Re: Judy's sis seeking advice

[Guest guest]

Joanne,

Welcome! Some patients do not feel well enough to get up within a few

days. Some of us experience swelling and or pain. Judy needs to work

out her pain meds with her doctors there to get it under control so

that she can get up. The sooner the better for obvious reasons, she

doesn't want to be in bed too long. Remind her, that she knows her

body best and to keep communicating so everyone can be on the same

page so to speak in regards to her symptoms and or pain. Give her our

best.

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I joined last night under a different forum but I think this is the

right place to be. My sister,

> Judy had her revision surgery on Monday At s Hopkins with Dr.

Kebaish. Since she woke

> up she's been complaining of bad hip pain. The P.T. tried to get

her out of bed yesterday but

> the pain was so bad that she couldn't do it. The pretty much

decided that it's neurological

> pain, not muscular, but the dr. feels if she gets out of bed &

moves around it will feel better.

> They are going to try again today because she is supposed to have

the second stage

> tomorrow but we don't know if she'll be able to tolerate it. Also,

Dr. Kebaish will be away for

> the next 2 weeks. Did anyone have this pain so soon after

surgery? Did it ease up after

> moving around? The doctor also said that she's on too much

medicine to add something for

> nerve pain. (FYI, I am on Lyrica for nerve pain in my legs & it

works great - in case any of you

> are in need of it.)

>

> Thanks,

> Joanne

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Joanne...

I can’t begin to know if this is the same sort of thing, but the first time nurses tried to roll me onto my left side after surgery, I had pain in my left shoulder that was really intense. I don’t think anyone ever figured out what caused that pain, but it did subside over a period of days.

Regards,

[Guest guest]

Hi Joanne, This is Annette, Judy's friend. I spoke with your other

sister earlier this week. I am so sorry that Judy has this pain in

her hip. You'll see from emails on this site that many of us are

sending our best wishes to Judy and your family. Please let her know

we are thinking of her.

I didn't have pain in my hip after my recent surgery. I did however

have pain medicine going directly into the site at the illiac crest

where bone was taken for grafting. That medicine was placed during

surgery like a separate, direct IV to the site and worked well. They

used the term " medicine ball " . I had a small pouch on a shoulder strap

that held the medicine (eg it wasn't hanging on the IV pole.) BTW, by

day three I was on oral meds. I had 12 hour med, a 4 hour med and

could have break through pain med as needed. So I was well dosed.

I know that Judy was having donated bone and don't recall is she was

also having the illiac crest graft or not.

I was able to get up with the PT and sit, then stand and then " march "

in place the first day they got me up (day 3 after surgery?) While

getting up was challenging, it did ultimately make me feel better, but

if she is too much pain then she may not have the same experience.

And her procedure was done differently than mine (I was not staged.)

Have you tried asking PT to come about 30 mins or so after pain meds

are administered? I did send some away and ask them to come back to

better time activity with pain control. That helped and after the

activity I was definitely worn out and needed rest and the next

possible pain dose when it was appropriate.

I feel for her and I know you all are trying your best to help her

feel comfortable. I'm not sure I can be much help but call if you want.

Annette in Arlington

1 month post surgery

[Guest guest]

Joanne, one more thought. She needs to feel comfortable to heal

faster so she isn't focusing on pain and can do the healing activities

like trying to get up. Have you asked to consult with the hospital

pain management team yet? Her pain tolerance could be unique because

of the meds she had been taking prior to the surgery.

Best,

Annette in Arlington

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I joined last night under a different forum but I think this is the

right place to be. My sister,

> Judy had her revision surgery on Monday At s Hopkins with Dr.

Kebaish. Since she woke

> up she's been complaining of bad hip pain. The P.T. tried to get

her out of bed yesterday but

> the pain was so bad that she couldn't do it. The pretty much

decided that it's neurological

> pain, not muscular, but the dr. feels if she gets out of bed & moves

around it will feel better.

> They are going to try again today because she is supposed to have

the second stage

> tomorrow but we don't know if she'll be able to tolerate it. Also,

Dr. Kebaish will be away for

> the next 2 weeks. Did anyone have this pain so soon after surgery?

Did it ease up after

> moving around? The doctor also said that she's on too much medicine

to add something for

> nerve pain. (FYI, I am on Lyrica for nerve pain in my legs & it

works great - in case any of you

> are in need of it.)

>

> Thanks,

> Joanne

>

[Guest guest]

Joanne,

I can't give you any advice as my stages were different and so, the

way it happened for me, I actually got great relief from the nerve

pain I had been experiencing prior to surgery.

The only surgical exprience that reminds me of Judy's might be

Kam's...I will see what I can find out and do another post. I recall

that they had to rearrange all her surgery and she ended up being

sent home between surgeries after having an implant impinging on a

nerve.

Regardless, if Judy has conifidence in her surgeon, than it would

seem that you might at least try to follow his recommendation to get

up and see if he is correct. No matter how you slice it, getting up

after this surgery is unbelievably grueling.

I am very concerned that these stages were scheduled this close, and

now to learn that her surgeon will be away for two weeks. I imagine

this puts tremendous pressure on everyone. Let me see if I can find

the relavant posts from Kams experience and I will get back to you.

Take Care, Cam

[Guest guest]

Joanne,

I don't know if this will help or not....but make of it what you

will. Kam had surgery almost a year ago with DrBridwell. After the

first stage he was concerned that a screw might be a little too

close to a nerve, and in fact, although it didn't hurt her right

away, it became apparent after a few days of post-op walking. It was

VERY painful. They confirmed the problem and took her into surgery

and removed the offending screw.

The posts that detail this are #3845 and #4052...you can type those

in the box in the uppper right hand corner (from the main site) and

see if they help.

Kam has said she would be happy to help with anyone having problems

that she can answer....I would say to feel free to email her

privately if you would like. Her email is: advokam@...

The time after surgery is very stressful. Please know that we are

all thinking about you and Judy and are here for anything we might

be able to help with.

Take Care, Cam

[Guest guest]

Joanne, first of all I want to commend you for being such a good and caring sister. My sister was there for me, not leaving my side unless absolutely necessary, even sleeping in my room (which she did taking turns with my wonderful mother-in-law). Such a wonderful sister may not be uncommon, but is surely an awesome thing. Keep up the good work and back her 100% because, as others have said, only she knows what she feels in her own body.

As has implied, intense pain can make your body UNABLE to do the things asked of it. I went through this. I was not trying to give the therapists a hard time. After my first surgery my pain was not adequately controlled. But this was somewhat variable. The day I was discharged to rehab, I managed to walk with a walker to my new bathroom during PT. I was so pleased with myself that I requested the walker when I needed to go that evening, and I succeeded again. However, the next day I tried this and it was not possible for me. When I tried to put weight on my left leg I had immediate sharp pain in my lower back and my leg buckled. It WOULD NOT allow me to walk. No amount of encouraging, bargaining, cajoling, or insinuating would make it possible for me.

Eventually my rehab doctor re-did my pain medication, and I began to be able to get up and do things. Later, when my pain was controlled and PT was working ok for me, I was re-assigned one of the therapists who had been pushy with me and lacked understanding. I asked for a different therapist because I refused to work with her.

One of my favorite nurses in the wonderful rehab unit I was in gave me a precious piece of advice: "You have the right to refuse any treatment". I held onto this statement and it gave me comfort through some very hard times. Not to be difficult, but to protect my own precious body.

Once the pain was controlled and all my dural leaks were repaired (a separate issue for me), the rehab doctors marvelled at how fast I was healing and progressing.

Stick by your sister and if necessary remind her healthcare workers that nobody wants what's best for Judy more than Judy.

Keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers,

Sharon

[ ] Judy's sis seeking advice

Hi everyone,I joined last night under a different forum but I think this is the right place to be. My sister, Judy had her revision surgery on Monday At s Hopkins with Dr. Kebaish. Since she woke up she's been complaining of bad hip pain. The P.T. tried to get her out of bed yesterday but the pain was so bad that she couldn't do it. The pretty much decided that it's neurological pain, not muscular, but the dr. feels if she gets out of bed & moves around it will feel better. They are going to try again today because she is supposed to have the second stage tomorrow but we don't know if she'll be able to tolerate it. Also, Dr. Kebaish will be away for the next 2 weeks. Did anyone have this pain so soon after surgery? Did it ease up after moving around? The doctor also said that she's on too much medicine to add something for nerve pain. (FYI, I am on Lyrica for nerve pain in my legs & it works great - in case any of you are in need of it.)Thanks,Joanne

[Guest guest]

Hi Joanne,

There must be a pain management team at the hospital. It is they, not the surgeon, who should be prescribing pain meds. Also, she should have a dose of some pain med about 30 minutes before PT. And, the surgeon should make certain that nothing is "wrong" .

Good luck to all of you. I'm sure that with the proper help, things will sort out.

Bonnie

Re: [ ] Re: Judy's sis seeking advice

Hi Joanne...I can’t begin to know if this is the same sort of thing, but the first time nurses tried to roll me onto my left side after surgery, I had pain in my left shoulder that was really intense. I don’t think anyone ever figured out what caused that pain, but it did subside over a period of days.Regards,

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

Judy is doing a bit better. She sat in a chair today but her rt hip really hurt

when the got

her up. She probably sat too long. She hasn't complained of any other pain

(incision,

back...). Second stage is postponed for now. Pain management team is on top

of things

- great suggestion.

Joanne

>

> Hi Joanne,

>

> There must be a pain management team at the hospital. It is they, not the

surgeon, who

should be prescribing pain meds. Also, she should have a dose of some pain med

about

30 minutes before PT. And, the surgeon should make certain that nothing is

" wrong " .

>

> Good luck to all of you. I'm sure that with the proper help, things will sort

out.

>

> Bonnie

>

>

>

> Re: [ ] Re: Judy's sis seeking advice

>

>

>

> Hi Joanne...

>

> I can't begin to know if this is the same sort of thing, but the first time

nurses tried to

roll me onto my left side after surgery, I had pain in my left shoulder that was

really

intense. I don't think anyone ever figured out what caused that pain, but it

did subside

over a period of days.

>

> Regards,

>

>

[Guest guest]

Joanne,

I hope Judy continues to feel better. Please send our best. Does it

seem that they will release her when she feels up to it and then bring

her back in for her next round when her surgoen returns?

Take Care, Cam

[Guest guest]

I was delighted to get a call from Judy herself today. She said that

she felt that she had " turned the corner " . While she is having pain

getting out of bed still, she indicated her pain was under better

control and that she was walking, sitting, and doing some of her

personal care herself. She will be in rehab for awhile before she

returns home. Her second stage was postponed until early December.

She sounded ready for rest after a full morning, but in generally good

spirits. I'm so glad for her and wanted to share her update.

Best,

Annette in Arlington