Operation update - 3 weeks on

Hi all

Thought I would just update you on my progress since I had my sacroiliac fusion three weeks ago today.

On the whole I am doing well. This side has definitely not been as painful as the last on was(January of this year). I am able to move around much easier although sitting is still a little sore. It's really just a mattter of building it up slowly between the op and the eight week stage. The problem has been my knee. I am non weight bearing on the op side, and putting all my weight through my right leg. Unfortunately my knee just keeps buckling under me. I've had a few near falls so we have come to the conclusion that I only use my crutches when I have someone with me. I have a partial knee replacement there, have a funny feeling that one has turned arthritic too!! Why does it seem never ending???

After the op I was on a morphine pump and when that came down I was prescribed oxycontin as well as my fentanyl patch. One nurse, no clue about chronic pain, refused to give me the fentanyl as well as the oxycontin so I was without the fentanyl for around five days before they put the patch back on. Strangely enough I didn't miss the fentanyl at all. So I spoke with my doctor and we have decided that maybe it was time for a change. I am now coming off the fentanyl and staying on the oxycontin which had been prescribed for the post op pain. So far Im feeling good although I will have to see how I am once I am more active. May take awhile to get the levels right.

Sorry it has taken me so long to post this, was a bit up and down mood wise but feeling good now. Thank young everyone who wished me luck before the op. I was very grateful to you all. I feel I am doing really well now, if my knee behaved I would be even better. But as we know not everything goes according to plan.....could be much worse though.

Best wishes to you all and thank you for your support.

Jane

Thanks for updating us...

Sorry to hear about the mess up after the surgery as I think this is one area that needs serious attention. Those with chronic pain who have surgeries/procedures need different pain control afterwards. This is where many Nurses and Drs....caring though they may be...are just not trained enough in this area and go "by the book" on what your pain levels "should" be and what medicine you "should" need.

This is where it is absolutely critical for one's Dr. who is treating them for CP be in direct contact with the surgeon and hospital staff for post op care...

Anyway...keeps us posted on the new pain medicine plan..

One of the suggestions I have is that I ended up buying a fantastic walker from Sam's club. The Rollator...I initially bought this for my mom who has knee issues and has been using this at times. It has brakes on it, as well as a chair to turn around and sit.

I ended up needing it for a week after I aggravated my herniation in my lumbar area on July 3rd...And instead of a cane..or crutches which all put our bodies out of alignment....I could stand up straight and slowly walk with the full support of this and not be worried about my back giving out.

My mom got back to walking on her own so much faster using this because she could little by little loosen her grip and use her own body to support walking. Anyway...obviously it's what you and your Dr. have in mind for you. But all I can say is this was fantastic for me to help my walking and keep my body in alignment even when I wasn't using all the pressure on my left side.

Just keep taking it one day at a time...and as I'm sure you know...some days will be good..and then some days after more activity can be worse. It's a slow process...but hope each few weeks you are getting better:)

Post Edited (Snowbunny21) : 7/18/2012 10:15:31 AM (GMT-6)

Jane, so glad to hear that you are doing better. Sorry to hear about the knee though. Has your knee been giving you problems all along or just since your back surgery. Please be careful, sure don't want you taking any spills. Keep us posted......Susie

Jane,

It's good to read an update from you.... I hope you have continued healing and less pain in your knee.

I hope the oxy works for your pain, too... let us know how that goes.

Take care... good to hear from you... Keep us updated as you feel like it.

:) --Tina

Susie

I have a history of bad knees unfortunately, going back twenty years. It began with kneecap problems in both knees. I've had more than fifteen ops, some minor but most major, to try to re align my kneecap tracking. Nothing worked, just caused more problems. I had partial knee replacements about ten years ago. Broke my leg around four years ago, just under the knee. I was warned it could turn in to arthritis, and it did. So I need a knee replacement. I was about to have it done when all my back problems began. In fact I think the back issues have made my knees worse. It's made this back surgery difficult as I have to try to hop with crutches, if you know what I mean. I'm not doing too well with that, I am having to use a wheelchair in the house but keep trying with the crutches.

Thank you all again for caring so much. It means a lot to me.

Jane

Aww...thanks SE...I was trying to think of a fun play on words name back for you and I came up with instead of Screaming Eagle....Yelling Robin....or Whisper Duckling...LOL:)

Ok..sorry for the tangent...back on track...and yes..it's all in good fun!

    (You could have said Screaming Turkey you know!...and yes!... I can poke a little fun at myself too!) SE 

Post Edited By Moderator (Screaming Eagle) : 7/18/2012 1:17:37 PM (GMT-6)

Glad to hear you are on the mend. Hate that the nurse felt that she was qualified to change the drs orders. Hope someone gave her a stern talking to. It's bad enough recovering from surgery without meds being switched around.

Hope you continue to feel better each day :)