Complicated problem...does anyone have advice?

[LumpySpacePrincess]

So I've had this problem for years and I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for me...

7 years ago (as of next Tuesday!) I had a c-section that, of course, involved a spinal anesthesia, so I was pretty much paralyzed from the neck down for about an hour or so (I don't remember how long it was until I fully came out of it). They told me that one of the side effects is possible permanent paralysis of parts of my body. Scary, but my son had an enormous head and there was no way he was coming out naturally.

Anyway, ever since then I've had problems with my left leg. I'm mobile,but the leg is often either numb or achey. For a good three years after, I had painful trigger-point lumps under my skin that thankfully my boyfriend was able to massage out. My leg goes numb when standing for too long, and it is noticeably weaker than the right leg.

Here's my problem: I can't seem to lose fat on this leg! My right leg is getting skinnier and my left leg is staying the same size. I'm really worried that I'm going to end up with one lean, sculpted leg, and the other leg looking like I used it to hide copious amounts of cottage cheese!

Is there anything that can be done to get the fat off short of using a TENS unit to try to stimulate the nerves or liposuction? Its got really gross fat lumps around my knees and just below my hips and I really want to get rid of them!!

[catne]

I wonder maybe if you should just give it more time, and get further on your weight-loss journey before trying anything different? Though you've had a good weight loss so far, you still have a ways to go, right?

I also have issues like that (left leg, also)...though no one every told me it had anything to do with C-sections...I had 4 of those, between 1978 & l989. Don't know how long I've had the left-leg issue, but it first became very noticeable about 10 years ago when I gained a lot of weight (so long after my last C-Section) But I guess it could be from damage done on one of the C-sections; perhaps the huge weight gain triggered something? Learn something new every day I guess.

Anyway, I've always just figured my body was whacky, lol.

My stats were similar to yours...and so far I have lost nearly 45 lbs. Thing is, there is still a difference between my legs. The left is still larger than the right, and when I retain water from excess salt, the left leg ballons out more than the right. But both legs are noticeably smaller...I'm thinking the more I lose, the less stress there will be on that "weak" leg and less water retention/fat retention. That's my hope anyway.

[Carli]

This won't help your fat loss issue, but have you ever seen a chiropractor for the issue after the spinal? Might be worth a try.

[pooticus]

I would go see your doctor and get a referral to a neuro guy. Sounds like you have some injury from maybe the spinal? Also sounds as if you might have lymphedema in that leg perhaps? Either way, numbness needs to be addressed before permanent damage occurs!

Sorry you are having this problem!!!

[svenskamae]

I agree with Pooticus about seeing your doctor and asking about a referral. Also, consider consulting a massage therapist who is trained to do therapeutic massage for particular medical problems--not just someone who can make you feel relaxed. A good massage therapist can work on specific problem areas; a friend of mine with chronic pain due to nerve damage sees one who works only on my friend's arms and shoulders as a problem area. If you have insurance, it may cover therapeutic massage in your problem leg, but you'd probably need a referral from a doctor to get it covered,

[spoiltmomof2]

When you say it's achey can you describe it? I have a pinched nerve in my low back. It causes severe pain in my left leg. It hurts so deep it feels like my bone is hurting. If you have a pinched nerve that's bad enough you will lose muscle tone in the leg and end up with more fat.

[LumpySpacePrincess]

Thanks for all the advice! I really wish I had health insurance so I could go see a specialist, but all I have is my student health insurance which only covers emergency medicine.

As far as the achey feeling, it just feels like a dull, constant tiredness with a twinge of pain. Best way I could describe it.

[3fatcats]

after the birth of my first son I have sciatic nerve pain. I discovered the more weight I lose, the better it gets and as of right now, only have a little pain if I've been out in the yard all day (and I mean all day!). I could barely walk somedays the pain was so bad, but there was nothing they could do I was told except surgery to see if they could "move" the nerve. Not going to happen. Oh, and pain medication does not touch it AT ALL, EVER so this side effect of losing weight is great for me! The nights I'd get home from work I'd have to lift myself out of the car because I couldn't stad on my leg from the horrible pain. By the way, left leg and I had an epidural.

[jem51]

Ketogenic diets are healing and it may take some time but you may gradually see results as you continue eating LC.

Wait until you have lost more weight and find some exercises to strengthen and stretch.

ketogenic-diet-resourse might have some infor on nerve healing.

[marjo]

I've been dealing with sciatica for years. Surgery helped but not enough. I recently was put on Ultrim for arthritic and bursitus pain. While it didn't do much for my joints, it was VERYEFFECTIVE for my back - sciatic pain.

Hope this helps.

Good luck,
Marjo

[HotMommy]

My right leg is about an inch larger than my left...I have also had a c-section (with an epidural) I couldn't say whether or not it's related since I didn't measure until after I began losing weight. It may be a normal variation, but I am curious now...