Question about long term pain in my post op daughter

[BarbaraJ]

I haven't posted in a very long time but I need some advice. My daughter is almost 21. She is 6 years post op. She has had pain in her rib hump area since the surgery. We have been to her original orthopedist, 2 pain specialist, a chiropractor, a neurologist, accupuncture, physical therapy and trigger point therapy.The trigger point did help but it was $75 a session and the relief only lasted a little while.Nothing else has helped and she takes pain meds on a daily basis. Now this past year her pain has shifted to the other side of her back. It is very strange. I just want her off the pain meds and to be pain free. Am I asking for too much
What kind of doctor should we see? Another orthopedist? She recently had an MRI and it didn't show anything out of place.. I think it is muscular but what do I know. These doctors say it will go away on it's own. It's been 6 years.

Any idea's??? Thanks!!

Barbara
mother of 2 post op daughters

[titaniumed]

Barbara

No your not asking too much. Getting off meds should be a goal.....

Maybe a Doctor switch is needed. Of course, an excellent scoliosis surgeon would be my pick.

Hot water, in a bath tub or hot tub is the easiest way to help with pain....I like 106 to 108 degrees. That’s HOT! Always drink plenty of water when doing this as you lose quite a bit of water in a short period of time.

Ed

[kennedy]

I argee with ed. the goal is to be off pain meds

[LaurieAnne]

Hi Barbara,

I too am still having rib hump pain in addition to low back/sacral pain but I am only 6.5 months post op. I have been doing physical therapy which has NOT helped the rib pain. My PT referred me to a licensed medical massage therapist that does myofacial release. After the first session the left side of my low back was significantly improved. My rib pain has also been better. It's a bit pricey ($60 per hour, $40 per half hour) but so far the pain relief has been fairly well maintained (I saw the therapist June 29th) despite my VERY crazy weekend - 12 hours in the car, painting and cleaning a new house :0 Anyway, it might be something to try as I have found some relief. I have another appointment July 15th. She said that once the fascia is released it doesn't kink back like a muscle and therefore maintains its new state. The therapy wasn't too bad either, uncomfortable at times but worth it. I hope you can find someone in your area to try and that it gets better for your daughter very soon!

[LindaRacine]

If the pain is due to soft tissue, an orthopaedist is not the correct doctor to see. I think in most cases, they know a lot less about soft tissue than good physical therapists. My recommendation would be to try to find someone who specializes in patients who have had back surgery.

Regards,
Linda

[titaniumed]

That’s what I like about a “scoliosis center” like UCSF, or HSS. These leading hospitals have all the people available, all experts in their fields that are directed by a particular scoliosis surgeon, that cater to scoliosis. It is a scoliosis problem.

If, after all diagnostic tests are performed, and its decided that no surgical intervention is needed, then the next step is decided by that surgeon or surgeons. If there is a soft tissue problem, shouldn’t it be ruled out that it isn’t a particular orthopedic issue first?

When I had my gall attacks, I saw Dr M first. This happened mainly due to the fact that I was tired of driving over to my PCP and giving him $400 for nothing on each visit. I then told the insurance company to switch my PCP to Dr M, it made thing’s so much easier. Since I thought I might have had an incisional hernia from my anterior, I let him decide how to direct, who to go and see next, rather than my GP, who uses a PA, who essentially deals drugs. My complications originated from my scoliosis surgeries, and I’m glad that I skipped the “Doctor tour”. Who knows where I would have been sent next?

Yes, an orthopedist might not be the best for soft tissue problems, but scoliosis surgeons do know the most about scoliosis related problems and it makes sense to have them direct when they feel that they cannot help the patient. I guess I feel that the people in the chain need to be directed properly, directed to the best people that have experience working with scoliosis patients. I have had PT people look at me and kind of panic, I would ask them if they had any experience with someone like me, and they admitted that they didn’t. These kinds of things are learned through experience. Oh boy! A good PT is worth their weight in gold. Usually, scoli surgeons know who they are.

We have seen where scoli surgeons will not continue. They say everything is fine, live with it, and wont go down the road any farther. John would agree. FLT would agree. Sometimes its best to move on......

6 years is a long time and especially at her age.

Ed

[Pooka1]

Have they ruled out infection? Isn't that a likely if not most likely explanation at this point?

Good luck.

[BarbaraJ]

Everyone, thank you for your responses. I have made an appointment with the myofacial triggerpoint specialist. That was the only treatment that gave her any relief, so we will try that again.

Thanks again

Barbara

[BarbaraJ]

Best Orthopedist in Pittsburgh

We tried the trigger point therapy but it is not enough. We would like to see an orthopedic surgeon. Does anyone know of a good one in the Pittsburgh area? The Doc who did her original surgery is only Pediatric.

Thanks again

Barbara

[Pooka1]

We tried the trigger point therapy but it is not enough. We would like to see an orthopedic surgeon. Does anyone know of a good one in the Pittsburgh area? The Doc who did her original surgery is only Pediatric.

Thanks again

Barbara

Although I think you should go with the best revision guy you can find, I just wanted to say that you might ask your surgeon if he follows his patients after 18. I was very surprised to learn on our last visit to the pediatric surgeon when he released the second of my two kids that he would continue to see them after 18 if they ever had a problem. He said his patients never age out even though he is a pediatric surgeon.

You might ask your surgeon if he would still see her if you want.

[Pooka1]

Oh sorry, I see you mentioned you went to the original guy.

Best to find a great revision guy at this point. Others will hopefully chime in on who is in your area.

Good luck.