taraburns
06-01-2002, 01:49 PM
hi everyone, i am a new member here. i had a discectomy 7 months ago . the c 5 c 6 level. and ever since i have had major pain in the back of my head traveling down to the bottom of my neck. the surgeon
said i shouldnt be in pain, bull!!! i am in pain. every single day, mostly in the morning and at night.
i fornd a primary dr. to give me lorcet 10/650, thats what the nuero was giving me.it seems to work. i take it 3 times a day. what i dont undrstand is why am i still in pain? the numbness in my arm is gone , but the pain is generalized in my neck. any one else experience this?
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~tara~
said i shouldnt be in pain, bull!!! i am in pain. every single day, mostly in the morning and at night.
i fornd a primary dr. to give me lorcet 10/650, thats what the nuero was giving me.it seems to work. i take it 3 times a day. what i dont undrstand is why am i still in pain? the numbness in my arm is gone , but the pain is generalized in my neck. any one else experience this?
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~tara~
Sponsor
niecsey
06-01-2002, 08:17 PM
hi im no expert but my hubby has problems with the spine it could be scar tissue http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/bang.gif at first when my hubby had his 1st op they said he shouldnt be feeling like he did, then he was operated on again5 months later when he colllapsed again now less than 18 month later hes back to square 1 and thats it http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/bang.gif cant operate again been sent to pain clinic good luck hope you get some good responses :wave:
davidc66
06-03-2002, 12:55 PM
Hey Tara, Spine surgery has a much higher success rate at relieving neurological symptoms, like leg and arm pain then it does at relieving spine pain. They are calling your surgery a success because they relieved the neuro problem but you are left with spine pain. It's not that uncommon.
All my leg pain was relieved with each surgery but I'm left with crushing spine pain and a bucket of hardware in my lower back.I crunch and squeek with every step. The only doc that doesn't understand why I hurt is the surgeon that put 12 screws 8 rods into my spine. Yes he relieved the neuro problems wich makes the surgery a success in his mind.
When your left with post op spine pain the descriptive DX is failed back surgery syndrome or post laminectomy syndrome. It's not much of a DX other than explaining I still hurt.
The lortab, although it helps now is a short term answer.No doc is going to keep you on Lortab forever. You should look into a more long term treatment plan wich may or may not include opiate pain meds. There are many PM docs that will prescribe long acting opiates but I would try some other modalities before making the comittment to be dependent on meds the rest of your life.
Acupuncture, trigger point inj, several relaxation techniques can be tought. Nerve blocks, TENS,TINS ,Epidural steroids to reduce inflamation at the sight of surgery.. More PT,message, etc. etc. All these things can be tried and learned before jumping on the oxycontin or morphine boat.
Eventually the Norco will become ineffective due to tolerance from taking it for such a long perriod of time. It would be nice to have some other ways in your pocket to deal with the pain before this happens.The long acting opiates are an option if other methods fail but it doesn't sound like your there quite yet.
It's only been 7 months so there is still time for more healing to take place. It does sound like you would benefit from a multi disciplinary aproach to manageing your pain. I would also get another surgical opinion. IF a mistake was made during surgery it's not likely your surgeon is going to admit he botched something. Another surgeon may be able to point something out that may explain your continued pain.
Good luck and keep us posted. Take care, David
All my leg pain was relieved with each surgery but I'm left with crushing spine pain and a bucket of hardware in my lower back.I crunch and squeek with every step. The only doc that doesn't understand why I hurt is the surgeon that put 12 screws 8 rods into my spine. Yes he relieved the neuro problems wich makes the surgery a success in his mind.
When your left with post op spine pain the descriptive DX is failed back surgery syndrome or post laminectomy syndrome. It's not much of a DX other than explaining I still hurt.
The lortab, although it helps now is a short term answer.No doc is going to keep you on Lortab forever. You should look into a more long term treatment plan wich may or may not include opiate pain meds. There are many PM docs that will prescribe long acting opiates but I would try some other modalities before making the comittment to be dependent on meds the rest of your life.
Acupuncture, trigger point inj, several relaxation techniques can be tought. Nerve blocks, TENS,TINS ,Epidural steroids to reduce inflamation at the sight of surgery.. More PT,message, etc. etc. All these things can be tried and learned before jumping on the oxycontin or morphine boat.
Eventually the Norco will become ineffective due to tolerance from taking it for such a long perriod of time. It would be nice to have some other ways in your pocket to deal with the pain before this happens.The long acting opiates are an option if other methods fail but it doesn't sound like your there quite yet.
It's only been 7 months so there is still time for more healing to take place. It does sound like you would benefit from a multi disciplinary aproach to manageing your pain. I would also get another surgical opinion. IF a mistake was made during surgery it's not likely your surgeon is going to admit he botched something. Another surgeon may be able to point something out that may explain your continued pain.
Good luck and keep us posted. Take care, David
taraburns
06-03-2002, 10:25 PM
hi david, thanks for replying, i am starting physical therapy soon. i hope it helps. i ran out of my pain meds over the weekend and that was the real test.my neck and head felt like they were going to explode.i dont wanna go off the meds. i dont like the way i feel
it hurts like hell. and it was supposd to be a simple surgery. i had fusion done, i have a plate and a few screws.well i will let ya know how the pt goes...
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~tara~
it hurts like hell. and it was supposd to be a simple surgery. i had fusion done, i have a plate and a few screws.well i will let ya know how the pt goes...
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~tara~
ready2pullthepin
06-05-2002, 11:12 PM
Who ever said your operation was simple sure misled you! It is a BIG deal! Any type of spine surgery is likely to leave you in pain, and all too often, more surgery will be needed at a later date.
taraburns
06-25-2002, 06:58 PM
well here we are 9 months after the surgery and guess what?
i still friggin hurt. right at the surgery site ,the back of my neck. and my primary dr. stopped my meds.
what a jerk. looking into pain management, but there isnt any in my area........
i still friggin hurt. right at the surgery site ,the back of my neck. and my primary dr. stopped my meds.
what a jerk. looking into pain management, but there isnt any in my area........
Dawn1973
06-25-2002, 11:43 PM
Hey Tara,
Have you been reevaluated since your surgery to see what is causing the continuing pain? Ask your gp to refer you to a new neuro that can reexamine you to make sure there is nothing else wrong. I do know that being on pain meds for a long time and coming right off of them cold turkey can cause its own pain. Perhaps that is the problem? I am going to have a
C4-C5 ACDF on July 25. I have a severe herniation with compression so I feel for you. I have no reflexes in my left arm and I have no sensation in my thumb and forfinger. I also have a severe bulge at C5-C6 and C6-C7. I am currently taking Vicodin ES. It does help, but I try not to take it more than once or a maximum of twice a day. Is it possible that maybe you have become dependant on the medication and maybe you need some help coming off of them? I am not saying this is the case, but if all tests are clear following your surgery, there probably won't be a doc who will continue to prescribe pain meds. I have had my own set of problems with pain med which I have since fixed. For a while I had to use an internet pain doc, but after fixing things with my neuro, I am no longer doing that, I also realized that wasn't the correct thing for me to be doing. I believe it is necessary for some people, but I just didn't feel comfortable with it. Anyway, it is possible that just stopping the meds cold turkey is causing your headaches. Maybe your doctor could taper your dose to wean you off of them or he could give you some clonidine to help with the withdrawls (I have read on the addiction board that people sometimes use this, but I am not familiar with it). If it is actually a surgery problem, maybe a new neuro would be able to help you through it and have some answers for fixing the problem. A pain clinic doc probably will want to find a new diagnosis for your pain (scar tissue, failed surgery, etc.) before he prescribes meds. I hope things work out for you. Keep us posted.
Dawn
Have you been reevaluated since your surgery to see what is causing the continuing pain? Ask your gp to refer you to a new neuro that can reexamine you to make sure there is nothing else wrong. I do know that being on pain meds for a long time and coming right off of them cold turkey can cause its own pain. Perhaps that is the problem? I am going to have a
C4-C5 ACDF on July 25. I have a severe herniation with compression so I feel for you. I have no reflexes in my left arm and I have no sensation in my thumb and forfinger. I also have a severe bulge at C5-C6 and C6-C7. I am currently taking Vicodin ES. It does help, but I try not to take it more than once or a maximum of twice a day. Is it possible that maybe you have become dependant on the medication and maybe you need some help coming off of them? I am not saying this is the case, but if all tests are clear following your surgery, there probably won't be a doc who will continue to prescribe pain meds. I have had my own set of problems with pain med which I have since fixed. For a while I had to use an internet pain doc, but after fixing things with my neuro, I am no longer doing that, I also realized that wasn't the correct thing for me to be doing. I believe it is necessary for some people, but I just didn't feel comfortable with it. Anyway, it is possible that just stopping the meds cold turkey is causing your headaches. Maybe your doctor could taper your dose to wean you off of them or he could give you some clonidine to help with the withdrawls (I have read on the addiction board that people sometimes use this, but I am not familiar with it). If it is actually a surgery problem, maybe a new neuro would be able to help you through it and have some answers for fixing the problem. A pain clinic doc probably will want to find a new diagnosis for your pain (scar tissue, failed surgery, etc.) before he prescribes meds. I hope things work out for you. Keep us posted.
Dawn
nonanita
07-08-2002, 07:27 PM
Hi, Tara, I too have been away from the Boards for awhile. I have just read about your diskectomy and now, neck pain which radiates down your neck. I too have suffered with this following my diskectomy in 10/01 at C4-5 and C5-6. My neurosurgeon also could not explain my pain. HOWEVER, my referring orthopedist told me it was CERVICAL RADICULOPATHY (nerve root inflammation) below my surgery site. I have actually had this diagnosis prior to my surgery - but could not feel the amount of pain due to the extreme amount of pain I was having prior to my surgery. So, one year later and a major surgery to boot, I am still suffering. I am using anti-inflammatory rx as well as hydrocontin 3/day. I have asked for and have an appointment at a pain management clinic, but not until October! I was expecting my acdf to take away my pain and to restore my life to it's former self. I'm sure that does happen, it just didn't for me. I honestly believe my surgery was a complete success, in that I can now turn my head from side to side and up and down (with limitations). I did have an EMG which verified nerve root involvement.
I am hopeful this problem may go away someday -- but was told it could stop today, or never -- no way to determine the length of time. I was terminated at my job of nearly 16 years because my pain was so great I could not cope with it. Any activity which causes vibration to my neck sends me into orbit! (Yep, as humans we move around -- we walk, bend, reach, sit, ride in vehicles, exercise -- you name it -- and it hurts!). I have found this resource extremely helpful explaining about the various medications available, other tests, treatments which might be helpful. Best of luck to you. At least you know you are not alone.
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nonanita
I am hopeful this problem may go away someday -- but was told it could stop today, or never -- no way to determine the length of time. I was terminated at my job of nearly 16 years because my pain was so great I could not cope with it. Any activity which causes vibration to my neck sends me into orbit! (Yep, as humans we move around -- we walk, bend, reach, sit, ride in vehicles, exercise -- you name it -- and it hurts!). I have found this resource extremely helpful explaining about the various medications available, other tests, treatments which might be helpful. Best of luck to you. At least you know you are not alone.
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nonanita
linda534ss
07-09-2002, 11:50 PM
Is it possible that it could be scar tissue? Might ask your doctor about that.
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Linda
linda534ss
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Linda
linda534ss
taraburns
07-12-2002, 03:44 PM
got a referrall back to the nuerosurgeon. i guess they will take some more pictures. this new dr. put me back on my lorcet. 2 a day. better than nothing. i will let ya know what the nuero says....
taraanne33
04-27-2003, 12:28 PM
hi there,
this is tara, had to re register, because i couldnt remember my user name, and i moved and have a new isp.
so anyway, you guys are right it was scar tissue and the pain is not any better, i am still under medicated. i was given nuerontin with the lorcet, but the nuerontin doesnt help me at all, going to a pain doc, new one tomorrow, what other meds are out there to treat this type of pain ?
~ tara ~
this is tara, had to re register, because i couldnt remember my user name, and i moved and have a new isp.
so anyway, you guys are right it was scar tissue and the pain is not any better, i am still under medicated. i was given nuerontin with the lorcet, but the nuerontin doesnt help me at all, going to a pain doc, new one tomorrow, what other meds are out there to treat this type of pain ?
~ tara ~
mokita
04-27-2003, 02:43 PM
Hi Tara.I am new/new here! I've been reading as much as possible as I am going in for discogram 5/9 (after 3 ESI's, tons of PT incl massage, ultrasound, ionophoresous -sp-, and lastly - traction -which made prob worse) and am trying to familiarize myself with all options for post-discogram. So, I've followed your post and see you are back. I am sorry that you are still experiencing pain with little relief. I hope your new doctor is able to help you. Please let us know - you will be in my thoughts tomorrow! Good luck!!!
Karen
Karen