My story after all these years/ update/02/03/18 back surgery yesterday

[Alchemist]

Here I am, it will be a week tomorrow and all I can say is "damn my ass hurts"!

I'm sure that many of you can relate to the fact that when I look back at surgery recovery it is hard to remember one being harder or easier over another! On the day that I came home I was bruised all over on my left butt cheek even though the cut is only about 2" long. The pain was all over the left side of the butt, down the leg to the knee but no longer in the back. The pain now at almost a week later is only in the left butt cheek area, no longer going anywhere, but more intense then is was at first, however the pain meds are great, and doing a great job of pain reduction! It is HYDROMORPHONE!

I can see why at this point that I can't be bending, twisting and putting any weight on the left side! I tell people all the time to follow their post-op instructions, so I need to do the same! It doesn't take much to make the pain bad enough to bring tears to my eyes, and I mean pain that will make you scream like a little girl along with those tears! All I need to do is let go of my walker and lean a little to turn off a light and that can hurt like hell!

I don't think I will be having any fun this winter, but then when is winter fun!


Bob

Hi Bob,

Be glad for hydromorphone.  If you are on it long enough for accommodation, I can help you with a taper schedule.  I've provided thousands of such tapers.  They work great, no problem except pain coming back if still present.  The easiest way I found to reduce was to have a reduction in pain that lessened the need for "breakthrough" meds used PRN.  Then it is trivial for a person using them only for pain control.

There are some very specific vitamins that can help with neurological pain as well as aid healing.  Good health.

[hammer]

Thanks for the info! At this point it is only partial pain control! In the hospital I was getting this plus an injectable form and I was in la la land and I've never been in la la land with any surgery before.

I thought that I may run out of this to soon so I backed off from 2 every 4 hours to 1 every 4 hours and holy crap did I get hit with a boat load of pain! Debbie called my nurse and she said that they would write another RX and to stay at 2 every 4 for some time for this surgery. I've got my new bottle, but I've never had to use this kind of stuff in any surgery before, and you knew very well that I've had some hard surgeries!


Bob

[hammer]

I'm not suppose to put more then 50% of my weight on my left leg! lift more then 10lbs, bend over and a bunch of other stuff for like 6 weeks! Debbie was at work yesterday and I decided I wanted a second pot of coffee, so I ended up dropping the coffee filter on the floor! I didn't want to leave the mess for Debbie to have to clean up so I got the dust buster and cleaned it up, the problem with this all I forgot that I'm not suppose to bend over!

I paid the price in pain!!! I think everything will be all right, but I preach to all you young guys about following the post-op to the letter and with all the surgeries I've had you would think that I've learned by now!

I got plenty of hell from Debbie, so I don't think I'll be cleaning up after myself anytime soon!

I have a two week checkup on Monday, hope to hear all looks good!

[Alchemist]

Thanks for the info! At this point it is only partial pain control! In the hospital I was getting this plus an injectable form and I was in la la land and I've never been in la la land with any surgery before.

I thought that I may run out of this to soon so I backed off from 2 every 4 hours to 1 every 4 hours and holy crap did I get hit with a boat load of pain! Debbie called my nurse and she said that they would write another RX and to stay at 2 every 4 for some time for this surgery. I've got my new bottle, but I've never had to use this kind of stuff in any surgery before, and you knew very well that I've had some hard surgeries!


Bob

Hi Bob,
Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)is a short halflife opioid.  There is a time release form that will let you take it only twice a day.  However,  they don't like to use that for short term use.  You might find that taking 1 each 2 hours provides more even coverage than 2 each 4 hours.  When you do reduce it, about 10% a day can be comfortably reduced when the time comes.  The easiest way to do that is to go to the one each 2 hours and then add 10 minutes a day to the interval, so 2:10, then 2:20 etc and 12 days down 50%, then to halves each 2 hours and do the same and then run it out to 6 hours between.  As long as the pain reduces reducing meds is easy.  I've only had my gall bladder out, traditional, and I couldn't even pick up a gallon of milk or drive for 6 weeks.

Take it easy.  Follow post surgical directions as we all know all too well.  Don't overdo.  It costs.  Good health.

[hammer]

Thanks for this info as it is great timing because I'm ready to start to move myself off this med!

This is by far the best pain med I've ever had! I was given Dilaudid in the hospital when I had the back surgery by my request at the advise of a EMT friend of mine but they wouldn't send me home with it, but the VA had no problem with sending me home with it. All the regular pain meds are like candy to me!

I'm actually feeling pretty good unless I do something stupid, like bend over, step to far, walk away from the walker anything that is very natural if I wouldn't have had the SI joint fused, but it was so I'm supposed to do or not do this stuff so I heal right!

I'm a fast healer for being a diabetic and don't like to be tied down long! It took me a long time to accept not being able to work anymore when I was told I couldn't work anymore! I know some guys would jump at that opportunity, but I liked what I did and liked working.

Once again, thanks for the info, it is very helpful!


Bob

[Alchemist]

Thanks for this info as it is great timing because I'm ready to start to move myself off this med!

This is by far the best pain med I've ever had! I was given Dilaudid in the hospital when I had the back surgery by my request at the advise of a EMT friend of mine but they wouldn't send me home with it, but the VA had no problem with sending me home with it. All the regular pain meds are like candy to me!

I'm actually feeling pretty good unless I do something stupid, like bend over, step to far, walk away from the walker anything that is very natural if I wouldn't have had the SI joint fused, but it was so I'm supposed to do or not do this stuff so I heal right!

I'm a fast healer for being a diabetic and don't like to be tied down long! It took me a long time to accept not being able to work anymore when I was told I couldn't work anymore! I know some guys would jump at that opportunity, but I liked what I did and liked working.

Once again, thanks for the info, it is very helpful!


Bob

Hi Bob,

Glad to wear you are able to reduce now.  How's it going?  I had to stop working.  I was becoming unable to focus my eyes.  I couldn't balance.  I stopped being able to do my work.  I would have preferred having a choice.  By then nothing else was left either.

[hammer]

The last pill that I took was last Sunday night and I felt good until about Tuesday Dec 24th am. Then I was starting to hurt real bad but I wasn't sure if I was being a baby or  I was trying to stop to soon! The 25th of Dec was per hell as far as pain goes but I didn't go to the VA ER as I just tough it out until yesterday and the doctor wrote a new script for almost another month. He said I was crazy thinking I could stop this soon with this kind of surgery! I felt like I could feel the drilling in my bones or I was sitting right on the pins that they put in them!

My friend, I'm truly sorry to hear about the force retirement! If you want to talk I'm willing to! I had to do the same thing almost sixteen years ago! There is probably not a lot more that hits harder then being told you have to stop doing what your doing for a living long before you want to!

I hope that something can be done to help the eyes so that your quality of life can remain good! Is there anything that can be done? What is causing this?

As I said, I'm willing to talk! We can PM contact info if you would like.

Take care and God bless.

Bob

[Alchemist]

Hi Bob,

I'm good now.  That was one small part of the neuromuscular problems I had.  I have recovered from CFS, FMS, ME and congestive heart failure with the right combo of vitamins.  I was totally crashed for 17 years and towards the end my eyes stopped focusing.  It took 5 years for substantial healing and 6 years of more healing and physical rehabilitation.  I still have plenty of damage from the car wreck and neurological damage, lots of it, but am holding my own after about 70% remission.  I can do most anything now and my eyes are older and need reading glasses but that is about it. However, I committed that greatest of sins in my field.  I'm 3 generations of development software out of date.  I'm doing a little consulting, mostly pro bono these days.  I'm designing a project for phone apps and have another project or two left in me.

I'll be on at least pain meds the rest of my life.  Don't rush getting off.  Let your pain be your guide.

[hammer]

Oh, I'm not going to rush it this time that pain was hell and if I never feel it again will be just fine with me!

You just take it care and keep on enjoying life the best way as you can! My brother has asked me more then once about my feet and legs being bad and what I'll do if it comes a day that I can't use them at all, and I've always said that as a diabetic I would happily give up both of by legs to keep my eyes and as it stands that is were I'm at with my life! My legs and feet are bad and my eyes have improved to the point that I no longer need my glasses and just use reading glasses.

My friend, and I do consider you my forum friend. If you do not mind I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers that things will not get worse.


Bob

[hammer]

Yesterday 1/22/14 it was my 56th birthday and what did I do? I spent the day at the VA hospital! However, it was not for bad reasons, it was for my six week post surgery check up among other things.

As for the SI joint fusion, the X-rays show that all looks good! The bone is growing good around the titanium post that were put in to fuse it together and I can start doing my regular routine again.  Talking to my surgeon about the cause of the problem of the SI joint going bad my wife asked if the SI joint cause the falling problems, and I had said that the falling problems is what caused the SI joint problem. The surgeon agreed with me. It is the neuropathy that causes the falling.

I've tried to walk up steps leading with the side the fusion is on and found that it is very hard, and still sore, so I think I will sill use the walker instead of a cane walking the short distances that I do for awhile, especially in the great Minnesota weather! I really don't like falling at all!

The day was filled with other minor things, blood work before the X-rays and at the very end of the day my primary care doctor. I had developed a weird hard spot on my big toe on my right foot on the inside that needed to be checked out. These are not good things for diabetics. She didn't really know what it was, but wasn't to worried either, but still is going to have me seen by a foot doctor.

My hope is that I can go a few years now surgery free!

[hammer]

Sat January 25th and Sunday the 26th I finally did the snow blowing again after I got cleared on my appointment on the 22nd. After finishing Debbie went out to do the shoveling and found a "nut" laying in the drive way! I want out to the garage to check out the tractor/snow blower where in came from to reinstall it and saw the bolt right away. It was one of the bolts that mounts the blower to the tractor frame not a big deal, but I almost said "the heck with it I'll just grab the wire feed welder and weld it" the welder is about two feet away.

I didn't weld it, but reinstalled taking only about 20 min to do the job. I had to open the front of the tractor a little, not a big deal and it was cold out about 10 below.

The next day I darn near felt as bad as I did after having surgery! This morning somewhat better!

I have been transferring old records and tapes to digital for my winter project and was doing 1972 today and decided to lay down with the earbuds in the phone for a while. I have several days of music in my phone like most people and I have used it for years for pain control. I am one that likes everything from modern Christian to classical, the boss, oldies rock to alternative, but my favorite is country.

Anyway, not feeling very good, drifted off in another world without falling asleep and I feel tons better!

I do believe that music is Gods gift to ease our pain if we choose to let it, but we have to learn to meditate or what ever I do when I do drift off in the music because it works!

[Alchemist]

Hi Bob,

I turn 66 in about 15 minutes.  Eleven yeas ago I was almost dead.  I had polyneuropathy.  I had Sub Acute Combined Degeneration that almost put me in a wheelchair and incontinent 6 years ago. I know people who have recovered from that. I don't have diabetes and neither did they.  I no longer have polyneuropathy and the  SACD has retreated considerably.  How do you feel about some very specific nutritional supplements?  You would need to check with your doc about whether you would have difficulty managing certain effects.  I still have some memory problems but they are much improved.  I'll post a link if you would like.  They might help with neurological pain also. 

[hammer]

Happy birthday my friend!

I knew there was a good reason that Debbie and I keep you in our prayers each night!

 My doctor has me on some natural stuff already, but it would have to fit in or work with all the "crap" I now take!

I'm beginning to think that this last surgery was a waist of time!  All my old pain has return now that I'm off the "good" pain killer. I can't stand in one spot no longer the about 3-5 min without damn near start having tears start to fall out of the eyes from pain and with the weather change my prosthetic knees fells like there are 3 pounds of potatoes stuffed in a 1 pound bag and are very uncomfortable.  I have a had time understanding how something that isn't real can bother me so much! Not hurt, just be uncomfortable.

As for the surgery not working I'm not complaining as we all knew it could be hit or miss, but I was willing to take that gamble in hopes to lessen some of the chronic pain!

Thanks for your support!


Bob

[Ronkelo]

Honestly Im sorry to say this, but Im almoust shocked from what you have been trough and still are. A lot hard times in your life. Seems almoust unfair that you had to have all this trouble in your life. My problems were put in to a perspective because of this story and I think reading this helped me a lot (mentally). Thanks for sharing mate!

[hammer]

The reason I write my story is in hope that I can help others! I'm a true believer that all things are in Gods control and they all happen for good. Now one may ask why should I say that it is good that I'm living a life of pain. Well my life isn't mine, but it is The Lords. It is to serve The Lord and when you read the Bible there are stories throughout the Bible about people living lives of pain and lost.

Yes, I get down and out, just like everyone else at times, but I don't stay there very long because I remember who I serve and why I serve Him! It is my faith that gets me through the hours, days, weeks and the times that I forget that my life isn't mine to do with as I please. My reward is in the next life! There I will no longer have the pain I live with now!

I often say that in this life we need to learn to make lemon aid when life hands lemons. With faith, we can make that lemon aid.

Bob