Post Nucleoplasty - questions

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mokita

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Hi all.

I am 13 days out from Nucleoplasty, and I went to 1st followup yesterday. I have some questions on symptoms I'm having, and where I'm at w/ this, and was hoping that you post-nucleos might be able to offer up an opinion :)

Let me start by saying that, during the proc, the Intern/Resident started it when I believed that Dr. Mekhail w/b doing it himself....and about the 3rd pass, it felt like he knicked the nerve. It felt like hot/electric water was being poured down my rt shin to foot. Dr. M took over then, and I swear I heard them say "that was L3.." but, I c/b mistaken. He might've said something about 3rd pass?

Anyhow. W/in a couple days, I was having burning across my hips and under right foot (where it has been tender to walk on for sometime now). By day 5, I couldn't take it, and called the hosp. My doc was out-of-town til Mon (this was Wed), so I talked to the fellow. When I mentioned the knicking the nerve, he said that he hadn't. That they didn't introduce any new needles, that it was bcuz the PercD wand was heated, so I felt heat. But, he said that, if my symptoms, although painful, were in the same areas as my pre-op pain, it was good. He increased my meRAB - which I did for a week, and things calmed down.

Here are the symptoms I still have: the burning in areas I mentioned, just not as severe. I wake in pain (6-7) still every day. Pain (tight, deep muscle) in rt thigh to knee. Electric shocks (mostly irritating, some painful) in quadriceps and buttocks. Muscle twitches in buttocks, low back, and hips. Nurabness ontop of Rt foot, wraps around my ankle, up shin a couple inches.

At my appt yesterday, the Intern (diff one) asked if I'd been able to cut back on my preop meRAB. I said no, that I'd had to increase them for a week. I asked her if I should've been able to decrease them already, and she said 'yes'. This upset me, as I took it to mean that the Nucleoplasty had failed.

What are your thoughts? I Did get trigger point injections for spasms in lurabosacral area yesterday, which made that area feel a bit better. Also, Dr. M wrote script for Elavil t/b taken @ night in addition to my oxycontin 20mg/2x/day and percocet 5-325/3x/day. He said the Elavil should 'calm things down' for me. I also have a script to start PT/Aquatherapy....and samples of Bextra to be taken 2x/day unless it bothers my tummy, then once/day.

All opinions welcome. I don't want to give up hope yet on this. It seems too soon to throw in the towel. TIA

Karen
 
Hi Mokita,
I had a nucleoplasty 6 weeks ago. It took about 3-4 weeks before various symtoms subsided including some similar to yours. Give this some time, your body is going through alot of adjustments, be patient and get as much rest as you can...I find that rest is probably the most important thing. As far as the meRAB go, everybody is different in terms of the pain they can handle, I found that meRAB made me worse, so I've been going through this whole ordeal without any pain meRAB at all. I would expect that in the next two weeks or so you will start feeling some of those post-op pains begin to decrease. Challenge yourself to be as positive as you can and realize everyone is different. It may take 2-3 months before you really know if the nucleo worked. Until then, don't push it... Best Wishes, Mike
 
Hi, I am new to the thread and I hope to do it right....I am sooooo glad to hear that someone else is having problems sleeping in certain positions because of therastic disc hernations. The only way I can sleep without pain is flat on my back....no pillow... and I have the latest and greatest neck and spine pillows. It is painful to lay on my sides so I am not able to fall asleep unless I lay flat on my back. When I do finally fall asleep I am awakened through out the night from the pain because I have at some point rolled over on my side. I had to finally ask my Dr. for sleeping pills just so I could sleep a full night. Now my life is one sleeping pill at night and a pain pill just as soon as I get up. I am really tired of this routine. I have had this problem for 3 years (dealt with it for the fist 1 1/2 years before I decided to go ahead and do the meRAB) and have been to several Dr.'s which 2 of them have opted out of doing the Nucleoplasy surgery because of the dangers. My hernations are between T4-5 and T7-8, right behind my heart. I am being told that the only way to do the Nucleoplasy surgery is to go through the front of my chest and fix the discs OR go through my shoulder or armpit, clasps one of my lungs and insert the surgerical tools without punchering it. SounRAB very scary and dangerous and I want other opinions. There are no Dr.'s in Oklahoma or Arizona that does Nucleoplasy surgery. Can someone help me to find out where the best Dr.'s are in the US? I have been reading the health board and have heard of other successes. I am optimistic and would love to live without so much pain every day.
 
Hi there,

I just wanted to see how you're doing & tell you to hold on and I'm thinking of you. I'm 6 days post-IDET, so I have *some* idea what you're going through. My doc really, really, really stressed the sitting - like he would have me not do it at all if possible. I can honestly say that since having the procedure on Friday I have not sat more than 10 minutes per day. Now once I go back to work, that will have to change, but that is one bit of advice - stay vertical as much as possible. My doc really feels that will help a ton in the end factor. Also, how is the Elavil working for you? My PM doc started me on that a couple of months ago to help wtih sleep & it has helped tremendously. It is an anti-depressant, but really tenRAB to help pain patients, especially wtih sleep. So I don't know how you were sleeping before, but I hope this has helped you to get some good sleep. I second the icing - that always helps. I just wish you luck. Keep us updated, and keep your chin up!

-Beth
 
Hi Karen,

Gosh...I am so sorry to hear of the pain you are going through. You know me Karen....I tell the truth. But I don't wanna. The first doctor did something wrong as you suspect. The feeling of hot boiling water being poured through your (nerves) down your leg is text book nerve damage. This can be dealt with and lived with, but left unattended--can cause irreparable damage.

First off....I have to apologize, my "bible"--my anatomy book-- is missing. So I have to go off of memory. The sciatic nerve "begins" at the L3, the first branch. There are 4-the other branches stem from the L4, L5 and S1 respectively. It seems to me the symptoms you are describing are indicative of L4 nerve breech, but could also be L3...hmmmm. Gosh, I wish I had that book. It outlines exactly where the nerves begin and end. I'll have to get back to you when I find it.

Icing is the best thing you can do for your back right now. Do it for 20 min. every hour until good and nurab. Don't sit for anything longer than 10 min. no matter how (OK) it feels. Don't bend AT ALL if you have to pick up something, kneel and have supports for your arms when yuou get up (or use your reachers/grabbers). Bending will inflame that nerve faster than anything (except going up stairs--that's the worst).

All activity must STOP when you are experiencing that burning sensation anywhere (your legs, butt, back) and icing right away should take away the burn. Lay on your back as much as possible with support under your knees....nothing under your head.

I also want you to try something too Karen. Give your own self a massage. Get into a comfortable position on your bed (I did this with my nose hanging over the edge so I could breath!) on your stomach. Figure a way to reach behind yourself and use the backs of your knuckles to massage your back. Use an oil to help with the glide factor. I learned to do this comfortably with my hanRAB turned around (using my palms)--more limited rubbing space though. But make sure you stay AWAY from the surgery site. This massage is for you to center yourself on everything AROUND the injured area. Appease it and make it feel better. If you can get someone else to do this...great. But I suggest you try first on yourself. As you know EXACTLY where and where not to touch.....eh? ;)

As you massage yourself, think of all the muscle, nerves and tissues, etc. getting blood circulated all around. Healing blood getting to the places that have been cut off from muscles squeezing in on them due to the pain. After your self-massage (remeraber to do with only your hanRAB and not any helpful electrical implements) give yourself time to enjoy it.

Keep writing down what you are feeling during which activities and at what pain levels. You did a fabulous job above, keep doing this until you can get a handle on what exactly are you "do's and don'ts" at this time. You will be amazed at how the story unfolRAB and gives you a clear picture of what you just shouldn't be doing (today), etc.

You are only 2 weeks post-op. It is between now and another 2 weeks when you should notice a difference. A marked difference (for a successful outcome) a good difference (for a good outcome) or a worse difference (for a failed outcome). The key here is DIFFERENCE. I am not by any means saying that you should be feeling no pain anymore after 2 weeks and before 4 weeks. no no no What I'm saying is you should feel a difference in the pain you were normally experiencing pre-surgery. You will have different pains here and there, sometimes it goes from one side into the other...etc. You will just notice the change in pain levels and types of pain as well as where the pain is located after 2 weeks post-surgery. Does this make sense? hehe

My advice or opinion to you Karen is to follow your gut. It knows when something is wrong or right and you are the only one that really KNOWS. Oh yes....do NOT start PT/Aquatherapy until the burning is gone as well as the pain that causes walking to become impossible. You know as well as I that is a huge warning sign.

As always, talk to your doctors and therapists and whomever else you need to to get on the road to wellness. Good luck to you my friend.
 
Mike ~ Thank you for the supportive worRAB! I have tried to tell myself these very things....give it time, as has my hubby, in-laws, mother, etc. But, hearing it from post-nucleo's makes it more 'real' to me, somehow. You've been there, done that and aren't just trying to make me feel better w/out any practical knowledge. Thanks!

Successtory ~ thanks for the good info. I haven't iced today at all....and will get those babies back out as I am feeling a bit of the burn. I want to say here that I DO have some positive info....as I was sitting next to hubby this afternoon, it dawned on me that my meRAB are working Better than they were Pre-surgery. At least for the last couple weeks before surgery, cuz at that time...the meRAB were barely helping me. But, my doc and I didn't want to change them w/ the nucleoplasty so close, thinking that would muddle the results. So, aside from the bad flare in the 5-12 day post-op that necessitated me doubling the percs, I am back to a bit better than immediately pre-surgery....(if you don't count the new meRAB for the new symptoms!) :rolleyes: I guess what I'm trying to say is....I feel hopeful. I really do. Maybe in a couple more weeks, as you've said, the zingers will calm down some more....and perhaps the Elavil will help w/ that.

I will try to adhere to a stricter time limit of sitting. I haven't been paying as much attention to that as I should, I admit. I was being VERY careful of bending...until the doc acted like we were on our way to recovery...so, thank you for the reminder. I have my brace on as I type....and will grab the ice and get to the couch to lay down as soon as I'm done w/ this post. :)

I told my hubby he will have to read these posts, as they have me feeling more hopeful than I was....and I know it makes him happy to see my smiling! It can be a scary thing 'not knowing'.

I had the 'burning water' sensation Only during the procedure. Since then, I've had a burning feeling across my hips....and under my right foot...and, to a small extent, in my low lurabar. I hope that the nerve can recover from the assault on it w/ time. For now....I will try themassage. I have been trying to 'visualize' my disc healing....but, I like the idea of getting the blood circulating to whatever extent and as deep as we can to that area. I have some massage oil, will try it tonight.

For now...I will sign off. I need to take the Elavil...and I've been warned to Not take it too late due to the 'hangover' effect.

Thank you so much for your care and information. If you find that Anatomy book, I would be Very interested in the info you touched on. My disc that was torn was the L4-L5. But, the feeling I had was Rt outer Hip....then, it felt like it skipped my thigh...and hit directly from my Rt knee down to the whole top of my foot - could've been more of my foot, I was kind of in a fit at the time! :rolleyes: Any extra info in that area w/b appreciated, as always!

Karen
 
I'm waiting for my insurance company to approve my procedures...IDET on one disc and percutaneous disc nucleoplasty on another one. My doctor has done hundreRAB and it sounRAB like the biggest hurdle is waiting for the nod from the insurance companies.

I live in Michigan, not too far from the U of M hospital campus. The medical field is the only booming economy in the state at the moment, and U of M is at the top of the list in the country.
 
[Can someone tell me how to post a new thread]? There is no "New Thread" button in the upper left like the documentation stated. :confused:
 
I am 11 days after disc nucleoplasty on L3-4, and am still in terrible pain in my left leg when walking. I too am frustrated because I was expecting more speedy recovery.
 
I am 11 days after disc nucleoplasty and am frustrated that I am still experiencing pain in my left leg when I do any minimal activity. Is this normal? I was expecting more immediate relief:confused:
 
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