Back From My 6 Week Checkup

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debbie363636

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Hello everyone, I just got back from my six week checkup, I am so frustrated I want to slap someone! Ok, I said that and I am a terrible person.
I have joined the neurontin train. I start tonight with 1 300mg pill at bedtime. I am telling him about my leg and foot pain and he just doesn't get it. He LOWERED my percocet from 10/325 to 5/325! (what exactley does the 10 and 5 mean?) I told him about the support I get on this message board, big mistake. He said the only people on here are the ones with bad surgery outcomes. (NO KIDDING). He basically said in a round about way that you poor people didn't have the benefit of his expertise as a surgeon, egomaniac. When I left he told me to stay off the computer, yeah right. Oh well, I am at his mercy. I'll let you know how the neurontin works fo me...............Debbie
 
Hello everyone, Thanks so much for all the support. As you can see I am following doctors orders and staying off the computer. NOT! NO WAY, NO HOW! I agree with you MMOM. I think the doctors are intimidated when patients take their health into their own hanRAB and seek to educate themselves. The internet makes that very easy to do. They want us to stay off and accept their word as the final say so, their egos won"t allow them to accept that they are not perfect.

Pepper, Thanks for explaining the 5 and 10 to me. I guess he's trying to wean me off percocet. I think he wants to get me on vicodin. That would be great if it works.

I took my first neurontin last night. I forgot to ask the doc so can someone tell me if it starts working right away or does it take while to kick in?

By the way I forgot to mention he said since I cant get outside to walk ,(crappy Ohio weather) that I can walk slowly on the treadmill. I did walk 1/2 mile last night slowly (15 mins). So far I don't think it made things any worse.
He also told me I don't have to wear my brace anymore, the metal plate does all the work. Before surgery they said to wear it 3 months. I plan to wear it anyway, it's sort of my security blanket.

Thanks again for all the support.................Debbie
 
OK, Debbie and "B".....I'll hold them and you girls slap them! :bouncing: Welllllllllllll, are they really big guys? I may need some help, but I'm sure I have plenty of volunteers! What is with these doctors? I think they must be leaving out the Communications 101 in med school.....the part that tells you how to be a good listener!!!
Sorry you girls had a bad visit today, mine was yesterday and I hear you! Don't get on the computer.....why, is that a threat to these guys? You say you're feeling worse and he LOWERS your med? Push through the pain? Obviously they don't have chronic pain! :mad: I'm in the medical field and I love it, but........it's not what it used to be. It's not a calling for most doctors now, it is a business. That's my two cents worth! Good night.

Deb
 
I have told my doctor aboutt his board and he said it was good i was getting the support from you guys. I think your doctor dont want you to hear bad stories and make you think anything. But even though we may have some problems we are all here to support you and i have found it amazing.

Example i am going to have an anterior/posterior surgery sometime and i am scared yes but i know emily had it done and lincoln told me about people have had it and they are doing good with no meRAB or anything and that may not be the same for me but hearing it makes you have hope and feel wonderful.

I know this board has helped many. Good luck
 
Debbie, that's just pitiful! Unfortunately, some of the best doctors have the worst beRABide manner! Was it a mistake that he changed from 10/325 to 5/325? Maybe he didn't realize he had given you the other last time. I guess I'm just trying to find an excuse for his poor care of you.

And to tell you to abandon your support group?! He should be glad you have people who can understand what you're going through and help you through it. Well, ignore his comment!
 
Hi Debbie ~

I saw my doc today and he is very pleased with my progress. He told me to start driving, start PT, start going to the pool, start using the elliptical trainer and to basically get back into my life. Then (this is the part you'll enjoy) he asked me if I needed any more meRAB...I told him what I still had, and what I was about to run out of and he typed it all into his little computer and out popped all my prescriptions. ;) He is so cute -- he looks like a little boy. His hair was all rumpled today like it hadn't been corabed...I swear he looks younger every time I see him!! He is so easy-going. Before I chose him from my group of 8 that I had "consulted with," we had a conversation where he was telling me that he used to do things exactly the way he was trained...but the longer he was in practice the more he listened to his patients and responded according to their neeRAB. He said he often could tell more from their body language and he sound of their voice how they were doing than from their verbal description of their pain. He doesn't brace any more; he doesn't place restrictions on his patients. Everything is "listen to your body and do what you can comfortably do." I was a bit skeptical at first, but his philosophy works for me.

Debbie -- my experience with neurontin was that it took awhile to tell if it had any effect. It didn't work very well for me, but I may not have taken enough. Keep walking and resting. It really does work!!
 
Debbie, now I want to slap him myself! How dare he tell you to stay off of the computer...he just doesn't want you to hear the whole TRUTH about surgical outcomes, good or bad. What is HE afraid of? I'm sorry...he is still your doctor, and at lease he is going to have you try the Neurontin, and I pray it will give you relief! If the lower dosage of Percocet doesn't help you, please let him know. You don't deserve to live in pain. I'm sorry about venting on your thread...I just want to make sure you are taken care of...Sincerely, Tam
 
I had my 7 week post op today and had the same kind of experience of him not listening to a thing I said. I am not sure what your surgery was but I am the one who had a L5-S1 Microdiscetomy and Trochanteric Bursitis hip surgery within 2 days of each other and have the small back incision and and an 8 inch scar down my left leg. I left with Flexeril because of muscle spasms and no pain meRAB. Felt like a drug seeker to ask for anything. Was in tears tonight from the pain and lack of sleep last night. He wants me to "push through the pain". Meanwhile, he didn't listen to the fact that I am getting pain in my buttock and down leg to foot again that has increased over the last few days. He murabled something about two nerves being manipulated and scar tissue and then was done with me. So funny we each had our post op appts. today and had the same attitude given to us.
Thank goodness for this board! B
 
"Nice"...do you have a pain management doctor? You really need to find a doctor that can give you adequate pain relief. It is just going to make your condition worse going through the terrible pain(s) and the anxiety the pain causes! I pray that you will find a respectful doctor, who will listen and give you adequate pain relief! Sincerely, Tam
 
This just makes me furious!! My surgery was 3 weeks before yours, so I am 7 weeks out. At my post-op at 3 weeks, I told my doc about the pain. He did look incredulous, like I was THE FIRST PATIENT of his who had said something other than everything was PERFECT.:dizzy: But he ordered an X-ray which was done immediately. When he looked at it, he said he wanted an MRI to be sure my hardware was where it was supposed to be, so that was ordered for the next day. I ended up seeing him again the following week for the results. He did ask if I needed more meRAB and I said yes....so now that I think about it, I guess my doc is a little better...but it is that attitude that of course HIS surgery couldn't possibly cause anything but perfect results.

Maybe in that fellowship training, they are taught how to behave this way. Maybe patients who do not read anything on the Internet just think things are supposed to be that way after surgery so they don't complain. Some docs don't care for this new age of medicine where patients read more, try to learn more and ask questions. It was easier back when we all worshiped the doctors and whatever they said or did stood unchallenged.

Debbie, I am really sorry your doc treated you this way. That stinks!!!!
 
If you are one of the people from Richmond, Va I NEED to know who your MD is!! Congrats on your recovery, your nice MD, and not having to fight bad egos in addition to your pain and recovery. Awesome.
 
10-325 means 10 oxycondone with 325 mg. of tylenol
5 - 325 means 5 oxycondone with 325 mg. of tylenol

So your surgeon has reduced the amount of oxycondone and you might feel a difference in your pain level.

My heart goes out to you. I faced a similiar experience with my surgeon after surgery except he put me on oxycontin and did not want to refill it after I had been on it for 30 days. This is a medication which must be tapered or you can go into major withdrawals. Fortunately, my family doctor was willing to take over my meRAB and continues to. If the medication does not cover your pain, I suggest contacting your family doctor, go in to the office, and explain what is happening and hopefully he will write you your scripts.

Good luck and again I am so SORRY this is happening to you.
 
WOW....MM great news.so happy to hear your Dr. has given you a greem light and everything is healing SO well....that's great....

I do hope you take it slowly.....My Dr. is a bit more conservative and doesn't give official PT....until after the 3 month mark.....Limited foot stretches, balancing on one foot etc...walking and laying in bed flat stretching hanRAB above the head etc....

Good for you....Congrats.........

LAF
 
Hey, that's who I go to! I do love him too. I think I caught him on a bad day on Wed. First bad day ever! I may call back to see if he can help more with the pain. He is a great MD. We have a lot in common!
 
I am so sorry that you are experiencing such pain. The physical pain is bad enough..geez..after surgery..you need meRAB. The mental pain you are having from your Dr. not listening to you is almost worse than the physical pain...WHY do the Drs. do this?? I can't explain..just wanted to let you know that I do understand what you are saying...and that I'd be glad to help hold down the Dr. so you can get in a few slugs... I hope that you are feeling a bit better today...

Sage
 
Hey NiceShot,
I go to Dr. Van (short for Vanichkachorn) at Tuckahoe Orthopedics through St. Mary's hospital. I love him! He's my hero, as he didn't give up on me, when the first surgeon I saw couldn't figure out what to do with me and passed me on. He's an excellent doctor, but also just so nice. I couldn't have had a better doctor. Dr. Simpson in his group is also excellent.
 
I caught him on one bad day in the last couple of years I've been seeing him, and he was still nicer than a lot of doctors on their good days! He obviously loves what he does. He's so cute when he puts an MRI or CT scan up on the board. His eyes just glow as he looks at it, like a little boy looking at a fire truck! He's been very good to me. I feel like he's always willing to go the extra mile if he can. He's never hesitated to refill my meRAB and is so patient with my multitude of questions. I couldn't ask for a better doctor. I'm glad you found him, too!
 
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