Neurological Associates

Pain Management Center

Vero Beach, Florida

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RSD PUZZLE #101
"SURGICAL RESECTION AND RSD"

Question:

I had a nerve resection in March 1997, my foot pain is worse, horrendous. Will it ever calm down?

Betty

Answer:

Dear Betty,
As early as the 1950's and 1960's the medical researchers extensively covered the subject of surgical resection and cutting of the nerves for relief of pain. The medical researchers proved that these surgical treatments almost always aggravate the pain and suffering. They result in the formation of neuromas, which are a bundle of twisted nerves at the edge of the area where the nerve has been cut. The neuroma is due to growth of the cut nerve into the scar of surgery. This forms the bundle of abnormally grown nerves, which becomes extremely sensitive. The end result is practically always the patient becoming much worse. In the case of RSD type of pain, it is one of the commonest causes of CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome / RSD) to spread to other regions of the body. This spread commonly is manifested as it spreads from the arm, to the neck, to the occipital region of the head, causing severe occipital neuralgia, or vice versa. In other cases, the spread causes the CRPS to expand from the leg to the arm on the same side or the opposite side.

In the past 5-10 years, a new generation of pain managers, who have not had any neurosurgical training, have resurrected these operations with obvious disastrous results.

These operations consist of the nerve resection that they did in your case, called neurectomy. These operations are frequently done by podiatrists for removal of a "Neuroma," which is usually an imaginary diagnosis because the biopsy sample of the surgical removal, instead of showing Neuroma, usually shows nothing but the inflammation of RSD. Other forms are neurotomy, rhizotomy, phenol and alcohol block, and radio frequency surgery.

The only form of these operations that provide temporary relief, and only temporary relief, is rhizotomy in the patients that have brachial plexus injury and pain. Even that operation will not have any long standing beneficial effect.

Please make sure that your doctor does not try to keep cutting upward on the rest of the trunk of the same nerve. The results are going to be absolutely disastrous.

H. Hooshmand, M.D.

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Copyright © 1997-2006 H. Hooshmand, M.D. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, stored in a retrieval system other than this specific media, transcribed, or translated into any language without the expressed written permission from the author; H. Hooshmand, M.D. and Eric Phillips and CMNE. This material is for informational and education purposes. It is not meant to take the place of your physician. Before starting, changing, or stopping any treatments or medicines consult your physician.

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The material on the Neurological Associates Pain Management Center Homepage and all it's associated, linked or reference pages is for informational and education purposes. It is not meant to take the place of your physician. Before starting, changing, or stopping any treatments or medicines consult your physician. H. Hooshmand, M.D., Neurological Associates Pain Management Center and Associates will not be held liable for any damage or loss as a result of information provided on this page or associated documentation. Again, this WEB SITE is simply published as an information source and should not be used to treat or make judgments on RSD/CRPS. All associated material on this web site may not be copied, reproduced or quoted without expressed written permission from the owner; Copyright © 1999-2006 H. Hooshmand, M.D.

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This page was last updated on 3/11/2000.