Re: 1st decompression

[Guest guest]

Debbie, Congratulations!!! You will see that you will be improving later on

as your body heals and recuperates all the time lost!!! So please think this

is just the begining of your healing.

Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:45:41 -0000

To: < >

Subject: 1st decompression

I had my first decompression surgery on July 18th. The first few days I

don't remember a whole lot except being told I had to stay flat and not

move, the intense nausea, and thinking " why the heck did I do this?!? "

But then by the end of that 3rd day things started to get a bit better and

remember why. Anyhow, every day I was being asked if I noticed improvement

with any of my symptoms which made me worry that I wasn't doing as well as I

should be. But I tried to remind myself of the support I receive here and

others experiences. That it is a gradual healing process and it would take

time. I have noticed a slight improvement in my bladder & digestive issues

but nothing to write home about just yet Ironically those are issues that

I have had for almost 15 years and never thought much of even though they

seemed to worsen with the increase of my other symptoms.

So I'm trying to take it easy and remain positive. It's hard to be taken

care of when you have always been the one to take care of everyone else. I

can honestly say that so far my worst day post-op has still been better than

my worst day pre-op. And if that is as good as it gets than I can still be

thankful for that.

Another positive that has come out of this surgery is that my husband

started doing his own research and (even though everything he is learning

are all things I tried to explain to him before) realizing what it's been

like for me and more importantly that there is no actual " cure " for ACM.

I am curious to know from those who have had the surgery if you experienced

something that I am now. I've noticed since I've been home from the hospital

that when I am resting and my body is very relaxed that I'm having

involuntary muscle twitching. The kind that actually makes whatever part of

the body they are in move or jump. I have a lot of them within minutes of

each other. Of course I forgot to ask Dr. H about them the other day when I

had my staples removed :/ I'm wondering if it's just the nerves reacting to

their new space? I also get very shaky feeling and weak sometimes.

Anyhow, in doing the surgery Dr. H found that I did indeed have some nerves

that were being compressed even though none of the tests he did showed it.

My husband said he almost seemed apologetic when he gave him this news

because Dr. H was never really convinced that my mere 7mm ACM was the cause

of all my symptoms even though they were all consistent with ACM. So

basically he found the validation for my symptoms even though they didn't

show on any of the tests.

Debbie

[Guest guest]

Hi Debra,

Yes, I still do have some of those muscle twitches and spasms, electric shocks.

I do know that each person is different so maybe your muscles and nerves will

heal to a point that they will be less frequent.

Further into your healing and if Dr. H. thinks it might help, I use a TENS unit

to help with that. Physical therapists usually order them and sometimes they can

stimulate the nervous system to shape up! They aren't for everyone so this

isn't medical advice just something to discuss with your doctor:)

Blessings in your recovery,

Holmes