Is This Normal ?

[angellady07]

I had graft surgery on Tuesday. I was given a nerve block along with other sedation medication. I have two concerns the first being I'm still experiencing numbness in my left arm. I'm able to move it it just feels numb.The anesthesiologist said the numbness would subside in 8 hours. I don't know what to think. My left hand is also cold. I'm also running a low grade fever 99.8. I did contact my surgeon he said it sounds like things are getting better.....What? If I'm concerned he will set up an appointment before my 10 day follow up. My only discharge orders were a follow up appt in 10 days and vicodin PRN pain. Thanks in advance.

[Sluff]

I hope you feel better soon. 

[keefer51]

I would get that checked out asap. I hope it all works out.

[jbeany]

It's possible that the numbness may be from them damaging a nerve.  If it is, an appointment won't do much good - there's not much they can do for nerve damage but wait and hope it heals by itself.  (Mine is almost gone after 2 years.)  The cold hand is probably pretty normal as well.  It's called steal syndrome, and it's because the blood flow to your hand is less now than it was before.  As long as you have enough blood flow that your hand is still a normal color, it's not much to worry about.  Mine was also pretty cold at the beginning, but it's better now as well - I think the blood vessels in your hand must expand to increase the blood flow over time.  If you start to see something that makes you think there is a serious lack of blood flow to your hand, then you need to get it looked at immediately, though.  You don't want to risk doing serious, permanent damage to it.

[kitkatz]

I had super numbness for quite a few days after they placed my second graft into my upper arm.  It also hurt like H**l for awhile.  It takes time for the nerves that were messed with to heal. Also the coldness int he hand is something theyc all stelle sydrome. Seem sthe graft is taking blood that would normally run down into your hand and moving it around.  I have had that also happen. It wiill take awhile for your boddy to figure out how to get blood to your hand again in a normal way. If you are worried call the surgeoin and get it looked at.

[angellady07]

Thanks for your responses. I'm numb from my elbow to my fingers. My upper arm does hurt like h*** . I was in tears today from the pain. I usually have a high tolerance for pain but this is severe. I hope it gets better. Thanks again.

[Bajanne]

Your experience does seem to be pretty normal.  I was very concerned when my hand was so cold and numb after the operation to put in my graft.  I went back to emergency, but no one seemed to understand what I was going through, and were not able to explain it to me.  I was not in pain, but the coldness and numbness was so weird.   After some time, it just went away.