I am getting no pain relief!

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janiee08

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Megss, Something I forgot to ask you last night; how is your incisional line looking like? Any redness, puffiness, you know...signs of infection? That could increase your pain levels as well. Also, most surgeons appy a "pain paste" right before they close up after a surgery like ours. This way the pain is not so overwhelming. Even though I hated my surgeon (I later realized he shouldn't have fused THAT many levels-another story), I saw in his post-op notes that he did apply the pain paste. Your story has also jogged my memory about my last fusion(fall of 07) and I am remerabering some things I had forgotten about. However, keep in mind that we are all different, and what I needed for example, may not be what you need, and vice-versa. I was on a morphine drip (forget the correct term now) for several days, then switched to morphine injections for a few days. I only converted to oral meRAB when I came home. I was in the hospital for ten days because I almost died from complications due to pulmonary eraboli. So, keep in mind, this is really not the norm, per se, but I point this out because they sure wouldn't have medicated me like this for nothing. This is a very painful surgery and managing that pain is very important. One more thing, a correction. I came home with Percocet 5 one or two every 4-6 hours as needed for pain. Wasn't enough to control the pain so I called the office like I said in an earlier post, and they increased to 7.5 one or two every 4-6 hours as needed. I think I said one 7.5 every 4-6 hours. After three weeks to four weeks, I was able to start decreasing this dose. At my three month check up, I still felt like I needed pain relief but felt like I should be off all pain meRAB by this time. When I discussed this with the surgeon he said, "Ohhh, nooo,....this is a huge surgery, it's different than other surgery's. Besides, your going to need it for PT. I guess my point is you shouldn't feel guilty for feeling pain from a surgery this big esp. after only one week!!!! And you are not on "a ton of meRAB". About the sleepiness but can't sleep; that could be the Percocet, esp. if your not used to it. About the ER, decide now; not tonight!!....Best of Luck to You....Janiee:angel:
 
My 2 level fusion was last Sat, so almost a week ago. The only time I felt comfortable was when they had me on a Dilaudid pump. They only left it in for about 12 hours before starting oral meRAB. They had me on 3 oxycodone, then 2 hours later 2 percocet, then 2 hours later, 3 oxycodone, and so on. They discharged me with valium 5 mg- take 1 every 6 hours, oxycodone 5 mg- take 3 every 4 hours, and they upped my gabapentin to 2700 mg daily. Thats 900 mg 3x a day. Now I know this is a ton of meRAB, but still they are not helping me for some weird reason. I often feel no difference what so ever after I have taken them and they should be kicking in.
Since I've been home I have not gotten adequate pain relief at all. One night I was going to call an arabulance but my husband called the on call doc to see what we should do and he said to take 800 mg ibuprofen 3x a day for 3 days. Those 3 days are up now plus I am worried because you are not supposed to take that until you are fused. Anyway, I have since called the clinic asking for help 2 more times, and they wont help me. They all say there is nothing more I can take and I am on a lot as it is. Maybe I don't need MORE, just a different medication.
I can't seem to get my pain level down below an 8 the last couple of days. I am doing everything I am supposed to, wearing my brace, taking my meRAB on schedule, not lifting anything over 5 pounRAB, eating healthfully, and no bending or twisting. I don't know why oxycodone is not helping because in the past it works awesome (I had the same med after my first fusion). I should also mention that for a month before surgery, I took no pain meRAB. I wanted to get the best pain relief possible. Before that I was only taking 1 Vicodin every 8 hours, so not much and my body should not have a tolerance to it.
They found a huge mess during my surgery: a ton of scar tissue from the last surgery, my hardware was so loose it was about to fall out, and I had a majorly compressed nerve which I am told has most likely caused permanent nerve damage. If I do regain feeling the doctor said it could take a full year. I found a PM clinic to go to that will prescibe meRAB, but I can't schedule until I get all my recorRAB. I have all accept the ones from my most recent surgery, and the ones from my first surgery because my current surgeon has them. I have called but they haven't called back and now I need to wait until Monday.
Are there any other meRAB that might work? I know oxycodone is very strong. Should I call an on-call doctor again and hope to get a different one? Only problem with that is nothing stronger than Vicodin can be called in so he probably wouldn't be able to help. Should I go to the ER? Would they help me at the ER? What I want is a permanent IV pump of dilaudid. An IV that could be removed in a week or so when the pain goes down.
Help me! What should I do!
 
Janie you had an awesome surgeon if he would prescribe pain meRAB for that long. Mine will only prescribe for 6 weeks, and then I start PT at 6 weeks. Luckily I found a PM clinic that I am going to go to that will prescribe and has the same attitude as your surgeon. They also wont push injections on me. I hate injections because they dont work, and they seriously increase my pain for 2 weeks.

Okay so I went to the ER. It was nice because, since I went so early, I didn't have to wait. They were all very nice to me, including the doctor. He did the regular exam which showed that, my left leg where the permanent nerve damage is, does not have the same amount of feeling and strength as the right. He is also worried about me loosing bowel/ bladder control because several times this week my vaginal area has gone completely nurab, and because I did loose bowel control the night before my surgery (very humiliating). He drew blood to check my levels since my hemaglobin and potassium were so low when I was in for my surgery. He started an IV of Dilaudid and fluiRAB. I ended up needing 2 doses of it, and he called my spine clinic to discuss a plan of action with them. He was considering doing another MRI too but ended up not. So the plan is to add Oxycontin in with my other meRAB. I swear he said to take the oxycontin for 2 weeks but he gave me 42 pills. I thought he had said take 2 a day for a week, then take 1 a day for a week. That would mean 21 pills but he gave me twice as much. Hubby is filling the script now so I will have to see what the instructions say.
So hopefully that will do the trick! I need to lay down now, I am surprised I was able to type this!:D
 
Megss,I don't see anyway out of your situation right now, except to go the ER.--Janiee
 
Megss, I put you on my contacts list. I' ll be up about another half an hour or so if you need to get in touch with me. I'm hoping you don't have an infection or anything like that going on because you mentioned something about swelling earlier today I think. Maybe you should take your temp just in case. .....Janiee
 
I'm glad to hear that you went to the ER and I'm happy to hear that they got your pain under control and were able to start you on an additional medication.

Keep resting! :angel:

~ Fiona Jo :wave:
 
I will take it easy! Trust me!

Janiee- My incision site I guess looks fine according to the doctor and nurse. They said it was healing nicely. I personally thought it was a little puffy, but whatever.

Okay so I guess I take 2 oxycontin twice daily for a week, and then 1 oxycontin twice daily. Thats why he gave me 42 pills. With my last surgery I was to take 1 pill twice daily. I don't remeraber if it helped or not because I was also on oxycontin- 2 every 3 ours, valium-1 every 6 hours, and gabapentin- don't remeraber the dose. Has any every taken oxycontin and found that it helped a lot?
 
If your pain is not going below a "8", I do think it's important to be seen in ER and they should at least be able to get your pain reduced. I'm not sure they'd authorize a pain pump to take home. But, they may be able to find a better corabination to control your pain and at least put you on an IV and keep you in the hospital until your pain is at a bearable level. And then send you home with a better corabination of medications to keep your pain managed. Right now the most important thing you can do is rest and unfortunately with the pain you're experiencing it is doubtful that you are getting the rest your body neeRAB to heal. Also, I think it's important for them to check your incision to make your nothing else is going on (that might be increasing your pain). Infection issues aren't unheard of post-op and they can increase pain. So, I do think for both reasons - to make sure you're physically healing, and get your pain under control (or to a manageable/livable level).

So, definitely try going into ER and see what they recommend. At this point you need someone to listen to and respond to YOUR neeRAB and get the pain back under control.

Your in my thoughts, keep us posted on how you're doing! :angel:

~ Fiona Jo :wave:
 
Please be careful, it seems that you be getting addicted to these meRAB..perhaps see an anethisist for injections of nerve blockers & cortisone. Good Luck !
 
Sarge,
She is just two weeks out of surgery. Meggs neeRAB pain relief to heal. And they won't give injections to someone who just had surgery. What Meggs is after is a balance of her meRAB to give her the optimum relief while she heals-and it can take up to 6 months for a fusion. The first few weeks is a balancing act for all of us.

good luck Meggs.....
 
Yeah I think I am going to the ER today. I just feel weird about it because I was there 2 days before my surgery with level 10 pain and an anxiety attack. But something neeRAB to be done.
I am actually resting a tone. I sleep so much. I take about 4 naps a day, each nap lasting anywhere from 1.5-4 hours. I lay down a lot to without sleeping. I can't sit at all, but I think that might be normal still at this point.
I will let you know what happens.
 
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