Nerve damage - Shoulder Pain? LONG

[Guest guest]

Aw you guys.....I had a terrible day yesterday. As I had weaned

myself off the narcotic (liquid Roxicodone) as of last weekend (1+

week post op) so I could drive and because it seemed un-necessary, I

was still taking 600mg Ibuprofen every 6 hours as needed.

I began to notice a sharp stabbing pain (unlike the gas bubbly

pain) in my left shoulder, continuing to worsen, coming in waves, as

this last week progressed. Maybe it was because I was more active,

but it was just as bad at night - or worse!

By yesterday morning it had reached a level that the ibuprofen

didn't even soften it in the slightest. I called TCC and they said

it was just the gas, not to worry, take motrin and call them Monday

if it was still bothering me and they would get me in on Wed.

I don't think they understood that I couldn't sleep and the level of

pain. I called my internist and she said that pain in the shoulder

that is untouched by medication sounds like Gall Bladder and to get

to the hospital for tests.

The hospital Dr.'s confirmed that any gasses from the surgery would

have left my body within 48 hours. I also made sure to tell them

that I don't mind pain that is getting better...but pains that get

increasingly WORSE worry me.

Nine (9) hours later after x-ray, cat scan, blood test, EKG....they

said that if the pain had been in my other shoulder (right) then it

would be likely Gall Bladder and not unusual for after surgery. But,

at least they didn't find any infection or anything life-threatening

(ie. blood clots etc). They said that pains in the diaphram send

their pain reacting sensors to the shoulder ....so more than likely a

nerve had been damaged during the surgery. The nerves heal

themselves very slowly at the rate of 1 " /month.

I was given a prescription of Lortab 10/500 - supposedly one of

the strongest pain killers available and whe I got home it didn't

even touch the pain. They said I could still take the 600mg

ibuprofen which I did. My husband was reading on the internet that a

shot of wine would intensify the effects of the Lortab...so even

though I am NOT a drinker, I downed a bit. After 4 hours I took som

liquid Roxycodone....and finally about 3am the pain began to back off.

I know this has been TOO LONG and I apologize - but has anyone

suffered this. It is a huge setback for me.

Joy

[Guest guest]

Joy, this post isn't long -- I've written SHORT ones that are longer than

this!

That said, I can't give any info on nerve damage, but one thing you might

want to think about is.... dare I say it?...... " spasms " or NCCP. I'm

sure you've seen it mentioned how some people who had NCCPs prior to

surgery stopped having them after, and some people who didn't have NCCPs

prior to surgery all of a sudden start having them afterwards, etc. Well,

it might be possible that your NCCPs have " moved " after the surgery.

We've had people in this group experience NCCPs in almost every region of

the torso above the belly button -- sternum, ribs, shoulders, back, neck,

mouth/jaw/tongue/teeth, etc. Have you ever tried any of the " smooth

muscle relaxer " drugs? (like nitro or nifedipine) Or maybe one of the

serotonin-affecting drugs? (like paxil or ativan or amitryptaline or

nortryptaline)

And come to think of it, there's a theory out there that our NCCPs are

similar to the " phantom pain " that amputees feel (painful sensations in

the limb that isn't there anymore), also called " nerve pain " . So even if

the pain isn't a mis-directed NCCP but rather is due to nerve damage, you

may find relief in one of the drugs that are used for phantom pain

(various antidepressants and anticonvulsants).

If you can get your doc to phone you in a scrip on a Saturday, you might

want to try a LOW dose of nortryptaline just to see if it works (a member

of this group from northern Michigan spent numerous nights in the ER due

to severe NCCPs, and they all but disappeared after she went on once-a-day

nortryptaline). The dose that is given is usually lower than what is

normally given for treatment of depression -- it's just enough to calm

down whatever is misfiring in the nerves/brain.

I hope you find something that helps soon!!!

Debbi

[Guest guest]

Sorry to hear about your pain Joy! Hope you find relief soon. Debbi may have the answer for you. I did not have endoscopic surgery and have not had NCCP for a very long time, but I think she might have a good point.

Hugs,

Joan

Nerve damage - Shoulder Pain? LONG

Aw you guys.....I had a terrible day yesterday. As I had weaned myself off the narcotic (liquid Roxicodone) as of last weekend (1+ week post op) so I could drive and because it seemed un-necessary, I was still taking 600mg Ibuprofen every 6 hours as needed. I began to notice a sharp stabbing pain (unlike the gas bubbly pain) in my left shoulder, continuing to worsen, coming in waves, as this last week progressed. Maybe it was because I was more active, but it was just as bad at night - or worse! By yesterday morning it had reached a level that the ibuprofen didn't even soften it in the slightest. I called TCC and they said it was just the gas, not to worry, take motrin and call them Monday if it was still bothering me and they would get me in on Wed.I don't think they understood that I couldn't sleep and the level of pain. I called my internist and she said that pain in the shoulder that is untouched by medication sounds like Gall Bladder and to get to the hospital for tests. The hospital Dr.'s confirmed that any gasses from the surgery would have left my body within 48 hours. I also made sure to tell them that I don't mind pain that is getting better...but pains that get increasingly WORSE worry me. Nine (9) hours later after x-ray, cat scan, blood test, EKG....they said that if the pain had been in my other shoulder (right) then it would be likely Gall Bladder and not unusual for after surgery. But, at least they didn't find any infection or anything life-threatening (ie. blood clots etc). They said that pains in the diaphram send their pain reacting sensors to the shoulder ....so more than likely a nerve had been damaged during the surgery. The nerves heal themselves very slowly at the rate of 1"/month. I was given a prescription of Lortab 10/500 - supposedly one of the strongest pain killers available and whe I got home it didn't even touch the pain. They said I could still take the 600mg ibuprofen which I did. My husband was reading on the internet that a shot of wine would intensify the effects of the Lortab...so even though I am NOT a drinker, I downed a bit. After 4 hours I took som liquid Roxycodone....and finally about 3am the pain began to back off. I know this has been TOO LONG and I apologize - but has anyone suffered this. It is a huge setback for me.Joy

[Guest guest]

Jan wrote... Are you going to call TCC again or see your local doctor

for testing to see what it might be?

Hi Jan,

I probably will just follow up with my internist on Monday, because

I don't want to get stuck on pain killers for more than a couple days.

I can't immagine that TCC can do any tests than they already just

did. They didn't find anything.

Joy