it's a massive help to speak to people that understand and have experienced similar. It does feel very depressing at the moment.

Has anyone's damaged nerve pain improved over time? Nerves can regenerate usually? I know that could take a long time but I feel like crying imaging my foot like this forever.

Will definitely ask for any (or all!) of the drugs suggested. Im taking paracetamol which is useless.
My husband had some old conformal from a past injury and they just made me groggy as hell with a bad foot.

OP posts:
Original poster
SmileyClare · 30/08/2022 21:01

Meant "co codamol"

OP posts:
turtleyawesome1 · 30/08/2022 21:10

Nerves can heal but they take a longggg time. I guess your GP is trying to keep you off the neuropathic pain relief - they take a few weeks to properly work & you can get various side effects, Only you can weigh up if it's worth it. Try ice also, that can help settle the nerve pains 👍🏻

Gotmyprincecharming · 30/08/2022 21:10

I have nerve damage in my lower back, thigh and hip after a medical procedure a year and a half ago. Have tried pregablin(anti seizure) , duloxetine (anti depressant) and various pain killers. Duloxetine some awful effects, I couldn't function with it at all. Tapentadol is the latest medication I've been given. It helps me sleep if nothing else. Have had almost a year of physio but I still can't walk properly or lift or straighten my leg, constant pain. Hospital have basically forgotten about me, even though it was their fault. Nerve conduction test was normal. Waiting to see what next test is from hospital and starting with 3rd round of physio soon hopefully. After 19 months the stinging and itching and burning sensations have kind of eased off but it will probably flare up again when the cold weather starts. I was told nerves usually heal within 6 to 8 months, don't know why mine haven't. Hopefully yours will get better very soon and doesn't affect you long term. Doesn't sound like I'll be gettng back to my normal, active self anytime soon.

Original poster
SmileyClare · 30/08/2022 21:15

Gotmyprincecharming · 30/08/2022 21:10

I have nerve damage in my lower back, thigh and hip after a medical procedure a year and a half ago. Have tried pregablin(anti seizure) , duloxetine (anti depressant) and various pain killers. Duloxetine some awful effects, I couldn't function with it at all. Tapentadol is the latest medication I've been given. It helps me sleep if nothing else. Have had almost a year of physio but I still can't walk properly or lift or straighten my leg, constant pain. Hospital have basically forgotten about me, even though it was their fault. Nerve conduction test was normal. Waiting to see what next test is from hospital and starting with 3rd round of physio soon hopefully. After 19 months the stinging and itching and burning sensations have kind of eased off but it will probably flare up again when the cold weather starts. I was told nerves usually heal within 6 to 8 months, don't know why mine haven't. Hopefully yours will get better very soon and doesn't affect you long term. Doesn't sound like I'll be gettng back to my normal, active self anytime soon.

I'm so sorry to hear you're suffering. I thought I had a high pain threshold- Labour's with gas and air, don't have an injection for a filling! but this is something else! It's very hard to sit still or lie in bed with. I'm being such a baby but fuck me it's unbearable at the moment.

I'm very grateful for all the recommendations and will try to get through to the doctors tomorrow. My toes also look blue which can't be right can it?

So sorry for others with similar or worse Flowers

OP posts:
Original poster
SmileyClare · 30/08/2022 21:19

I agree about weighing up the pros and cons of nerve drugs. They're very addictive aren't they? Feeling a bit desperate though, perhaps I could just take them at night? It sounds as though they need to be taken regularly for at least a month to see improvement though.

Thank you for your kind replies x

OP posts:
itsgettingweird · 30/08/2022 21:21

Was also going to say have they discussed gabapentin or amotripaline (sp?)

onmywayamarillo · 30/08/2022 21:24

When I was 10/12 I broke my arm and severed all my nerves to my hand

After a lot of electrical impulse therapy and will power I got my feeling back into my hand and all fingers.it did take a good 18 months!

Still get the occasional numbing down one side of my arm when left in a certain position for too long.

IncessantNameChanger · 30/08/2022 21:25

Amitriptyline isn't addictive but can make you feel a bit out of it. However I had no side effects at all. Yes it's a antidepressant but you normally take it at a higher dose than for nerve pain. I had it for weird migraines. It most definitely stopped the pain. It seemed like a misfiring nerve that voild stop sending pain signals

AKnitterofThings · 30/08/2022 21:25

My husband was given gabapentin before his leg amputation to help prevent phantom pain. It really changed his personality! The side effects of the drugs were worse than the pain he experienced. He still gets phantom pains 7 years later, nerves are clever things.

richcouncilhousetenantfreehouse · 30/08/2022 21:26

Amitriptiline (sp?) works for me. You have my sympathies. Nerve pain is horrendous

YellowFlowersGreenStems · 30/08/2022 21:27

I damaged the nerves around the front of my shin/calf after a fall needing stitches years ago. It took ages (a few years) to feel completely normal again. I don't think mine was as bad as yours though. I didn't need any drugs to help but I had problems with things touching my lower leg for a long time. It was like a pins&needles affect if anything bumped/touched my leg. It definitely improved massively over the first year but it was years before the full feeling came back. Don't lose hope. Things will improve over time.

Gotmyprincecharming · 30/08/2022 21:31

I know exactly what you mean, I had 2 of my DC's with just gas and air too but nerve pain is a whole other level. It's very frustrating to go from being so active and running almost daily, to struggling to walk around the house and do daily tasks.
I find listening to podcasts, positive affirmations and (audio)books about coping seem to help me deal with it that bit better and helps get my head round it to help me cope a bit more positively. I just had to get it in my head that I can't change or control what's happened to me but I can control how I feel about it and how it affects me..it did take me a while to get there tho...with 3 kids, I still have to try get on with life as normal, as much as possible.

Apl · 30/08/2022 21:34

Nerve pain is something else, you are not being a baby OP!

Usually with trapped nerves it begins to subside soon but I don’t know about severed nerves.

NHS GPs adopt a ‘watch and wait’ approach. The private sector does not. If you can afford it, consult a private neurologist. If not, press your GP over and over for a referral or some stronger drugs.

Good luck I really hope it gets better fast.

Aak · 30/08/2022 21:35

I would push for a referral ASAP to be honest OP, might open up more options with a specialist. Just be clear the feeling is debilitating and affecting your sleep and your work. Hope it gets better soon!

Original poster
SmileyClare · 30/08/2022 21:38

This is making me feel more positive. I will definitely ask to try any of the nerve treatments suggested here
I also can't bear anything touching my foot! Yellowflowers it's almost like the pain when your dentist prods an exposed nerve (but in my foot)
Not sure how ill cope when it's too cold to wear my flip flops Confused

Some of the injuries on here sound awful. Your sympathy and positive suggestions mean a lot. My husband and teens are fed up with me moaning I think! ..feel really bad that I'm so irritable or tearful at the moment. It's really shit.

OP posts:
Oxborn · 30/08/2022 21:41

Nerve pain is the worst I have it in my arm and shoulder currently waiting for physio I’m on pregabalin and tramadol it’s so hard to live with do you find heat or cold helps?

Original poster
SmileyClare · 30/08/2022 21:46

We can't afford any private treatment but will try to be assertive with my gp.
At least I feel like there are a few options to try instead of "wait six weeks and see how it is".

Gotmyprincecharming hats off to you, you sound very tough. You have my utmost sympathy and I admire you getting on with things and staying positive X

OP posts:
richcouncilhousetenantfreehouse · 30/08/2022 21:53

You could try desensitising the nerves. It's horrible to do (I had to get my OH to do it) but get moisturiser and run the affected area as often as you can. That's what the physio recommended for me.

Original poster
SmileyClare · 30/08/2022 22:03

I will try a hot and/ or cold compress that's a good suggestion. I'm going to take a hot water bottle to bed and try pressing my foot on that when it gets really bad.

Just tried massage with some moisturiser on the top of my foot. It felt a bit like what I imagine been tasered feels like; hair raising Grin will persevere..

I do feel better talking to people that understand. You've all been so helpful.

OP posts:
WishDragon · 30/08/2022 22:20

Desensitisation is an actual technique for some chronic pain.