sammyo1
02-05-2008, 09:27 AM
Marcia, good luck, I am now glad I went first. I am anxious to see how your surgery goes. I think you have a much more informative doctor. Make sure you ask how long the intial pain from the surgery will last. I have been so upset with my husband for not asking the specific questions I told him to ask. Like how long & often to wear the sling & so on... He has been asking the lady he works with & I have to be honest I am not so sure whether to believe her, she told my husband she did not even need the pain pills hardly, really, come on, the script from the doc reads 1 to 2 every 4 to 6 hrs, what does that tell you. He is kind of comparing me to her & I am seeing red.
Remember comfortable clothing, I wish I would have thought about that, I really don't have alot of button or zip up tops. I have been raiding my daughters closets, the zip up is the easiest. Since the day after seemed to be the worst for me I am glad you are staying over night, I am sure you already know but make sure they give you a good dose of pain meds before going home. I look forward to talking to you. Did your chair arrive? I will keep you in my prayers. Sammy
ps I have put up a thread for Fred, he had this sugery years ago, but I am kind of worried about him, have not seen him on here lately. I hope all is well.
Remember comfortable clothing, I wish I would have thought about that, I really don't have alot of button or zip up tops. I have been raiding my daughters closets, the zip up is the easiest. Since the day after seemed to be the worst for me I am glad you are staying over night, I am sure you already know but make sure they give you a good dose of pain meds before going home. I look forward to talking to you. Did your chair arrive? I will keep you in my prayers. Sammy
ps I have put up a thread for Fred, he had this sugery years ago, but I am kind of worried about him, have not seen him on here lately. I hope all is well.
Sponsor
SpinalMalady
02-05-2008, 10:13 AM
Marcia:
You will be in my prayers tomorrow. :angel: I so hope that this is the beginning of a new beginning for you in terms of quality of life. I will pray that the surgeon and his team as well as your caregivers in the hosp. take the best care of you and bring you safely, (and well medicated LOL) back to us soon. God Bless.
You will be in my prayers tomorrow. :angel: I so hope that this is the beginning of a new beginning for you in terms of quality of life. I will pray that the surgeon and his team as well as your caregivers in the hosp. take the best care of you and bring you safely, (and well medicated LOL) back to us soon. God Bless.
skych
02-05-2008, 10:23 AM
Marcia,
Yes tomorrow is the big day! I am glad that your staying over night. I remember asking you a few days ago in on e of the posts and I am glad you responded wiht a yes.
I amsure that everything will go will as you will be in Gods hands.
I will be thinking and praying for you.
All my best....
Chrissy
Yes tomorrow is the big day! I am glad that your staying over night. I remember asking you a few days ago in on e of the posts and I am glad you responded wiht a yes.
I amsure that everything will go will as you will be in Gods hands.
I will be thinking and praying for you.
All my best....
Chrissy
zoey1
02-05-2008, 10:24 AM
Marcia,
lots of good thoughts being sent your way and we are agreeing that things go wonderfully well for you .
lots of good thoughts being sent your way and we are agreeing that things go wonderfully well for you .
feelbad
02-05-2008, 12:54 PM
you guys are SOOO cool.this was just what i needed today.i am scared.really scared about what is just going to be there after that block wears off.i also have central pain syndrome in both shoulder blades that started out as a huge ten at one time but has slowly desenitized itself over the past four years,this could be "woken up' if the area underneath it gets too pissed off.i still have it in my left arm at about a 7-8 every day 24/7.it just hurts.this possibly showing back up would be about as bad as if my RSD spread up there too.i try not to think about that possibility tho.still having the "tooth' issues too.nothing there but my screwed up nerves that keep doing nasty things in that jaw.hopefully this will dissapate soon.i just really didn't want the tooth thing to even be there so thats why i made sure i got this done BEFORE my surgery but all i suceeded in doing is actually creating a much bigger problem for myself.kind of the way things go for me sometimes ya know?
my 'chair" wont be delivered til post op here at home(friday) from what they told me yesterday at the bracing appt to get my pretty new 'slingshot II' wondersling?is this what you have sammy?its a huge sucker.but mine is actually a medium,but of course a small would have been really nice as you already know.she did some manuvering to kind of get it right for me tho.sammy,tell your hubby that depending upon how bad things are BEFORE any surgery is what dictates just how bad your post op hell will be.geez.you just cannot compare one persons surgery to another,there are way too many variables that just make no two surgeries alike.you were in agony before your surgery and i am sure whoever he is talking about was not as bad as you were.the extent of damage and what they have to actually do in order to fix it also makes a huge difference.tell your hubby "until you have to have this type of surgery,please withhold any judgements".i know four people who have had the same type of surgey i am having and none of them did things the same time or way as the others.highly individual.
i will be speaking with my ortho tomorrow before the surgeryto work out all my little needs like the valium for my spasticity to be ordered PRN,on top of my "usual' daily crap and of course the MS for BT pain.this is kind of a standard we just put into place everytime i have a surgery.the dilaudid PCA will be very very nice once that block wears off.this is the part that scares me the most.i just dont know what will actually be there.having your spinal cord cut into just creates a nightmare(like with my tooth right now)for all other body systems so nothig can really be 'expected' or just plain 'normal' anymore.too much damage including my pain pathway to the pain receptors in the brain?my NS told me way back in 03 right after that spinal cord surgery severely damaged my spinothalamic tract in my cord,that all my pain signals,espescially the bigger ones will now become 'deranged" .it does explain ALOT about how things actually go when it comes to anything affecting a nerve or any cutting into my body anywhere.i am a walking freakshow now.so i do have some bigger fears that wouldn't be there at all if my body was just like a normal one?
you guys have been wonderful and sammy,your info is really priceless right now.chrissy,i do hope things are getting better or at least tolerable for you hon,you don't deserve to have to keep suffering thru this crap.i don't know when i will be able to get back on here again.my surgery is really late in the day at 3:00 so from there,who knows ya know?just don't expect great typing,like it is now??lol.my left hand just lost alot of fine motor function and of course the right hand wont be working at all for awhile,so this really should be interesting.i will try and at least pop in on friday to let you know i survived.if you don;t see anything by friday,well,hopefuly you will.i will try and make some kind of contact tho.even if its just an 'ouchie' or something to let you know,K?just keep those fingers crossed for me at 3;00.i can use all the help i can get right now,lol.take care guys.i WILL keep ya posted somehow even if i have to put my youngest online to do it.thanks sooo much for everything.i just love you guys.Marcia
my 'chair" wont be delivered til post op here at home(friday) from what they told me yesterday at the bracing appt to get my pretty new 'slingshot II' wondersling?is this what you have sammy?its a huge sucker.but mine is actually a medium,but of course a small would have been really nice as you already know.she did some manuvering to kind of get it right for me tho.sammy,tell your hubby that depending upon how bad things are BEFORE any surgery is what dictates just how bad your post op hell will be.geez.you just cannot compare one persons surgery to another,there are way too many variables that just make no two surgeries alike.you were in agony before your surgery and i am sure whoever he is talking about was not as bad as you were.the extent of damage and what they have to actually do in order to fix it also makes a huge difference.tell your hubby "until you have to have this type of surgery,please withhold any judgements".i know four people who have had the same type of surgey i am having and none of them did things the same time or way as the others.highly individual.
i will be speaking with my ortho tomorrow before the surgeryto work out all my little needs like the valium for my spasticity to be ordered PRN,on top of my "usual' daily crap and of course the MS for BT pain.this is kind of a standard we just put into place everytime i have a surgery.the dilaudid PCA will be very very nice once that block wears off.this is the part that scares me the most.i just dont know what will actually be there.having your spinal cord cut into just creates a nightmare(like with my tooth right now)for all other body systems so nothig can really be 'expected' or just plain 'normal' anymore.too much damage including my pain pathway to the pain receptors in the brain?my NS told me way back in 03 right after that spinal cord surgery severely damaged my spinothalamic tract in my cord,that all my pain signals,espescially the bigger ones will now become 'deranged" .it does explain ALOT about how things actually go when it comes to anything affecting a nerve or any cutting into my body anywhere.i am a walking freakshow now.so i do have some bigger fears that wouldn't be there at all if my body was just like a normal one?
you guys have been wonderful and sammy,your info is really priceless right now.chrissy,i do hope things are getting better or at least tolerable for you hon,you don't deserve to have to keep suffering thru this crap.i don't know when i will be able to get back on here again.my surgery is really late in the day at 3:00 so from there,who knows ya know?just don't expect great typing,like it is now??lol.my left hand just lost alot of fine motor function and of course the right hand wont be working at all for awhile,so this really should be interesting.i will try and at least pop in on friday to let you know i survived.if you don;t see anything by friday,well,hopefuly you will.i will try and make some kind of contact tho.even if its just an 'ouchie' or something to let you know,K?just keep those fingers crossed for me at 3;00.i can use all the help i can get right now,lol.take care guys.i WILL keep ya posted somehow even if i have to put my youngest online to do it.thanks sooo much for everything.i just love you guys.Marcia
forginon
02-05-2008, 03:05 PM
Marcia,
I pray the Lord will bless you with success beyond what you hope for, and I am excited to hear the results.:)
Get some good rest tonite if at all possible.
steve
I pray the Lord will bless you with success beyond what you hope for, and I am excited to hear the results.:)
Get some good rest tonite if at all possible.
steve
sammyo1
02-05-2008, 04:46 PM
Marcia, Hopefully you will be like me & be to darn tired the day of your surgery to worry anymore. I honestly think as long as you have the proper pain control you will be ok. You are more complicated then most, but more importantly is you have wonderful communication with your surgeon rest assured that will make the world of differance. I have some weird things going on, the muscle spasms are back, alot of tingling going down my back under the scapula & the my thumb & spot next to it is doing alot of little dances on its own, weird my leg has been bothering me. I will say that after today will tell alittle more I am sore but the pain is still there but more tolerable. Ice, Ice, Ice. .. I have a big black sling, I am almost postive that the what you mentioned is what I have, it says townsend bracing solutions on it, only I have an extra large, go figure.
What you said makes alot of sense & has made me feel better, about the condition your in before surgery has alot to do with the recovery, I am so thankful to have you to talk to. I know its hard but try not to worry, a plan for pain control & good communication & all will go well. I will of course being saying some prayers for you & waiting to hear how you are doing, god bless, Sammy
What you said makes alot of sense & has made me feel better, about the condition your in before surgery has alot to do with the recovery, I am so thankful to have you to talk to. I know its hard but try not to worry, a plan for pain control & good communication & all will go well. I will of course being saying some prayers for you & waiting to hear how you are doing, god bless, Sammy
Braveheart07
02-05-2008, 11:24 PM
MARCIA--
Add my name to the list of "board" friends that has you in my thoughts and prayers. I have been asking you to change your name to "Feelgood" (dare we say "feelGREAT"?)..Now you'll have the perfect reason !! Hope you are able to sleep tonight, and not stress too much... I look forward to reading your typo's when you feel up to posting !!
Talk to you soon.... Doug (the former HITTMAN)
Add my name to the list of "board" friends that has you in my thoughts and prayers. I have been asking you to change your name to "Feelgood" (dare we say "feelGREAT"?)..Now you'll have the perfect reason !! Hope you are able to sleep tonight, and not stress too much... I look forward to reading your typo's when you feel up to posting !!
Talk to you soon.... Doug (the former HITTMAN)
Fabrashamx
02-05-2008, 11:34 PM
Marcia,
I wont tell you to be strong, because I already know how strong you are. My thoughts and prayers are with you, let us know as soon as you can comfortably sit at a puter, how you did. Love you girlfriend!
~Fabby:)
I wont tell you to be strong, because I already know how strong you are. My thoughts and prayers are with you, let us know as soon as you can comfortably sit at a puter, how you did. Love you girlfriend!
~Fabby:)
music47
02-05-2008, 11:41 PM
Marcia
My thoughts and prayers are with you tomorrow afternoon when you have your surgery. Praying for a speedy recovery.:angel:
Sincerely Nadine
My thoughts and prayers are with you tomorrow afternoon when you have your surgery. Praying for a speedy recovery.:angel:
Sincerely Nadine
SpinalMalady
02-06-2008, 07:42 AM
Dear Lord Our Father:
Please watch over our good friend Marcia. Be with her doctors, anestheologistis, nurses, dieticians, Physical Therapists, and any others who may play a role in her care while she undergoes this surgery today. Guide the physician's hand in performing her surgery, and keep that nasty staph infection far, far away from our precious friend. Help her through any pain that she may endure, while in the hospital, and upon her return back home. Give her hope that she will make a full recovery, and can build up that shoulder to use it to serve You Lord. In your Son's Jesus name I pray. Amen! :angel: Oh, and Lord, while I'm at it, could you also give a looksee over all of our friends here on the health boards. Many are in need of you, especially those living in pain on daily basis. Though we may not know why at this moment, help us to realize and grow from our pain in order that we may praise and serve You better. Amen
Please watch over our good friend Marcia. Be with her doctors, anestheologistis, nurses, dieticians, Physical Therapists, and any others who may play a role in her care while she undergoes this surgery today. Guide the physician's hand in performing her surgery, and keep that nasty staph infection far, far away from our precious friend. Help her through any pain that she may endure, while in the hospital, and upon her return back home. Give her hope that she will make a full recovery, and can build up that shoulder to use it to serve You Lord. In your Son's Jesus name I pray. Amen! :angel: Oh, and Lord, while I'm at it, could you also give a looksee over all of our friends here on the health boards. Many are in need of you, especially those living in pain on daily basis. Though we may not know why at this moment, help us to realize and grow from our pain in order that we may praise and serve You better. Amen
feelbad
02-08-2008, 04:49 PM
OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!sammy,i soooo feel for ya,wow.if you felt what ifelt the night of your surgery.ended up spenmding two days,not justy overnight.pain was almost ubearable,wayyyy beyond what i expected,totally.i love my ortho tho,he truely understans my freaky body and pain responses and just chronic pain.he had set up dilaudid every fifteen minutes and if i ened up going over caertain amount,he wanted the pca thing set up,but even the pca wasn't enough,so he had them raise the dosage up even moe and push the button every ten min.but believe it or not,even all that didnt seem to be able to get on top of that ugly pain once that block wore off on me.unreal.and i was also able to stay on my regular oxycontin that usually take too.what great doc.i have my follow up appt on wed.what a nasty ride.he sent me home wit two rxs for the 10/325 tylenol too.one for now and one for when i run out.
so how are you doin?i am,as we speak,waiting for that wonderful chair.had to change thedelivery from this morning to now.i really needed that extra two nights in the hosp tho.they weened me off the pca yesterday afternoon after my first pt.wow that sucked.how are you doing with your pt so far?takng the arm out of that dang splint is almost worse than the pt itself ya know?well,i just wanted to let you guys know i survived.will be typing with myfaulty left hand here so please forgive the mistkes.hope you are doing better chrissy.thank you to all of you for your kindness ad prayers,that really ment alot to me.i just love you guys.marcia
so how are you doin?i am,as we speak,waiting for that wonderful chair.had to change thedelivery from this morning to now.i really needed that extra two nights in the hosp tho.they weened me off the pca yesterday afternoon after my first pt.wow that sucked.how are you doing with your pt so far?takng the arm out of that dang splint is almost worse than the pt itself ya know?well,i just wanted to let you guys know i survived.will be typing with myfaulty left hand here so please forgive the mistkes.hope you are doing better chrissy.thank you to all of you for your kindness ad prayers,that really ment alot to me.i just love you guys.marcia
sammyo1
02-09-2008, 07:27 AM
Marcia, I am so glad to hear from you & know your ok. I am glad they kept you longer, I was dreading you having to go through what I did.
Now that you are done with the surgery I will tell you the day & night after I was in so much pain I could barely talk. I only wish I had something stronger then the perc. that day. Yes for awhile the sling coming on & off hurts like , well you know. My entire half of my back can hurt. Lets not even talk about the arm. it sounds like you have more for pain control, make sure you take it as directed & control that pain. Getting dressed & undressed is dreadful. Thats why I said button up or zip & pull up pants.
I hate the chair but from what I read better do it or you will have pain for good. I have had a couple good days & then up for several nights, last night my husband got up with me, drenched in sweat & pain, pain, pain... I was literally sobbing. Just felt could not take it any more. But I am at 60 degrees on the chair & it hurts so I will go back down for a day or so. If still in this kind of pain next week I will call the surgeon.
No cake walk my friend. I was told it was not the most pleasant of surgeries, that is putting it lightly. I asked my husband when is this pain going to go down.
Is your shoulder tender to touch? What are your post op. instructions regaurding the sling & exercise?
Mine still is even when I get dressed I swear the clothes hurt when they touch the shoulder. The shower feels good on it & ice. Trust me ice, ice, ice... You named the chair correctly "torture chair" although after you get used to the chair its not bad, I think the 60 degrees is tough. I can feel it pulling. We will muddle through together, take it easy & take your time doing everything. Trust me. Sammy
Now that you are done with the surgery I will tell you the day & night after I was in so much pain I could barely talk. I only wish I had something stronger then the perc. that day. Yes for awhile the sling coming on & off hurts like , well you know. My entire half of my back can hurt. Lets not even talk about the arm. it sounds like you have more for pain control, make sure you take it as directed & control that pain. Getting dressed & undressed is dreadful. Thats why I said button up or zip & pull up pants.
I hate the chair but from what I read better do it or you will have pain for good. I have had a couple good days & then up for several nights, last night my husband got up with me, drenched in sweat & pain, pain, pain... I was literally sobbing. Just felt could not take it any more. But I am at 60 degrees on the chair & it hurts so I will go back down for a day or so. If still in this kind of pain next week I will call the surgeon.
No cake walk my friend. I was told it was not the most pleasant of surgeries, that is putting it lightly. I asked my husband when is this pain going to go down.
Is your shoulder tender to touch? What are your post op. instructions regaurding the sling & exercise?
Mine still is even when I get dressed I swear the clothes hurt when they touch the shoulder. The shower feels good on it & ice. Trust me ice, ice, ice... You named the chair correctly "torture chair" although after you get used to the chair its not bad, I think the 60 degrees is tough. I can feel it pulling. We will muddle through together, take it easy & take your time doing everything. Trust me. Sammy
feelbad
02-09-2008, 10:22 AM
yea,that is some ugly pain.i am also hypersensitive to even light touch,or when i hit those stupid doorknobs with any area of this huge *** splint.this med is huge,i cannot even imagine having that ex lge thing you have to deal with.for you sammy,considering what you had as far as symptoms pre op,i would really be watching very closely for any SNS signs of involvement.just how much work did they have to do on your shoulder area?im just wondering about that back pain?most of my pain is in the actuasl joint area and around more to the front?it doesnt appear to be really too much into tye actual back itself,but we most likely did not have the exact same areas worked on either ya know?
i actually got pictures of all my damaged areas that he did work on and there are five little round pics all on one sheet that he took for me while hewas in there.i was kind of just kifdding around and had metioned something about its too bad i cant get video of my surgery,thats when he said he would capture the kodak moments for me.that was cool.but man can you ever really see how bad two of those tears were.he also told my hubby post op something about needing to actually shave down more bone but i didn't have enough there to actually be able to realitically do that or something?going to have to ask him about that on wed at my appt.
oh,and get this.i was offered a different form of anesthesia only because they used the scaline block?i can't remember the name of it but when the anesthsiologist and i were talking and i mentioned about this stupid tooth reaction i was,and am still dealing wth,he said,well,since your having that block done(he was just a bit concerned about possiby hitting or eveninjuring those hypersensitive teeeth and i was too),we do have little differefnt optin for you,and then he told me about this type where they like only partially knock you out and it does not actually requir a tubing of any kind and you also just feel a bit better immeiately post op and i wouldn't have the sore throat orhaveto spend any time in the PACU either.i was really kind of scared about doing it,but figured what the heii,so we did the surgery with me actualy partially awake but still pretty out of it,now THAT was a trip.and i did feel soo much better after this surgery than with any of my others.thy just popped me right up to my room right out of the OR.i would very highly recommend this type of anesthesia to anyone who can actually use the option.they do this mostly ortho types of surgerys where you are also getting a deep block done.how did your arm feel once they popped in your block sammy?i am willing to bet,considering how bad things were pre op that it was a huge relief for you for the first time in a long while?
one really huge issue that i had not even thoughht about pre op was just how hard thi was going to be on my rsd knee?it has been burnig like heck now since later on yesterday mostly because of the frekin wear and tear on your knees when trying to pull youself out bed?i had to keep bending and hooking my knees everytime i went to get out of bed.it really over strained that knee that normally i try very hard not to stress just because this crappy stuff will happen.also,those excercises we have to do that involve bending at the waist and letting that arm hang and move by shifting sideto side?those ones are very hard on my knees just with the side to side motion and shifting the knees themselves?it wasthat particular motin i did two months post op from the spinal cord surgery (i was placing a pile of leaves around my hydrangea for winter and justdoing that side to side crap)came inside and was just watching the vikings game and all of the sudden out of nowhere(after also being told that i could no longer feel pain on that side)i felt the very first ever post op pain in that knee.this was actually the very day i think that rsd actually set in.started out as a very tiny little "ping" of a pain deep inside the knee that by the end of about the first hour went to raging burning hell.i am going to have to have a chat with myortho on wed about this crap.luckily,he also did both my knee surgeries too so would know all about it,so that helps.anytime i dont have to try and explain how screwed up my body now is to anyone,espescially a brand new doc,the better ya know?i just really didnt need this on top of the two teeth from hell and the shoulder crap.god ijust love my body.
used the chair last night,i am currently way behind you sammy,at 46?what is your surgeons goal set for you?i think mine is 150?it wasn't quite as bad as i thought it was going to be.it was just once again takingthat sling off,owie!!!!!!!!god,that just hurts.so how much real movement are you able to do with the fingers?once i started pt,iwas able to do at least little bit mor than bfore it.i can open my rx bottle all by myself now using fingers on both my hands.thats a biggie,lol.i am really sorry sammy that your pain is not being as well medicated as it should be.your just on the post op 10/325 right,no more oxycontin?i have to worry about possibly overdosing and your not getting enough,thats just sick,really.this level of pain,they should atleast be giving you something a bit stronger for bt pain ya know?having to deal wth the tylenol can create its own problems.do they make a 10mg roxicodone?at least that way you could hit the bt harder and keep the painalso much better managed too.i just feel so bad for you hon knowing what you are dealing with and not having enough to cover it.i just never expected unbearable to be part of this particular type of surgery.if i had not stayed even just that first nigh when that dang block decided it was going to wear off like about 5-6 hours earlier than they told me,i would have,without a doubt by around 1 amhave been screaming back to that hospital on a code three run.i just could NOT get even slightly on top of it or even halfway up,and i had freaking dilaudid to cover mine sammy,geez that had to be hellish for you on just the 10/325s.you ARE my new hero hon,really.i don't know if my reaction was normal or just the very screwed up nature of my pain,but i know yours still had to be pretty brutal for you.this is just a very painful type of surgery.really makes me wanna think twice about having the other shoulder done here at some point since i know without a doubt that that one just has to be almost as bad as the right one was.maybe ill just forget the pain likewith chidbirth?nah.well gotta go eat breakfast,hubby is having soo much fun taking care of me.its pay back time,yes!i will keep ya postedf hon,and you do the same,k?by the way,this post took me two whole hours to type.whew!hang in thre hon,the worst part is over for both of us i think.marcia
i actually got pictures of all my damaged areas that he did work on and there are five little round pics all on one sheet that he took for me while hewas in there.i was kind of just kifdding around and had metioned something about its too bad i cant get video of my surgery,thats when he said he would capture the kodak moments for me.that was cool.but man can you ever really see how bad two of those tears were.he also told my hubby post op something about needing to actually shave down more bone but i didn't have enough there to actually be able to realitically do that or something?going to have to ask him about that on wed at my appt.
oh,and get this.i was offered a different form of anesthesia only because they used the scaline block?i can't remember the name of it but when the anesthsiologist and i were talking and i mentioned about this stupid tooth reaction i was,and am still dealing wth,he said,well,since your having that block done(he was just a bit concerned about possiby hitting or eveninjuring those hypersensitive teeeth and i was too),we do have little differefnt optin for you,and then he told me about this type where they like only partially knock you out and it does not actually requir a tubing of any kind and you also just feel a bit better immeiately post op and i wouldn't have the sore throat orhaveto spend any time in the PACU either.i was really kind of scared about doing it,but figured what the heii,so we did the surgery with me actualy partially awake but still pretty out of it,now THAT was a trip.and i did feel soo much better after this surgery than with any of my others.thy just popped me right up to my room right out of the OR.i would very highly recommend this type of anesthesia to anyone who can actually use the option.they do this mostly ortho types of surgerys where you are also getting a deep block done.how did your arm feel once they popped in your block sammy?i am willing to bet,considering how bad things were pre op that it was a huge relief for you for the first time in a long while?
one really huge issue that i had not even thoughht about pre op was just how hard thi was going to be on my rsd knee?it has been burnig like heck now since later on yesterday mostly because of the frekin wear and tear on your knees when trying to pull youself out bed?i had to keep bending and hooking my knees everytime i went to get out of bed.it really over strained that knee that normally i try very hard not to stress just because this crappy stuff will happen.also,those excercises we have to do that involve bending at the waist and letting that arm hang and move by shifting sideto side?those ones are very hard on my knees just with the side to side motion and shifting the knees themselves?it wasthat particular motin i did two months post op from the spinal cord surgery (i was placing a pile of leaves around my hydrangea for winter and justdoing that side to side crap)came inside and was just watching the vikings game and all of the sudden out of nowhere(after also being told that i could no longer feel pain on that side)i felt the very first ever post op pain in that knee.this was actually the very day i think that rsd actually set in.started out as a very tiny little "ping" of a pain deep inside the knee that by the end of about the first hour went to raging burning hell.i am going to have to have a chat with myortho on wed about this crap.luckily,he also did both my knee surgeries too so would know all about it,so that helps.anytime i dont have to try and explain how screwed up my body now is to anyone,espescially a brand new doc,the better ya know?i just really didnt need this on top of the two teeth from hell and the shoulder crap.god ijust love my body.
used the chair last night,i am currently way behind you sammy,at 46?what is your surgeons goal set for you?i think mine is 150?it wasn't quite as bad as i thought it was going to be.it was just once again takingthat sling off,owie!!!!!!!!god,that just hurts.so how much real movement are you able to do with the fingers?once i started pt,iwas able to do at least little bit mor than bfore it.i can open my rx bottle all by myself now using fingers on both my hands.thats a biggie,lol.i am really sorry sammy that your pain is not being as well medicated as it should be.your just on the post op 10/325 right,no more oxycontin?i have to worry about possibly overdosing and your not getting enough,thats just sick,really.this level of pain,they should atleast be giving you something a bit stronger for bt pain ya know?having to deal wth the tylenol can create its own problems.do they make a 10mg roxicodone?at least that way you could hit the bt harder and keep the painalso much better managed too.i just feel so bad for you hon knowing what you are dealing with and not having enough to cover it.i just never expected unbearable to be part of this particular type of surgery.if i had not stayed even just that first nigh when that dang block decided it was going to wear off like about 5-6 hours earlier than they told me,i would have,without a doubt by around 1 amhave been screaming back to that hospital on a code three run.i just could NOT get even slightly on top of it or even halfway up,and i had freaking dilaudid to cover mine sammy,geez that had to be hellish for you on just the 10/325s.you ARE my new hero hon,really.i don't know if my reaction was normal or just the very screwed up nature of my pain,but i know yours still had to be pretty brutal for you.this is just a very painful type of surgery.really makes me wanna think twice about having the other shoulder done here at some point since i know without a doubt that that one just has to be almost as bad as the right one was.maybe ill just forget the pain likewith chidbirth?nah.well gotta go eat breakfast,hubby is having soo much fun taking care of me.its pay back time,yes!i will keep ya postedf hon,and you do the same,k?by the way,this post took me two whole hours to type.whew!hang in thre hon,the worst part is over for both of us i think.marcia
skych
02-09-2008, 10:39 AM
MARCIA!!!!!
Your finally back!!! I missed ya!!! LOL
I was begining to wonder if you were ok!!
Sorry to hear how painful that was/is but glad that they kept you for another night.
That would be totally weird to be partially awake. If they ever had to do that kind of anesthesia with me they better put tape over my mouth becasue I would be afraid I would just talk talk talk. Ask if I could watch or hey can I help...LOL
I am so gald your back, and on the road to recovery!
Chrissy
Your finally back!!! I missed ya!!! LOL
I was begining to wonder if you were ok!!
Sorry to hear how painful that was/is but glad that they kept you for another night.
That would be totally weird to be partially awake. If they ever had to do that kind of anesthesia with me they better put tape over my mouth becasue I would be afraid I would just talk talk talk. Ask if I could watch or hey can I help...LOL
I am so gald your back, and on the road to recovery!
Chrissy
sammyo1
02-10-2008, 12:01 PM
Marcia, Let me try to answer some of your questions. As far as being your new hero, well if heros are up sobbing like a baby at 2:00 am then I guess I qualify.
I am still experiancing alot of pain, not alot of control last few days. I cut back on the exercises a wee bit to see if it would make a differance. I am frustrated that the surgeon talked to my husband & I am left wondering about some things. I am having muscle spasms & that is disappointing. I can handle pain but with the spasms it makes it alittle tougher. I was beginning to think I was abnormal, not that I like to hear your in alot of pain but I was beginning to wonder. I find the whole process of waiting to see how successful the surgery is alittle scary & am fighting to not feel overwhelmed or depressed.
My husband is doing the role reversal to, I am starting to feel alittle sorry for him, I know the poor guy is overwhelmed.
I have the pictures to, I don't understand them well because my husband went over them with the surgeon, but they clearly show arthritis. I will take them in to my follow up.
Yes I found the sling painful to get on & off, the shoulder is tender, especially in the front, which leads me to believe that is where most of the work was done. I have three incisions, two front, one back. The scapula is tender to. My back did not did not bother me at first, so we will see.
Yes I hate the big black sling, I maintain a smaller one would have been easier to deal with. The chair I hate more. When I got up to 55/60 it became alittle tougher & I could feel it almost like a tugging or pulling sensation.
I do two exercises
adduction & abduction(to the side) & 90 is the goal.
Extension & Flexion(lifting in front) & 120 is the goal.
I should be up to 60/65 but lagging abit behind, just to sore. suppose to do 3 to 4 times aday, 1 hour each time. 1/2 each motion. with the advance of 5 degrees everyday if I can.
I am really glad your surgeon provided you with more pain control, & that you stayed in the hospital. My husband took me out yesturday to get acouple button up tops. I swear I was up the night before last drenched in sweat, Pain, pain, pain, god bless my husband he got up undressed me & put a dry gown on me, let me tell you no sleep, not alot of pain control & constipation, what a mess.
What are your instructions? Do you wear the sling all the time including sleep?
How is your pain & does ice help? I just don't know if I am expecting to much to soon, but I am am still in alot of pain, some days better then other, last few days not good.
I have heard there is a long recovery period with this surgery & my husband did say the surgeon said first couple weeks would be tough as far as pain. I do some exercises in the shower on my own. it seems to feel better with the hot water on it.
I am so very glad I am not going through this alone, heck with as little as my surgeon said I don't know what is normal or what to expect. For me it is different I only had the decompression done but have the arthritis to go along with it all.
I was out to quick I don't remember how I felt after the nerve block. I know my throat hurt like ****. I am glad you were spared that, I know I had pain in the scapula upon waking up, & the day after was torture, hurt to even talk. I do have a bit more movement then last week so that is good. We will see. Really nervous about the spasms. Hate that. Let me know how you are doing & your instructions, really want to know, I am not sure whether I have to sleep with the sling on or not, have tried both. Hope you are doing better. Sammy
I am still experiancing alot of pain, not alot of control last few days. I cut back on the exercises a wee bit to see if it would make a differance. I am frustrated that the surgeon talked to my husband & I am left wondering about some things. I am having muscle spasms & that is disappointing. I can handle pain but with the spasms it makes it alittle tougher. I was beginning to think I was abnormal, not that I like to hear your in alot of pain but I was beginning to wonder. I find the whole process of waiting to see how successful the surgery is alittle scary & am fighting to not feel overwhelmed or depressed.
My husband is doing the role reversal to, I am starting to feel alittle sorry for him, I know the poor guy is overwhelmed.
I have the pictures to, I don't understand them well because my husband went over them with the surgeon, but they clearly show arthritis. I will take them in to my follow up.
Yes I found the sling painful to get on & off, the shoulder is tender, especially in the front, which leads me to believe that is where most of the work was done. I have three incisions, two front, one back. The scapula is tender to. My back did not did not bother me at first, so we will see.
Yes I hate the big black sling, I maintain a smaller one would have been easier to deal with. The chair I hate more. When I got up to 55/60 it became alittle tougher & I could feel it almost like a tugging or pulling sensation.
I do two exercises
adduction & abduction(to the side) & 90 is the goal.
Extension & Flexion(lifting in front) & 120 is the goal.
I should be up to 60/65 but lagging abit behind, just to sore. suppose to do 3 to 4 times aday, 1 hour each time. 1/2 each motion. with the advance of 5 degrees everyday if I can.
I am really glad your surgeon provided you with more pain control, & that you stayed in the hospital. My husband took me out yesturday to get acouple button up tops. I swear I was up the night before last drenched in sweat, Pain, pain, pain, god bless my husband he got up undressed me & put a dry gown on me, let me tell you no sleep, not alot of pain control & constipation, what a mess.
What are your instructions? Do you wear the sling all the time including sleep?
How is your pain & does ice help? I just don't know if I am expecting to much to soon, but I am am still in alot of pain, some days better then other, last few days not good.
I have heard there is a long recovery period with this surgery & my husband did say the surgeon said first couple weeks would be tough as far as pain. I do some exercises in the shower on my own. it seems to feel better with the hot water on it.
I am so very glad I am not going through this alone, heck with as little as my surgeon said I don't know what is normal or what to expect. For me it is different I only had the decompression done but have the arthritis to go along with it all.
I was out to quick I don't remember how I felt after the nerve block. I know my throat hurt like ****. I am glad you were spared that, I know I had pain in the scapula upon waking up, & the day after was torture, hurt to even talk. I do have a bit more movement then last week so that is good. We will see. Really nervous about the spasms. Hate that. Let me know how you are doing & your instructions, really want to know, I am not sure whether I have to sleep with the sling on or not, have tried both. Hope you are doing better. Sammy
feelbad
02-10-2008, 04:42 PM
hey sammy.ya know,your chair set up is a bit different than mine right now.i am only doing the abbduct and adduct right now and from what the pt guy said when he dropped it off,it sounds like my surgeon only wanted that part for me too.how much increase in your pain actually occurs after you up it?i am just wondering here if five is way too much to actually expect right now ya know?thats really huge increase to be doing daily.i think from what my guy told me you should try doing maybe like 2-3 increase per day vs five?that just really IS alot to add in one day.i think it would help decrease yuour pain somewhat.i was told to do it by whatever felt comfotable for me and go at MY pace.there isnt a race here foryourself to get to that goal more quickly,ya know what i mean?it just should NOT hurt(at least not out of your comfort zone) while you increase,that was the one thing that guy really stressed to me.you have to remember what you just had done here hon,that your tendons and muscle have just been pulled back together and are being held together by sutures right now,so you don't want to be pulling any harder than you really need to right now.you will still get to that goal,you just have to keep them a bit more realistiic.just what you described in chrissys thread,it just really sounds like you are definetly over doing things a bit to me.the no pain no gain thing is not true when it comes to the type of pt we are doing.my pt to regain my use back of my left leg after my spinal xcord surgery was a way different story and timeframe than dealing with what we rehabbing,way different.you just don't want to be causing too much pull on the sutures by adding too much before the level of flexability gets a bit more ingrained there,or you can much more easily actually rip or cause a tear in the sutures.that is why only going up like at most 3 degrees per day,i just really think would be less stressful on the sugical areas and keep your pain bit less intense.i just do not want to take any chances here(been thru this before and wayyy overdid it and paid the price for it too,this was surgery # 7 for me,and each one has taught me different things)of setting myself back only because i pushed it too quickly.i just wanted normal back and i know you do too sammy,but just be patient and slow it down at least a bit,ya know?i would just hate to see you end up even worse off just because of doing things too quickly ya know?good rule of thumb here with that chair,if it is more than just a bit painful while you are doing it,espescially right after you make a raise,you went too high.its normal to have some pain,but based on your description,yours is a bit too much.your body is really the best regulator of whther you are overdoing it or its okay.thats what i let dictate my increases.
didn't your sugeon rx you any muscle relaxers like valium or the vistril?if not,i would call and ask for some vistril at the very least.they were giving me my pain meds and the vistril while in the hospital and it realy does seem to enhance the pain meds and relax those muscles and also reduce the little spasms we are both getting while in that chair.they are happening to me too sammy.both in and out of that chair.but i have valium herethat i have to use for my spasticity so that helps too.but you DO need some type of actual muscle relaxent.you are healing together torn muscle and torn tendon so you will also be getting spasms from time to time.i think it just comes with the territory ya know?
i wear this stupid sling 24/7 BUT i was told when i go to bed,i can at least take the neck attacker(strap)off as long as i have the arm/lower part of sling well stabilized like with blankets or something?that is one heck of a huge relief for me,let me tell ya.i just hate having to hook it back up in the morning again ya know?that little bit of "freedom"is great while it lasts as i am sure you can relate?
dang,i still needed to post to chrissy yet but my hand is killing me.that left one is having its own sets of problems now.besides it already being damaged by the fine motor loss it has been having to keep being pushed beyond its normal limits and it just cant anymore.its not happy with me right now.but my knee swelling is a bit better today along wth that flpping burning.geez.one thing at atime would really be nice.
chrissy,i will post to you soon hon,things are just a bit crazy right now.i do hope things are feeling less intense.thanks guys,marcia
didn't your sugeon rx you any muscle relaxers like valium or the vistril?if not,i would call and ask for some vistril at the very least.they were giving me my pain meds and the vistril while in the hospital and it realy does seem to enhance the pain meds and relax those muscles and also reduce the little spasms we are both getting while in that chair.they are happening to me too sammy.both in and out of that chair.but i have valium herethat i have to use for my spasticity so that helps too.but you DO need some type of actual muscle relaxent.you are healing together torn muscle and torn tendon so you will also be getting spasms from time to time.i think it just comes with the territory ya know?
i wear this stupid sling 24/7 BUT i was told when i go to bed,i can at least take the neck attacker(strap)off as long as i have the arm/lower part of sling well stabilized like with blankets or something?that is one heck of a huge relief for me,let me tell ya.i just hate having to hook it back up in the morning again ya know?that little bit of "freedom"is great while it lasts as i am sure you can relate?
dang,i still needed to post to chrissy yet but my hand is killing me.that left one is having its own sets of problems now.besides it already being damaged by the fine motor loss it has been having to keep being pushed beyond its normal limits and it just cant anymore.its not happy with me right now.but my knee swelling is a bit better today along wth that flpping burning.geez.one thing at atime would really be nice.
chrissy,i will post to you soon hon,things are just a bit crazy right now.i do hope things are feeling less intense.thanks guys,marcia
sammyo1
02-10-2008, 08:48 PM
Marcia, thanks for the reply, when they dropped the chair off they did say my surgeon was specifically one who preferred the two different exercises & told me he had a great success rate. I was getting pain more so after using the chair, indeed they did say if it was painful cut back on the increasing, Sat. I only did one long session & today got two in. The lady my husband works with said for the most part she got two in per day. I am going to slow it down abit, I am not up the the same degree out to the side as in the front, I did 65-70 out front & 60-65 to the side. I will stay at that if I suffer tonight or cut down, I have the chair a total of 21 days & I am hoping it will make the pt visits easier when I start those. How are you doing getting dressed? Can't wait to put regular clothes on. I have some valium at home perhaps I will try a small dose at bedtime & see how that goes. I was so sore this morning I think for the first time I tried to roll over on that side, hard because that is the side I usaully sleep on.
How is you pain, what level would you say it is at?
Can you feel it right to the bone? I swear at times you can. Girl it is not a comfortable surgery. You had seven surgies, man you are my hero. Which one has been the most painful for you & where does this rate. I would hate to have one worse then this.
I am wondering if the arthritis is playing a role in added pain here. I just can't wait to feel better. I will admitt that is scares the heck out of me to think this surgery may not take care of all this. The surgeon did say may not relieve all the pain but heck I hope it erases most of it. I still have alot of discomfort in my rib area, that they though was secondary in the muscles but coming from the shoulder area. I hate the spasms they are in the chest area more so & they can just take my breath away they come on so quickly. Let me know how your doing, I will try sleeping with the sling the way you were told. Want to trade slings? I'll take the medium & you can have my xlarge, you can use it for self defense to if needed (ha). Talk to you later, take care. Sammy
How is you pain, what level would you say it is at?
Can you feel it right to the bone? I swear at times you can. Girl it is not a comfortable surgery. You had seven surgies, man you are my hero. Which one has been the most painful for you & where does this rate. I would hate to have one worse then this.
I am wondering if the arthritis is playing a role in added pain here. I just can't wait to feel better. I will admitt that is scares the heck out of me to think this surgery may not take care of all this. The surgeon did say may not relieve all the pain but heck I hope it erases most of it. I still have alot of discomfort in my rib area, that they though was secondary in the muscles but coming from the shoulder area. I hate the spasms they are in the chest area more so & they can just take my breath away they come on so quickly. Let me know how your doing, I will try sleeping with the sling the way you were told. Want to trade slings? I'll take the medium & you can have my xlarge, you can use it for self defense to if needed (ha). Talk to you later, take care. Sammy
sammyo1
02-11-2008, 08:40 AM
Marcia, Wanted to add this morning, did indeed catch myself rolling onto that side in my sleep. I heard like a snap & the pain was unbelievable, sure woke me right up. For the first several nights after surgery I did not move an inch. So watch yourself. Sammy
feelbad
02-11-2008, 12:09 PM
mornin sammy.aint life grand?if you are having the spasms thru out the day or at specific times,try adding just one half of a valium to the mix before you usually expect them or like you said just use them at night.i know mine just helps me to sleep better.last night was the very first time i actually slept thru the whole night,didn't even wake up to go to the batroom like i normally do,strange.i DID need that tho.sleep,as you know can be kind of hard to come by at this point in time.if you move around in your sleep,try packing blankies or pillows around your body so you cant roll over,then really pack around the splint in one posistion as well.this is what i do,but i also have to always sleep on my back,and with both legs elevated or the leg spastity alawys seems to kick in on me.as long as i have my legs elevated during sleep,it dosen't kick in til my legs hit the floor in the morning,believe me,thats a huge thing for me,or i would never be able to ever sleep at all.just try kind of wedging pillows around yourself so you just cannot roll over,that will help tons.its worth the hassle in doing all this just to be able to take off that neck strap.god that part just sucks all by itself.its just exascerbating the living heck out of my c spine mess.
you asked what one of my surgeries was the worst?hands down,it was most definetly the spinal cord surgery.this was an abslutely hidious surgery that i don't think would have been qutie as bad had i not also woke up actually in recovery with that hellish burn/sting crap called central pain syndrome too?it just feels to me very very much like a bad second degree burn,or a horrid sunburn that blisters up?that huge hypersensitivity to even light touch or even just a light breeze blowing over it sends it overthe top.it has gotten better,espescially over the shoulder blades.at onset this was a raging ten plus butover the past four years has actually somehow gotten down to about a 1.it just desensitized itself i supposejust having a very constant pressure from clothing over it.it took years tho,but unfortunetly this has notbeen happening at all wiith the central in my left elbow and part of the uppeer arm area.that normally runs between about 7-8 with the flares to at least a ten at times.thats when i slap a lido patch over it.i could wear one all the time to keep that pain down but then it would just become much more hypersensitive,not better.so we suck that one up every day.but that crap just added a whole other componennt to an already expected to be pretty excruciating typeof surgery.beleive me,when your NS tells you your post op pain is going to be extremely painful post op,he aint kidding.with that surgery,honestly i could not even find tolerable for two whole days,it was absolutely hidious.this rotator crap was the very same way once that block wore off.no matter what thry did,i could not get on top of that freaking pain sammy.this surgery was about the very same intensity as the sp cord one for me,the sp cord one,that intolerability just lasted longer and had the central crap.so you re not a wimp hon,you just happened to have a very very painful type of surgery done.i thrashed around,well my legs anyway,in that bed from about 8;30 til from complete exhaustion and a huge amount of dilaudid finally around five am,i think i did actuslly fall asleep for about an hour.(one big thing about having any type of sudden onset,like surgical pain(espescially with the block),that just is in your face all of the sudden is your brain has to get used to it and accomodate it before it can even begin to get it tolerable for you.the stronger the pain,the longer that accomodation takes.)then thinking about having to actually go home that day with my pain not even really tolerable yet while still on the dilaudid scared the crap outta me.around ten in the morning i just decided i couldn't go there yet tho they did wean me off the pca around like 1 in the afternoon and switch me onto my regular meds(the OC)and also the 10/325 percs,along with still being able to get a bump of the dilaudid if things just got to be way too much again.i have to say tho,pt in the morning,well,we almost puked from the pain,so we tried it again a few hours later and it went better than i thought it would and i was actually off the pca by then.the pt actually seemed to help some once the initial agony of just starting it subsided.i am finding that the more often i do the excercises along with that chair,my pain is becomming a bit more tolerable as oppsed to before really starting all this scheduled stuff when i got home.i only do a half an hour at a time with that mahine but do it five times a day.this really helps to keep the overall soreness down.i actually looked at my sheet and it said to actually go up BETWEEN 3-5 per day,so anywhere within those parameters i would think would be okay,so you could drop down a bit sammy ya know?thankfully i only have the one type of excercise to do on it and you have two.it might be a bit harder for you as far as having better flexability to change things a bit.i have to call the pt people once i have reached the 150mark so they can come and pick it up.i am being billed by theday and as far as i know,there is no actual like cut off day like you have?i have absolutely no clue what this is actually costing me and how much of it is actually going to be paid by my ins co.should be fun getting THAT bill huh?i hit fifty yesterday and am shooting,hopefully by the end ofthe day,to get to 53.i do five one half hour sessions.you can also just slowly build thru the day on up too ya know?i would just try not to actually just simply add that five all at one time if you really want to go up 5 everyday,slowly building it up during the day really hasn't been all that bad for me.
well i gotta stop for now and actually go DO my chair crap,i am late,was planning on 10;00,oops.i still have to get back to chrissy yet,damn.sorry chrissy,i will get there hon,i promise.how are YOU doin chrissy?hang in there sammy.marcia
so just how much are your fingers able to do at this point?i have pretty good dexterity/strength actually,much more than i ever expected at less than a week out from the surgery ya know?did your hand finally stop sweating or is it still there?
itoo feel the pain down to the bone sometimes.they did do some bone work on me tho but one area by my clavacle he said there wasn't actually enough there to actually shave off?i think thatmust have been this little groove that has developed over many years just wearing my purse on that one spot lik forever.you can actually see this thing from the outside too.dressing and undressing have become interesting events thses days too.i have gotten to the point where i can actually do the socks(depending on the sock type)put on the long underwear(we have been sub zero here of course for the last few days and i am the worlds biggst freeze baby)and do the sweatpants,but the shirt thing i have to have my hubbyhelp me there.trying to brush my teeth using this lame left hand has really been an adventure tho,lol.i just want this damn sling gone,like soon.
you asked what one of my surgeries was the worst?hands down,it was most definetly the spinal cord surgery.this was an abslutely hidious surgery that i don't think would have been qutie as bad had i not also woke up actually in recovery with that hellish burn/sting crap called central pain syndrome too?it just feels to me very very much like a bad second degree burn,or a horrid sunburn that blisters up?that huge hypersensitivity to even light touch or even just a light breeze blowing over it sends it overthe top.it has gotten better,espescially over the shoulder blades.at onset this was a raging ten plus butover the past four years has actually somehow gotten down to about a 1.it just desensitized itself i supposejust having a very constant pressure from clothing over it.it took years tho,but unfortunetly this has notbeen happening at all wiith the central in my left elbow and part of the uppeer arm area.that normally runs between about 7-8 with the flares to at least a ten at times.thats when i slap a lido patch over it.i could wear one all the time to keep that pain down but then it would just become much more hypersensitive,not better.so we suck that one up every day.but that crap just added a whole other componennt to an already expected to be pretty excruciating typeof surgery.beleive me,when your NS tells you your post op pain is going to be extremely painful post op,he aint kidding.with that surgery,honestly i could not even find tolerable for two whole days,it was absolutely hidious.this rotator crap was the very same way once that block wore off.no matter what thry did,i could not get on top of that freaking pain sammy.this surgery was about the very same intensity as the sp cord one for me,the sp cord one,that intolerability just lasted longer and had the central crap.so you re not a wimp hon,you just happened to have a very very painful type of surgery done.i thrashed around,well my legs anyway,in that bed from about 8;30 til from complete exhaustion and a huge amount of dilaudid finally around five am,i think i did actuslly fall asleep for about an hour.(one big thing about having any type of sudden onset,like surgical pain(espescially with the block),that just is in your face all of the sudden is your brain has to get used to it and accomodate it before it can even begin to get it tolerable for you.the stronger the pain,the longer that accomodation takes.)then thinking about having to actually go home that day with my pain not even really tolerable yet while still on the dilaudid scared the crap outta me.around ten in the morning i just decided i couldn't go there yet tho they did wean me off the pca around like 1 in the afternoon and switch me onto my regular meds(the OC)and also the 10/325 percs,along with still being able to get a bump of the dilaudid if things just got to be way too much again.i have to say tho,pt in the morning,well,we almost puked from the pain,so we tried it again a few hours later and it went better than i thought it would and i was actually off the pca by then.the pt actually seemed to help some once the initial agony of just starting it subsided.i am finding that the more often i do the excercises along with that chair,my pain is becomming a bit more tolerable as oppsed to before really starting all this scheduled stuff when i got home.i only do a half an hour at a time with that mahine but do it five times a day.this really helps to keep the overall soreness down.i actually looked at my sheet and it said to actually go up BETWEEN 3-5 per day,so anywhere within those parameters i would think would be okay,so you could drop down a bit sammy ya know?thankfully i only have the one type of excercise to do on it and you have two.it might be a bit harder for you as far as having better flexability to change things a bit.i have to call the pt people once i have reached the 150mark so they can come and pick it up.i am being billed by theday and as far as i know,there is no actual like cut off day like you have?i have absolutely no clue what this is actually costing me and how much of it is actually going to be paid by my ins co.should be fun getting THAT bill huh?i hit fifty yesterday and am shooting,hopefully by the end ofthe day,to get to 53.i do five one half hour sessions.you can also just slowly build thru the day on up too ya know?i would just try not to actually just simply add that five all at one time if you really want to go up 5 everyday,slowly building it up during the day really hasn't been all that bad for me.
well i gotta stop for now and actually go DO my chair crap,i am late,was planning on 10;00,oops.i still have to get back to chrissy yet,damn.sorry chrissy,i will get there hon,i promise.how are YOU doin chrissy?hang in there sammy.marcia
so just how much are your fingers able to do at this point?i have pretty good dexterity/strength actually,much more than i ever expected at less than a week out from the surgery ya know?did your hand finally stop sweating or is it still there?
itoo feel the pain down to the bone sometimes.they did do some bone work on me tho but one area by my clavacle he said there wasn't actually enough there to actually shave off?i think thatmust have been this little groove that has developed over many years just wearing my purse on that one spot lik forever.you can actually see this thing from the outside too.dressing and undressing have become interesting events thses days too.i have gotten to the point where i can actually do the socks(depending on the sock type)put on the long underwear(we have been sub zero here of course for the last few days and i am the worlds biggst freeze baby)and do the sweatpants,but the shirt thing i have to have my hubbyhelp me there.trying to brush my teeth using this lame left hand has really been an adventure tho,lol.i just want this damn sling gone,like soon.
sammyo1
02-11-2008, 02:12 PM
Marcia, boy do I feel for you, two surgeries with this pain!
Kind of sounds like some of what Chrissy is going though, am I right Chrissy?
I do have the pillow beside me for some reason It just did not stop me from rolling, If I have the the sling on my arm will kill me in the middle of the night. I go back & forth, the sling on & off, I have had one night of sleep all the way through. Really getting to me.
What would you call your pain level? Mine stays between a 5 to 9, the day after would have been the 10. Did you surgeon tell you how ling to expect this pain?
I will & have taken your advice about the chair. Felt alittle better using it yesturday.
I don't like getting dressed but it is getting easier, I will say that, at times this pain can go all the way down to the hand.
My husband swears he is doing ok with all this but he sure looks frazzled to me at times. I can't wait to have a full night sleep & am going to add that little bit of valium tonight ot see if that will help. The mucsle spasms come on mostly during the day, no certain time, usually after or when I am moving around alot. Do you get them in the chest area, next to the shoulder, that is where the majority of them occur. I am dissappointed the sweating in the hand is back, did not have that for a few days after surgery. That will have to be brought up at the next appointment. Sorry for all the questions but you seem more informed then I, thank god.
I put a thread up as you can see, but not sure if anyone else has had this surgery, felt it would not hurt to see. Talk to you soon, take care & I hate the sling to. Sammy
ps it gets better taking the sling on & off, that is one thing I can say, takes some time.
Kind of sounds like some of what Chrissy is going though, am I right Chrissy?
I do have the pillow beside me for some reason It just did not stop me from rolling, If I have the the sling on my arm will kill me in the middle of the night. I go back & forth, the sling on & off, I have had one night of sleep all the way through. Really getting to me.
What would you call your pain level? Mine stays between a 5 to 9, the day after would have been the 10. Did you surgeon tell you how ling to expect this pain?
I will & have taken your advice about the chair. Felt alittle better using it yesturday.
I don't like getting dressed but it is getting easier, I will say that, at times this pain can go all the way down to the hand.
My husband swears he is doing ok with all this but he sure looks frazzled to me at times. I can't wait to have a full night sleep & am going to add that little bit of valium tonight ot see if that will help. The mucsle spasms come on mostly during the day, no certain time, usually after or when I am moving around alot. Do you get them in the chest area, next to the shoulder, that is where the majority of them occur. I am dissappointed the sweating in the hand is back, did not have that for a few days after surgery. That will have to be brought up at the next appointment. Sorry for all the questions but you seem more informed then I, thank god.
I put a thread up as you can see, but not sure if anyone else has had this surgery, felt it would not hurt to see. Talk to you soon, take care & I hate the sling to. Sammy
ps it gets better taking the sling on & off, that is one thing I can say, takes some time.
Braveheart07
02-12-2008, 10:39 AM
Marcia--
I've been reading your post op posts---So sorry about all your pain...it seems like such an ordeal for you....your spirit and attitude seem as spunky as ever though...probably because you know it can only get better.....It must take a while to type those posts !! I think the typo's have improved though (LOL) !! Keep you spirits up---your friends on the boar have you in their thoughts and prayers.....
Take Care
Doug (former hittman)
I've been reading your post op posts---So sorry about all your pain...it seems like such an ordeal for you....your spirit and attitude seem as spunky as ever though...probably because you know it can only get better.....It must take a while to type those posts !! I think the typo's have improved though (LOL) !! Keep you spirits up---your friends on the boar have you in their thoughts and prayers.....
Take Care
Doug (former hittman)
feelbad
02-12-2008, 01:59 PM
hey HM,its good to see your still alive and pluggin away,hows things?i havent been able to really get to any other boards here yet,it is just too draing and gets painful after doing one post here to sammy for the "update".thanks for the words.
hey sammy,weve got a problem this morning that i have not had happen before at all yet,numbness.woke up this morning with my pinkie and ring fingers on the surgery side plain numb.i thought i slept wrong or something and it would go away after i moved it around or something but it hasn't changed,if anything,its getting worse.the pinkie is just solid numb but the ring finger has some sensation left.i just don't know why this is happening.i know these two fingers correlate with the ulnar nerve and the c8 dermatome.the same two fingers on the left were affeted back when i had my sp cord sugery only because they ran right next to or under that c 8 nerve and were in the way to get to the cavernoma.but my right fingers and hand back then were miraculously spared any damage at all.now this?i did sleep without that strap but did keep the actual sling on and packed the blankets around it too.i just don't move at all when i sleep,i always have to be on my back and am just "set"in one spot all night.thata what makes this even more insane.i do have my first follow up appt with my surgeon tomorrow tho so thats good.its wierd in that this does not actually appear to run thru the full dermatome ike from the c spine or even the shoulder on down?its just the two fingers and part of my palm towards the pinkie side.i did my chair at 55(i am catching up to you sammy)this morning but there as of last night too.that brought no changes,then did the run of excercises and still nothing. this is just crazy,i just want to know why ya know?i probably overdid things a bit yesterday,just getting some things in order around here but nothing huge,and i spaced it out over the day.i am just hoping i didn't 'do" something not good to the shouder.just a bit scared.ill keep ya posted on that.i just took one half of a valium so well see if this isn't maybe a wierd muscle thing deeper into the shoulder or somthing.
it would appear that our pain is about the same ,but i do think yours is a bit more wide spread than mine is.my main areas are ,mostly on top of the shoulder itself and running down into the bicep area then it pretty much stops.some c spine pain which was already there to a certain degree its just being made much worse dueto this stupid sling strap that i swear to god at times is trying to kill me.some pain slightly over the shoulder upper back area but not really down into the upper back too far.like i said before,yuor pain was much worse thas mine was even going into this and you also had some rather odd,almost sympathetic related type symptoms too.i think your pre op damage and pain just is making tins a bit more painful for you.i love the ice tho,that has helped alot.didn't realize just how much real difference it was making til that block wore off in the hspital and around mid night,things were just a raging in the shoulder and when the ice needed to be changed out,like five seconds after she removed it to go refill it,my pain shot up til she got back about five minutes later.wow,what a huge difference in having it vs not having it ya know?i just didn't think it could have gotten any worse til the ice was out of the picture.after that lttle episode,those wonderful nurses started just bringing in a brand new one so i did't have to suffer that change out hell again.it was just that bad.wow.my doc really didn't say how long this pain was going to last but he did write two seperate rxs for 50 of the perc 10/325,so i am thinking it may be awile yet.then there is the real pt that will start here at some point,i am sure that will send things up again too ya know?i am still dealing with these two stupid very painful teeth that have not really calmed down much yet.i am worried that these are on a sympathtica or neuropathic track sincethey don't really apper to react to the huge amount of narcotic,even the dilaudid didn't really do a huge amount last week either.this really is scarey.
have you put on any actual water wieght at all/this is kind of freaking me out as far as my kidneys go.i was only a tiny 90lbs the day of my surgery and last night and the night before i was at 101.while i am happier than hell to see wieght going on(believe me,this is ahuge problem normally)my legs just are much larger than normal along with that damn swelling being back inmy rsd knee.i will have to talk to my ortho tomorrow about alot of different things.god i hate all this crap.well i gotta stop for now.i will keep ya posted sammy,and you do the same.marcia
hey sammy,weve got a problem this morning that i have not had happen before at all yet,numbness.woke up this morning with my pinkie and ring fingers on the surgery side plain numb.i thought i slept wrong or something and it would go away after i moved it around or something but it hasn't changed,if anything,its getting worse.the pinkie is just solid numb but the ring finger has some sensation left.i just don't know why this is happening.i know these two fingers correlate with the ulnar nerve and the c8 dermatome.the same two fingers on the left were affeted back when i had my sp cord sugery only because they ran right next to or under that c 8 nerve and were in the way to get to the cavernoma.but my right fingers and hand back then were miraculously spared any damage at all.now this?i did sleep without that strap but did keep the actual sling on and packed the blankets around it too.i just don't move at all when i sleep,i always have to be on my back and am just "set"in one spot all night.thata what makes this even more insane.i do have my first follow up appt with my surgeon tomorrow tho so thats good.its wierd in that this does not actually appear to run thru the full dermatome ike from the c spine or even the shoulder on down?its just the two fingers and part of my palm towards the pinkie side.i did my chair at 55(i am catching up to you sammy)this morning but there as of last night too.that brought no changes,then did the run of excercises and still nothing. this is just crazy,i just want to know why ya know?i probably overdid things a bit yesterday,just getting some things in order around here but nothing huge,and i spaced it out over the day.i am just hoping i didn't 'do" something not good to the shouder.just a bit scared.ill keep ya posted on that.i just took one half of a valium so well see if this isn't maybe a wierd muscle thing deeper into the shoulder or somthing.
it would appear that our pain is about the same ,but i do think yours is a bit more wide spread than mine is.my main areas are ,mostly on top of the shoulder itself and running down into the bicep area then it pretty much stops.some c spine pain which was already there to a certain degree its just being made much worse dueto this stupid sling strap that i swear to god at times is trying to kill me.some pain slightly over the shoulder upper back area but not really down into the upper back too far.like i said before,yuor pain was much worse thas mine was even going into this and you also had some rather odd,almost sympathetic related type symptoms too.i think your pre op damage and pain just is making tins a bit more painful for you.i love the ice tho,that has helped alot.didn't realize just how much real difference it was making til that block wore off in the hspital and around mid night,things were just a raging in the shoulder and when the ice needed to be changed out,like five seconds after she removed it to go refill it,my pain shot up til she got back about five minutes later.wow,what a huge difference in having it vs not having it ya know?i just didn't think it could have gotten any worse til the ice was out of the picture.after that lttle episode,those wonderful nurses started just bringing in a brand new one so i did't have to suffer that change out hell again.it was just that bad.wow.my doc really didn't say how long this pain was going to last but he did write two seperate rxs for 50 of the perc 10/325,so i am thinking it may be awile yet.then there is the real pt that will start here at some point,i am sure that will send things up again too ya know?i am still dealing with these two stupid very painful teeth that have not really calmed down much yet.i am worried that these are on a sympathtica or neuropathic track sincethey don't really apper to react to the huge amount of narcotic,even the dilaudid didn't really do a huge amount last week either.this really is scarey.
have you put on any actual water wieght at all/this is kind of freaking me out as far as my kidneys go.i was only a tiny 90lbs the day of my surgery and last night and the night before i was at 101.while i am happier than hell to see wieght going on(believe me,this is ahuge problem normally)my legs just are much larger than normal along with that damn swelling being back inmy rsd knee.i will have to talk to my ortho tomorrow about alot of different things.god i hate all this crap.well i gotta stop for now.i will keep ya posted sammy,and you do the same.marcia
sammyo1
02-15-2008, 09:43 PM
Marcia, for got all about this board. Funny you had the pinky & ring finger & I got the thumb thing going on. As I said my thumb does alot of moving on its own, kind of like tremors. I have not had the water weight thing but I have had some leg cramps since surgery wierd. Can't figure that out. Everytime I sleep with the sling actually on I wake up in major pain, I wake up either way in pain but with the sling on for some reason its more painful. I move around way to much & I believe that is part of my problem, my husband has always complained about that. He also says I end up in the strangest positions he has ever seen. My shoulder does hurt on top but it also hurts in the scapula area, often at night is when I wake up with the pain going all the way down the arm. The bicept area can hurt after the exercises. Ice does make a huge differance, that is for sure. I would not have made it many of days without alot of icing. I will pop over to the other board tolet you know I posted here. Sammy