Decompression surgery post-op question ?

February 14, 2009

Hi,

I am 4 weeks,almost 5 weeks (1 mth) post-op decompression surgery. I

am still having bad neck pain and tightness in the afternoon and

evening. And some bad headaches at night too.

My question is...How long was it before your neck pain improved or went

away?

That question is for others' who have had decompression surgery. I

realize mine might not go away completely but hope it will lessen up so

I can just take Motrin as needed. I still have to take a strong pain

med in afternoon and nighttime. Thanks for your help!!!

February 14, 2009

I

Hi ,

I made sure I kept to the same routine of medication/analgesia I was having in

Hospital for the first 2-3 weeks, gradually decreasing as my pain reduced.

It is important to cover the full 24 hours, so that you are having as much as

possible total pain relief thus allowing your neck etc... to recover.

Pain is very draining and thus reduces our ability to recover unless it is well

controlled.

I was feeling somewhat confused with all of the analgesia, so I had the Pharmacy

put my meds into a blister pac so that I knew,

1. if I had taken the analgesia already and

2. which particular medication I was suppose to be taking. I was on Tramadol,

Panadeine Forte, and something else, I cant remember now, but they were all to

be taken at different times.

I also did very gentle neck exercises' several times ago when I remembered to

do so. I had 2 soft pillows (feather down) that I always slept on or travelled

with.

I would say for the first 3-4 weeks I slept more then I was awake, I just went

with the flow of my own body telling me what it wanted to do. It is also vey

important to keep well hydrated, thus reducing the chance of severe headaches

happening. My surgery was in the middle of Summer, and I actually was admitted

to hospital one night at 3 a.m. with the most severest headache I had ever

imagined ( similar to the one I woke up with post op), because despite all my

efforts I still became a little dehydrated............IV fluids and a shot of

Pethedine 50mg IMI, I recovered and went home again.........never to return

again!!!

Your neck tightness would certainly benefit from VERY gentle neck

exercises......gently move your head from left to right and then up and

down..............only as far as you feel comfortable doing it. Do this often

during the day and you will notice how much movement you eventually begin to

get.

Being only 4-5 weeks post op, you still probably need your (soft) pillow to

support you neck and protect you suture line whilst you are sitting up.

Hope this helps, feel free to ask me any thing else if you wish to.

Biddy.

PFD & Partial Laminectomy and Cranietomy 2006.