3 1/2 mo. post op-PAIN!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mommev38
  • Start date Start date
M

Mommev38

Guest
I called and talked to a nurse in the neurosurgeon office yesterday who talked to the doctor who was in this week and both think all this pain(which again is worse than before my surgery) is from being out of my back brace. I was doing PT with it on and off so I find it kind of hard to believe that this is all from being out of the brace. Also, I did tell her my thigh pain started up slightly at my 1 mo post op but my doc blew it off at the time and it has progressed from there-but since everything has worsened really bad the past couple weeks, hips, butt, legs, back,( really no pronounced tingling or nurabing) they think it's from the brace, and are telling me to put it back ON again for awhile each day and do ice therapy. Any thoughts???
 
Hello there,
I may be off course here but this whole matter seems to be something that you should be able to get taken care of sooner than april 14th. Im not sure how a brace or no brace would continuously make matters grow worse. Is there a chance you can call your office to ask or rather demand an earlier appointment?. Tell them you are going downhill post op rather than uphill..I am concerned for you. I think you need more attention than you are getting at that doctor's office. Please consider calling them and asking to get in faster. Just my opinion..holding good thoughts for you
NLena
 
I'm about 3 1/2 mo. post op.(Bilateral back fusion with hardware and bone growth stimulator-due to spondy, disc bulging,etc), did not have a 3 mo check up cause my surgeon told me to just schedule a 4 mo one after my 2 mo. one-I wasn't happy about that! Has anyone else done that?? I thought maybe it was because he had me doing PT during that time. At my first first and second mo. appts I mentioned to him that I was getting a little pain back in my upper right thigh that I had in the beginning of this whole thing that started it all and 1 mo appt he blew it off and said we'll check it at 2 mo appt, 2 mo appt pressed on it-ouch!-and had me move legs around which somewhat bothered it, and didn't say much and asked if I put ice on it-I said no-you didn't tell me to. Said maybe PT will help. I also asked him if I should be in this much pain yet in my lower back-his reply 'well, technically we don't want you in any pain..."
REALLY???!!! Said x-rays of hardware looked good no fusing yet, make 4 mo appt. Went to do so, found out he wouldn't be back most likely and I would be getting a new surgeon for my post-ops. I'm quite relieved about that. I'm very concerned because the pain in my upper thigh area has increased a lot and spread to my hip and buttuck area and goes down my leg at times. Almost worse than before my surgery. I'm also starting to feel some pain on my left side of my hip too, along with my lower back pain which is only getting worse. I'm just miserable and feeling that this is possibly a failed surgery or something was done wrong. My surgeon went thru everything specifically with me and I wrote down and asked him all the questions you guys all recommened on this site so I did feel quite comfortable with him. But I know some of you told me that I prob rushed into the surgery without a few more tests run, and now I wish I would have done them, and I am paying the price now. I didn't have the discogram done, I didn't mention it nor did he. I was in so much pain at the time, and all I could think about was relief and getting my life back, and I thought that would do it. So here I am, in more pain....has anyone gone through this?? I am so scared and have to wait till April 14th before I see my new doctor. I did have to send him something in the mail so I did add a letter about what's been going on with me so he has a heaRAB up in case there are any other tests he wants to do besides the xrays at the appt. Please give me some thoughts or insights....Tami :(
 
I agree, I don't think it's because of the brace. I haven't had my surgery yet so have n experience in this matter, but it sounRAB like something is really wrong. Can you ask to be put on a cancelation list to get in sooner? Did you ever go back to work?
 
Oh Tami I am so sorry to hear that you are going through this. Are they giving you pain meRAB?

The only thing I can say about it is maybe your surgeon wasn't very good. He did after all let you rush into surgery. Most good surgeons wont do the surgery without trying conservative treatments first. As far as the discogram, I am confused about it. My results stated I would need a 2 level fusion, but the surgeon I am working with now (a different one from the one who ordered my discogram) is ignoring the results and only fusing one level. He thinks, based on my symptoms, that most of my pain is coming from L5-S1. I am scared that I will be left with pain still after the surgery. When I call Thursday for my med refill I am going to ask the nurse if he can fix the other level too if he sees that pain is coming from there as well.

I think you need to find a brand new surgeon and have some additional testing done.
 
Megss, Like I said I will be seeing a new surgeon for the rest of my post-op appts which I'm relieved , seeing my other surgeon left as he was a rotating surgeon at the hospital at the time. Yes, I do have some pain meRAB, hydrocodone, some left from my surgeon and the same ones prescribed for my migraines-they don't help entirely though. I can't wait for April 14th to get here though to find out what's going on with me. I didn't have a lot of the pain going down my legs before the surgery as much as I do now.
I also wish I'd get more responses from others on this board-I don't seem to-once in a great while, so I don't think I' m going to write on here anymore. You always seem to and I REALLY APPRECIATE IT!!! THANK YOU!! I have always read others posts and it has always gotton me thru everything. I'm praying for you Megss! Tami
 
No, I definately didn't go back to work because the pain never stopped and because of the bending and lifting restrictions so going back to day care would be out of the question at this point. My boss still has me on "as an employee" whenever/if ever I can go back. I made that phone call to the office because I was quite scared it was something more and I thought the doctor would want a cat scan or MRI before he saw me in 2 weeks. It's bad enough I feel that my husband and family don't really believe me or feel like "get over it already". My sister and I had a fight about something else and she claims that everytime she calls here that I'm in bed(which isn't true), unless she calls here in the early morning or at night-but I am so limited to what I can do because I am still recouping at not even quite 4 mo and not doing well(and I suffer fro migraines at least once a month for 3-5 days)-but she said "EVERYONE is SICK OF IT!" I still run my kiRAB where they need to be and get picked up, I help with housework with what I can do, I go to my kid's activities and sit on bleachers, I will do these things when I'm in pain because they need me and I know you all do this too so that REALLY HURT when my sister said that. My dad said she was just digging for something mean to say-well she found it! Don't they think we're sick of this pain??? We want it gone?? I was suppose to have this surgery, heal over time, have the pain lesson, not get worse, and get on with my life, and it's not going that way and my family doen't get it and I know they think less of me now. My husband lost his job 2 months ago but luckily just found a different one and just went back this week. I'm glad, cause we obv. needed that, and we need some time apart too also. I think only you guys on this board REALLY UNDERSTAND THE PAIN, FRUSTRATION, LONLINESS, of what goes on when we go through this. :(
 
I am glad you will be seeing a new surgeon from here on out. You may need additional surgeries. My surgeon warned me I may need them. I hate this. I don't think you will be able to get an MRI with having metal in your back now. I think you have to have a CT scan. Gosh I hope nothing is seriously wrong. I can't wait for your appointment too to hear what they say. By then I will be 1 week post op. Yikes!

Sometimes the boarRAB do seem a little slow. I have posted threaRAB before and gotten zero responses.

Keep me posted!
 
As long as the implanted metal is titanium, the patient can have an MRI, but dye will need to be used. Titanium has been in use now for many years.
 
I really understand how you feel. I had back surgery and the pain lingered on. I started to withdraw because I didn't want anyone to know I was still having pain. I would only asnwer the phone when I could get the pain down. One could hear the pain in my voice. People do become impatient and expect you to get with it. I still keep it to my self and say I'm just fine.
 
Back
Top