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  • #16
    Hello again - - well, i'm home. I did end up going to the ER...the pain (as you read in my pp) was just too much to bear and so my cousin took me over around
    4am while my husband waited until the kids got up to take them to daycare. He met me there later and when he saw how bad i looked, that was it...he just teared up. He's not an emotional guy at all - but seeing me in such unrelenting excruciating pain was too much i guess.

    Long story short, i went to the same ER where my surgeon is affiliated and that turned out to be the best decision (depsite having a hospital 2 minutes from my house). All of my pre-admission test and xrays as well as all of my imaging (CT, MRI, xrays, surgeon consults, etc) were all available to them. My bp which is generally very low was a whopping 165/102 and my HR was 135 - all from the pain. Pain does extraordinary things to your body, especially your vitals. So anyway, they gave me 2 percocets (god knows why) which did absolutely nothing - - after some more waiting and seeing and talking to 100 dr's, they gave me a shot of dilauded...15 minutes later i could actully shift my weight slightly without stabbing pains. It did wonders for the intesity and i could just feel my insides calming down as a result. That kind of pain just rattles you to your core. And it's exhausting! I will see my surgeon this Monday (he was away and returns from vacation tomorrow) - but the ortho residents and the on-call doc all assured me that Dr. Clements would be made away of just how bad this situation was for me. I couldn't lift my legs, bend my kness or even stand up. Scary. But now i can...i was discharged after about 7 hours and i feel a LOT better right now. Not fixed or even "good" - but better than i did 24 hours ago...which at this point, i'll take. I have meds to get me thru til Monday when i see the surgeon and it was discussed that maybe my surgery needs to be pushed up a week or so...we'll see..at this point, i just want it over...like i said, if EVER there was a doubt in my mind, it's no longer there. This episode confirmed for me that i most certainly AM doing the right thing by having these surgeries.

    Thanks all of you for your support and encouragement. Its times like this when you literally feel alone because no one knows what you're going thru...but i always have all of you and for that, my many thanks. I'll keep you posted.

    Michele
    1993/1995: PSF w/ Harrington rods T3-L4
    Jan. 24, 2012: ALIF of L4-L5, L5-S1 w/ cage spacer and BMP
    Jan. 31, 2012: PLIF of L1-S1 w/ pelvic anchors
    Scheduled Nov.15, 2012: Fusion T2-S1 w/ pelvic anchors to fix T12 fracture
    http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ot/myback2.jpg - BEFORE
    http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...CT2342x406.jpg - AFTER
    http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...CT1410x229.jpg - AFTER
    www.jerseyot.blogspot.com

    Comment


    • #17
      Michelle,

      I am so glad that you went to the E/R and finally got some relief.
      Melissa

      Fused from C2 - sacrum 7/2011

      April 21, 2020- another broken rod surgery

      Comment


      • #18
        I hope you called an ambulance.

        I had that kind of pain in 99. It was a herniated disc. Cringing for you and hoping that by now, you have been given some relief.

        Woops! I misssed page 2. Very glad to hear you went to the hospital and got some relief. I hope it's bearable until you see your surgeon and with a bit of luck they can bring your surgery closer. Good luck!
        Last edited by JenniferG; 01-06-2012, 08:39 PM.
        Surgery March 3, 2009 at almost 58, now 63.
        Dr. Askin, Brisbane, Australia
        T4-Pelvis, Posterior only
        Osteotomies and Laminectomies
        Was 68 degrees, now 22 and pain free

        Comment


        • #19
          Glad you went to the ER and finally got some relief. That pain was a 10+++, so when they ask you to assess your pain after the surgery, you will have the worst possible pain as a reference point. Like you really needed that, huh?
          Get some sleep tonight. You must be exhausted.
          Sally
          Diagnosed with severe lumbar scoliosis at age 65.
          Posterior Fusion L2-S1 on 12/4/2007. age 67
          Anterior Fusion L3-L4,L4-L5,L5-S1 on 12/19/2007
          Additional bone removed to decompress right side of L3-L4 & L4-L5 on 4/19/2010
          New England Baptist Hospital, Boston, MA
          Dr. Frank F. Rands735.photobucket.com/albums/ww360/butterflyfive/

          "In God We Trust" Happy moments, praise God. Difficult moments, seek God. Quiet moments, worship God. Painful moments, trust God. Every moment, thank God.

          Comment


          • #20
            hi Michele
            thank goodness they listened to you...
            every now and then you get fuddy duddy doctors who say things like
            "well, why don't you wait til your doctor is back in town", etc....
            thank heavens you didn't get one of those....
            sounds like you couldn't have withstood any more!
            i saw my GP today and she mentioned that sometimes doctors get mindsets
            where they feel they are doing what is right for the patient, they forget they are
            dealing with flesh and blood humans, and the patient
            should be grateful, and not complain....she was knd of apologizing
            for a doctor of mine who wanted me to have a procedure in her office and
            not in hospital...i switched doctors and got it done in a hospital!!

            all this to say that i am glad you will have something to help you make it
            to Monday....personally, to leave you with not enuf meds til your surgery
            date sounds so lacking in understanding to me...
            i wish doctors could be in their patients shoes for 20 minutes every day....
            the doc who did my SI joint shots...i asked him if he ever got an SI joint shot,
            he said no...i said between clenched teeth...
            "try it some time, tell me what you think"

            you will have the forum members to empathize with you...
            hope you can get some rest....you are right...pain IS exhausting, and dealing with
            it takes everything out of you!

            feel better...
            jess

            Comment


            • #21
              Glad to know you are doing better, gonna get this fixed soon.
              1966 fusion in Buffalo of 11 thoracic vertebrae, with Harrington rod

              Comment


              • #22
                Hi Michele,
                I have been following this thread and I started to cry for you. It broke my heart to think in this day and age, and all the pain meds. out there, that you went through this at all!! I realize these surgeons don't like to mess with the prescription part of the situation~~~after all they are SURGEONS~~~and that part with pain meds belongs to someone else I guess. But what ever happened to treating the whole patient? It just floors me that they could do this to you. Believe me I could feel your pain and desperation, cause I'v been there many times. And it sucks terrible. And it seems the more desperate and scared you get , because the pain is so bad, the less they want to deal with you. You did the right thing by going to the emergency room. And you're lucky they treated you there. Sometimes they act like you're a "drug seeker". And then on top of everything the patient feels guilty for being in pain. When is this all going to stop with pain paitients. I realize it has to do with some of the bad ones, that are drug seekers. But for heaven sake, when it's all right in front of a nurses and doctors, it's pretty hard to miss the true reason for the request of relief. And we do take pain meds. for sometimes years leading up to these big surgeries. By the time we get to the point we are at, we've usually been through a lot of pain. I will be having my fourth back surgery in a few months. My third revision. I have suffered with saggital imbalance for two years now. But as for back pain itself, it's been years leading up to these wicked surgeries. And it does take a lot after my last two surgeries to control the pain-but that's where the pain teams come in. And you also have to have an advocate to stand up for you against nasty nurses and uncaring healthcare providers. There are'nt too many of them, but they are out there.(just to scare the crap out of us)~~~Anyway, sorry I got on a role here. But it is all so scarey. We need to stick together and keep each other knowledgable about how to handle some of these issues should they arise. I so hope you can rest and get through till surgery. My prayers are with you my dear. Sincerely, Linda
                Linda Brozik~~60 yrs. old at time of Lenke's first surgery. 62 now!
                Surgery 2006 L3/4 L4/5 double fusion/ instumentation/ With 2 cages
                This started adult onset scoliosis
                July 1st, 2010/ surgery ~~fused T10 to pelvis (long rods/ screws)
                Oct.20th 2010, extended rods to T4 / did osteotomy at L3
                Oct. 29th 2012 Dr. Lenke St. Louis Mo. T4 to sacrum osteotomy anterior cage L3/4 titanium rods
                May 30th 2013 revision
                May 8th cervicle surgery 2016
                May 31st Dr. Gupta revision 2017

                Comment


                • #23
                  Michele--
                  You've been through the wringer. Oh, I hope they can move up your surgery and at least give you some relief until then. You are so right. Any pain is very exhausting. I hope with this severe case you can get rest and relief. Thinking positive thoughts for you until surgery!! Janet
                  Janet

                  61 years old--57 for surgery

                  Diagnosed in 1965 at age of 13--no brace
                  Thoracic Curve: 96 degrees to 35 degrees
                  Lumbar Curve: 63 degrees to 5 degrees
                  Surgery with Dr. Lenke in St. Louis--March 30, 2009
                  T-2 to Pelvis, and hopefully all posterior procedure.

                  All was posterior along with 2 cages and 6 osteotomies.

                  Comment


                  • #24
                    Hope you're feeling better! I know you went through a major ordeal the past who knows how many hours... Wanted you to know I was thinking of you.
                    Hopefully the meds helped you and you can make it pain free through the upcoming days. If you need me for anything, this Jersey girl lives close enough to help you out
                    You have my email address and phone number: I'm a stone drop away. And I mean it!
                    When you feel up to it, I'll come visit you and even help you out with the kids. Or we can have my teenage girls watch your kids and grab some dinner together. Sounds even better. I'll drive You deserve it!
                    Hang in there!

                    Comment


                    • #25
                      Wow, thank you everyone for all of your posts and support. I didn't think anyone would really give a hoot about this but it's so comforting to know that so many of you care. So thank you.

                      I managed to sleep for 7-8 hours last night, after falling aleep on the couch for an hour, and it felt really good. I woke up thru the night when i rolled over or shifted in bed because of the pain but it was ok - i got thru it. I feel pretty intense pain in my low back/sacral area and my leg pain is starting to act up again but i'm waiting for the pain medication to kick in and help with that. I don't know but Monday feels like an eternity from now until i see my surgeon again. I plan on using this episode and trip to the ER to explain/illustrate to him just how bad it CAN (and DID) get with my back. Of course when you see a dr. you feel fine. Just like when you go for a haircut you have a good hair day. Well, no sugar coating what happened and how i'm feeling. This whole pain management issue needs to be discussed in detail because to come to the ER in the kind of pain i was experiencing, wait TWO hours before anyone even gave me something for it (and it was percocet, which did jack squat), wait another 90' before giving me something more potent is in my eyes, unacceptable....if i was bleeding from the skull would they give me percocet and wait and see?? NO!! They would give that person something stronger to give them immediate relief in order to get them comfortable first...and the go from there...and to add insult to injury, the residents and even the attending dr. said that i would be given enough pain medication to get me thru til my Jan.24 surgery - 3 of them said that actually - and when it came time to sign the d/c papers, the Rx said 15 pills - just enough to get me thru til Monday when i they said i had to see my surgeon. I was furious, just completely furious. WHY?? When i asked they said "Well you can just ask dr clements for a refill if he feels you need them" - - WHAT?!?!?! Are you SERIOUSLY asking me to ask AGAIN for something to manage my pain?!?!?! If ever i felt like a beggar, i feel like one now. Why doesn't anyone understand my pain?? Is it because you can't SEE my pain - b/c it's not visibly obvious (broken bone, bog gash in my skull, etc) or is it because you think i'm a drug abuser or is it becuase you simply refuse to put yourself in my shoes and feel MY pain??? Oh yes, i will have a detailed no-holds-barred conversation with him on Monday.
                      1993/1995: PSF w/ Harrington rods T3-L4
                      Jan. 24, 2012: ALIF of L4-L5, L5-S1 w/ cage spacer and BMP
                      Jan. 31, 2012: PLIF of L1-S1 w/ pelvic anchors
                      Scheduled Nov.15, 2012: Fusion T2-S1 w/ pelvic anchors to fix T12 fracture
                      http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ot/myback2.jpg - BEFORE
                      http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...CT2342x406.jpg - AFTER
                      http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...CT1410x229.jpg - AFTER
                      www.jerseyot.blogspot.com

                      Comment


                      • #26
                        These maximum pain “episodes” are triggers for surgery. I like using the word episode, it does have some comedic value in it....... sometimes we need something to cheer us up when these things happen. I had many “episodes” through the years. People would wonder why I was doing such a radical surgery, I had to fill them in on what extreme pain is all about...they just don’t know what its like in survival mode. I thought I was going to die several times. At the end, I just couldn’t do shots, you know you have some serious problems and they need to be repaired.

                        I think once your surgeon is aware of this event, and of course looks at the data, things will move faster as far as getting something done. Don’t worry, the wheels will start turning faster soon.

                        As far as getting meds from the emergency room, that’s something I never had any luck with. They will always tell you to follow up with a surgeon or another Doctor. They also move slow and will not give you that needed shot right off the bat. It seems they want to see exactly how much distress you are in. You are like a fish out of water flopping away for an hour of two.

                        I agree about Percoset, or any of the oral meds. They act like a mask, and doesn’t address the nerve issues well at all. That’s why I took many hot soaks, that was the next best thing to injectables.The water has to be extremely hot (106 degrees F) to dampen the knife stabs and deep nerve pain.

                        I’m sorry you had to experience this. Try to maintain.....looks like work is out of the question now.

                        You could ask your surgeon to prep the emergency room in case you need another shot.....??? I don’t know if this is possible but its worth a try.

                        Ed
                        49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
                        Pre surgery curves T70,L70
                        ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
                        Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada

                        Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
                        http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=

                        My x-rays
                        http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214

                        http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258

                        Comment


                        • #27
                          Originally posted by titaniumed View Post

                          As far as getting meds from the emergency room, that’s something I never had any luck with. They will always tell you to follow up with a surgeon or another Doctor. They also move slow and will not give you that needed shot right off the bat. It seems they want to see exactly how much distress you are in. You are like a fish out of water flopping away for an hour of two.
                          Yet another huge problem caused by people trying to scam the system. We regularly see patients who are referred through the ER, who beg for drugs because their pain management specialists who are conveniently unavailable right at the moment when the patient has run out of drugs. It's difficult for everyone, including the occasional patient who really has just run out of medication at a very inconvenient time. Since, as far as I know, there is no test to detect the presence of pain, the medical industry has to be overly cautious to ensure they're not feeding a habit.
                          Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
                          ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
                          Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

                          Comment


                          • #28
                            I understand that the medical community has to be over cautious - i get that part - i really do. But when I am the real honest-to-God true life patient with very REAL and very INCAPACITATING back pain, i want to treated as such...i want them to assess my condition, take my vitals and really see for themselves how my pain is presenting itself to them. There would have been no question in anyone's mind that when i went to the ER, i had reached my breaking point and was in the most unbearable pain of my life. If my vitals didn't illustrate that to them, just looking at me did. I know they don't know me from Adam off the street - but what frustrates me is that i'm honest as they come...if i'm in pain, I am in pain...and IF it comes to the point where i end up at the ER and have gone nearly 24 hours enduring that kind of pain before finally giving in and coming to the ER, then i have officially gone over the edge and have now become so shaken and immobilized from it that it's pretty obvious (or atleast it should be). Ultimately they gave me pain meds to quiet everything down - and i am grateful for that becuase i can atleast move today - which i couldn't do Thursday or Friday. I just wish they didn't make me feel like a beggar - like i have to PROVE myself and manifest my pain to them in some physical way. Like i said, they have all the imaging studies and can clearly see for themselves that i have a true very real reason for being in such pain. I just hope this isn't how it will be post-op when im in the hospital recovering. Lets pray not.
                            1993/1995: PSF w/ Harrington rods T3-L4
                            Jan. 24, 2012: ALIF of L4-L5, L5-S1 w/ cage spacer and BMP
                            Jan. 31, 2012: PLIF of L1-S1 w/ pelvic anchors
                            Scheduled Nov.15, 2012: Fusion T2-S1 w/ pelvic anchors to fix T12 fracture
                            http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ot/myback2.jpg - BEFORE
                            http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...CT2342x406.jpg - AFTER
                            http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...CT1410x229.jpg - AFTER
                            www.jerseyot.blogspot.com

                            Comment


                            • #29
                              Maybe a patient can select an ER to have the surgeon send the files for keeping on record. So when that person comes in they can access the surgeon's files and see that there is likely a legitimate need. They can see the script record and see that the person isn't abusing the drugs by using them up quicker or selling them. The ER would not have to rely on anything the patient says except that they are in pain and have a bone fide record of needing the meds.

                              Also, I am not clear on why it is not proper for the ER to just prescribe enough pills until the surgeon can be contacted. Why is that wrong?
                              Sharon, mother of identical twin girls with scoliosis

                              No island of sanity.

                              Question: What do you call alternative medicine that works?
                              Answer: Medicine


                              "We are all African."

                              Comment


                              • #30
                                Originally posted by Pooka1 View Post
                                Maybe a patient can select an ER to have the surgeon send the files for keeping on record. So when that person comes in they can access the surgeon's files and see that there is likely a legitimate need. They can see the script record and see that the person isn't abusing the drugs by using them up quicker or selling them. The ER would not have to rely on anything the patient says except that they are in pain and have a bone fide record of needing the meds.

                                Also, I am not clear on why it is not proper for the ER to just prescribe enough pills until the surgeon can be contacted. Why is that wrong?
                                Because they have absolutely no way of knowing where else the patient is getting drugs.
                                Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
                                ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
                                Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

                                Comment

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