I've been gone from forum - broke my neck

Lucky, thankful to be alive.

Fell in garden pushing in a stake. Landed full weight on head on sharp rock. Heard my neck break. Ended up on back looking like a dead possum, hands and feet up, no feeling, no movement. Able to breathe, yell for help, but nobody around.

Grandkids came home, house across the field. Heard me, told their mom who came up and called for ambulance. So horrible for her to see blood gushing, paralyzed.

Neck surgery - removed bone pieces, plate and screws, bone graft, fusion, ICU. 2 months hospital, nursing home (boy was that awful!). I have serious trouble swallowing anything sticky like bread. Keep getting dehydrated.

Now walking a little with help. Looking for something to ease the nerve pain - fire and ice in legs, severe pain to slightest touch. Home nurse useless, takes blood pressure and leaves, therapist useless also, sitting exercises when I need passive range of motion and they don't do that.

Went to ER for extreme zingers in arms, hands, extreme dizziness when I bend neck. CT, MRI, X-rays. Surgeon said can't see anything wrong, sent home, no treatment, no meds. Asked about neck numbness above surgery (in front), was told it's not possible.

Took myself off pain meds. They don't touch nerve pain.

Went to my pain doc. He can't inject spine, but did a bunch of muscles which is reducing pain. Put me on Lyrica which may be causing muscle spasms at night, worse weakness in morning. Maybe someone in forum has advice on that? I've tried all (I think) other nerve meds for fibromyalgia, bad reactions or no effect. Lyrica only caused weight gain.

Not ranting. Grateful to be able to function some. I know this will be a year or trying to recover.

OMG! Alcie! How horrible for you. So very glad to see some improvement though, over the possum status, lord you could've stayed that way.

Sure hoping someone can help, all my spinal issues are at the other end of the spectrum so have no cervical experience. I do take lyrica but it's took a long while for it to settle in and do any good.

Im hoping you continue to heal and get better.

Alcie, goodness what a nightmare but thank goodness you survived it. Wow, I am just sitting here letting this soak in. Talk about a freak accident you are living proof of that one. I mean just every thing you have described it sounds like a nightmare. I am sorry that your home health nurse stinks, can they send a different one out to your home?

You said you were in the hospital for two months & then went to a nursing home for what rehab? Sounds like you may need to fire a couple of people & get new ones involved.

So Neurotin, Cymbalta, Amitriptilene, Nortriptilene are out of question for nerve pain? I am not sure how the Lyrica could cause you spasms unless that is a potential side effect. I have not ever read here of it causing that problem.

Will your PM dr rx you something for muscle spasms. Many folks suffer with horrible spasms after having surgery. You may need to talk to your dr about that. You are right, narcotics do not have much effect on nerve pain.

It sure sounds like you have lots of nerve pain going on and I hope you can get some relief from it and soon.

I wanted to pop on & say hello. Please keep us posted on how you are doing.....Susie

Oh, Alcie!  I was just checking forums for spam and saw your post!  I'm sooo sorry this has happened to you.  It sounds absolutely horrible. 

 

The best thing I found for nerve pain is a muscle relaxer.  I know that sounds weird but before I was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis and sacroiliitis, I was having raw nerve pain running down my legs and I barely could lift my feet to take a step or get my legs into bed.  I was put on ibuprofen with food, Tylenol, and a muscle relaxer called Robaxin and I'm so much better now and am not getting that nerve pain down my legs.  I guess it is a matter of inflammation and muscles that caused that in me.  It might be worth a try.  You are absolutely correct in saying the pain meds don't help nerve pain.  They tried Tramadol and Vicodin on me and I might as well have been taking a placebo. 

 

I hope this gives you some help and that you will start to feel better soon.  I will be praying for that.

 

Sherrine

Alcie -

Shoot, just wrote a long post - and lost it!

Point is - I feel terrible for you! You are SO right - you are lucky to be alive.... that is truly frightening.

I'm sorry for all you've been through and the pain you've had to endure.

The only thing that I can say -- which is basically the same as the others - is you gotta try to find something that works for your nerve pain.... I've got the "fire" in my legs too - and my narcotics do nothing for that pain - only my gabapentin.

Have you tried Robaxin as Sherrine mentioned? Or Baclofen? Or Elavil?

Praying you get this figured out and at least can get some relief that way as you continue to heal. Be assertive if you need to - and try to request another home health nurse if needed.

Take care, and please keep us updated - and know we are here.

--Tina

Alcie, 

I am so very sorry to read of you accident and I cannot imagine how frightened you must have been. I'm sure you are beyond frustrated without medication to cover your pain.

Keep on being your own best advocate and ask for what you need.

Gentle Hugs to you,

 

Kitt

 

Oh my gosh Alcie. What a nightmare. I'm so sorry that this happened to you. How scary. I'll be praying for you. It sounds like you need a new home nurse coming to your home. Take care. Please keep us updated with how you're doing. Take care.

love and hugs
Loretta

Sunday Update

Thanks so much for the stories of personal experiences and the suggestions for medications. I'll be calling my pain doc Monday.

I haven't tried Baclofen. Gabapentin (Neurontin) gave me apnea in the past so I won't take it again. I could try Elavil or Robaxin for this if I stop Tramadol which isn't doing anything except helping mood - seratonin raiser.

I've only been on Lyrica 4 days but am having really bad muscle spasms since starting it and no nerve pain relief. I took 1mg Valium which stopped the spasms. No relief from burning so far, but it's supposed to take 2 weeks.

I've been through so many near death incidents recently, seems like a new group every year, that I'm no longer scared of dying, only of being kept around as a vegetable. I've had a good life, only would like to be around a while longer to teach the grandkids. I'm glad to be able to function enough not to be a great burden.

That said, today is a setback day. I'm having trouble typing, needed help to get from bed to the wheelchair in the kitchen. I can't push it with only feet over my thick hall carpeting. I was walking without any aids a week ago. I'm not hungry. Arms so weak a cup of coffee is heavy. All my symptoms could be due to Lyrica but also effects of cord compression and swelling. I thought swelling should have subsided by now. (accident was end of July)

Thanks, White Beard, for your story. (not forgetting others who are helping me understand this) Tipping my head forward sets off the shoulder and arm and hand zingers. It was scary enough to go to ER where I had CT, MRI and x-rays in 4 positions. 3 docs said they saw nothing, so I am just fine. But then they also said I couldn't possibly have numbness in front of neck from surgery area up to jaw. That's why I'm seeing my pain doc who believes me. I'll be getting copies of the scans as soon as possible.

As if I didn't have enough to get through now, the surgeon informed me I have a meningioma that needs gamma knife probably next year. Also, I think my shoulders may need some repairs. They both hurt terribly since I fell in the hospital. Only right one hurt from my garden adventure.

Diane B
All good suggestions! Thanks.

I'm the queen of keeping notes on my symptoms and meds. I keep a 2-page list of med reactions in my purse. I'm on a medicare advantage plan, high deductible, almost affordible care. I have a visiting nurse who is useless. She takes BP and runs for the door. PT comes twice a week to run me through leg strengthening exercises. I'll complain again about shoulders on Tues.

I'll have to see an orthopedic surgeon for help with the shoulders. I have a good one who fixed my knee and right shoulder after a wreck 4 years ago. I just can't get any more surgery until I get a lot better. It may be too late for a tendon repair though.

I'm missing meals too. There's a fridge full off food, but it needs cooking and a lot of it I can't eat with my allergies. I'm never hungry and too weak this evening to get off the couch. My son and dil have been helping but had go out of town for the weekend. Hubby had to rush in to work this morning, will be stuck there all night. The kids are due back any time now, so someone will heat up something. I'll tell the nurse and maybe get some help when the kids have to leave for a week to close on selling their house.

I think I'll skip the Lyrica tonight. Maybe the withdrawal each day is the problem

It sounds like a horrible experience; feeling and hearing your own neck break *OUCH*

I am glad to see that you have a positive attitude. Hoping you get well soon. Hoping it doesn't become another source of chronic pain.

Alcei Please take care of yourself, You have been through so much! I keep you in my prayers! I sure hope you start feeling better soon!

White Beard