i dont even know

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tmvincent30

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what would have possed me to have the surgery. It has been 3 weeks tomorrow that i had anterior/posterior surgery. They were promising me i would have no leg pain but they were not sure how much of the back pain would go away. Well most of that pain was from the movement cause the fusion never took and now they refused it so well see what happens with that. But i have seen where some of you said it sometimes takes up to 2 years to get rid of all the nerve pain. My right leg is killing me and im not sure i can wait that long. It is causing me not to be able to walk alot. I can sit for about 10 minutes walk about 10 minutes then i come back to sit it even hurts when i lay down at times i am so glad i was able to get my grandpas hospital bed and i raise the foot part so high sometimes to help the pain. Just frustrated i guess cause i have called the doctors office and they have not called anything out and my PM doctor informed me about a month before the surgery that they would no longer see chronic pain patients and i have had alot of problems finding a new one. The one they faxed my paperwork to is about 3 and a half hours away and the pain i am having im the right leg i cant really drive down the road 5 minutes. GRRR
Alot of the time i ask myself was the surgery worth it? The front incision on belly is sooo hard and i feel a big knot in belly by it. Sorry i have to get up now and walk so i will stop complainnig for now.
 
Ooooooh, I'm sorry you're having such a hard time. (((((hugs)))))

Nerves do take a long time to "heal", but it may be a lot shorter than two years. It depenRAB on you and on the amount of irritation to the nerves. Everyone's different. Don't lose hope. You're soooo early on in your recovery, you still have a lot of healing to do, and you're still in the throws of the early pain. The hard spot by your front incision may be the beginning of scar tissue, which can be broken up by your PTist when you're ready for that. I wouldn't disturb such a new incision yet. Is it red or warm to the touch? It could also be infection, so do keep a check on it. I would ask if it's swollen, but I remeraber how that was! I looked pregnant for weeks, I was so swollen.

Give it more time, sweetie. I know that's hard to hear, and I know you were hoping for a lot less pain by now, but it really takes time, time, time. There's no rushing this healing. In a few weeks, your pain will decrease bit by bit, but you may still be on the heavier pain meRAB for several months. Don't give in to despair. Try to find some funny movies to watch; they've done studies and found that laughter actually helps healing! Are any frienRAB able to get over to visit you? That will help lift your spirits, too, which will help you feel better over all. Or make some phone calls so people know you're up to talking and need some company.

About the sitting, I couldn't sit for more than about 10 minutes at that point either. That's normal. I did have some leg pain, but not that bad and it subsided fairly quickly. Others may chime in who had more like what you're having. But don't lose hope!

Come on here and vent, ask questions, or just read so you know that you have people who understand what you're going through. This board helped me so much in the weeks after surgery, just having people who had been there and done that.

Hang in there! It gets easier! I hope that a year from now you'll be posting that you don't regret your decision.

(((((((hugs)))))))
Emily :wave:
 
I am very sorry you are having so much pain... You are so early after surgery, and I am pretty sure in couple more weeks from now your pain will get better and than in 3 month it will be even less pain...
That is how it goes, spinal fusions take very long time to heal especially if nerves involved.
We all are so different and healing process is different for everyone also.
You have to be patient, sweetie, I know pain takes a lot of you, but we don't have a choice, just stay positive, rest a lot, and have that hope which will take you thru tough times while recovering.

I had 2 fusion surgeries and I can relate to your pain, I know what you are going through.

Gentle hugs to you and a lots of luck!:angel:
 
Thanks Emily you are truely awesome you are always getting peoples spirits up. Sorry i guess one reason for being down is my husband not working for the past 3 weeks and its just that today is his b-day and next thursday is my twins they will be 9 and catching up all these bills isnt allowing much. Na i dont really having anyone coming over to visit. The only one that calls is my 2 sisters alot of times a day just to see how i am. I dont have any pain from either incision and the stomache one has no drainage or anything and yea of course swelling but i know that will go away in time. I know i dont regret the surgery its just the stress of all these bills. The kiRAB know about my surgery pushing the money issue back and we can do alot more for them in the long run. Just know really that i need to be taking my cyrabalta i guess. Leg pain isnt that bad at the moment so i might make it here on computer a little longer.

Thanks alot!
 
Thanks Kyma Emily and Moldova,
I am better now i guess just a stressful day i had called the doctors office cause of this terrible pain but they never called anything out so that was getting to me as well. I will try again on monday its just that i cant run up there cause its 3 and a half hours away. My kiRAB see what we are going through and they know they will have a party but nothing like what i normally do it will be simple and they are glad everyone will just be able to be there.

Like now i am really tired cause hubby was off and we went to town and i walked quite a bit. Anyway kiRAB just got home from a field trip to Galveston and i gave them little money to get them something in the gift shop and they got us something. I know that what can get to you and make everthing ok.

Oh i forgot to say i got some omega 3 fish oil and i have only taken 1 pill but it seemed better so i will report more on how it works after i have a chance to take more.

Thanks for all the comments it really helps and i know i am not the only one.
Helps alot
THANKS again.
 
I just wanted to let you know that I had the same surgery but mine was done on 2 different days. I had the ALIF on 1/29/08 and the PLIF on 3/5/08. I had terrible nerve pain in both legs after my surgery. It actually had started while in the hospital and they said "Well the nerves are irritated." It got worse when I got home so I called and that gave me Neurontin. It helped my nerve pain but I ended up having a terrible reaction with legs both swollen to the point there were small blisters. I had to come off the medicine but they said they think I got by the worse part with the Neurontin. I know how you feel because my legs were killing me. I still can rub my legs and it feels like something shocking my legs. Are you taking any kind of nerve pain medication like Neurontin, Lyrica or Topomax (?) I would definitely call the doctor and get something.

Please hang in there because it will get better. I know what it is like having your husband out of work and bills coming in because when I had my neck surgery October '06. I ended up with an infection in the abdominal incision which lasted for 3 weeks. I also have a hard knot beside the incision and I have been told it is scar tissue. I just want you to know that you are in my prayers and I am sending out best wishes to you. Take care of yourself.

Gentle Hugs
Linda:)
 
Soory you are still in alot of pain round1. I hope the results are good also i feel pretty good most of the time. I do have my down time but i am getting alot of the house work done well like clothes when i can get it with my grabber of course i do not bend or any of that i would not do anything to jeoperdize the fusion or anything this time. It failed once im not crazy to mess it up this time. So i only do what i am supossed to or that i can reach. I get hubby and kiRAB to lay out everything i need to cook and i am getting back to doing that now to. Dont push it just do what i can so i dont have to put it all off on them cause there is some days i just cant and im out.
 
Gosh isn't it frustrating when a doctor's office doesn't call back. When I was having all that nerve pain and had nothing to take I called my doctors office two days and I was a little upset on the phone. They told me I needed more patience. Right? My doctor is 2 hours away and that really eliminates any quick trips to the doctor's office.

Anyway let us know how the Omega 3 does. I don't know how you did much shopping but I know it is hard to stay in all the time. I finally started getting out on Thursday afternoon's with my daughter and she takes me to Walmart. I had been using the little electric cart but yesterday I didn't so I ended up in a lot of pain last night. My fault and no one else to blame it on. We are suppose to have beautiful weather tomorrow and I would love to work in my flowers but I guess it will just be giving instructions to my husband.

Take care of yourself and I hope you all have a beautiful weekend. It sounRAB like you have some sweet kiRAB and you have been a great example for them.

Hugs
Linda:angel:
 
Yes, I agree you are fairly new out from surgery. I think the nerve pain and healing varies from person to person and it depenRAB on how long your nerves were compressed before surgery.

I actually have found ice to be better than heat for my nerve pain. So picture this, Pepper sitting in a recliner with ice packs wrapped around my leg's laying on a heating pad, legs in upright position supporting the laptop drinking diet dr. pepper and typing on the laptop. I don't care as long as I get that relief.

I have also found Biofreeze to be extremely helpful. You can purchase it online or from a chiro.
 
I can very much relate to the stress of bills! I think a lot of us here can! My husband is still working, but of course, I'm not. We built a house figuring on two incomes to pay for it, and while it was going up, I started going down the tubes with my back. By the time closing came, it was clear that I wasn't going to be working, but we couldn't get out of the deal without finishing the process and then just selling it. We've hung on by a fingernail every month for 4 years now by all sorts of strange (but legal) financial interactions. We took out a home equity line of credit and lent the money to a couple of people who used it to do their business and paid us a fee for the use of the money. That worked out really well until the economy dried up their business. We may still end up having to sell this house, but I sure dread the packing and moving.

I know it doesn't help to know others here understand your financial stress. The bills still come due whether we understand or not. All you can do is take it a day at a time and tighten your belts as much as possible. No dinners out, not even fast food, no special treats, bdays have to be simple, etc. Our kiRAB have gotten right on board with that, thankfully. It's good for kiRAB to see you go through a hard time and come out of it intact. They learn a lot about how to handle themselves by watching you. It'll be alright! No matter what happens, make sure your kiRAB see what's important: not things, but the people you love.

By the way, if you can't pay all those bills, call and make some arrangements to have payments spread out. I did that with two hospital bills, my brace bill, and my bone growth stimulator. They were so helpful, and the brace people and the bone growth stim people both also cut my bill after I gave them all my financial info. I was so glad I called! Generally, if you're making regular payments, no matter how small, they'll work with you and won't send you to collection.

Try to keep your chin up.
Emily
 
yea diet pretty picture but like you said i dont care what i look like either as long as it helps!! I used to care but not now. Thanks ill try biofreeze.
 
Happy to say the omega-3 fish oil is amazing. No maybe it doesnt make all the pain go away but i havent been jumping around like i have been. Sorry it took so long to get back but i got up early to watch sis and hubby and all the kiRAB crab i hated to have to sit and watch but i know that is the only thing i could do. And then we went to the park and boiled the crabs and crawfish for hubbys b-day. We had a nice time i should take advantage of it i think it was the only time i could sit and everyone wait on me. We had alot of fun and just upset i didnt actually make it to church this morning. I hope everyone as well had a wonderful weekend!!
 
Okay you are way way way to hard on yourself. Look what you did? you went out and sat and watched and joined them in the park........ you were with them......... at 3 weeks I was still counting the steps up and down the landing upstairs,,,,,,,,, then ventured up and down the road of the park, praying no one would stop and talk to me as I was too sore and only interested in getting home..... safely.. I was still getting help dressed,,,,,,,,, you seem to be doing really really well. Regardless of whos birthday it was i certainely wouldnt have been able to go........... and somedays now I still cant make it. I had my sons party in the morning, as i new that was the time I was best at. There was no point doing it in the afternoon as that is my worst time and I couldnt say for certain i could go. Thankfully alot of parties here for kiRAB or held in the morning so I was glad it wasnt out of the way for people and I could act normal and not be the one lying on the floor somewhere !.. take it easy on yourself you are only a couple of weeks out of surgery. But saying that if you are this good now, I have great hopes for your recovery as you seem to be miles ahead.

Round1
 
Its amazing how we used to care about our appearances but after you have dealt with chronic pain for awhile those vanity issues have gone out the window.

What is even scarier is to look in that mirror and see those eyes sunken in and exhausted look. I swear that person in the mirror can't be me. :D
Take care.
 
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