Guest guest Posted July 13, 2006 Report Share Posted July 13, 2006 Andy, I guess this is to some degree why I am concerned about having a " big " surgery. I am on limited pain meds now, but I am much more restricted in what I can do. I feel as if I am really going downhill. Ultram gives me horrible hot flashes, but it really does help. Am I alone in that? Kathy > > Hi All, > > > > I've been reading your posts regarding post-surgery pain and the continued > need for pain meds. I'm 3 years post-revision (Boachie) and, sad to say, if > I don't take pain meds (2 to 4 Ultram daily, sometimes Percocet, sometimes > Valium, which is a muscle relaxer) and do stretching exercises at least > twice a week, I'm a mess. If I don't use Ultram and exercise regularly I get > muscles spasms in my back and legs, hip flexor (psoas muscles/groin muscles) > pain, and tailbone pain that spreads down the back of my legs, though it is > not as painful as sciatica. > > > > I've had a horrible thought lately - I'm wondering if revision surgery is > not the end of the 'scoliosis journey' - what if all of us will need > additional surgery down the line??? This thought is based on the idea that > perhaps Dr. Boachie, when he re-positioned my spine and ribs, did not > position my trunk precisely over my legs. Maybe that's another factor that > surgeons currently aren't taking into account - just like they didn't take > into account natural lordosis (front to back curve) with the Harrington Rod? > > > > I'm not writing this to scare anyone. I'm sure - at least I'm hoping - there > are revision patients who are doing better than I am. But it seems that, at > least in my case, I'm going to be spending the rest of my life managing my > pain with meds and gentle exercise - and also a heating pad and hot baths > and frequent rest. I'm thinking that the goal of being pain-free is not a > possibility and the docs shouldn't encourage us to think that it is. In that > case, we have to change our attitude and get used to the idea that this is a > life-long challenge that surgery can't eradicate. > > > > What a bummer. > > Andy > > (Concord MA) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 > > > > Hi All, > > > > > > > > I've been reading your posts regarding post-surgery pain and the > continued > > need for pain meds. I'm 3 years post-revision (Boachie) and, sad > to say, if > > I don't take pain meds (2 to 4 Ultram daily, sometimes Percocet, > sometimes > > Valium, which is a muscle relaxer) and do stretching exercises at > least > > twice a week, I'm a mess. If I don't use Ultram and exercise > regularly I get > > muscles spasms in my back and legs, hip flexor (psoas > muscles/groin muscles) > > pain, and tailbone pain that spreads down the back of my legs, > though it is > > not as painful as sciatica. > > > > > > > > I've had a horrible thought lately - I'm wondering if revision > surgery is > > not the end of the 'scoliosis journey' - what if all of us will > need > > additional surgery down the line??? This thought is based on the > idea that > > perhaps Dr. Boachie, when he re-positioned my spine and ribs, did > not > > position my trunk precisely over my legs. Maybe that's another > factor that > > surgeons currently aren't taking into account - just like they > didn't take > > into account natural lordosis (front to back curve) with the > Harrington Rod? > > > > > > > > I'm not writing this to scare anyone. I'm sure - at least I'm > hoping - there > > are revision patients who are doing better than I am. But it seems > that, at > > least in my case, I'm going to be spending the rest of my life > managing my > > pain with meds and gentle exercise - and also a heating pad and > hot baths > > and frequent rest. I'm thinking that the goal of being pain-free > is not a > > possibility and the docs shouldn't encourage us to think that it > is. In that > > case, we have to change our attitude and get used to the idea that > this is a > > life-long challenge that surgery can't eradicate. > > > > > > > > What a bummer. > > > > Andy > > > > (Concord MA) > > > Kathy I had to chime in regarding what you said regarding Ultram. It gives me hot flashes too. I also can't take it before bed as it keeps me awake. Funny, I thought I was the only one. Nan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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