whats worse? - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

garion64 · 05-09-2004, 06:15 PM

whats worse the days leading up to the surgery or the surgery it self?
the anticipation of haveing this done is driveing me nuts
no real reason for this post im just venting i guess may 11th is comeing fast

secondfiddle · 05-09-2004, 10:03 PM

Actually, I don't remember the surgery.

For me, the anxiety leading up to it was worse. Don't get me wrong - I am only 3-1/2 weeks post-op (acdf c5/6) and I have had some intense pain, especially while trying to sleep. But anxiety can really mess with your head, not to mention increase your pain levels!

If you have truly given this serious thought and made an informed decision that you need to have the surgery, then pray about it, have other people pray and then try to relax.

The pre-op drugs help a whole lot, to relax you even before you go in. And the drugs post-op (PCA machine) are wonderful. Use them as much as you can before they kick you out of the hospital. Then, when you get home, take all the drugs they give you.

This may sounds strange, but I am an RN and I know that the drugs are prescribed for a purpose and they do what they're supposed to do. You should take them routinely (every 4 hours) rather than just when you can't stand the pain. If you wait too long, they don't work as well and they take longer to work. You will find yourself weaning off of them in a few weeks as you find you need them less, but don't rush it.

I find it hard to believe that this much time has already passed for me. I would tell myself in the days leading up to surgery, "four days from now, it will be over and you'll be home," "two days from now, you'll be finished," "24 hours from now and it will be done," etc. Time really does fly

But I did pray a whole lot, and that helps too!

Good luck - come back on the 13th or 14th for a minute and let us know how you are.

nero · 05-10-2004, 07:53 PM

Hey Second Fiddle.

Good luck, god bless, stay strong....

I had acdf c5-6 own bone, plate, in November 03 and then treadmilled 3-4 miles days 5 x week approx. (max) till latest lumbar microdiskectomy l5-s1 on April 22.04.
I can honestly say the stress beforehand is unreal and I went through it twice even though the second surgery was considered less invasive and 3 instead of 6 hrs.

It is a very frightening position to be in but you are in it and you have decided to advocate for yourself by trying to get better and move forward...so... although the first week you are pretty drugged up and the 2nd and 3rd hard to find a crevice to sleep in (we all experience this at home) you will BE OKAY... I promise you if God's promises mean anything your situation is not insurmountable and your fear, anxiety and trepidation is a way of passing the hours and confirming and reconfirming to yourself that this is the route YOU KNOW you have to take.. I kept asking my spouse.. should I and he would say its ultimately your decision and I really felt so alone with that; however, in the end that is the truth.

So sleep well .. or as best as you can tonight... I will be thinking of you.. and know we all wish you well and most of us are a testament to the fact that you can beat this pain and move forward on many levels.

.

.nightie night... nearly new again Nero

hzz · 05-13-2004, 12:24 PM

The days waiting for the surgery, definately! Recovering from surgery is miserable, however once you wake up and realize you aren't parylized (which is low odds), you have a lot to look forward too. Just don't let the setbacks get you down!

pattymelt · 05-13-2004, 03:29 PM

Hi:

By now you are probably through the surgery and doing fine! The anticipation and apprehension are by far worse than the actual surgery, as you are "out of it" and then when you come to, you have plenty of pain medication. I am now almost 6 weeks postop ACDF and PCDF (two incisions, one in front and a long one in back) with plating at C2-3, 3-4, 4-5, 5-6, so I really had a long complicated surgery and am doing fine, although I am far from fully recuperated. I know I didn't get that way in six weeks and I won't recover from surgery in a short time, but every day is better than the day before. I still take muscle relaxers for shoulder spasms and Percocet three times a day for pain in the shoulders too. Just to know the danger of paralysis is over is worth the surgery and recovery period. I am 74 years old and my family is amazed at how well I am doing. I will have to wear this hard collar for another two months at least but I am now used to it and being able to sleep with it off is a blessing. I also have one of the new micro-foam pillows and it helps so much. A warm shower in the morning also helps as does resting in the afternoon. Good luck, and please be patient and know you will get better!

God bless!

Pat