Re: Downside of Revision Surgery

[Guest guest]

Hi Carol – my upper back pain is

better – I had pain by my upper right shoulder blade. I do still feel

this pain a little when I wake up in the morning. I think it is just a muscle

that doesn’t realize it is doesn’t have to be stressed out. The

pain works itself out during the day.

I was up out of the hospital bed about 13

days after surgery. But remember I was the one that had breathing

complications after surgery and was intubated twice. After I got off the breathing

tube, I did get better quite quickly. The PT had me use a walker and when I

got home I used a walker for about 5 days. I didn’t really need it but it

was handy just incase. I would definitely recommend the toilet seat riser. I

just gave mine up about 1 month ago. I still have the stool in my shower. I

don’t sit on it but I put my leg up on it to shave my legs. I didn’t

have any trouble getting in and out of cars but I use a regular size pillow

behind my back while driving. The seats are hard and it feels much more

comfortable to have the pillow –

Lorrie Snyder

Surgery 11/8/05

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Carol

Sent: Sunday, September 03, 2006

5:25 PM

Subject: [ ]

Downside of Revision Surgery

I thank everyone who responded to this question. It

has been very

helpful to me. I have a few more questions that I was wondering about:

Any of you " revisees " that had upper back and neck pain/problems

before your revision--did the revision surgery help those problems,

or did the pain continue and you have to have further intervention

and or surgery to help it?

How soon after the surgery can you get yourself up and out of bed (or

a chair) to go to the bathroom by yourself? Did anyone need a walker

or hospital bed? If so, why and how long? I plan on getting the

toilet seat riser, but didn't know if I needed any

further " equipment " .

Did you have trouble getting into and out of cars by yourself? If so,

how long did that last? I believe the question of how soon you can

drive was addressed recently, but could someone put that answer up

again? Did using a trash bag on the seat help with the getting in and

out?

Carol V (CA)

(PS--I might think of more questions later and I will post them then)

[Guest guest]

Great questions Carol! Looking forward to replies!

>

> I thank everyone who responded to this question. It has been very

> helpful to me. I have a few more questions that I was wondering

about:

>

> Any of you " revisees " that had upper back and neck pain/problems

> before your revision--did the revision surgery help those

problems,

> or did the pain continue and you have to have further intervention

> and or surgery to help it?

>

> How soon after the surgery can you get yourself up and out of bed

(or

> a chair) to go to the bathroom by yourself? Did anyone need a

walker

> or hospital bed? If so, why and how long? I plan on getting the

> toilet seat riser, but didn't know if I needed any

> further " equipment " .

>

> Did you have trouble getting into and out of cars by yourself? If

so,

> how long did that last? I believe the question of how soon you can

> drive was addressed recently, but could someone put that answer up

> again? Did using a trash bag on the seat help with the getting in

and

> out?

>

> Carol V (CA)

>

> (PS--I might think of more questions later and I will post them

then)

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Carol,

I had no upper back pain or neck pain prior to revision.

When I went home from being released from the hospital after seven days I could use the restroom by myself, I did need help bathing though. I was required to have someone run a layer of saran wrap down my spine, over my scar, and tape it down, so I had to have someone help with me for that and to help me in and out of the shower. I too used a shower chair and used it for about a month following surgery. I used a walker for about three weeks, and then switched to a cane that I used for another week and then I was able to walk unaided. My husband assisted me in and out of the car till I was allowed to drive myself, with my last revision I was driving at the five week mark. The toilet seat riser I used a couple of months, and if I ever own my own home and could put in a toilet, I'd put in one of those high ones they have in Handicapped stalls, much more comfortable. I would have loved a hospital bed, but we instead put a twin bed out in our familyroom for me so I could be on the same level of the house with the kitchen and main bath, so I wasn't off in a room and could be right there with the family. Most houses in Colorado are multi level, and I didn't want to be stranded in our masterbedroom down a flight of stairs when family went to work and school. My church brought in lunches for the first two weeks I was home alone during the day, a big help. My daughter was a senior in High school and was a phone call away if I needed her by phone. I'm lucky, I tend to pop back fairly quickly, Kumar says I recover a wharp speed, and though it's a long recovery, and has to be taken day by day, and you really can't compare one of us to another because we are individuals and just plain heal differently.

I never was told about the garbage bag trick, might have come in handy, but the physical therapy people go over and over that move. They make sure you can climb a small set of stairs, can toilet yourself, can shower. They teach you to use tools you need to get through the day. I was sent home with the tools, but you should check with your doc if they do that or you have to purchase them. I was given a long shoe horn, a sock aide, a toilet riser, a walker, a cane, and a grabber. I still use grabbers, have six of them put through the house. I have many styles of them, depending on the chore I use them for.I also still use the sock aide daily. I have two sock aides, and I keep one in the piece of luggage I use to travel, along with a grabber that folds in the middle.

Kumar it seems lets me drive much earlier than most doc's do, at least of those listed here. He checks to see if I have enough leg strength, and if I'm not on too much med's to compromise me. Letting me drive gets me going,my recovery moves along well after that. He knows me, afterall I had three surgeries with him and he knows how I heal. Kumar is also big on weaning you off all med's very quickly, never gives refills on pain med's, you must call him to get more, and I think that helped me get off them, and of course, I was better, thankfully and didn't need them. I was off the really stong ones (Fentanyl patch) at the one month mark, and then just had vicodine when needed. I was off all med's by the three month mark for sure, and maybe earlier, it's been four years almost now and memory fades.

Anything else, just ask!

Colorado Springs

[ ] Downside of Revision Surgery

I thank everyone who responded to this question. It has been very helpful to me. I have a few more questions that I was wondering about:Any of you "revisees" that had upper back and neck pain/problems before your revision--did the revision surgery help those problems, or did the pain continue and you have to have further intervention and or surgery to help it?How soon after the surgery can you get yourself up and out of bed (or a chair) to go to the bathroom by yourself? Did anyone need a walker or hospital bed? If so, why and how long? I plan on getting the toilet seat riser, but didn't know if I needed any further "equipment".Did you have trouble getting into and out of cars by yourself? If so, how long did that last? I believe the question of how soon you can drive was addressed recently, but could someone put that answer up again? Did using a trash bag on the seat help with the getting in and out? Carol V (CA) (PS--I might think of more questions later and I will post them then)

[Guest guest]

Hi Carol -

I hope I can answer a few of your questions - 1) " Any of

you " revisees " that had upper back and neck pain/problems

> before your revision--did the revision surgery help those

problems, " .....I can't say I really had neck pain before, but I

remember my upper back was kind of sore and 'tired' from leaning

forward so much all the time, and yes that was corrected with

revision surgery.

2) " How soon after the surgery can you get yourself up and out of

bed (or a chair) to go to the bathroom by yourself? Did anyone need

a walker or hospital bed? If so, why and how long? I plan on

getting the toilet seat riser, but didn't know if I needed any

further " equipment " ......If all goes well and there are no problems,

you should be up out of bed within a day or two (as I was). I was

getting up and walking to the bathroom as soon as I was out of

ICU/Recovery and in my own room on the 8th floor. The hospital gives

you a walker to use while you are there, and you will be using it

all the time! They also supply you with things to go home with such

as a grabber, a long shoe horn, and a sock putter-oner.

Occupational Therapy works with you to make sure you can use these

things properly.

3) " Did you have trouble getting into and out of cars by yourself? If

so,how long did that last? I believe the question of how soon you

can drive was addressed recently, but could someone put that answer

up again? Did using a trash bag on the seat help with getting in

and out? " ......I never had any trouble getting in or out of a car.

Banged my head a few times, but that was it. And I never used a

trash bag - I know others did though, so it's just up to each

individual. And I think 6 weeks is about the average for when one

can drive again, although I began sooner than that as I was off the

pain meds.

4) And your last question regarding sleeping positions? I found

while in the hospital my back was the most comfortable, because it

was harder than heck to turn on your side. Once I was home though,

I found it easy to sleep on either side - and even was able to sleep

on my stomache by about 8 weeks! And no, Dr. Hu didn't address

sleeping positions at all.

My Best,

CA

>

>

>

>

>

> I thank everyone who responded to this question. It has been very

> helpful to me. I have a few more questions that I was wondering

about:

>

> Any of you " revisees " that had upper back and neck pain/problems

> before your revision--did the revision surgery help those

problems,

> or did the pain continue and you have to have further intervention

> and or surgery to help it?

>

> How soon after the surgery can you get yourself up and out of bed

(or

> a chair) to go to the bathroom by yourself? Did anyone need a

walker

> or hospital bed? If so, why and how long? I plan on getting the

> toilet seat riser, but didn't know if I needed any

> further " equipment " .

>

> Did you have trouble getting into and out of cars by yourself? If

so,

> how long did that last? I believe the question of how soon you can

> drive was addressed recently, but could someone put that answer up

> again? Did using a trash bag on the seat help with the getting in

and

> out?

>

> Carol V (CA)

>

> (PS--I might think of more questions later and I will post them

then)

>

[Guest guest]

The main reason I ask about the upper back, neck pain is I'm having

quite a bit of it right now, and was wondering whether revision would

help it or not. But maybe that's something we just can't know until

we're on the other side of surgery!! My main is mostly muscular and

it hurts on my left side of my spine between my shoulder blade and my

spine and it goes up into my neck and causes me to get headaches.

Muscle relaxers seem to help best.

Carol

>

> Dear Carol,

>

> I had no upper back pain or neck pain prior to revision.

>

> When I went home from being released from the hospital after seven

days I could use the restroom by myself, I did need help bathing

though. I was required to have someone run a layer of saran wrap down

my spine, over my scar, and tape it down, so I had to have someone

help with me for that and to help me in and out of the shower. I too

used a shower chair and used it for about a month following surgery.

I used a walker for about three weeks, and then switched to a cane

that I used for another week and then I was able to walk unaided. My

husband assisted me in and out of the car till I was allowed to drive

myself, with my last revision I was driving at the five week mark.

The toilet seat riser I used a couple of months, and if I ever own my

own home and could put in a toilet, I'd put in one of those high ones

they have in Handicapped stalls, much more comfortable. I would have

loved a hospital bed, but we instead put a twin bed out in our

familyroom for me so I could be on the same level of the house with

the kitchen and main bath, so I wasn't off in a room and could be

right there with the family. Most houses in Colorado are multi level,

and I didn't want to be stranded in our masterbedroom down a flight

of stairs when family went to work and school. My church brought in

lunches for the first two weeks I was home alone during the day, a

big help. My daughter was a senior in High school and was a phone

call away if I needed her by phone. I'm lucky, I tend to pop back

fairly quickly, Kumar says I recover a wharp speed, and though it's a

long recovery, and has to be taken day by day, and you really can't

compare one of us to another because we are individuals and just

plain heal differently.

>

> I never was told about the garbage bag trick, might have come in

handy, but the physical therapy people go over and over that move.

They make sure you can climb a small set of stairs, can toilet

yourself, can shower. They teach you to use tools you need to get

through the day. I was sent home with the tools, but you should check

with your doc if they do that or you have to purchase them. I was

given a long shoe horn, a sock aide, a toilet riser, a walker, a

cane, and a grabber. I still use grabbers, have six of them put

through the house. I have many styles of them, depending on the chore

I use them for.I also still use the sock aide daily. I have two sock

aides, and I keep one in the piece of luggage I use to travel, along

with a grabber that folds in the middle.

>

> Kumar it seems lets me drive much earlier than most doc's do, at

least of those listed here. He checks to see if I have enough leg

strength, and if I'm not on too much med's to compromise me. Letting

me drive gets me going,my recovery moves along well after that. He

knows me, afterall I had three surgeries with him and he knows how I

heal. Kumar is also big on weaning you off all med's very quickly,

never gives refills on pain med's, you must call him to get more, and

I think that helped me get off them, and of course, I was better,

thankfully and didn't need them. I was off the really stong ones

(Fentanyl patch) at the one month mark, and then just had vicodine

when needed. I was off all med's by the three month mark for sure,

and maybe earlier, it's been four years almost now and memory fades.

>

> Anything else, just ask!

>

>

> Colorado Springs

> [ ] Downside of Revision Surgery

>

>

> I thank everyone who responded to this question. It has been very

> helpful to me. I have a few more questions that I was wondering

about:

>

> Any of you " revisees " that had upper back and neck pain/problems

> before your revision--did the revision surgery help those

problems,

> or did the pain continue and you have to have further

intervention

> and or surgery to help it?

>

> How soon after the surgery can you get yourself up and out of bed

(or

> a chair) to go to the bathroom by yourself? Did anyone need a

walker

> or hospital bed? If so, why and how long? I plan on getting the

> toilet seat riser, but didn't know if I needed any

> further " equipment " .

>

> Did you have trouble getting into and out of cars by yourself? If

so,

> how long did that last? I believe the question of how soon you

can

> drive was addressed recently, but could someone put that answer

up

> again? Did using a trash bag on the seat help with the getting in

and

> out?

>

> Carol V (CA)

>

> (PS--I might think of more questions later and I will post them

then)

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Carol,

I didn't have any neck or thoracic issues prior to surgery so I can't

commment on that, but as to the rest of your questions:

PT got me up the day after surgery and I was able to get up and move

about my hospital room alone by about the 4 or 5th day. The did send me

home with a cane to use for balance, and at night for the first week or

two I used it....but other than the riser I did fine. My mom lent me her

shower stool for a few weeks...I just got tierd standing long enough for

a shower so it was nice to be able to sit. My shower is large and the

shower head is detachable which worked quite nicely with this

arrangement. At NEBH the PT and OT folks make sure you are safe in your

home environment and can manage based on what they understand your

situation to be...if you will have someone at home with you and so

forth. Prior to surgery one of the pre-op items was for the social

worker to asses what services were available back home and talk about

that with me so I wasn't completely in the dark. Turned out I didn't

need any...just those 6 days in the hospital after the second surgery.

Getting in and out of cars, even to this day, can require a little bit

of maneuvering and after surgery you are sooo sore that you won't want

to do it much. A few things that seemd to make it easier for me were

having a high and wide door that I didn't really have to duck into. Most

important was having a handle high over the door which allows you to

lift and turn when getting in or out. To this day I hate getting into a

car that doesn't have one. If you have cloth seats a garbage bag helps

with the " slide " factor which is necessary to avoid any twisting getting

in and out.

My next car will have a leather interior and handles on all doors if I

can work it.

Take Care, Cam

[Guest guest]

Carol,

I have a similar problem to yours, with pain along my scapula, running up my neck and causing headaches. The headaches were getting to the point were my vision was being affected (depth perception). The doctor prescribed a medro dose pack and that really helped. Didn't alleviate it totally, but the headaches became mild. The effect lasted several months.

Judy

[ ] Downside of Revision Surgery> > > I thank everyone who responded to this question. It has been very > helpful to me. I have a few more questions that I was wondering about:> > Any of you "revisees" that had upper back and neck pain/problems > before your revision--did the revision surgery help those problems, > or did the pain continue and you have to have further intervention > and or surgery to help it?> > How soon after the surgery can you get yourself up and out of bed (or > a chair) to go to the bathroom by yourself? Did anyone need a walker > or hospital bed? If so, why and how long? I plan on getting the > toilet seat riser, but didn't know if I needed any > further "equipment".> > Did you have trouble getting into and out of cars by yourself? If so, > how long did that last? I believe the question of how soon you can > drive was addressed recently, but could someone put that answer up > again? Did using a trash bag on the seat help with the getting in and > out? > > Carol V (CA) > > (PS--I might think of more questions later and I will post them then)>

[Guest guest]

--Carol,

At NEBH they got you up to take a few steps the next day, I hated

it!!! I was able to us the bathroom independently after about 3/4

days before I left the floor to go to the rehab floor.

I never used a walker once I left the hospital. I only used a cane

and it was only for a few weeks. I used high toilet seats for about

5/6 months after surgery. I would have used them longer but I got

tired of putting them on when my inconsiderate children took them off

and did not put them back on for me!!!!

I used a trash bag in the car for slideablity for about 3 months

after surgery.

I have had some shoulder muscle tiredness since surgery if i sit for

long periods of time, i did not have this issue before surgery.

I am 7 months post op and i can do alot but not everything i'd like

to do. The most frustrating part for me is the inability to get

things off the ground without major bending to my knees and

performing the task. I often will still not pick things up off of the

floor, telling my kids or my students, " It is not worth the

bend " ...that means they must get it for me.

I did try to weed today but could only stand it for about 10 minutes

and when I got up I felt like the tin man trying to straighten

out...I have noticed my range of motion, in bending, at all has

increased over the months, things I could not even reach at all are

reachable..but still not the wipes at the YMCA for cleaning the

equipment....but I think tomorrow that will change because I am going

to recommend they put them up higher for those of us who can't reach

them...or maybe I just will not be able to wipe down the equiment

when I am done..., PA

PS. THe best advice of all is the silk PJ's for the hospital. Do not

go without them..you will be so much more independent in bed if you

have them and when those nasty PT people come and tell you it is time

to get up for a walk....you'll slip right out of bed!!!!

- In , " Lorrie Snyder "

<Lorriesnyder@...> wrote:

>

> Hi Carol - my upper back pain is better - I had pain by my upper

right

> shoulder blade. I do still feel this pain a little when I wake up

in the

> morning. I think it is just a muscle that doesn't realize it is

doesn't

> have to be stressed out. The pain works itself out during the

day.

>

>

>

> I was up out of the hospital bed about 13 days after surgery. But

remember

> I was the one that had breathing complications after surgery and was

> intubated twice. After I got off the breathing tube, I did get

better quite

> quickly. The PT had me use a walker and when I got home I used a

walker for

> about 5 days. I didn't really need it but it was handy just

incase. I

> would definitely recommend the toilet seat riser. I just gave mine

up about

> 1 month ago. I still have the stool in my shower. I don't sit on

it but I

> put my leg up on it to shave my legs. I didn't have any trouble

getting in

> and out of cars but I use a regular size pillow behind my back while

> driving. The seats are hard and it feels much more comfortable to

have the

> pillow -

>

>

>

> Lorrie Snyder

>

> Surgery 11/8/05

>

>

>

> _____

>

> From:

> [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Carol

> Sent: Sunday, September 03, 2006 5:25 PM

>

> Subject: [ ] Downside of Revision Surgery

>

>

>

> I thank everyone who responded to this question. It has been very

> helpful to me. I have a few more questions that I was wondering

about:

>

> Any of you " revisees " that had upper back and neck pain/problems

> before your revision--did the revision surgery help those problems,

> or did the pain continue and you have to have further intervention

> and or surgery to help it?

>

> How soon after the surgery can you get yourself up and out of bed

(or

> a chair) to go to the bathroom by yourself? Did anyone need a

walker

> or hospital bed? If so, why and how long? I plan on getting the

> toilet seat riser, but didn't know if I needed any

> further " equipment " .

>

> Did you have trouble getting into and out of cars by yourself? If

so,

> how long did that last? I believe the question of how soon you can

> drive was addressed recently, but could someone put that answer up

> again? Did using a trash bag on the seat help with the getting in

and

> out?

>

> Carol V (CA)

>

> (PS--I might think of more questions later and I will post them

then)

>