Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Meds not working

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Meds not working

    My surgeon has tried many meds on me for my chronic pain in my right quadricep - none of which have worked. I just text messaged him telling him that I'm now feeling very depressed, the pain is not going away, walking is getting harder and harder, all I want to do is sleep, and my quality of life is not good right now. I asked him should I have a CT scan? He answered back immediately and said that he is getting his secretary to set up a CT scan for me when he sees her tomorrow. My question to anyone on here that may know - what worries me is - if no meds are working - does that mean that they may have to open me up again? What can a CT scan tell them? I mean if no meds are working what else can help me at this stage? I don't think I could stand it if I was told that I had to go back in to hospital to be re-opened up and have something else done. Any input from any of you knowledgeable people on here would be most appreciated right now. Thanks in advance.
    Lynette - 44 years old.

    Pre-surgery thoracic 55 degrees
    Pre-surgery lumbar 85 degrees

    Post-surgery thoracic 19 degrees
    Post-surgery lumbar 27 degrees

    Surgery April 1st 2010.

    Posterior spinal fusion from T9 to sacrum.
    Dr. Cronen at University Community Hospital - Tampa, FL.

  • #2
    Can't you go to the ER and get some stronger IV meds, or re-admit to the hospital for pain control until they figure this out? I'm so sorry you are going through this. I hope they figure it out SOON!
    Be happy!
    We don't know what tomorrow brings,
    but we are alive today!

    Comment


    • #3
      But that's the whole point - I don't want to go near a hospital again. I don't mind going round the corner to the MRI place to get the CT scan to find out what's going on, but I can't stand this constant searing pain in my quadricep to the point that I can't bend my knee. Sitting reading stories to my kids or helping them with homework brings tears to my eyes because of the pain in my leg. I don't want to go to the ER to not only to end up with IV's again (I hate them) but also the high cost of ER visits too. I don't want to be away from my kids again. Just hoping and praying my doc won't need to open me up again for whatever reason they may find on CT scan.
      Lynette - 44 years old.

      Pre-surgery thoracic 55 degrees
      Pre-surgery lumbar 85 degrees

      Post-surgery thoracic 19 degrees
      Post-surgery lumbar 27 degrees

      Surgery April 1st 2010.

      Posterior spinal fusion from T9 to sacrum.
      Dr. Cronen at University Community Hospital - Tampa, FL.

      Comment


      • #4
        I'm sorry you are having such a bad experience. I know you don't want to go to the ER, but that doesn't mean you have to stay there. Maybe they could just give you something to get you through the night until you can have your CT scan tomorrow. Surely the poke of a shot isn't as bad as what you are enduring. You don't have insurance to help pay for the ER? They still can't refuse you. I surely hope you get through this okay. Hugs to make you feel better ((((HUGS)))).
        Be happy!
        We don't know what tomorrow brings,
        but we are alive today!

        Comment


        • #5
          Very, very sorry to hear this Lynette. Wish I knew what to suggest. I hope you get some answers soon or better still, a sudden or even gradual reduction in the pain. It's hard not knowing what it is, but the ct scan should at least solve that problem.
          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


          • #6
            Lynette, I'm so sorry that you're struggling with this. There has to be something that will relieve the pain, an injection or some other procedure. I'm glad that Dr. Lenke responded so quickly to your text. I hope the night is easier for you. Keep us posted! Joy

            Comment


            • #7
              Lynette

              Some cts do require an IV. I had to have one where they used visiplaque, so they can see things like nerves better. I was in and out in about an hour.

              This is so unexpected, but then again scoliosis surgery is serious surgery and complications can occur. Hopefully, the complications are small, and delt with quickly and easily. You will get this ironed out..

              I don’t blame you about going back to a hospital again. It can grow old. Sometimes we have to do what we have to do and in the end it always works out.
              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


              • #8
                So sorry, Lynnette!

                Did he at least rule out a DVT (embolism)? I think it can be done by ultrasound. VERY out-patient and not too pricey nor any radiation.

                Best of luck and sympathies about your little ones. I remember being quite sick when my first son was two and we both cried for each other when I was away.

                Amanda
                Not all diagnosed (still having tests and consults) but so far:
                Ehler-Danlos (hyper-mobility) syndrome, 69 - somehow,
                main curve L Cobb 60, compensating T curve ~ 30
                Flat back, marked lumbar kyphosis (grade?) Spondilolisthesis - everyone gives this a different grade too. Cervical stenosis op'd 3-07, minimally invasive

                Comment


                • #9
                  Hi Lynnette,

                  Is your brace still digging into your leg? I had some weird painful areas for the first few months.

                  Don't let yourself get too depressed. Tell your Dr. that you are depressed, please don't let it go as long as I did. It's not good for you mentally or physically, and I think it can slow down the healing process.

                  Just my opinion.
                  Shari

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Shari - it's not from the brace. It's right on my quadricep in one spot. My surgeon remembers me waking up from anaesthesia in severe pain in the same spot - and it's just never gone away. I'm lying awake right now in pain. Dr. Cronen has been great with responding immediately to me each time. I just wondered if anyone on here like Ed, or Linda has ever heard of anything like this before. Where the pain is severe in one spot on the quad and never goes away, and what the solution has been? Has it required perhaps more surgery? Or perhaps some other kind of therapy?
                    Lynette - 44 years old.

                    Pre-surgery thoracic 55 degrees
                    Pre-surgery lumbar 85 degrees

                    Post-surgery thoracic 19 degrees
                    Post-surgery lumbar 27 degrees

                    Surgery April 1st 2010.

                    Posterior spinal fusion from T9 to sacrum.
                    Dr. Cronen at University Community Hospital - Tampa, FL.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Hi Lynette. It's probably the wee hours where you are and you're lying awake in pain, which is awful. I'm sure it's impossible to look past this and see that this too, will pass. But it will. I know that's no help right now. Good luck with the ct scan. I'm glad you've got a good surgeon who's willing to help you overcome problems. I hope that's very soon.
                      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


                      • #12
                        Meds not working

                        Hi Lynette,
                        I see that your surgery is very recent and although my pain was not in my thigh I was in excruciating pain after surgery and in the first 4 weeks. It still scares me. Nothing was wrong with any part of the surgery. Apparently the Oxycodone family of drugs did not work for me and that was what I was discharged on It was recommended I go to a pain specialist, and he prescribed a Fenatanal patch. I immediately felt better but after the 3rd patch I became delusional according to my family and visiting nurse and did have to be readmitted for 3 days to regulate and change my meds. The hospital had their pain management group see me and that worked. Turned out morphine and hydrocodones worked best for me and I had seen a very nasty pain control DR in my town. After waiting 3 hours in his waiting room I had to be placed on a stretcher and he probably prescribed too high a dose. My surgeon prescribed for me once I was off the morphine (about
                        2 months) and then my primary took over. On the morphine my pain was relieved and I felt great. They did do x-rays while I was in the hospital to rule things out but everything was fine. I do wish I had some one sleep in the room with me during this hospitalization because I was terrified, but it all worked out well. I think you need to see a pain management group recommended by your surgeon or DR you trust. Intractable pain is the worst!!! Hope this helps.
                        Diane
                        ant./post. fusion Jan. '06
                        T3- sacrum
                        dbl.curve, T47,L43

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Hi, Lynette.
                          I'm just checking in on you. I hope you are getting things resolved today. I hope you are getting the pain relief you need and are just resting... You have a wonderful family there with you that cares about you. Children, at least from my experience, can be the best "nurses". My kids have always been GREAT little helpers when I was down. And with your mom there to supervise things. Don't feel bad, and I know you do. But you would do the same in taking care of any one of them. That's what families do for each other. Rest well, I hope!
                          Be happy!
                          We don't know what tomorrow brings,
                          but we are alive today!

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Lynette -- I'm looking forward to hearing how things went for you today. I do hope you got some answers and some relief.

                            Glenda
                            Glenda
                            Age 66 Georgia (63 at time of surgery)
                            Bi-lateral laminectomy 2006
                            Kyphoscoliosis, approx 38* lumbar scoliosis, stenosis, disk herniations, lower back and hip pain, w/radiating pain, stinging and numbness in legs.
                            A/P fusion (T10-S2) 5/17/10 and 5/20/10
                            Dr Yoon, Emory Orthopaedic and Spine Hospital, Atlanta, GA
                            Pleased with outcome

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              I found out today that I'm going to be getting a Myelogram CT scan to find out what's going on - they are just waiting to get the go-ahead from my insurance to and then they can set up the date and time. Anyone else on here ever had a myelogram before? My brother thinks that either it's just swelling in my back causing the nerve in my sciatic to cause this pain which in a few weeks will go away, or else it could be something more serious which could mean more surgery which I hope and pray is not the case. He thinks it will just be swelling, and that in a few weeks time, the pain will go away, I hope that is the case. So anyway, that is what's going on right now. I hate feeling so low in myself, and I hate that can do so little exercise right now and so little walking due to the pain in my leg. I feel like a helpless blob . I'm still going to let my mum go home this weekend and try to take care of my boys on my own at the end of this coming weekend, as the boys (even though they love my mum) are fed up of her being here, they resent her telling them what to do. She tends to take over being like their mum, and they hate that when I'm around, and of course I appreciate everything she does for me, and I try to teach them how we need to appreciate everything that nana does for us, but at this point, I need to try to get on with taking care of the boys, and giving my mum a break and getting as much normalcy back in my home as I can. The hard part is the fact that I'm so tired all the time, however, the boys will now have to help me a lot more than they were before, and now they'll really see how much nana was doing for us

                              Hope everyone else is doing well, and recovering well after your surgeries if you've just had your surgeries, and I wish you all the best of luck if you're about to have your surgeries coming up.

                              Take care for now.
                              Lynette - 44 years old.

                              Pre-surgery thoracic 55 degrees
                              Pre-surgery lumbar 85 degrees

                              Post-surgery thoracic 19 degrees
                              Post-surgery lumbar 27 degrees

                              Surgery April 1st 2010.

                              Posterior spinal fusion from T9 to sacrum.
                              Dr. Cronen at University Community Hospital - Tampa, FL.

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X