Has anyone experienced nerve pain from severed nerves?

[SmileyClare]

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

Yes, I severed a nerve in my face in an accident and the sensation and pain you are describing sounds about right. I was put on gabapentin for 6 weeks then amitriptyline.

That’s reassuring, will continue trying with the massage. I didn’t expect so many mumsnetters to be suffering like me!
It’s made me feel a bit less alone.

There's a lot of us about!

Yes, I had a nerve severed in my hip during surgery. They waited until the surgical pain subsided and then prescribed gabapentin, which sorted it and I was able to come off them after 6 months.

I have Cerebral Palsy and have had many trapped nerves over the years, although not severed
It really is the worst pain I've ever had
There are quite a few options so don't lose hope.
For pain relief No common painkillers or anti inflammatories work but there are specific nerve painkillers which are also anti convulsants or antidepressants in different dosages
At various times I've had Pregabilin, Gabapentin and Amitryptiline( which I'm on now)
You may find either heat or cold help more
You could try a Mini tens machine available from about £20 which you use on the pain.. Mine really helped
Please don't struggle on with acute pain Ask for a call with a GP and hopefully they'll prescribe over the phone
I hope things improve for you very soon

It is the worst pain isn’t it? Glad it’s not just me that thinks that!
Thank you, your experience and advice is really helpful.

Hi I know this is a old post but just wanted to know is your nerve pain any better since your last post I am going through the same thing nerve pain in left foot my big toe and it’s horrible I can’t cope with it nerve damage due to surgery in my spine they said nerve will heal but I doubt it have u had any luck getting better x

Hi @Alana2 so sorry you’re suffering with this complication.

Im just heading back to work but in short Yes! It did get a LOT better in time! I was definitely feeling very sorry for myself when I wrote this thread- bit embarrassing reading it back 😬

You have my sympathy!

Happy to answer any questions when I’m home later if you leave them here.

Take care

I had excruciating nerve pain following a mastectomy and axillary clearance. Even a slight touch was agony, going to appointments in the car was awful as every movement caused more pain. I was on gabapentin for a few weeks, but the pain (from that anyway) had gone by six weeks.

I was very lucky in that my GP took me seriously, which may possibly be because I knew what to ask for and said that I definitely didn't want opiates (they make me sick). I would ask your doctor for some gabapentin to help you through the first few weeks, and with any luck your pain will stop in a few weeks.

Aww thanks for replying I’m glad your sooo much better did you take any medication to heal the nerve and how long did it take x I am taking pregabalin at the moment gabapentine didn’t work for me but pregabalin is something you don’t want to be on for a long time it’s awful it’s 6 months since my surgery and I am scared to come off pregabalin in case the pain comes back it’s horrible

Sorry to hear you’re still in a lot of pain ☹️
It’s awful when you don’t know how long it will go on for and I really sympathise.

I went on pregablin as well which helped but I hated how groggy it made me and after a month (TMI) I had sexual dysfunction which was crap! Everything down there was numb.🙈

I tapered the dose after 2 months to half and then came off it. I was a bit worried but the pain by then had eased a lot, and I had the option of restarting pregablin if the pain crept back. It thankfully didn’t and was manageable.

I still have some numbness in my foot which I don’t really notice and can’t bear anyone stroking or touching that foot! It’s WAY better and doesn’t bother me day to day so keep hope @Alana2 🙂

When it was at its worst, I found hot water bottles or an ice pack helped a lot. Be careful not to burn the numb bits though.

Best wishes for your recovery x

Thanks smileyclare for getting back to me really appreciate it I am on pregabalin it does help but I’m forgetting stuff lol and always sleeping I am gonna come off it but going on holiday in may and I do t want to be having pain ther so il come off it when I get back I’m just scared that pain might come back

like u said my foot still feels weird to anyone to touch lol and numb often feel this weird feeling going to my big toe when I think about it sounds weird but true

I’m so happy for you that u are feeling a lot better I don’t wish this on anyone horrible. And yes like you said I’m just dead in the bedroom department hahah

Bless you. Nerves are so weird aren’t they?

I think it would be worth trying to taper your dose of pregabalin after your holiday? I was advised not to just stop suddenly but gradually reduce it and just see if how the pain was.

You’ll be relieved to hear that the feeling in the bedroom department came back when I had stopped the tablets 😳

Yeah I relate to the forgetfulness and feeling a bit foggy! I started to think I was losing my marbles a bit, losing my car keys and stuff! 😩

Good luck it sounds like you’ve had a tough time x

I was left with meralgia parasthetica after an operation. Somehow the femoral nerves were damaged leaving me weirdly totally numb to the touch but at the same time as though a thousand red hot needles all along my outer thigh. I take Gabapentin and amitriptyline, it’s made a significant difference.
I hope you get sorted soon,