Mothmin/blown c disc/surgery - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

PsychLea · 01-21-2003, 09:06 PM

Mothmin,

Glad to hear you are doing well after your surgery. I am curious as to how long your recovery is suppose to be.

I have a high tolerance for pain, but it is really starting to rub me raw and make me irritable and touchey. I'm seeing the NS tomorrow and I am afraid of him even touching me. I know he will have too, but I have become so sensitive to anytype of physical touch due to the nerve pain.

I used to sleep on my stomach too, but now have a horseshoe pillow that keeps me on my side or on my back. I have started taking sleeping pills because I have been waking up every hour yelling OW!

I have stayed away from opiates as some of them hype me up and I don't like the hang over I get.

I will find out what course of treatment I will be taking tomorrow. The MRI shows a large C6-7 HNP with nerve root compression and shows a pronounced indention into the spinal cord.

If surgery will be the quickest path to pain relief, then I am ready.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

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God bless,

Lea

mothmin · 01-22-2003, 10:49 AM

sorry to hear of yer pain. I was in no real pain going into surgery... the pt really worked for me, however my cord was so damage the surgery was needed. I felt good the morning after surgery, other than my body freaked out from the catheter and I spent 5 days/nights without sleep in the most unbearable pain, once that past I'm ok. I was told my pain threshold is super high, from my mri I should have been in shock. The surgery is no big deal, you go out, you wake up, and it's over have no fear, I was thebiggest chicken on here, and now I'm embaraced about it. god luck

PsychLea · 01-22-2003, 11:21 PM

Sounds like you had no choice but to have surgery, but it's great that it helped so much.

I saw the NS for the first time today.He was very nice

He is going to try some conservative treatment for now, since I can't be off work (long story.) He does think that in the near future I would need at the very least an EMG or myleogram as he thinks I may have some nerve impingement lower than the discs at C6 C7.

I am starting the prednisone pak tomorrow which usually helps. I have decreased reflexes in the tricep and bicep area and decreased grip strength in the left hand.

He was very informative and told me if I had any problems or needed any pain meds to call his office right away and he would take care of it.

Just getting this first appt out of the way has eased alot of my anxieties. He also said if they did epidural steroids, they would use some heavy sedation and the pain specialist they would use is well known to me and she is wonderful.

Thanks for listening. Will keep you posted.

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God bless,

Lea