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Posted 7/7/2009 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi friends, I started a new thread. The other one was all running together for some reason. I don't know why that happens. But I do see it do that from time to time.

I do wish that doctors would sit down and explain things a little better than what they do. I had an laminectomy. I considered that to be a baby back surgery. Little did I know!!! I sure feel for all of you that did have the fusions... I don't think that I was properly informed. And in a way I don't think I wanted to be. I knew what had to be done. I knew how it was to be done. But I didn't ask alot of questions. That was my own fault. But I didn't want to get more scared. I didn't want to back out. I purposely didn't ask all the questions that I now wish I had asked.  I did my own type of "research" by getting info from the computer. My doctor just told me the procedure details.  I guess I have been continually thinking in those terms I was told 6-8 weeks recovery time. I know that people heal differently. I know now that those were textbook terms. I have kind of almost "grieved" for that not having been the way it was.I guess that sounds kind of strange. But I am sure those of you that have had the back surgeries know exactly what I am talking about. I was feeling like I have done something wrong. Why couldn't I go back in that time frame? I know differently now. I haven't done anything to keep me from going back. It was just the way I have felt. I don't feel that way now. I just wanted so much for it to be that way. In reality, it isn't. And there isn't anything I can do to change it. All I can do, it to try to make the most of each day. And to continue the walking and the PT until I can get myself built back up enough to where I need to be.

I am pretty convinced that the pain I am having is nerve pain. I do understand that it takes a long time for the nerve to heal. It just hurts so bad. It is so deep. It is stabbing,stinging,sharp and aching pain. It is mainly on the left side now-lower back,buttock and hip. The incident with my mother in-law did make it worse. I am over the worse of that now. I am still hurting ofcourse. For the most part it is much better. I was scared that I really messed myself up. I am glad it is better. I spent all day Sunday in bed. I rested, read and slept. I took the whole day off and did absolutely nothing. It felt pretty good. This pain is different from what it was before the surgery. It feels like it is deeper. And in the mornings, I can hardly walk until the percocet kicks in. I want to know why I hurt like I hurt. When I have asked the doctor, all he says is that the surgery was more than what he thought it was going to be. I want answers. That just doesn't satisfy me as an answer. I want to know if this is nerve pain. It sure feels like it. I want my life back. My emotions have been pretty hard to deal with. I am doing the best I can do. I am trying hard to work on calming down,relaxing and concentrating on each day one by one. I have got to stop worrying about tomorrow and the day after and after that. That one is the hardest for me. But I am trying really hard to get myself pulled together. I am doing better. I guess it is just the unknown that is bothering me so bad. But again, I remind myself only to live for today and to make it the best it can be. I am on elavil 10mg. I stopped taking it a couple weeks ago. I felt like I slept too hard. And I didn't like the way it made me feel in the mornings. I did notice a difference however in my emotions however. Anyway, I started back on it last night. And I will see how it goes. If I don't notice an improvement, I will talk w/ my doctor and see about getting on another anti-depressant. There are so many out there. After I had my daughter I had a horrible case of post pardom depression, and I was on Zoloft. It worked pretty well for me. I may need to go back to that one. I'll see. And I won't wait too long. I have been having a real hard time emotionally lately. But since I can rationalize my emotions, and I know why I am feeling like this, I don't really think I need therapy at this time. I am not suicidal or anything like that. It is mainly a feeling of hopelessness that I am working the hardest on. But I am getting it back. I do have hope. Even if it is a small amout, it is better than what it was...

Thank you for letting me vent again. I sure do appreciate all of you. I know you want to kick me in the ... at times!!! But I am getting there. This pain is just so bad. And I am sick and tired of hurting soooo much all the time. It sure does something to you. You all know all too well what I am talking about.

Anice

I just found out about the tens unit. The case manager RN from PT just called me back. My insurance pays 70% for it. I called the company and asked what the contracted rate was. And my part. My mom told me this morning that she would pay for whatever I owed on it. That sure was sweet of her. Bless her heart... She has been so wonderful to help me out financially. I am so grateful for that. And I tell her how very much I appreciate all she has done for me. So anyway, I have PT for tomorrow. And afterwards, I'll have another therapist show me about the tens unit. So I'll have it tomorrow. I am glad. I am hopeful that it will help me a little. A little relief is better than what I have now. I do hope that it will help me.

 

Posted 7/7/2009 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
 

 

     Dear Anice,

 

  Im so sorry things are so hecktic right now. I wish there were some way I could help...

 

     Can you take baths yett? Found this one at a cool site ~~>

 

Bath Bombs


10 Tbsp Baking Soda

5 Tbsp Cornstarch

5 Tbsp Citric Acid

1 1/2 Tbsp Safflower or Canola oil (any light oil will do)

1/2 Tbsp water

pinch of borax

Essential Oil of choice - about a tablespoon


Sieve dry ingred. In a jar, mix oils, water, and borax and shake well. Drizzle into dry ingred. and then work with hands. Press firmly into mold and then just pop out. They do firm up almost immediately. DON'T leave them in the mold too long

 

:-)

*huggs*

dani 
Posted 7/7/2009 7:55 PM (GMT 0)
Anice, if you are not satisfied with the answers to your questions then do not be afraid to ask more questions and demand answers in a language you can understand. If you come off like a grumpy witch to your doctor then so be it. You can always blame it on the pain.....LOL.

Just my two cents of course, but I suggest rethinking the waiting to talk to your doctor about an anti-depressant. To get the most out of healing your mind and body both need to be taken care of. One effects the other and if they are not totally committed to walking hand in hand in the same direction things tend to get even more wacky than what they tend to be.
Posted 7/7/2009 8:11 PM (GMT 0)
Awe Anice I was hopeing you'd have some relief by now,
call your surgeon or doctor and tell them your still hurting pretty bad,
everyone has different healing times than others and you just might need some
more time, It took me 8 months to get healed from a tonsilectomy (31 yrs when then took em)
so time is irrelevent to this and so many of us get group into oh, you will be fine again in such
a such time, yeah right...
but anwyas, I wanted to wish you well and hopes that you get a low pain day soon, so very sorry your
not feeling better yet!
Lots and lots of soft hugz....
((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Anice)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
vent anytime you need too,
more soft hugz...........
Posted 7/7/2009 10:25 PM (GMT 0)

 

 

Anice,

I had my Laminectomy in 1999...I went online and actually watched the surgery!! What a mistake that was.  I almost backed out.  It was so much more then the Surgeon told me and I felt like they purposely kept the worst hidden from me.  Then in 2006 I had Spinal Fusion without the hardware at S1-L4. Now, that was major surgery!!  I was NOT prepared for that one.  I know I was up and walking around that same night in the Hospital, and they sent me home the next day....Couldn't believe that!!  But, I was recovering for about 8 weeks.

 

Any back surgery is MAJOR!!!  I don't care what anybody tells you.  And we are all different in how we recover.  Since I am a smoker I most likely didn't heal as well as I could have.  I often thought that I made things worse for myself by smoking...maybe I caused ther permanent nerve damage.  But, what's done is done.  And YES I still smoke.

 

I really wish I had waited on the fusion...there are so many options out there now that I can't even think about because I had fusion.  So I am stuck...

 

I hope that you are doing better today...Recovery is very important.  Take it easy..

 

Me.

Posted 7/8/2009 12:41 AM (GMT 0)
Anice, I think we have had this conversation on this forum before. We all get to the point at times that we do things we probably shouldn't, not counting the possibility of the consequences. We still have to live, right. When you have a background of a caretaker, it is hard to not help someone who needs it. I am glad you have come to the point that you are ok with what you have been doing and that you are accepting the fact that you are not healing as fast as the book says. As per a baby surgery, not. Maybe it is not as involved as a fusion but there is still recouperation and no one can predict the exact time frame. I hope that you get the relief from the tens unit that you are expecting. It is also a blessing that your mother is able to help you.   

Doctors don't always tell us everything because they don't know everything. Sometimes they think they do but it can be frustrating to some of them when they can't solve the problem or figure out the answer. That does not describe the normal doctor but it does show the fact that they are limited. I know you will update us on the PT appointment and how it all goes. We will be waiyting.

Posted 7/8/2009 2:36 AM (GMT 0)

((((((((((((((((anice)))))))))))))))

XXOO
Patti

Posted 7/8/2009 4:54 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Anice,

Yes, sometimes these threads will stretch way across, why, I sure don't know,lol. I am going to make a suggesttion here and then tell you why. As Jim said in his post the mind and body work together. Thats the absolute truth. In nearly every post since you have had surgery a tone of being overwhelmed is heard, thats depression working on you. Get away from the Elavil, it has a sedative type effect on many-which can bring you down somwwhat further. Get to your PCP and get on one of the newer antidepressants there are so many good ones out-don't waste another day on well, I will see if it works. First off, if you will read up on Elavil, it takes a good 30 days to get in your system to be effective-so taking it for 2 weeks is useless. Also, for depression 10mg is not the correct dosage. Normal dosage is in the 50mg to 100mg a day or even higher up to 150mg a day. I think you are wasting your time with it. The newer medications do not give off the sedative type feeling in the mornings when you wake up, Elavil is bad for causing that and it takes forever to shake that feeling every day.

My son was put on Elavil by his neurologist when he was a young boy for migraines. He took it for 30 days only and it really helped him as far warding off so many migraines. he does the projectile vomitting and heaving for hours, he was 8 yrs old when they hit him. Both of my kids have migraines they never outgrew them-I passed those lovely things onto them. My son tolerated the drug very well at 25mg at bedtime and he had no problem waking up in the mornings. The neurologist also said Elavil is a drug that builds up in your system as you take it. Me, they tried me on it and I got deathly ill from one and fell flat on my face the minute my feet hit the floor the next morning. I had taken it the night before at bedtime!!! They were trying me on it for migraines too.

You are right, worrying about tomorrow or the day after is unproductive and takes away from the current moment. You lose alot of time doing that. Concentrate on now-deal with tomorrow then.

I do not think drs have the capability to sit down and truly explain everything to a patient. I say this because, like a surgeon, they do this all the time-its old hat to them and they expect patients to read between the lines, in my opinion. Some do not want to take the time to explain in detail and others just do not know how. I also believe they do not want to deal with the fear factor from a patient. If a dr sat down and gave graphic details of a back surgery-most people would walk out and never come back. The same with giving real times for recovery and return to work status, they know that patient most likely would go the opposite way. Back surgery of any kind is major including a laminectomy, don't kid yourself. Anything involving the spine is major.

I know you want answers as to why you have this new pain but I do not think your dr can explain why because he does not know. If I remember correctly, when you asked him his response was your surgery was in more detail than he originally thought it would be. That was his way of answering why you are hurting. Having another MRI would probably be of no benefit and the ins company may not pay for another one this soon. Other than EMG to check for nerve damage you are limited. EMG's are not all that reliable either-they have about a 75% accuracy range. I have seen more normal emg's than abnormal and the people did have nerve problems going on but the test read normal.

One thing you might consider asking the dr about is trying Lyrica. We have a new member that had back surgery but had alot of nerve damage in addition to disc problems and she says Lyrica stopped the horrible nerve pain. It may be worth trying, you have nothing to lose and perhaps something to gain.Think about this one. There is no gurantee it will work but I would sure give it a shot. But, with any medication most of them take time to become effectiive so there will be no over night improvement.

I do hope the Tens helps with the pan. Let us know how that goes. Keep your head up, but consider another route for the depression.

Posted 7/8/2009 5:07 AM (GMT 0)
Anice,
You've had some good suggestions already. The one thing I would say is that since you already know the zoloft works, why not speak to your doctor about that ASAP? Rather than start and stop the elavil again. The up and down with the anti-depressants also doesn't help you stabilize emotionally.

You don't have to be suicidal to see a pain psychologist - or any therapist, for that matter. You talk about the anxiety about the future, and a sense of hopelessness. Those are exactly the issue a therapist can help with. I've been to therapists in my life and would be seeing one now if I had the funds. And it would mainly be for support. So rethink this, ok?

Take care,

PaLady
Posted 7/8/2009 2:34 PM (GMT 0)
Anice
just wanted to says you've been in my thoughts and prayers,,,
more soft hugz...
(((((((((((((((((((((((Anice))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Posted 7/8/2009 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Anice,

I hope you are feeling a little better today. Depression is very, very common with CP, but you know that! I've had a hard time fighting it myself, especially recently. My depression has been almost as resistant to treatment as my pain. I'm seeing a new psychiatrist next week & I can't wait. I did not get along with my other one. Besides the emotional rollercoaster, my depression makes me even more tired that normal (although I still don't sleep at all, so no help there) & I have ZERO energy. Everything takes so much effort -- especially this week, for whatever reason. I think that all this makes everything worse. I definitely wouldn't rule out the possibility of trying an anti-depressant. You don't have to be in therapy, your PCP should be able to manage your case, unless for example, they feel that you are too complicated (like me turn).

hugs,
Skeye
Posted 7/8/2009 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
anice

I think just about everyone that has back surgery does it with the expectations that the surgery is going to fix everything and take away all the pain. And for the most part most Doctors, promote that thinking, who knows maybe they also think that, and believe it! But sadly for so many of us that just isn't the case! Heck often Doctors don't mention that some of the back surgerys they do, will often lead to other complications many years down the road! I don't know, maybe if more patients knew everything, they might not choose to have the surgery done? But of course there are times when you have no other choice! Anyway the thing I guess I am trying to say, is don't feel bad about what you should of done! The "could of, should of, would of," thinking does you no good! As they say hindsight is 20/20! But you can only do your best and hope for the future and that is what you did! Maybe the surgery you has not and will not meet the expectations you had! But if it doesn't then what will you do? If your pain doesn't get better, then you must try and find some other way of dealing and coping with it. I think it still may be a little early to be thinking along those lines, but that will be for you to deside!

Surgeons do have a tendency to think or act like what they do is the end all cure! But everyone knows it is not! So please don't feel that because you had surgery and you still are having pain that it must some how be your fault! Some surgeons (intentionally or unintentionally) make their patients feel that way! And that is pure HOG WASH! Just because you had surgery doesn't mean they fixed everything and the pain is going to be automaticly gone!

Hang in there anice, and do the best you can, we are here for you, in what ever way we can be! As inadequate as this might sound I do wish you all the Best.

Good Luck to You anice!

White Beard
Posted 7/8/2009 10:05 PM (GMT 0)
I just wanted to let you all know that I did finally get my tens unit today!!!yea It sure took long enough...Anyway, another therapist told my about it and hooked it up and got it started. It felt pretty good. I sure hope it works. I want to read the manual and watch the cd that came with it. I'll put it back on after I do that. He said to only wear it 45 min. at a time. My mom said she had one years ago and that she wore hers all the time and had it on all the time except when she slept. For those of you who have one, how long to you wear it at a time? I would sure appreciate any suggestions you have that have helped you. I am a little intimiadated by it right now. But after I read about it and watch the little video, I won't be. I need to get my checkbook done and pay a few bills right now. I'll write more about it later after I figure tha little gadget out.

I want to thank everyone for all your responses. I sure do appreciate you all so much. I'll sure think hard about what all of you said when I get a chance to sit and think!ha ha It has been one of those days...lol
Anice
Posted 7/8/2009 10:23 PM (GMT 0)
anice
I had a hard time with mine as I had peviouly mentioned but I use to try and wear it all the time, I had several batteries that I would keep charged, so when one went out, all I would do is replace it, and then put the spent one in the charger, What does your Doctor recommend? I do hope you have success with it! Good Luck anice!

White Beard
Posted 7/8/2009 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
I use my tens unit in the evening, sometimes with my heating pad and this combo works pretty good
most days, I limit mine to 40 minutes to 1/2 hour usually an hour before bedtime...
the only caution I know of is to never wear it while driving...
Hope you get a low pain day soon...
hugz..
)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))ANice(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((
Posted 7/9/2009 12:28 AM (GMT 0)

yeah   yeah yeah yeah WOoooOOooOOT! yeah yeah yeah yeah

Dear Anice!

   *huggs!* Now don't worry you only get FM radio after you pud pads on! Kidding smilewinkgrin

how long to you wear it at a time?

     Mine was perscribed. So the amp / pulse / time were programmed in for me. They taught me about the little device. 9.0L - 10.0R pulse at.. 10sec rotation cycles for 40min.s  3 times per day. might want to call the doc that perscribed it, might be a setting they want to try out first few weeks.

*huggs*

dani

Posted 7/9/2009 12:43 AM (GMT 0)
Anice use the Tens Unit as prescribed by the therapist, he knows that particular unit. The ones the rest of us are most likely different from yours so, do not go by what others have done with theirs. Listen to your therapist on this, he wold know best.
Posted 7/9/2009 12:44 AM (GMT 0)
Anice,
I used to wear my stim unit the entire evening at home. I think I mentioned I bought rechargeable batteries and a 9V battery recharger from Radio Shack, because my unit goes through batteries like water! But I would follow your PT's directions for now. Later you can decide for yourself what's most helpful.

Good luck!

PaLady
Posted 7/9/2009 3:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Anice,

I'm glad to hear that you finally got your ten's unit! I sure hope it helps!

Skeye
Posted 7/9/2009 4:42 AM (GMT 0)
Anice, what kind of tens unit is it? I ran mine off an on all day. I would put it on in the morning (no lotion on the skin) and would not take it off until getting ready for bed. They told me that you can reuse the pads depending on your skin condition. One trick is to keep the pads out of the open air. So as soon as you take them off, put them back in the bag. You can actually use just a few drops of water on a used pad and lightly rub it on the sticky side and it makes it stickable again. just prolongs the life span. The told me one of the biggest things is to keep the skin clean before putting the pads on. Then, keep the lotion handy as they can cause the skin to be irritated. You probably were told all that anyway. Have fun.

Posted 7/9/2009 6:07 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks to all of you. I read the manual. I am getting ready to finally watch the video. And then I'll hook it all back up and turn it on again before bed for a little while. The therapist said to try different settings and see which one feels the best... So I don't have any specific instructions other than that. And to use it for 45 min. at a time 3 or 4 x's a day.So I guess I'll "play around with it" for a little while until I find the right setting. He did say that the highere numbers work for faster relief and the lower ones for longer relief. I find that a little confusing. But I guess I'll figure it out. I am just so happy to finally have it.I only got to use it right after I got it. Things were a little hectic at home(kids) and I wanted to get all the possible info first. So, I am off to watch the video. Wish me luck. I am feeling pretty optimistic about this. I sure do hope it helps, if only a little would sure be nice,even. Good night all. I hope everyone sleeps well.
Anice
Posted 7/9/2009 10:04 PM (GMT 0)
anice

I hope that it is working well for you! Please keep us posted on your progress with it!

Good Luck to You

White Beard
Posted 7/9/2009 11:27 PM (GMT 0)
I think I like my tens unit. It seems really to help!!!! It is providing me with some relief. It feels good and I am so glad it is helping. It is an empi select brand. It came with rechargeable batteries. It took a little playing around with it but I do seem to have found a setting that I like. It has one large pad and four smaller ones that came with it. I put the large one on my hip and used two smaller ones on my lower back. It is helping atleast for today. And I have only had to take one percocet today. That is improvement. And I do feel encouraged atleast for today!!!I only wish I had it before now.
Anice
Posted 7/10/2009 2:14 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Anice,

So glad to hear that the tens until is helping! Lets hope that it continues to do so!!

Skeye
Posted 7/10/2009 3:57 AM (GMT 0)
Sounds really good, Anice. I'm really pleased for you, may it continue to give you some relief, golitho
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