No luck today I found out that the Foot and Ankle Institute in Baltimore doesn't use the pain pumps. I am suppose to go to my GP tomorrow for a pre-op check-up. I am going to ask him if he will admit me to a local hospital and help with the pain after surgery. I feel so weird asking that. I can't go through the pain from surgery, but have to get it done for my little girl! I just can't get over how one of the best foot and ankle places in the county won't help people with low pain tolerance. Thank you all for reading and writing. I need all the help and support I can get. I said a lot of prayers today.
Hello to everyone on this board, especially Loretta.
I am new here, this is my first post.
I'm here becuz I'm scheduled on 2/29 to have surgery for posterior tibial tendon dysfunction. I went thru conservative treatment without any improvement-- orthotics, cam-walker boot, casting for 6wks.
I do highly recommended the sticky post--tactics for coping while non-weight bearing. It has given me a lot of helpful advice from folks who have "been there, done that".
Loretta, I'm glad you are seeing your surgeon tomorrow, because you seem to have a lot of unanswered questions/concerns. I'm really concerned with what he is telling you about the post-op pain. It is a dr's responsibility to manage their patient's pain. If a patient has pain control issues after a procedure, that dr needs to order the appropriate medications to get the pain under control. If you are sent home after surgery and you've taken your oral pain meds as recommended before the block wears off but continue to have increasingly severe pain afterwards, I would highly recommend going to the nearest emergency room. You may then end up being admitted to the hospital for pain management.
I honestly would not go ahead with the surgery if after you see the dr tomorrow- if you continue to be uncomfortable with him. Before your appt write all your questions and concerns down before your appt and be sure he answers them. It is his duty to fully disclose all info to you regarding your medical condition and his specific plans to treat it. Bring your husband if you can so he can be there for support.
My surgeon already plans on admitting me overnight for pain control. I wish your surgeon would do they same. I wish you the best and hope you get the answers you need (and deserve!) tomorrow.
The Following User Says Thank You to LoriLynnB For This Useful Post: Loretta> (02-24-2012)
Hi Lori,
Hi Lori, I hope you the best for your surgery and will be thinking about you on Feb 29. Thank you for writing, but I am not seeing the surgeon tomorrow. Going to my GP for a check I need prior to surgery, an EKG etc. Mercy foot and ankle institute in Baltimore said the pain will be excrutiating but there is nothing they can do about it. They said the oral pain meds won't work well. They said the hospital would be more dangerous because of infection, and the nurses probably wouldn't give me my pain meds on time because they would be too busy. I am so confused I thought Mercy would be the best. It is my GP I am talking tomorrow about admitting me to a local hospital here for pain after I leave Baltimore. It seems like such a crazy idea. I doubt it will work. I'll probably just stay cripple! I am not in much pain now, haven't tried to walk or anything. My husband really wants me to go through with it, I just know I can't psychologially without some help. Thank you for writing Lori
The following user gives a hug of support to Loretta>: LoriLynnB (02-25-2012)
I am shocked that your doctor is telling you that!!!!! If the hospital has such poor infection control that the doctor is afraid to have you stay there......why would he even operate there. He is admitting that the nursing staff will not be able to properly care for their patients!!!!! There are so many things that would concern me in a major way. My surgeon (top ranked orthopedic hospital in the country) always keeps his patients in the hospital for 3-4 days for pain control. I was uncomfortable post op but was definitely able to deal with the pain because the hospital offered appropriate pain control. When I had breakthough pain...and was in tears, a pain management doctor saw me within fifteen minutes to modify my medications and keep ahead of the pain. When I was discharged from the hospital, my doctor told me to stay ahead of the pain. When I had a question, I called my doctor and got a response within a few hours at the most. I thought doctors took an oath..."do no harm." With thepain management medications available, I can not believe that a doctor would have such a dismissive....negative additute towards his patients. Could you see a different doctor at another hospital and see what he says? You said that you went to a doctor who sent you to Mercy. Could you call the first doctor back, explain what is going on and see who else he could reccomend for another option? It sounds like you need the surgery but you need a doctor who not only has the surgical skills, but treats you like a human being!!!
What is this top orthopedic hospital in the country? I need to get there I think. I know the whole thing with Mercy is shocking. It is supposed to be so good, I don't understand. I just don't get it.
I am not sure where you live, but I was thrilled with Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC. They have several orthopedists that only do foot and ankle surgery. I was so impressed with doctors and the nursing staff. Of course there is always an infection risk but the hospital has a low rate which of course is a good thing.
I am not sure where you live, but I was thrilled with Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC. They have several orthopedists that only do foot and ankle surgery. I was so impressed with doctors and the nursing staff. Of course there is always an infection risk but the hospital has a low rate which of course is a good thing.
We are in Maryland, but I am mentioning this hospital to my husband. He isn't going to like it! lol!
Hi Loretta,
Welcome to the board! You've definitely come to the right place to get help. Is your doctor the only one who can perform your surgery at Mercy? Your doctors bedside manor is not the best. It would be in your best interest to gt a second opinion from another doctor in the practice or another practice altogether. Since your pain isn't excruciating now that you aren't bearing weight, you may have a small window of time to find a doctor who is a great surgeon who will take the time to address your fears regarding surgery.
As mentioned above please write the questions down for your GP.
__________________ Microfracture drilling for OCD Jan '12
Last edited by Administrator; 03-02-2012 at 10:45 PM.
Hi Loretta,
Welcome to the board! You've definitely come to the right place to get help. Is your doctor the only one who can perform your surgery at Mercy? Your doctors bedside manor is not the best. It would be in your best interest to gt a second opinion from another doctor in the practice or another practice altogether. Since your pain isn't excruciating now that you aren't bearing weight, you may have a small window of time to find a doctor who is a great surgeon who will take the time to address your fears regarding surgery.
As mentioned above please write the questions down for your GP.
THey have 4 doctors and when I mentioned talking with another doctor to the PA and scheduler, they said even Mark Myerson does the same thing. I would love to meet with him, but I might have to wait till May! The institute hasn't been good about calling me back. Since Mark Myerson is supposed to be the man and it is his institute, the whole thing has me confused.
Not yet. It's one I need to talk to though, definitely. It's hard to imagine they could be as uncaring as Dr. Myersons Institute. I am hoping my GP has SOME idea of the best way for me to get the pain medication I will need. Find that out tomorrow.
Loretta...oh dear Loretta....I would like to know why you think that hospital is the BEST? I don't mean to be callous, but is it because you are in Maryland and it is called a foot and ankle institute? Question: Does this institute handle the Ravens athletes?? This is your foot...the foot that supports half your weight....this is important and you should get the best care including pre-op and post op pain management. If your doctor and his staff are not calling you back now before you have surgery do you think they will be there for you after your surgery? Voicemail full? No call backs? Your story is just like mine...I was scared to death after same exact story you got, got no comfort from the doctor or staff...got treated with disregard after surgery, reluctantly admitted after the pain block failed. Woke up hysterical when they tried to rush me out of the outpatient post op area... demanded to be admitted only to be put onto a ghost floor---all alone for hours in excruciating pain...And now NO callback after a week of calling every day. As a Marylander believing as you did, I write from direct experience!!! It was and remains to be a torturous source of my life. RUN don't hobble away...
The following user gives a hug of support to Upside: Loretta> (02-23-2012)
The Following User Says Thank You to Upside For This Useful Post: Loretta> (02-23-2012)
I really think you should get another doctor affiliated with a different hospital. His comments to you concerning the pain and the hospital are truly unsettling. Like many here, the surgeon who did my reconstruction surgery believes in keeping his patients in the hospital for pain control. It was not even something up for discussion. That being said, there have been some on this board who did the surgery as outpatient. With the proper medication, it can be controlled. I can not believe how horrible he has been treating you. Pain control is a big piece of foot surgery. I could not imagine my doctors telling me the hospital is not safe. Most hospitals are safe - yes sometimes patient do get hospital acquired infections, but with proper handwashing and safety controls, most are safe. I am not sure I could trust or feel comfortable with a doctor who treats me the way he is treating you. Trust is something you have to have for your doctor. Can you find out who treats professionals from the Baltimore area and try to get a second opinion with that doctor?
The following user gives a hug of support to Missyluke: Loretta> (02-23-2012)
The Following User Says Thank You to Missyluke For This Useful Post: Loretta> (02-23-2012)
Hi,
Oh my upside did you have surgery at the foot and ankle institute in Baltimore? I am so sorry it was so horrible for you and so grateful you wrote me. Oh my I just don't know what to do. I am going to see my GP today for pre-op and am going to tell him everything you told me also. Please get back to me! Any advice where to turn, please get back to me I am so scared! Thank you for writing me!
Loretta
My husband is yelling at me like a lunitic that I have to go there. They are preferred he won't take me to NY. God I am so scared, I have tried to be a good person, I have no clue why I am being treated like this. I just want to go where they will manage the pain! My God I want to walk again and be with my little girl. I can't take this. All this yelling and screaming!!!
Make sure you tell your GP everything you have told us here. Print it out if you have to.
I sounds like you need more help than this podiatrist is willing to provide. Reach out to your other doctors, the ones that prescribed your other medications. Perhaps they can guide you through this mess.
AND... your husband might not understand how you are feeling. He might not understand all your crying. Maybe you are not explaining your fears clearly???
On another note... Aren't there some wonderful doctors in the Willmington, DE area? My sister was born with clubbed feet and my parents choose to take her there because they were leaders in their field. Keep in mind that this was 30something years ago. My point is that other doctors should be IN
NETWORK in your general area.
Your pain will not be managed!! You will not get proper post-op care immediately after surgery. You will not get call backs....THEY don't care. I have your story exactly...same place...same fears. Went there because I thought it was the "BEST" . I have no idea how I got that Idea...How did you get that idea?? Don't get bullied into going there because you know in your heart Right now it is not right and you are right!! You have a golden opportunity to get a second opinion...GUYTON.
Thank you for writing upside. I have told my husband to drop me off at a shelter so I wouldnt be a burden on him . I am too scared to go through with this. Waiting at my gps office now. It sounds like same place same doc even J. Thank you Loretta
Hi Heidi,
It seemed to go well. My GP assured me our hospital would help with pain. While we were in the office waiting the surgery institute called my husbands cell. They told my husband they were going to keep me in the hospital and have a pain doctor referred to me. This is the best news I got yet. I should rest up some today!
Loretta
