4 days post op with a blood clot question

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hillary88

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Hi there ... I am new here and am so glad to have a place to educate myself about everything going on with my health. So thanks in advance!

I had a microdiscectomy four days ago on my two severe herniations of L4/L5 and L5/S1. It has been quite an ordeal, especially being 20 years old and in generally good health.

My question now is about blood clotting. I was in the hospital for three days due to a high white blood count, and the entire time I wore tight leg circulation stockings as well as the leg pump machine. Those stockings are easily the worst things I've worn in my life ... they are so tight and roll at the top cutting off my circulation. I am home now and have resorted to only wearing them when I sleep, making sure I walk every 30 minutes during the day the keep the circulation up in my legs when they are off.

Am I being too worrisome over this? I am scared to death of getting a blood clot but I don't want to have to deal with these things or the worrying anymore.

Suggestions? Advice? How long did you all wear yours?
 
Hillary88 You are not being over cautious. I think you are being very smart. Blood clots in the legs especially are a very real problem after any surgery. Being mobile and elevating your legs are very important. I unfortunately got a blood clot in my right leg seven months after my L5-S1 PLIF. I was prone to them though because of having a prior clot many years ago. They had to put in a Greenfield filter because the clot had moved up to my thigh. I was lucky. Just be aware of swelling, redness or pain. I'm sure you'll be fine. Good luck. Kathy P.S. the high white count is usually due to infection.
 
Hillary, I agree with the other poster. Never hurts to be cautious especially after major surgery.

What were your instructions from your surgeon regarding the stockings? I think those are a major pain myself and after my fusion surgery, impossible to try and put on myself.

I had complications from nerve meRAB that were given to me post op to help alleviate some new nerve pains that set in two-weeks post op in my legs. The meRAB caused incredibly lethargy throughout my body and I also had very severe swelling in my lower extremeties. I was doppler tested twice over two weeks time to check for blood clots in my legs. Everything checked out ok. It was the meRAB that were the problem.

If possible, follow your docs orders regarding the stockings. They do serve a great purpose and it's temporary. Better a bit uncomfy for a short while than to have a severe life threatening issue.;)
 
Thank you both for your quick responses! I agree ... better safe than sorry. So I will keep walking every 30 minutes and wear the stockings at night. I may even look into renting a leg pump machine for a couple weeks just to make sure. I know there are resources; I just need to find them.


Kathy, was the redness/swelling/pain of your clot very apparent?


Thanks!
 
Hi Hillary The swelling was incredible! My foot was so swollen, that I could feel the water sloshing when I walked! My leg was also very red, and mottled looking. I also had a cramping-like pain in my thigh, and behind my knee. I knew exactly what it was because I had a previous multiple DVT's in the same leg. Just do what the doctor told you to do. Its very important to follow their instructions. I did everything I was told to do, but because I was prone to DVT's they said this is why it happened. I had a stripping and ligation done 10 years ago due to varicose veins. I developed the DVT's due to this surgery, so my circulation in my right leg was bad to begin with. I make a conscious effort to elevate my legs while sitting. Also,do not cross your legs. I'm sure you'll be fine. Kathy
 
I had the pumping machine and stockings for 3 days. Surgeon said because I was walking I didn't need them anymore.
I am now 4 months post op. If I sit too long my leg hurts, tingles or gets nurab. I actually put the stocking on the other day. Tomrrow I am getting on a plane, so I am going to be moving as much as I can.
 
Hillary, I was not prescribed stockings although they used the pump on my legs when I was in the hospital. However, my insurance company has a nurse who phones me regularly to see how I'm doing, and one of the questions she asked was if I had stockings. I told her I didn't, and she advised that if I did, to make sure that when I am fitted they should NOT be tight at the top. If they are, they are the wrong size.

Thought I'd pass that along, perhaps it's a good idea to talk to your doctor.

Hope you're feeling well.

Paula
 
Luckily, my stockings have formed more to my legs. They are not uncomfortable to wear any longer ... or maybe I've just gotten use to them.

I'm going to keep them on for a couple more weeks until I go back to college. By that time, I'll be walking nonstop on campus and I'll wear them at night (in the comfort of my own home) haha.

Thanks for everybody's help!
 
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