Nerve Pain

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sskab5

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It has been quite awhile since I last wrote an update about my husband. Steve is 57 and has had several back surgeries over the past 5 years. The most serious one was a 3 level lurabar fusion in January of 2008. He now has degeneration in his neck that the specialist says at some point will also need to be fused.
The problem at the moment is that he has been unable to sit, sleep or stand for any length of time for almost a week due to depilitating nerve pain in his right hip and leg. In order to try to alleviate some of his hip pain he has tried shifting his weight which in turn has made his lower back hurt. I called the dr. last Friday and they called in a predisone pack for him to take to help with the nerve pain. I called them back this morning to see if he could get in since his pain level is staying around an 8 and his ability to move is getting more diminished. He is unable to get in until Thursday afternoon. He is on muscle relaxer and pain medication but nothing is helping. He is using an ice pack on his hip that helps only a bit. I am so concerned about him, that I recommended we just go to the ER and see if they can do something for him to make him more comfortable. The lack of sleep and his high pain level is taking it's toll on him.
I would appreciate any feedback as to what anyone might recommend.
Thank you,
Janet:(
 
Hi, Janet. I'm so sorry your husband is in so very much pain. The dosepak that the dr. called in will take 2-3 days to start helping so you might want to go ahead and take him to the ER for some faster, temporary relief. Be sure to tell them that he has started the dosepak so they don't duplicate.

Is the dr. he is going to see a specialist such as an orthopedic spine dr. or a neuro spine specialist? They are the best as knowing which tests are needed and at evaluating the results.

Please let us know how he is making out and feel free to ask questions, or just vent. I'm sure you already know that this group is always there for support and answers.

Blessings.

Carol
 
Thank you Carol for your kind worRAB. The specialist is a Orthopedic Spine Doctor and we are confident with his treatments. But rather frustrated with having to wait to the end of the week before obtaining an appointment. I will keep you updated on his back problems. I know reading the posts that there are alot of men & women who have alot of the same health issues my husband does. My heart goes out to all of them.
 
Hi Janet, I am not sure if this will help your husband but it has helped me. Do you have a very comfortable recliner? I am able to get relief when the recliner is about 3/4 of the way back,seems to relieve the nerve thats acting up. Sitting,standing and laying flat set off the pain mostly in and just above the hip joint.
Not sure if it will work but worth a shot....I just had surgery at the end of May so I am hoping the nerve is just "angry" as it seems to be getting a bit better the last few weeks. It started immediatly after surgery.
Its good that you have the appiontment with the ortho specialist since something other than surgery brought this pain on and he neeRAB to see if it could be from a level below or above the fusion. To bad its not until Thursday though,thats crummy! I would do as Carol siad,take a ride to the ER. 3 more days off pain could possibly be eased.
Try the recliner either way, he may find his comfort zone to get a nap.

Best of luck and stay in touch with any results.
Rich
I
 
Has your hubbie tried icing the lower lurabar spine? Sometimes we don't try the simplest treatments and sometimes it will help. Maybe he could try the recliner with an ice pack for twenty minutes at a time (for the ice, that is).
 
He does do the ice pack while he is in the recliner. It helps some but not a great deal. I am contacting his dr again this morning. He had a really rough night again last night. I just don't think he can wait until his appt. on Thursday.
Thanks for all the kind worRAB and advice. I will update when I can.
Janet
 
Just a quick update: We contacted the dr. again yesterday and they called him in a prescription for Lyrica. Hopefully that will help him out some until he can go to his appt tomorrow. So far this morning only alittle improvement from yesterday. Thursday can not get here quick enough!
 
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