Frightened about surgery and pain!

[gone03]

I am having a lumbar Laminectomy and a 3 disc lumbar fusion next week. I have been on regular Hydrocodone for a number of years, related to other surgeries and joint pain. I have never abused it. My Rheumatologist says that I have Fibromyalgia and other autoimmune issues . The Orthopedic surgeon told me to expect more pain because I had regularly taken Hydro.

I stopped taking Hydro several weeks ago, but I am concerned about pain control after my surgery. I have had 22 surgeries in my 67 years, but this scares me the most. What can I say or do about getting adequate pain control without sounding like I'm just complaining?

 

[jaminhealth]

Surgery is always traumatic and that's why should always be a last resort. I've had 2 kinda major ones and both left me with complications that I deal with getting thru life. I've had a lower back OA mess starting at 18, and did years of chiro, PT, Massage, acupuncture, you name but no back surgery....I live with this back. Hip replacement in 2010, left me a mess with so many complications... You've had your share, more than I've ever heard from anyone.

I have a really messed up knee and considering PRP and Prolozone injections, but insurance does not pay and I have to decide to cough up money as I live on senior fixed income.

Anyway, to not do more surgery?

 

[gone03]

Thank you,
What scares me is I don't have a choice. Without the surgery I will be a paraplegic within a year. I have almost all of the general symptoms of Fibro. so I already have a sensitivity to pain... I getting tired of it all.
I will keep as positive of an attitude as I can muster. I wish there was other options but after 3 years of therapy and many other management treatments, this is it. By the way, Vitamin B12 shots monthly seem to help some of the Fibro. issues but not my back or joint pain.

 

[jaminhealth]

I certainly don't know your issues for surgery history, but you will do what you do. I just talked my 72 old brother out of back surgery, his doc said he "needed".... gave him a lot of info on exercises and stretches and I believe he's doing OK, he golfed all his life, so a golfer's back. I've been taking 2000mcg B12 for many years, and use many supps for the Fibro issues. Take care and hope everything works out better for you.

I've been taking MSM powder in three doses per day for many years, 1 tsp in clean water 3 times per day...I doctor the drink up with some juice or V8 and fresh lemon but MSM helps to calm some pain. `

 

[gone03]

3 doctors and a several PTs all agreed. MRI confirmed that I already have spinal cord damage. I would be the first person to talk myself out of surgery. Unfortunately it's now more than a pain and mobility issue.

 

[jaminhealth]

I can still hear my GP telling me probably 7 yrs ago if I didn't have hip replacement I could end up in a wheelchair....I still hear her words....my replacement has been a mess with too many complications and my mobility is awful..often wish I could go back....Take care. We do what we do at the times.

 

[gone03]

Since I have already lost partial use of my right leg to a partially severed spinal cord. My issue is not whether I will or will not have the surgery. My back damage is not caused by a bulging disc or many of the typical bad idea reasons that doctors recommend back surgery. Most of the typical reasons for recommending back surgery are mostly bogus if all other modalities have not been tried first, and many times people end up with more pain than they had before the surgery. My question is that I am not sure that I will get adiquate pain control because of the Doctors not understanding the pain issues related to Fibro. I am looking for some way of explaining or getting adiquate pain control during the recovery phase. I am not optimistic that my back pain will get better. Life has handed me a choice of loosing the use of my legs and bladder control in a W/C and still be in great pain or I can have the use of my legs and be in pain. How can I get it through my doctors head that I may need more help with pain?

 

[Loftpat]

If the surgeon said to expect more pain since you've been on hydrocodone for so long, have a conversation with him about what he plans to do for pain management after the surgery. He could boost you up to morphine sulfate or put you on a fentanyl patch until you heal. Both are much more potent than hydrocodone. You don't say how much hydrocodone you've been taking, so if it's a lower dose that, too, could be increased. Whatever drug, it is important that you have a discussion BEFORE surgery. Good luck!

 

[Wayupnorth]

Gone3, is your spinal damage caused by arthritis/stenosis? I ask because I'm nervous about my future. I too have FM and other autoimmune issues along with severe central stenosis in my back and neck. This afternoon I severely pinched the nerves in my neck-enough to lose control of my entire body. It's happened before, I also am considered to be at high risk of cauda equina syndrome. I'm trying to find someone that understands my concerns-the same ones you have voiced. How long can a person safely hold off on surgery and how to best get through it when it becomes necessary. Do you have a pain management doctor? One whose sole purpose is to manage your pain? While I continue to wait to get help with autoimmune issues (1.5 years so far) I at least got in to a pain clinic with a great doctor. I find working with my local GP much more difficult but they must follow the pain clinic's recommendations which helps. Somehow I don't think this ever gets any easier. Getting the right level of pain management I mean. I want the minimum that I need but at the same time it needs to be adequate. So, do you have a pain management doctor? Separate from your surgeon. They would be the most helpful.

 

[Wayupnorth]

By the way, my pain mgmt doctor has me on tapentadol (a mixture of tramadol and fentanyl). It helps with the nerve pain when I have breakthrough pain ( the most I use it is a low dose at most twice in one day). I use gabapentin 3 times a day to help with the nerve pain.

 

[gone03]

I'm very sorry to here about you issues. It was my rheumatologist that actually ordered the MRI that started the ball rolling on the fact that I really didn't have much of a choice about the surgery. I am typing this from a hospital bed. My back surgery has been rescheduled. I ended up in the hospital with Sepsis.

 

[Wayupnorth]

gone03,
How are you doing? Did they clear up the sepsis? When is your new surgery date? I do hope this post finds you doing better.

 

[gone03]

Thank you for asking! Life can certainly hand out some challenges. I'm OK and on long term antibiotics, but tomorrow afternoon I am finally having my back surgery. In the 5 weeks that gone by since the surgery was first canceled I have developed foot drop. It has actually turned out that I am, in a way, welcoming the surgery. I have lost so much of my ability to move and I am in so much pain that I am just thankful that I might have some possible chance of getting better. I have been assured that a pain specialist will be part of my recovery. Thank you!

 

[Wayupnorth]

I am thinking of you. I know one day i too will need the surgery. Doctors have pushed since I was ten years old. I know there will be a time when it must be done. Please let us know how it goes. It will be a long recovery-i hope you get the best post-care both for pain management but also rehabilitation. Take it slow and steady. Listen to your body, you know it best. I hope we get a nice reply next time you write. Thinking of you until then.

 

[gone03]

I came home yesturday from the hospital. I ended up having more surgerical procedures tha origionally first thought. I had 3 disc fused, a laminectomy and large cyst removed that was pushing against my spinal cord. I have a little bit longer incision in my back.
The pain control issues that I was cocerned about having, for the most part, have come true. I am allowed 1 10/325 hydrocodone every 4 hours. It's making it very hard to move. The nurse said that they do not prescribe any other pain meds. It seems to me that for the next 2 or 3 days it could have been made it easier for me to do things if I had better pain control. I did stop taking Hydrocodone several weeks ago but it apparently has not helped.