Neuropraxia aka why my left leg doesn't work

Neuropraxia: The temporary failure or impairment of functions due to a disorder of the nervous system.

Well, we figured out what is wrong with my left leg. During my surgery last week, they used metal retractors (clamps) to hold me open during the hysterectomy. One of these retractors pushed on the femoral nerve, which caused damage to the myelin surrounding the nerve. Myelin is sort of like a protective coating, but if it's damaged at all, the nerve can malfunction or turn itself "off" until the myelin has healed. So, this is what happened to me most likely.

The femoral nerve makes my quadricep work, so this means that if the nerve won't work, the muscle does not, of course. My lower leg works fine, I can move my ankle and toes all around. But I can't lift my thigh up, much less lift my foot up. Well, I can about 1-3" (it varies each time I try), but it stays up for 1-5 seconds before it falls back down involuntarily. Walking is out of the question, as when I try, my knee falls forward.

So, I am in a knee immobilizer (it goes from just below my groin area to my ankle) and a walker. I have to use a lot my upper body strength to walk, but due to the incision and laying in bed for a few days, my upper body isn't feeling so strong. I'm getting up a few times a day. I strap some bags to the walker and fill it with pump supplies that need washed, milk that needs stored away, along with my water bottle to refill, etc. I do that, then make a trip to the bathroom to empty my catheter bag (which I have until Wednesday due to a bladder repair during surgery, and the urologist wanting my bladder to have time to heal). It's time consuming, but I'm getting the hang of it! The knee immobilizer is a pain more than anything else, but meh, it keeps me up, so that's good.

We don't know how long I'll need help walking before my leg begins working again. It could be two weeks, it could be a month, or many months. There's a slight possibility of it being permanent, but the neuro is hopeful it's not, so I'm hopeful as well!

Otherwise, I am feeling great. There's some minor incision pain near my navel but that's it. I'm more teary-eyed than usual, but not feeling down or anything. I was upset last night, as I was waiting for my walker to be delivered (the hospital wouldn't let me buy one, LONG STORY). The walker wasn't delivered until nearly midnight as the healthcare place was running late. So I was a bit down about that, but I have it now and feel so much better. :) Things could be worse, and I think that thought is what has me hopeful about my leg recovering, and knowing this cath will be removed on Wednesday has me happy as well.

Other than pumping a lot and resting a lot, that's about it. I'll have to update later about pumping. I'm so excited at seeing what I've produced so far. :)