Hi all,
Thought I would post a little disgruntled update. A grumpdate?!
Anyway, I'm starting to get frustrated here. I am four months post-op, but I still have pain every day that requires prescription meds. In the morning it's back-of-the-shoulder pain, on the right side only. It's right beside the angel wing, and more towards the spine. I get some relief from moving my arm around, but within an hour of getting up I am taking a Tylenol + 1/2 Norco.
Then, when that wears off, by midafternoon, I have the "bear claw" tightness feeling in the mid-upper back. So, another Tylenol & 1/2 Norco.
Then by evening, if I've had an active day (walking and sitting, etc), my left back hip/butt area is very sore, and that's like a nerve pain that can go into my leg. Sometimes I take another Tylenol & 1/2 Norco. Other times I just lay flat for the whole evening.
So, I have called Dr. Lenke's office about the various issues four times. The first time I spoke with Karen, the new nurse. She wanted to talk to Kelly, the old nurse, and get back to me. It has been I would guess over a month now, and NO ONE has called me back, despite me leaving three additional followup messages (one per week, roughly)! I am getting ready to call Naomi, the medical assistant, and lodge a complaint. I don't know. Maybe they want me to see my local doctor, but it seems like they should at least TELL me that! My post-op appointment was at five weeks. Everything looked good then, but of course I was still on oxicontin, lots of Norco, Valium, etc., so I think any problems would have been pretty well masked. Lenke did not want me to have a 3-month appointment, and I believe my 6-month will be with a resident. So--not sure when, if ever, I'm going to get advice on these pains.
When I called Naomi to get a med refill, she said to keep calling Karen so "nothing slips through the cracks." She thought maybe some physical therapy would help, but I need a prescription for that. (Which would require a phone call!!) In the meantime, she has cut me off the muscle relaxants and basically told me she won't be refilling Norco again. So, I'm trying (trying!!) to use as little as I can to get through the day.
Does anyone know when Advil is permissable? I'm thinking six months. Tylenol essentially does nothing for me.
Okay, I think my rant is over. I'm sorry to be negative. I still do feel really greatful for the lack of life-threatening complications and the great correction. But, to all the Lenke lovers out there, the team is not perfect! I would still go back to him again, but I think this forum tends to overly inflate him sometimes. It is still a massive, difficult surgery that has a high potential for complications and a long recovery, no matter who your surgeon is.
Best,
Evelyn
Thought I would post a little disgruntled update. A grumpdate?!
Anyway, I'm starting to get frustrated here. I am four months post-op, but I still have pain every day that requires prescription meds. In the morning it's back-of-the-shoulder pain, on the right side only. It's right beside the angel wing, and more towards the spine. I get some relief from moving my arm around, but within an hour of getting up I am taking a Tylenol + 1/2 Norco.
Then, when that wears off, by midafternoon, I have the "bear claw" tightness feeling in the mid-upper back. So, another Tylenol & 1/2 Norco.
Then by evening, if I've had an active day (walking and sitting, etc), my left back hip/butt area is very sore, and that's like a nerve pain that can go into my leg. Sometimes I take another Tylenol & 1/2 Norco. Other times I just lay flat for the whole evening.
So, I have called Dr. Lenke's office about the various issues four times. The first time I spoke with Karen, the new nurse. She wanted to talk to Kelly, the old nurse, and get back to me. It has been I would guess over a month now, and NO ONE has called me back, despite me leaving three additional followup messages (one per week, roughly)! I am getting ready to call Naomi, the medical assistant, and lodge a complaint. I don't know. Maybe they want me to see my local doctor, but it seems like they should at least TELL me that! My post-op appointment was at five weeks. Everything looked good then, but of course I was still on oxicontin, lots of Norco, Valium, etc., so I think any problems would have been pretty well masked. Lenke did not want me to have a 3-month appointment, and I believe my 6-month will be with a resident. So--not sure when, if ever, I'm going to get advice on these pains.
When I called Naomi to get a med refill, she said to keep calling Karen so "nothing slips through the cracks." She thought maybe some physical therapy would help, but I need a prescription for that. (Which would require a phone call!!) In the meantime, she has cut me off the muscle relaxants and basically told me she won't be refilling Norco again. So, I'm trying (trying!!) to use as little as I can to get through the day.
Does anyone know when Advil is permissable? I'm thinking six months. Tylenol essentially does nothing for me.
Okay, I think my rant is over. I'm sorry to be negative. I still do feel really greatful for the lack of life-threatening complications and the great correction. But, to all the Lenke lovers out there, the team is not perfect! I would still go back to him again, but I think this forum tends to overly inflate him sometimes. It is still a massive, difficult surgery that has a high potential for complications and a long recovery, no matter who your surgeon is.
Best,
Evelyn
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