Update on Swollen Feet

MarianJ

Hello Daubie,

Thanks you sooooo much for telling me about the ace bandage. It worked and last night I had no heel pain. I didn't even try the pillow and did not take my Zanaflex. I just pray it works again tonight. I really didn't expect it to work that fast.

I hope that you had a great weekend and again thank you.

Take Care.

daubie

Hi Tomarrow, WOOHOO! So glad it helped you. Lets hope it continues to help. Can't type now, due back to work. I'll catch up later. ~Daubie

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Car Accident 2/2/02
Herniated disc L5/S1
Epidurals x3, PT 4 mos, some relief, but constant foot pain and numbness continued
Microdiscectomy 6/6/03
9/5/03 still have foot pain and numbness but recovered fine from surgery
9/22/03 huge improvement in foot pain in the past 2 weeks, woohoo!!!

__________________
Car Accident 2/2/02
Herniated disc L5/S1
Epidurals x3, PT 4 mos, some relief, but constant foot pain and numbness continued
Microdiscectomy 6/6/03
9/5/03 still have foot pain and numbness but recovered fine from surgery
1/19/04 I am 7 mos post op. I still have the same foot pain as before surgery. Doc agrees it is probably permanent nerve damage. Started neurontin this week. Still glad I had the surgery though!

MarianJ

Hello Daubie,

What a day I had....My first appointment today was with primary doctor. He was very upset with my legs and he wants me to definitely see vascular specialist. He also did another hemoglobin series and wants to make sure that my high glucose hasn't turned itself to diabetes. This afternoon I had appointment with gastro. She did a very unpleasant exam and found that I am bleeding internally. She first wants to do an endoscopy to make sure that I don't have a bleeding ulcer and if everything is OK there then I she will do a colonoscopy. She told the receptionist to give me the very next appointment for the test and I have to wait until the 18th. So I guess that means that I shouldn't worry because they did not call for an emergency test....
Then I come home and I have a message on my answering machine from the nurse from my neuro surgeon's office asking me to call her. I call immediately as I know they only call when something comes back wrong on a test. Unfortunately, they were already closed so it looks as if I will have to sleep on this one tonight. I am assuming that they got the report on my CT Scan and I am now wondering if they saw what I saw on these films as one side of my spine looks higher to me, but I was thinking of course I was reading it incorrectly. Well, please with me luck as I am so tired and they took 3 more tubes of blood from me today..

Good Night.

MarianJ

Good Morning Everyone,

I spoke with the nurse this morning. She told me that my surgeon left her a note to call me and make sure that I had the CT Scan as he did not get the results yet. So I was worrying over nothing. So the tension started dropping as I was speaking to her. She then asked when my follow appointment was and I told her the 12th. Then she starting reading the rest of the doctor's message and I for the first time in a long time started fuming..... She said that my last X-rays on the 27th of August showed significant post op changes with another bulging disc. My surgeon never told me this at my last visit. Remember when I was saying how nice he was to me and it was very unusual for him. I really wonder why he hid this from me... I no longer trust my surgeon and were does that leave me. I guess I will have to wait for him to get the results of me CT Scan and see if in fact I get the truth out of him.

Take Care

daubie

Good Morning Tomarrow. Wow, you're really being run thru the tests, aren't ya? I think I'd be pretty perturbed at the surgeon too for not sharing all info with you. I am leaving on my vacation now, but please know you'll be in my prayers that you'll have answers soon, and look forward to chatting with you when I get back.

Take care, and good luck with all the tests. ~Daubie

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Car Accident 2/2/02
Herniated disc L5/S1
Epidurals x3, PT 4 mos, some relief, but constant foot pain and numbness continued
Microdiscectomy 6/6/03
9/5/03 still have foot pain and numbness but recovered fine from surgery
9/22/03 huge improvement in foot pain in the past 2 weeks, woohoo!!!

__________________
Car Accident 2/2/02
Herniated disc L5/S1
Epidurals x3, PT 4 mos, some relief, but constant foot pain and numbness continued
Microdiscectomy 6/6/03
9/5/03 still have foot pain and numbness but recovered fine from surgery
1/19/04 I am 7 mos post op. I still have the same foot pain as before surgery. Doc agrees it is probably permanent nerve damage. Started neurontin this week. Still glad I had the surgery though!

MarianJ

Hello Daubie,

I really hope that you have a wonderul time on your vacation. Enjoy Yourself and I'll miss ya.

Take Care

camelia

o tomorrow - you really are being put through the wringer on this one - hang in there kid - & forget that business of bad omens - its just not true!
& try not to worry about things you cant help or change by worrying - hard I know!
anyway I hope things work out soon for & you find out what's going on with your body
take care
c

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Spondylolisthesis for over 25 years without pain symptoms
Leg aching started 12/02 & burning feet pain in 7/03 finally dx as pressure on nerves at L5 & S1 on 9/8/03
Had 1 steroid injection with very little pain relief & scheduled to have 1 more & a Myelogram in October
Provisional surgery date 11/11/03

__________________
Spondylolisthesis at L5S1 = nerve impingement = pain in legs & feet
Laminectomy April 21, 2004

MarianJ

Hello Camelia,

Thanks Camelia. Sooner of later one of these doctor's has to give a diagnosis. I just made an appointment to see the vascular specialist on the 20th. My sister is a MA and she took my CT Scan films to her office today to have her doctor's and radiologist take a look at them. It sure won't hurt to get other opinions, and I will be prepared when I see my neuro surgeon on the 12th.

How have you been feeling? I hope that you are finding some pain relief today. Have the doctor's scheduled your myelogram yet? That's one test I have not had. I have heard that you must lie down for about 24 hours after the procedure. Well, keep me posted and have a good night.

Take Care

VPG

Tomorrow,

Hey girl glad to see you here I found your post to me so I thought I would jump over here. I am sorry that your going thru so much. They have you hopping around from one test to another. I know how frustrating that can be. It will get better I am sure of it. I have been told that this will give us the back bone for something big and good that is coming up in our lives.

I hope mine comes real soon. I spoke with the new pain clinic nurse, can't seem to get through to the doctor. She says that the new meds have to build up in my system but until then I just have to grin and bear it. I was so mad at her. Now it comes down to do I stay with a clinic that has a staff that has a compassion of a ant but has a doctor that I was impressed with or do we look for another pain clinic. I have another appointment next tuesday with the ortho doctor, I am not sure if he will release me back to work or not. With the up coming surgeries for the stumiltor installation. I did at least find out that when they install the column stumiltor it should only take about 1-2 hours and they will put the large box part of it in the fleashy part of my back side. I was worried that they would put it up near the bra area.
Well I am still working in the quilt for my daughter and I have to get a letters off to my sons so I hope you have a pain free day.

Vicky

MarianJ

Hello Vicky,

It's looks as it we are on the boards at the same time. I am sorry to hear about the lack of compassion from the nurses at your pain clinic. I have one of those nurses also at my pain management office. I had called the office a couple of weeks after my surgery because I was running out of my pain meds. The nurse told me that I should not be running out. She then proceeded to put the doctor on the phone and he said that I was right were I should be with my meds and apologized about the nurse and then called me in a script. I just ignore her and go over her head as she is not my doctor. Unless they have been were we are they should really consult with the doctor before giving any advice and denying scripts. I can't tell you what to do but feeling comfortable with your doctor is an important factor. I do hope the medication's start to work for you. Also, whenever I get a new med I research it on the web because that little info sheet that comes with the med does not give me a sufficient amount of info on side effects and discontinuing med and long term use. Have you gotten an insurance approval for your stimulator yet? It is good to hear that it is not too long of a surgery.

I really want to learn how to make quilts as this is something I would love to do. I have often seen the books in my local library but thought that it would be more difficult to learn it from a book. I don't know anyone that would have been able to teach me. How did you learn? Also, if I were to take out a book could you suggest one that might be of good use. My best wishes and prayers go out to your sons....as well as you, hubby and daughter.

Have a great day..

mokita

Hi Tomorrow!

Sheesh....I just caught up on your thread! What a mess! As I was reading thru....I thought of my Grandpa when his blood was so low....and he had internal bleeding! I guess they'll find out more when they do endoscopy. At least you're nearing a place of knowing what the heck is going on - then you can get it fixed. [img]http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/love1.gif[/img]

As for the back thing - what a jerk of a surgeon not to mention the disc! What's he afraid of? YOu suing his butt? To let you leave that office still not knowing why you're in so much pain - with nothing but a new script and increased meds....that's just sinful! Good luck in anything you decide w/ regards to that stinker! (have better words....can't use them )

take care....keep the faith! [img]http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/heart.gif[/img]

Karen

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9/22/00 24 hour labor, baby posterior, left tailbone killing me
12/00 MRI -normal-but pain still-began taking vicodin
2/8/02 - 2nd baby born - Csection-healthy girl
2000-11/02 various PT + pain meds
11/02 Referred to Neuro
3/03 NEW MRI - slight bulge L3-L4, DDD, neural foramen,Superior aspect S1 and L5 Nerve root involvement-Neuro Refers to PM for ESI's
(2 Rt Transforaminal,1 lumbosacral,3rd one numbed tailbone little
5/9 - Discogram - shows Tear L4 w/ significant leak onto nerves, DDD
Performing doc oversedated, False Negative
7/8- Dept Head ClCl consult
7/28 - ClevelClinic for Facet Injection, changed to Caudal Epidural after seeing xray of displaced coccyx;also,coccygeal manipulation
8/12 - 2nd caudal inj/no coccyx manip
8/14 -coccyx manip AGAIN
9/25 sched appt to begin tx on Disc Tear @ ClevelClinic

MarianJ

Good Morning Karen,

Thanks for the reply. Oh, I am going to be very much prepared for my next visit with this surgeon. I already obtained a copy of my CT Scan through my sister's job. So I have the report before my surgeon. I have been searching the web constantly as this report makes absolutely no sense to me. Just when I was finally starting to understand the medical terminology, I get hit with something I can't quite comprehend. I started another thread about my post op ct scan. Hopefully someone will understand and post a reply.

I hope that you are feeling better today.

Take Care

MarianJ

Hello Everyone,

Finally, the day has come when some of the swelling in my feet has diminished. It not a big improvement but enough to make me happy. I hope that everyone is having a great weekend.

Take Care

Mary Anne9998

Glad to hear you are getting some relief. I am into a pain episode, seems to been not only in lower back but into my hips and down right leg some, but sharp deep pain in hips is killing me. Had to come home at noon Friday and as long as I don't move very much seems to be better. This evening is starting back up-almost ready to pop a vicodin...........

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Back spasm episode requiring a week in hospital-1998
MRI 1998 showed bulge at L5S1. Doc gives me Oxycondin, Celebrex, Quinine Sulfate, Celexa. Took myself off these, reaction to Celebrex then Relafin, then Vioxx.
July 1999 Pain Management series of three steroid injections, didn't help.
Physical therapy and TENS unit, neither helped.
MRI Jan.2001 referred to specialist
Discogram March 2001 showed 4 of 5 lumbars bulged, surgeon says fusion out of question. Aquatic therapy seemed to make me feel better overall but did nothing for back.
Third MRI Dec 2002, in middle of major episode with back that didn't end until March 2003. Traction therapy total failure. Results read of MRI said no change.
Sept 2003 Neucleoplasty specialist showed me the tears in two of the lumbars and leaking.
Pain has progressed into hips and down back of legs. Standing has been lowered to 15 minutes from 30.
Drugs of choice ibuprofen 800mg 3xdaily.
Vicodin as needed.