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  • Hip pain

    Hip pain, and I don't mean the cool beatnik Jack Kerouack type. My surgery was April 8 I have been fused from T3 to S1 with pelvic fixation bilaterally. The pain I feel in my back is almost the same as the bad pain I would feel before surgery only this time it is healing pain and I knew I would feel this way so I'm happy about it. I really feel good in almost every other way.My main concern is the pain I have in my right hip it makes walking standing and sitting upright really difficult and painful. Before I left the hospital the doctors were concerned with blood clots so I had an x-ray sonogram and a CAT scan just to make sure the hip pain wasn't anything major. Needless to say it all came back negative so now I just feel like a big cry baby. Am I expecting too much? I just want to be able to do a lap around my house and walk a little bit without excruciating pain. Has anybody ever heard about a hip fixation having to be changed or revised or moved or removed or anything? I'm actually pretty nervous about going to the city for my three week check up well actually six weeks but I'll be three weeks the logistics of getting in and out of that office with this pain is scary. Again any advice is greatly appreciated and thank you in advance you guys rock.
    Cathy
    2 sons, one Syracuse University graduate (working for the Mets now), one college sophomore, one great husband and two fabulous cats
    54 years old March 5
    AIS 45 degrees Thoracic at 14, Milwaukee brace for one year in 1977 then in 2012 I found Dr. Baron Lonner ❤️
    Surgery April 8 2015
    Presurgical curves T77 L66
    Post surgical T27 L22
    Fused T3-S1 pelvic fixation, osteotomies and all the other stuff but you know what? It's done...

  • #2
    All I can say is, in those early days, I felt a little better, a little stronger every day. But at three weeks I was still pretty much a basket case. Can you postpone it for a couple of weeks - do you want to postpone it or are you concerned about the hip? It was my tailbone that hurt me, my pelvic fixation hasn't been a bother. Everyone's different and everyone's recovery is different but it's natural to worry about these things. I can only try to reassure you that, if everything's as it should be, you will improve as time goes on. Best of luck!
    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


    • #3
      Hi...

      You need to let Dr. Lonner know that the hip pain is severely restricting your walking. Once all of the spine issues have been ruled out, you probably need to be seen by a hip specialist ASAP.

      Good luck. Hope you get a diagnosis quickly.

      --Linda
      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


      • #4
        Hi Cathy,

        I had right hip and leg pain after the surgery, but doctors knew why. Right illiac screw was placed too deep and it was hitting some nerve. I wouldn't say it was excruciating though. Dr. Hu said that if it doesn't improve, they can take that illiac screw out. I never took the screw out and pain is gone. Sometimes, when I overdo things, it bothers me a little, but it happens rarely.

        Hope your pain goes away too. Best of luck with your recovery.
        I am stronger than scoliosis, and won't let it rule my life!
        45 years old - diagnosed at age 7
        A/P surgery on March 5/7, 2013 - UCSF

        Comment


        • #5
          Better

          Thank you everybody for your responses the pain has gotten much better Dr. Lonner never expected it to be anything other then basic surgical hip pain. I guess the guy just is always right because it went away it's less I'm able to walk and sit some I do have pain so I use lidocaine patches but I am definitely better. My next problem is they are trying to wean me off of the OxyContin they're telling me I have like two weeks left of OxyContin I'll have the oxycodone the gabapentin and the Valium longer so what I've been trying to do is take half of the OxyContin during the day and a whole one at night. Sometimes it works sometimes I wake up in so much pain that I take a whole one. I'm just so afraid he going to take it away from me. What is the average time you guys have stayed on the OxyContin not the other ones but just that one particularly. Before the surgery I never took any narcotics of any kind, strongest thing ever took was extra strength Tylenol. Any advice is welcome thank you advance.
          Cathy
          2 sons, one Syracuse University graduate (working for the Mets now), one college sophomore, one great husband and two fabulous cats
          54 years old March 5
          AIS 45 degrees Thoracic at 14, Milwaukee brace for one year in 1977 then in 2012 I found Dr. Baron Lonner ❤️
          Surgery April 8 2015
          Presurgical curves T77 L66
          Post surgical T27 L22
          Fused T3-S1 pelvic fixation, osteotomies and all the other stuff but you know what? It's done...

          Comment


          • #6
            Cathy-- I think different surgeons prescribe different meds and different dosages. The strongest pain med I was on after surgery was hydrocodone 10/325. I also took valium. After I started getting leg pains, I also took neurontin for nerve pain... I gradually weaned down on dosage and how often I took the meds until I was off of everything at 5 months except for occasional tramadol. I know I took pain meds longer than most, but I may rationalize that by saying I had osteotomies and a long fusion, and that weaning off of the brace that last month was also difficult. It's interesting how your muscles atrophy with a brace, although I know my surgeon didn't usually have people wear braces but felt I needed one. I am glad I wore one because I am sure he was correct with my need for it. There is a fine line, as it was explained to me, between controlling pain and yet being able to be in control of your life. You don't want the pain meds to control you. I never felt that way. And I also never felt completely without pain, but the pain was controlled and ok. I don't know if I'm explaining it very well... Maybe others will chime in with different feelings and maybe others don't agree with what I'm saying. Best wishes as you recover.
            71 and plugging along... but having some problems
            2007 52° w/ severe lumbar stenosis & L2L3 lateral listhesis (side shift)
            5/4/07 posterior fusion T2-L4 w/ laminectomies and osteotomies @L2L3, L3L4
            Dr. Kim Hammerberg, Rush Univ. Medical Center in Chicago

            Corrected to 15°
            CMT (type 2) DX in 2014, progressing
            10/2018 x-rays - spondylolisthesis at L4/L5 - Dr. DeWald is monitoring

            Click to view my pics: pics of scoli x-rays digital x-rays, and pics of me

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by cathydrew View Post
              Thank you everybody for your responses the pain has gotten much better Dr. Lonner never expected it to be anything other then basic surgical hip pain. I guess the guy just is always right because it went away it's less I'm able to walk and sit some I do have pain so I use lidocaine patches but I am definitely better. My next problem is they are trying to wean me off of the OxyContin they're telling me I have like two weeks left of OxyContin I'll have the oxycodone the gabapentin and the Valium longer so what I've been trying to do is take half of the OxyContin during the day and a whole one at night. Sometimes it works sometimes I wake up in so much pain that I take a whole one. I'm just so afraid he going to take it away from me. What is the average time you guys have stayed on the OxyContin not the other ones but just that one particularly. Before the surgery I never took any narcotics of any kind, strongest thing ever took was extra strength Tylenol. Any advice is welcome thank you advance.
              I can't remember how long I was on OxyContin -probably due to BEING on OxyContin :-)

              But, my surgeon had given me prescriptions for both long and short acting opiods before leaving the hospital. OxyContin is long acting and as you recover, you generally stop the long acting and take short acting as needed. I went from BOTH Oxycontin And Percocet to tylenol with hydrocodone 10/325, then to hydrocodone 5/325. If you pain is severe, you can take two of the hydrocodone 5/325.

              At some point fairly early in my recovery, I went through the Percocet faster than they wanted me to and the PA was not happy, but they gave me a refill anyway. Sometimes you just have to ask. I think it would be entirely reasonable for you to ask for a substitute for the Oxycontin such as the hydrocodone. Especially given your hip pain I suspect they would do this. ASK! Patients are all different - one size does not fit all.
              Before 39* lumbar at age 18, progressed to 74* lumbar and 22* thoracic age 55
              ALIF Jan 13, 2015, PLIF Jan 15, 2015 with Dr William Stevens, Honor Health
              Fused T-7 to S-1 with pelvic fixation

              After 38* lumbar

              Xrays
              Before: http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...7&d=1414268930

              After: http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...6&d=1424894360

              Comment


              • #8
                Pain meds

                Originally posted by cathydrew View Post
                Thank you everybody for your responses the pain has gotten much better Dr. Lonner never expected it to be anything other then basic surgical hip pain. I guess the guy just is always right because it went away it's less I'm able to walk and sit some I do have pain so I use lidocaine patches but I am definitely better. My next problem is they are trying to wean me off of the OxyContin they're telling me I have like two weeks left of OxyContin I'll have the oxycodone the gabapentin and the Valium longer so what I've been trying to do is take half of the OxyContin during the day and a whole one at night. Sometimes it works sometimes I wake up in so much pain that I take a whole one. I'm just so afraid he going to take it away from me. What is the average time you guys have stayed on the OxyContin not the other ones but just that one particularly. Before the surgery I never took any narcotics of any kind, strongest thing ever took was extra strength Tylenol. Any advice is welcome thank you advance.
                I've always felt it was really important to set recovery goals (of course with full understanding that ''things'' happen). I hated the feeling that Oxycontin gave me - yes, it helped with the pain but narcotics make you a bit crazy -ie., emotionally erratic - so I was set on getting off it as soon as I felt it was reasonable to do so. I left the hospital on day 7 and began within a couple of days of that to methodically wean myself off the stuff. My goal was to be completely off by 5 weeks. I didn't quite make that goal but I came very close. Somewhere around the 6-7 week mark I was off everything but an occasional Tylenol. For reference, I was fused from T9-sacrum with pelvic fixation. I'm a big believer that feeling a bit of pain is not so terrible. Healing pain is normal and at a certain point should reach tolerable levels. The purpose of the pain meds is to help you function comfortably and for me I would rather feel some of the discomfort than be on meds that restricted me from regaining emotional control and being able to drive again.

                It's really important to find a step down that works for you so you don't have to deal with withdrawal. Best of luck with your recovery!

                Rise

                Comment


                • #9
                  Hi Cathy,
                  It was wonderful to hear from you and your back looks absolutely fantastic!!! Have been checking the forum frequently and looking for posts from/about you. First few weeks are sheer hell for everyone and I think it affects all of us differently. I could sit, I could walk but oh, please don't make me lie down in bed. Seriously, I had more pain trying to lie down and sleep. (Even the nurses in the hospital knew my nights were bad and would get me out of bed first thing.) Was absolutely miserable at night and the only way I could manage to sleep was in a big slippery leather recliner. Had my share of tearful nights pacing the floor. Also had so much discomfort from swelling and fluid retention because they had to give me so much blood. Muscle relaxants helped a little but those first few weeks are just sort of a blur of being miserable. My worst pain was getting up and down from a chair, a toilet seat, whatever. As far as the narcotics, I did not like taking them although I knew I had to. Kicked those bad boys to the street by about the end of the 4th week. Was able to manage on milder stuff after that but there again everyone's different in their needs for pain meds.

                  Glad your hip pain seems to be easing. I still have some residual soreness in my right hip and near my pelvic bone that I think will probably be there forever. Probably a combination of scar tissue and the incredible changes wrought on my muscle tissue. Doesn't really bother me and massage helped tremendously both pre- and post-op. (I know you're a long way from that right now.) Had some issues with the iliac screw on that side which I eventually had removed. I think whatever side was pulled or reconfigured the most is where it tends to be the most painful You just have to keep remembering how much incredible "reconstruction" has happened to your body and the pain can change and move around and it's just going to do its thing for a while.

                  Take one day at a time, try to at least get out and enjoy the nice spring weather when you can. I was recovering during the dead of winter and that can be kind of depressing. If you want to chat sometime, text me or give me a call.

                  You go, girl!!!


                  Anne in PA
                  Age 58
                  Diagnosed at age 14, untreated, no problem until age 50
                  T4 to sacrum fusion
                  63 thoracic now 35, 92 lumbar now 53
                  Dr. Baron Lonner, 2/2/10
                  Am pain-free, balanced, happy & an inch taller !

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Off Oxy

                    No more oxycontin, tramadol 3x with oxycodone for breakthrough pain. I'm doing well. Fell yesterday, I'm fine but used oxy only for knee pain. Still gaba and low dose Valium. I feel good, progress! Thoughts? Trama makes me feel human again.
                    Cathy
                    2 sons, one Syracuse University graduate (working for the Mets now), one college sophomore, one great husband and two fabulous cats
                    54 years old March 5
                    AIS 45 degrees Thoracic at 14, Milwaukee brace for one year in 1977 then in 2012 I found Dr. Baron Lonner ❤️
                    Surgery April 8 2015
                    Presurgical curves T77 L66
                    Post surgical T27 L22
                    Fused T3-S1 pelvic fixation, osteotomies and all the other stuff but you know what? It's done...

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Hi Cathy...

                      I think you may be going through the same thing I did. As I withdrew narcotics, I actually found myself feeling better and better, with less pain. Not everyone reacts like that, but I've definitely seen it before. I think the narcotics work well in the short term, but then they start sort of a rebound effect.

                      Anyway, I'm delighted to hear that you're feeling better.

                      --Linda
                      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


                      • #12
                        Great to hear you're feeling better. And so quickly! You're doing well.
                        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


                        • #13
                          Keep going.........slow reduction.

                          I felt so much better with my smoothies......the nutrition is always of great value, and we need it doing these extensive surgeries. We really get run down in this regard.

                          In a blender....

                          1/2 cup whey protein powder
                          1 yogurt
                          1 banana
                          10 strawberries
                          20 blueberries
                          10 raspberries
                          15 almonds

                          Blend and store in fridge. Re-blend in 10 seconds. Easy Peasy......

                          Buy berries frozen, they last longer that way

                          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

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