Hello all, had first follow up post surg today

[ustalaughalot]

I am in extreme siatic pain. I haven't been very loving(actually have been rather crabby) to dh which I think is hurting his feelings. He wants me to do stuff with him and I just can't because of the pain. I tried to tell him last night that it isn't him, it is the pain and I am having a hard time dealing with it, so do not take it personal. It feels like someone took a good hard swing with a baseball bat to the lower right quadrant of my back, just above the bum cheek, another swing to the inside and outside of my hip, and yet another good wack across the top of my thigh. I am having sharp shooting pains through and from my knee to my ankle. The skin in the shin area feels like it is on fire and doesn't respond well to anything touching it at all. I saw PA today and she said that it sounds like swelling and muscle spasm. In her words, she said "and the nerves are really pissed off right now". They have increased my Gabapenten from 600mg 3x a day to 900mg 3x a day. They have also put me on cimbalta(sp?) which of course they didn't have in stock at the drug store today and I can't get until tomorrow after 4pm. They refilled my vallium for muscle spasm and told me to only take the percocet if the pain is keeping me from resting so that it will put me out for a while. She said no un-necessary walking or other activity until this subsides, to rest, rest, rest. Pain meds according to the PA do not affect nerve pain which is why they didn't give me anything else for pain. Picnica, I asked her about the patches, she said they wouldn't help me. I start pt in two weeks and see surgeon again in four. Guess that means I'm not going back to work the last week of March like they said before surgery, it will now be the end of April before they release me to work again. Well, just wanted you all to know how it went, I hope everyone else is having a good pain free day today, ttultr, Usta

[123dietdrpepper]

I am so sorry you are in so much pain and pray that the increase in meds will provide you with some much needed relief.

[picnica]

You know it's funny, my doctor said the almost same things. Put me on the Neurontin. Told me the percocet will not help unless I have back pain. And gave me the patches. (Week 1) Then he wanted to see me in a week. Since then (5 weeks post op) he gave me 3 nerve blocks, 2 for the sympathic nerve and one for the sciatic nerve. Let me go back to work in 2 weeks.
He explained when those symptoms appear they have to reset the nerve.(Nerve blocks) The diagnosis he gave me is Peripheral Neuropathy. It occurs from the damage/Compression from the back injury. (Saw him last night)
He also started me on PT. And told me he would like me to walk as much as I can, to strengthen the leg that is shrinking. He will only give me PT for the foot drop and Peripheral Neuropathy. I cannot start PT for the back for another 3 weeks at least. I also had an MRI done a couple of days ago. Peripheral Neuropathy also kills the sex drive. Not that the pain doesn't also. Even me as a man, I have no desire. Never felt that before.(Yuck) The other symptoms are different temperature in the legs, the bad leg shrinks. Loss of hair on the leg. Burning sensation and Touching the leg is EXTREMELY painful. Shooting pain when laying down or sleeping. Sound close? If you want to try the patch, go get surnburn spray w/Lidocane. It worked good for a couple of hours. I can only tell you I do feel much better than before. That pain is so extreme on the McGill chart it is above Labor, and amputation of an arm
I am so sorry you hurt so bad and then have to deal with the insurance. I am praying for you. It will get better. Were almost there, soon we won't hurt as much.

[ustalaughalot]

Picnica, I sure hope you are right about not hurting so much soon, I've had enough. Sorry thing is so many people on this board have been through so much more than me. Pain is pain, I did ask the PA today if she could just cut the hip and leg off. She lol ed. To everyone one here that has had it worse than I have, and I would venture to say that is just about everoyne, you all are my hero's. Forgive me if I sometimes whine a little loud, this is my first experience with true pain and that may have made me a little incensitive to those of you with fusions, rods and cages. Be my guest if you feel you need to remind me of that sometimes, I just get tunel vision when I can't hardley stand, sit or walk without tremendous pain that probably doesn't come close to touching most of Y'alls pain. Picnica, as far as the let shring, I think I told you that mine were actually swollen, most likely from the weight gain that I will continue to blame on the neurontin, (Gapaben.) The hair loss I could deal with, share, the sex drive, what sex drive, the headache will never work again after this thing...I did go get some solarcane the other day, it helps for a little while but the PA told me that the patches wouldn't help the nerve pain. Thanks for the prayers Picnica, you are in mine as well. DDD, do you have all of this nerve pain in your legs. I'm sure with all that you've been through over the past few years, you must have had a bout with it. What did you do and how long does it last? Have you heard from Clover today? Usta

[syrinx2112]

Hi Usta,

Pain is pain. Everyone has had it to one degree or another. I think everyone here understands your feelings. I am sorry you are in so much pain. It is very frustrating sometimes. I hope you get relief soon. Please keep us informed.

Angie