Judy hope surgery went perfectly!!!

mmglobal · #1 (**permalink**) 09-22-2013, 10:52 PM

Judy, I'm so sorry that you are 'counting the hours in pain'. These surgeries are so difficult to recover from.

I couldn't make it last week, but I'm still thinking about a visit. We'll talk later this week.

All the best,

Mark

jsewell · #2 (**permalink**) 09-25-2013, 02:26 AM

Thanks Mark anytime would be fine. I'm here. I saw my surgeon yesterday , he took and x-ray and no change since the surgery, which is good. Everything has stayed in its place. He does not want to do the posterior surgery and i don;t want to have it either. He just will do it if he absolutely has to.
I had some cracks from the anterior surgery and i think my whole lumbar spine scares him, I didn['t have my glasses with me at the appointment or i would be more scared as well.
Myorders are to take gabapentin for my horrendous nerve pain, medrol dose pak for inflammation , maybe even reduce the foot drop and to stay in bed. He doesn't even want me walking in the house much, only what i have to . All of that is such a challenge. I feel my muscles melting away.
judy

Maria · #3 (**permalink**) 09-25-2013, 01:57 PM

I hope it will do for you what it did for me when I had horrendous burning pain that went from my waist area down buttocks, down legs and into feet at times. It was really gnawing and nearly intolerable until I started the gab which muted it extremely well. I took that for 12 years (I had the pain for 17 years actually but the first 5 I used Elavil for it until into Pain Management and switched to Gabapentin).

What did your doc mean by cracks? In your lumbar spine? Created by hardware or just natural condition of your spine (I have osteoporosis so that's why I'm wondering)?

Ok Judy it's super tough to stay in bed esp when you have things to do Will Becka be there to help you out or your son?

Are you getting caught up in any old or new TV programs while hanging out (that's what I did when my feet had me hanging out on the sofa for months). I love Downton Abby and watched all seasons of that on Netflix and a few other PBS programs.

take care and be good! Maria

jsewell · #4 (**permalink**) 09-26-2013, 01:35 AM

Maria,
My surgeon meant fractures occured during the last surgery. They don't use hardwear on anterior surgery to my knowledge. They do use it for posterior so that is why he is so hesitant to go there. I think if you just touch my lumbar spine it fractures.
I've only been on the gabapentin for 24 hours and the relief is very good . I am not so sure how you can live with the dizziness and feeling out of it. Or does that go away fast?
I had left a message with my surgeon about my foot drop and he called me last night. so it is too early to do the EMG . It takes about 6 -8 weeks i think he said to show anything that has happened. Weird, but i also heard that same thing from my pain management doc today. You read that the sooner it gets fixed the better chance of recovery and yet it can't even be tested yet . I am already sick of being in bed all the time, but haven't turned the TV on yet. it is behind a chair i will have to get Tim to get it out for me some day .
Judy

Maria · #5 (**permalink**) 09-26-2013, 01:35 PM

At first I was prescribed 2400 mg/day but that was too much so I cut down to 1800/day and that worked out fine for me. Back when I started it I was advised not to go anywhere or do anything for about the first 2 weeks on it and by then I adjusted to it. At first I felt "stoned!" I think I may have even had the munchies! I was taking Gabapentin 3 years before I started taking the pain medication and now that I recall it was my OSS that started me on it because I hadn't gone to PM until 2001.

When I added in the opioid pain med I recall nodding out a lot especially if it was really warm and sunny or a hot day. In fact I couldn't put anything on the stove and walk away from it because I'd fall asleep if I sat down for a minute and would wake up to a smoke alarm going off!

I think being on bedrest is difficult but it seems I've gotten used to it a number of times when I've had to which has been more times than I'd like to count.

That's interesting about the foot drop. I guess you have to wait because of the surgery and swelling and inflammation that might be going on giving a temporary footdrop even tho you had it going into surgery.

I guess if I had a fusion (which I don't want) since I have osteoporosis I might not be a candidate for a posterior approach either.

jsewell · #6 (**permalink**) 09-27-2013, 02:50 PM

My wonderful gabapentin seems to have lost its punch already. I was started on 300mg 3x day. He told me to increase every 2 days by 1 pill. Never said when to stop. I did go up to 300mg x4. THe pain is not as bad as before, but it is not as good as my first 2 days on gab. I guess i will call today and see how to titrate up from here., Makes more sense to go to 600mg maybe 3 times per day. I don't have to worry about doing anything as i am not. the kids have trashed the kitchen so i don't even go near there. someone couldn't close the top rack of the dishwasher so they just jammed it in and now it is stuck . i really want to try to unjam it but know i shouldn't so i guess i need to call a repair man.
foot drop is still there
judy

Maria · #7 (**permalink**) 09-27-2013, 03:03 PM

I think but am not sure the top dose is 3200mg/day. I was snowed at 2400mg so hence dropping it back to 1800mg/day and that worked out great for me. Some days were bad anyway like bad back days are .. and some much better. When I added the Methadone 3 years later that really actually complimented the Neurontin (gab) quite well.

Don't you dare touch that dishwasher rack!!!! Repair man can probably put it right pretty easily w/o hurting himself.