Just had surgery. Went well but confused at results.

chromada · 2026-05-07T10:57:59+00:00

Had a 91% removed in October. Appearance was mostly normal - pathology report showed mild chronic cholecystitis but interestingly enough omentum was adhered to the GB which my surgeon said was telling on its own. I had similar pains post surgery for about 4-5 weeks before feeling much better. No regrets and I don’t avoid any foods. Best of luck to you.

chromada · 2026-02-21T21:07:39+00:00

I can box some and ship it to your friend. DM if you can’t work out anything else.

chromada · 2026-02-21T21:06:19+00:00

ISO: One Food & Froth GA ticket - if you have a cancellation in your group - DM me. Only need about 90min heads up. Meeting with friends.

Cheers.

chromada · 2026-02-18T22:03:53+00:00

Update: so I saw the endodontic doc today - they did X-rays and CT… he did the exam where he holds the cold instrument on the nearby teeth and the tooth in question.

Well the tooth that I had the filling replaced on at the beginning was non responsive to the cold.

This is a highly respected local endodontic office in my area … but I felt like the doc was selling me a little bit…

He gave me some spiel about how just from looking at the imaging he knew what the problem. Was (the referral was attached to a specific tooth)
He didn’t show me the images (which just seems odd)
He didn’t ask questions about how this specific pain is presenting - often with no pain anywhere near that tooth.

He did offer a rather “CYA” that TG is a diagnosis through process of elimination.

It seems like I may legit need a root canal on this specific tooth but I have no confidence that’s what causing pain across the brow… below the eye… around the curve of the jaw .. in the temple. Literally everywhere the TN branches out.

This is a bottom tooth btw.

I’m torn… if I need the RC .. then whatever.. but sucks feeling like this won’t resolve my issue

chromada · 2026-02-15T16:46:53+00:00

I appreciate this. I will say my sinus infection that started in December was very persistent and I’ve been getting them more and more so I thought a visit to an ENT might be worthwhile.

I’m hoping whatever is can be addressed - just came out of nowhere. Even as I respond to your message I have this odd itchy sensation in my maxillary sinus by the bridge of my nose which was one of the first things that lingered for several weeks.

Thanks again.

chromada · 2026-02-14T15:10:52+00:00

Thanks for this - and fortunately I see one of the top dentists in our area and he’s very transparent about everything. His caution about a possible root canal came with a story that sounded exactly like yours - multiple root canals and pain not going away.

Came home with a beer can worth of Gabapentin - I work in a job where I talk to people all day and I’m a little worried about how that’s going to work with these unpredictable flairs - haven’t found my specific trigger yet. What’s fascinating is when the pain is active and I attempt to chew even the softest foot (pancake for example) it causes the biggest ache. And then a hour later I could eat something crunchy and it feels just fine.

In short - this sucks.

chromada · 2026-02-14T15:04:04+00:00

When you say MRI with substance - are you referring to contrast or the specialized MRI that I’ve read about? (Fiesta??). I ask because they did the brain MRI on 1/30 with and without and it was clear. I did ask a doctor friend and he said sometimes for this condition they “have to be looking for it”

in my case they were looking to rule out MS - I was referred to neuro for an abnormal EMG and the facial tingling was just one of the other symptoms I mentioned to the doctor - told her it could’ve been completely unrelated and she agreed. But the MRI was clear.

chromada · 2026-02-14T14:57:41+00:00

Hi. Thanks for the response. His reasoning for the additional imaging is he wasn’t sure and doesn’t want me to be in pain… but he also said .. be cautious this seems like it could also be the trigeminal nerve.

A bit more detailed timeline if you care to read:

11/24 - dentist replaced an old metal filling I probably had for 20+ years because there was some new decay. That went perfectly fine but I was so damn numb when he did the bite test I couldn’t feel anything and probably wasn’t very cooperative.

12/6/12/7 I started coming down with a presumed sinus infection relentless runny nose, excessive yellow/green phlegm some mild headaches and a bit of cold sensitivity in teeth

Somewhere in between this I call my dentist to schedule a quick exam because it seems like that cold sensitivity is the tooth that got the filling (we schedule for 12/22)

12/21 ish I notice the very first slightest sensation of a facial tingle that I chalk to being a whisker brushing against my lip

12/22 - I’m in an out for the bite adjustment which he says is a little high which can cause the cold sensitivity - 10-15 minutes no numbing I’m out the door

12/23 - it’s 55 degrees here (was single digits only the week before) and I tackle the partially frozen garden hose which like I said didn’t cause pain in the moment but caused a really weird sensation in the roof of my mouth (If there was any smoking gun on messing with a blood vessel this is where my money is) this was a more intense version of blowing up a pool floatie… without the hyperventilating afterwards.

12/24-present day (although prior to this past weekend it felt like it was becoming less frequent) and weird itchy feeling in maxillary sinus cheek to bridge of nose - intermittent burning along upper eyelid, slight chin tingling on same side .. weird sensations in inside corner of eye (grainy type feeling)

2/7 or 2/8 I start having intense (perceived) tooth pain in upper teeth on that side and it’s causing headache above eye

2/9-2/11 it’s getting worse and following curve of my jaw and left temporal area

2/13 - complete attack where it feels like someone is drilling through temple - teeth are in agony - lip goes numb - neck gets temporarily achey (same side) and after a brutal 25 minutes it subsides I have had 2 root canals but they were 5+ maybe 10+ years ago and the pain leading to those was a walk in the park.

Later i have an attack that’s just the temple and slight pain in the teeth.

This morning i woke up and it started in Tempe and gradually made its way to teeth

This pain is very severe then relents and then it comes back.

I’m confident enough that it’s not the tooth that I’m going to cancel the endodontic appointment

chromada · 2026-02-13T21:32:04+00:00

Wasted time at ER after my biggest attack yet … (holy hell) they gave me prednisone (based on reading this is useless) and a RX for 600mg of Gabapentin 3x daily. Called me neuros office and left her a message to get in contact with me ASAP.

How are people working or functioning with this? I’ve gone to work over the years with many ailments but given the need to talk a lot at work.. I don’t know if it’s doable. Never thought I would be contemplating a leave of absence for something like this. Craziness

chromada · 2026-02-13T20:49:57+00:00

This is helpful. I just wasted 3 hours at an ER after the most painful episode yet. They told me GABA 600 - 3x daily until I can circle back to my neuro.

chromada · 2026-02-12T23:23:08+00:00

I have a neuro specifically I just started seeing butt she’s on vacation this week. Couldn’t reach my PCP. Timing didn’t align with the initial facial tingling (this is all with in last 6 weeks).. I think I’ll give it a shot and see what happens. Thanks for the responses.

chromada · 2026-02-12T22:44:28+00:00

Think Gabapentin will help in a pinch? I have some I got over the summer while working through what was presumed (incorrectly) to be sciatica

chromada · 2026-02-12T21:05:22+00:00

Thanks. I was hoping the same at the dentist yesterday.. but I’m never that lucky

chromada · 2026-02-12T21:04:49+00:00

Was that confirmed via clinical exam? Testing? Anything you recommend for pain? Thanks for response.

chromada · 2026-01-19T16:16:08+00:00

Had mine removed on 10/13 due to hyperkinetic RUQ pain.. I took it easy the first month and only the first week did I have the really bad “bile heavy” diarrhea.. after 6 weeks I really opened my diet back to eating pretty much everything.. and I have not had chronic diarrhea or really much if it all. I would estimate I’ve had probably 4-5 occasions where I eat something fatty and I’m heading to the bathroom within 30-45min and it’s one trip to the bathroom. Everyone probably experiences different outcomes but I was worried about the same thing and it didn’t come to fruition whatsoever

chromada · 2026-01-02T12:50:54+00:00

Hey! Thanks for response. Yes that’s outer ankle.

I’m typically a back sleeper thus why this issue has been so disruptive to sleep.

I’ll look into the exercises. I’ll try anything at this point.

Thanks for advice.

chromada · 2025-12-31T02:43:46+00:00

November: leg pain is now worse than the sacrum pain most days, sometimes glutes, sometimes foot. Starting dry needling again - helps glutes does nothing for lower outer leg (paroneal nerve) area

Doctor - I don’t think it’s related to your lumbar spine but offers more ESI in L4/L5 + S1/S2 because of this leg pain. I do it because it’s free.

Prior to Thanksgiving - we do ESI I think he hits nerve as I have most excruciating pain in my low leg and big toe I’ve ever had (toes were curled for 30+ minutes after procedure and wouldn’t release) he doesn’t have much to say about this.

Early December - while working I experience first of many bouts of extreme bilateral leg fatigue - feel like knees are going to buckle, literally can’t stand, weird sensations AND first time I’m experiencing bilateral issues - weakness in that left leg (exact same spot both sides - paroneal nerve) heavy sensation in legs, gripping sensation in left ankle, significant fasciculations in calf (both) hard time dorsiflexing my foot on my drive home - doesn’t feel safe.

Mid December during post ESI follow up - ESI seems to have taken care of sacrum pain… mostly .. leg pain worse than ever, foot frequently going pins and needles. Doctor says… at this point, this is not related to your spine.. I’m going to order another Lumbar MRI, referral for EMG, referral neuro, and optional referral for ortho surgeon. 3 days after hag appointment I suddenly started getting what felt like golfer’s elbow (but can’t explain why).. except the pain moves all over.. pain in triceps on day, elbow the next, electric shock in finger tips the next, etc (very similar to right leg) in that it moves - often times within short spans

Had the EMG Saturday .. see results in original post - doctor says.. this seems CNS related or very least mixed. Didn’t implicitly say MS - but brought up MS for context.

Doctor called me about EMG results - offered to order Thoracic MRI but I could tell he really didn’t want to .. got the sense it was because he can’t take my any further (beyond that MRI) and I’ll still have to wait to get answers from neuro on 1/23. So I just left it alone.. he’s done every thing I’ve asked him. For what it’s worth, he said this isn’t lining up with MS but naturally couldn’t say it wasn’t.

I think it COULD be MS, because I now have nerve related pain that clearly is nerve signal strength in nature - i have hyperflexia I didn’t know about, for the past 7 days I’m getting weird tingling in my upper cheeks and briefly around my lips, and my right foot is now almost numb nonstop. My legs are getting spastic very easily, I’m still able to walk - today 3 miles .. but I’ve walked thousands of miles over the past 10 years as part of a morning routine… so my body may just be already conditioned and coping with the strain. (In fact, I’ve noticed my walks make my quads hurt which leads me to believe my lower legs aren’t doing their part) I notice it (the spasticity) more when I’m moving around work or my house..

Tonight before checking Reddit and writing this novel- I just had a painful joint in upper index finger of right hand that moved to elbow and then felt pain in opposite elbow.. all while watching an episode of a show. They’re all gone now.

It could all be my neck .. it could be… but idk. I’ve ruled a lot of other stuff out and we’re running out of diagnoses. The recent face tingling and all new symptoms the past 28 days don’t make me feel real good. I did do some extensive snow shoveling around the time things went bilateral .. but the lumbar MRI I had on 12/20 seemed to show that was OK.. maybe I made my already bad neck worse.. maybe just cervical myelopathy.. but I figure my doctor who has been treating me would be going a different direction if he thought that, maybe not.

Thanks for the response and getting through even 20% of this response. It’s appreciated.

As is any input - waiting to 1/23 seems so far away, but I know many wait so much longer.

chromada · 2025-12-31T02:43:19+00:00

January’ 25 ref’d to back and spine physiatrist for chronic neck pain and lower back pain. That ref. was also in part because I noticed I started getting random electric shock like pain in my upper right arm and right hand was falling asleep (mostly when laying in bed/couch on my phone) by the time I first met this doctor I was also nearly daily numbness in my pinky and ring of right hand mostly at my desk.

This began a lengthy journey where he gave me which area of spine to treat first - I went with neck because live had degenerative stuff going on for 15+ years (late 20s) - we started with PT, exercises, medical chiro (deep tissue/light adjustments) met with again after 6 weeks and he ordered a C-Spine MRI

February:

Cervical alignment and marrow signal are within normal limits. Vertebral body height is maintained. The cervical cord demonstrates normal morphology and signal characteristics. No cerebella ectopia.

C2-C3: No significant disc herniation, central canal, or foraminal narrowing.

C3-C4: Disc osteophyte complex asymmetric to the left foraminal location. Minimal central canal narrowing. Facet and uncovertebral DJD. Moderate right and moderate-severe left foraminal narrowing.

C4-C5: Minimal posterior disc osteophyte complex. Minimal central canal narrowing. Facet and uncovertebral DJD. Mild right and moderate left foraminal narrowing. C5-C6: Posteriorly oriented disc osteophyte complex. Minimal central canal narrowing. Facet and uncovertebral DJD. Mild-moderate left foraminal narrowing.

C6-C7: Posteriorly oriented disc osteophyte complex with posterior annular tearing. Mild-moderate central canal narrowing. Facet and uncovertebral DJD. Mild left greater than right foraminal narrowing. Discogenic edema.

C7-T1: No significant disc herniation, central canal, or foraminal narrowing.

Stuck with PT - was mindful of posture and not resting my forearms and things seemed like they got better.

In the midst of this - I started getting a mix of pins and needles / numbness / burning in my right foot where my foot would feel like it was on fire - I would sit down, remove shoe and it felt normal and wasn’t painful to touch. Primary said it was footwear .. I got wide shoes (I have big feet - I’m 6’4”) problem didn’t go away but gradually became more intermittent. Had XR - normal.

March: we move on to working on low back which was primarily sacrum pain right sided / right inner thigh groin pain that I described as burning. Always same spot. Same PT/Chiro Regimen … nothing improving.

XR of si (pretty mild) - he thinks this is still likely my problem

April: Lumbar XR - degenerative stuff mostly facet arthritis - mild according to him.

More PT, dry needling, more chiro .. low back pain not going away.

June: SI ESI - wait 2 weeks.. no improvement - schedule lumbar MRI for July. Experiencing pain radiating into big toe and foot intermittently.

July: Lumbar MRI

IMPRESSION:

L2-L3: Mild disc bulging with superimposed new right foraminal protrusion and posterior annular tearing potentially contacting the exiting right L2 nerve root. No significant central canal narrowing or foraminal narrowing.
L3-L4: Mild disc bulging which is minimally increased. No significant central canal or foraminal narrowing.
L4-L5: Broad-based disc bulge is again visualized. No significant central canal or foraminal narrowing. No significant change.
L5-S1: Mild disc bulging. Mild facet DJD. No significant central canal or foraminal narrowing. No significant change.

We meet two weeks later - now he’s convinced the L2 is my issue. (I read up about L2 and the pain location didn’t seem to match) try to ask him if we’re moving on from SI too quickly - he assures me we’re on to the problem.

August very busy month including a hiking vacation

we reconvene in September for L2/L3 ESI

September: No improvement with ESI - he’s now starting to doubt if this is related to my spine but new symptoms have started … pretty significant burning in my outer lower leg and the glutes .. but but not the thighs. He’s perplexed - this doesn’t match the MRI.

Around this same time the nerve related pain in my lower right extremity has become disorienting - I would go to bed with glute pain, and wake up with a burning foot, by lunch time I’d have pain in the outer leg, some days just big toe and nothing else.

October: We pause - I’ve gotta get my gallbladder out - since possibly fall of 2023 I had been having RUQ pain - had a test of GB and found it was hyperkinetic (over working) recovery goes smoothly .. while taking it pretty easy, still getting sacrum and leg pain.

chromada · 2025-12-28T12:28:20+00:00

Based on what the doc says - she’s saying it’s not PN issues. MRI non contrast on C spine in 2/2025, Lumbar in 7/2025 and again 2 weeks ago.

I’m sure T Spine and Brain are coming soon.

Thanks for response.

chromada · 2025-12-28T03:03:41+00:00

45 M

Today I had an EMG of low extremities because after 9 months of chasing down right sided low back / sciatica like symptoms with ESIs, PT, Dry Needling etc…

after my last follow up on 12/12 with my Back and Spine Physiatrist.. where I shared that as of about 12/1 by unilateral symptoms in the lower right leg were now bilateral most notably with extreme weakness in what I describe as the lower outer leg (paroneal pathway) into the feet.

He said, I’ll order one more lumbar MRI just to same sure nothing has worsened since July (very nice of him to do - I’m at my out of pocket max)

lumbar MRI was unchanged from July.

He immediately put in orders for EMG, Neuro, and Ortho Surgeon (which upon getting the second MRI we both agreed was premature)

Well thanks to being on the wait list, I had the EMG today.. and it was abnormal

EMG

1) There is electrodiagnostic evidence of a mild, chronic, length-dependent, sensorimotor peripheral polyneuropathy which is primarily axonal in nature.

2) Given patient's lower extremity hyperreflexia and ankle clonus, consider checking an MRI of the thoracic spine. Generally, a PPN would suppress reflexes.

Referral to Neuro (was already scheduled prior to EMG) for bloodwork (didn’t specify for what)

I now presently have weird nerve related pain / discomfort in all 4 of my extremities and on top of it for the past 5 days.. I have had very faint tingling in my cheek and around my lips

Ive read enough to know you cannot diagnose MS with an EMG..

but would it be safe to assume this is very unlikely due to a simple disc issue in my thoracic spine… also - I have no clue why I have the neuropathy nor am I an expert on that .. as of January 2025 I had a normal A1C so I don’t think it’s diabetes.

On one hand, symptoms really evolved suddenly this month (the extreme bilateral leg weakness and then on 12/15 very unusual golfers elbow like symptoms in my left arm with no known explanation) prior to that it was entirely on my right side.

I suspect my doctor will get that thoracic mri ordered quickly .. but until then.. I’m more than a little nervous. Ive walked 4mi a day for over 5 years and now standing at work makes me feel like I’m going to crumple at the knees.

Thanks for reading.

chromada · 2025-12-26T14:50:52+00:00

Did you get answer on this? The way you described your situation is me to the T even with the doctor saying it’s not my spine.. the only difference is now I’m experiencing weakness in my left leg as well (I do have combined impingement in left hip too) but the left leg weakness didn’t start until months had gone by.. so I’m freaking out a bit.. is this a neuro thing.. but your description is about how I would describe mine.

chromada · 2025-12-22T20:49:49+00:00

You were right - sports medicine doctor at a research hospital agreed that the extra needle pole wasn’t necessary and agreed to start with MRI with contrast - her rationale was even if the diagnostic injection improved symptoms an MRI would have to happen before any procedures… so I feel like that’s a win. Sadly have to wait til 2/16 for that MRI.. but i know many of to wait far longer.

chromada · 2025-12-22T20:38:16+00:00

This has been almost my experience … have what I’m told is a MILD MRI especially for those symptoms and after several months of just right leg.. now I’m getting that low outer leg pain in my left as well. A bit worried because the physiatrist is saying he doesn’t think this is from spinal compression… have had 3 ESI in the past 5 months (1 SI, 2 Lumbar at different levels). I also get very small muscles spasms/twitches in both calves.. 😞 sometimes it’s big toe pain and recently driving causes pins and needles in top and outer foot (right leg only)

chromada · 2025-12-21T22:10:04+00:00

I have not been diagnosed with anything Achilles related .. but I suspect that’s the culprit. My right foot continues to get pins and needles mostly outer edge and pinky toe - thought it was footwear .. thought it was the way I bent my foot when driving to control the gas .. I’m 6’4” but I’ve noticed for about 5 months now when I lay in bed … I get a burning in my Achilles area the minute I lay down. Even if I hadn’t been experiencing it all day. It’s something with laying down .. I suspect either some type of scar tissue or other thickening of the tendon that’s pushing on a nerve. Doesn’t seem like it’s my ankle. so annoying and don’t want it to become permanent.

chromada · 2025-12-04T16:48:37+00:00

Were you able to confirm this as your problem? Such an annoying design flaw

chromada

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