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NOO! my back has 'gone'! It can't!

54 replies

PavlovtheCat · 03/07/2013 21:29

FFS
I have had increased pain for a couple of days. Today, it was worse than it has been since surgery (discectomy) two weeks ago today. But I expected some increase as it all heals and not huge sciatica; of course it's going to hurt a bit, had bone and disc removed, muscle cut into, nerves and ligaments shifted out of the way.

But, today, I felt flu-like this afternoon, like I have before my back 'goes'. I had often wondered if it was due to gunk seeping from my disc and causing inflammation and sort of 'toxic' so making me feel ill. I didn't really think much of it today though, although DH checked my incision to make sure that's ok - it's fine, what he can see through the million steri-strips. He then said 'do you feel unwell like your back is going to go?' and I thought about it, and yes, that's how I feel. However, still put it down to a bug.

Then, about 1 hour after than convo, I do my log roll onto my bed, stop it a little early and sit up too soon - bamm! it's gone. Searing pain through my back, like something has rubbed against each other, shooting pain right into my right foot, a little into my left. I had the left side of the disc removed, but not the right as the surgeon didn't want to destabilise my spine by removing bone on both sides (have an unstable vertebrae).

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I don't know why this has happened. It may be that the vertebrae has shifted a bit - the surgery was never going to fix that - but the leg pain, that worries me. 1) what if it has just gone on the other side?

I am meant to be going away on friday to stay in a Yurt! It 'went' a few weeks ago, right before going away to a Yurt then too! We are going with friends, they are looking after me with DH, they have it all planned to help me convalesce, my friend is a district nurse, she is going to check my incision, remove steri strips, replace if necessary (DH is squeamish), they are going to help me have a good time while doing nothing at all. We are being ultra organised so we don't have to do lots (they even, I won't be doing much). But there is a difference between me taking it easy and not pulling my weight, and being an absolute fucking burden, someone who needs complete care. I might not be able to go!

But, more than that, what if I have done too much, too soon and have just fucked my back up, again, two weeks after surgery?

OP posts:
PavlovtheCat · 03/07/2013 21:30

and I have no fucking diazepam, which I normally reach for when this happens as I ran out before surgery and didn't get any sent home with me.

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PavlovtheCat · 03/07/2013 21:30

you all know it's gonna be me don't you...

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Ohwooisme · 03/07/2013 21:44

Oh Pavlov. I knew it would be you when I saw the title. How's it feeling now?

Ohwooisme · 03/07/2013 21:46

And what have you been doing that you think you've been doing too much? After my open discectomy think at 2 weeks I was going for about a 15-25 min walk a day, and then mainly sitting/lying on the sofa v carefully!!

PavlovtheCat · 03/07/2013 21:47

I moved just before I posted, from my side onto my back. It spasmed and my foot hurt a lot. I have not tried moving again properly. Bit afraid to. My right foot is throbbing with a little pain, so is my back, with some pain if I move a little, bearable though. Not sure it will be the case if I try to stand up. In fact, I feel quite certain it won't be ok. Even lying flat as I am now it feels tender.

Bugger Bugger. They really really did mean do fuck all didn't they?

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PavlovtheCat · 03/07/2013 21:50

A bit of bending. Nothing huge, and bending at the knees. I know. I know! but there is crap all over the floor and I keep tripping up over it. Just pottering around the house, folding clothes, putting in drawers (a very slight bend, probably what has done it Blush

And, on sunday went to the woods, had a picnic, I sat on the floor, got up from the floor and back again a few times. I felt fine at the time. I felt great.

Walking, lots of walking. Lots of stairs...

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Ubermumsy · 03/07/2013 21:51

Oh Pavlov, bummer dude. Can you get an appointment with your surgeon pronto? It might be a bit of scar tissue unadhering/swelling (she says hopefully).

PavlovtheCat · 03/07/2013 21:51

so, I'm taking it you didn't get a sudden increase in pain at two weeks...

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Ohwooisme · 03/07/2013 21:51

Sorry. Read that back and I don't sound sympathetic which I very much am. Have you got some painkillers to help just now? Have you got a number for your surgeon you call in the morning to have a chat about what might have happened (call his/her secretary!) fingers crossed that it's a (pretty scary) reminder to take things easy and will ease up quickly.

Did your surgeon offer you this for info? www.rcseng.ac.uk/patients/get-well-soon/discectomy/documents/Discectomy.pdf I found it v useful - things like the recovery tracker especially.

PavlovtheCat · 03/07/2013 21:51

uber feels deeper than the scar tissue - or do you mean deeper down? externally the scar tissue feels fine.

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Ohwooisme · 03/07/2013 21:52

And this time with a working link...
www.rcseng.ac.uk/patients/get-well-soon/discectomy/documents/Discectomy.pdf

Ubermumsy · 03/07/2013 21:53

In the meantime, how about some frozen peas?

OhYouBadBadKitten · 03/07/2013 21:53

As you are just two weeks post op I'd either call 111 or go to a&e.

Ubermumsy · 03/07/2013 21:53

Yes, I meant internal scar tissue.

PavlovtheCat · 03/07/2013 21:54

yes have just taken some codiene/paracetamol/napraxen as due anyway. Think I need higher dose (took 30mg, take 60mg for big pain like this) so will take another one. No I didn't get that link, but I did get a leaflet, and it seemed to suggest cracking on with things as soon as I felt able to, with some caution, but don't sit around doing nothing was the jist of it; which is what I have been doing, getting on with things, slowly, carefully.

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PavlovtheCat · 03/07/2013 21:55

ooh I don't think you sounded unsympathetic, just practical!

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Ohwooisme · 03/07/2013 21:59

It does sound like you might have been doing a teeny tiny bit too much, but I was , like you, going slightly crazy about the state of the house and was found loading the dishwasher at about 2 weeks!

I think I did have some, quite ouchy, nerve pain after a couple of weeks - like a serious reminder to take things slowly. And tbh I get the odd v painful twinge now if I sit/ move funny (I still can't sit straight up from lying down). But I was told that the nerves could take months, even a year or more, to heal.

I would definitely try and speak to someone first thing tomorrow. Are you comfy just now?

Ohwooisme · 03/07/2013 22:02

Ohyoubadkitten's idea of 111 is good - or did you get a number for the ward you could call?

PavlovtheCat · 03/07/2013 22:02

oybbk no don't say that! I am sure it will be fine...

uber if it is internal scar tissue unadhering, is that problematic? Will it sort itself out? Is that normal? Could it just be that the disc has leaked a little bit, given that it is 'raw' so to speak, having been sliced and left exposed?

peas are a problem - our freezer door is knackered, there is a technique to it, one which I can't employ with my current back condition Wink and DH is out.

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OhYouBadBadKitten · 03/07/2013 22:04

If you really really don't want to, then you must get hold of someone from the surgical team tomorrow morning.

PavlovtheCat · 03/07/2013 22:06

The ward was very much like 'call us within 7 days, else off to your GP' type of thing. I was not on normal neuro ward as no space, was on ortho ward so not sure they would be helpful anyway (wont really complain too much about that, I had a fabulous view from floor 11 of the Moors, and a window bed).

I was going to see my Gp tomorrow for a check-up, chat about surgery as he will be interested, review progress etc and talk about increasing pain over last couple days, just to touch base really as he has been in the loop fully since the beginning, although, not through choice at first Wink. I think I might do that rather than call 111, they will just send me to A&E won't they? And, I will try to speak to surgeon tomorrow, that's a good idea.

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PavlovtheCat · 03/07/2013 22:07

oybbk i will definitely call neurosurgery first thing. Promise.

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OhYouBadBadKitten · 03/07/2013 22:09

Good :)

PavlovtheCat · 03/07/2013 22:09

oh I have been so tempted to stack the dishwasher! I have opened the door, and pulled out the top tray and stacked some small plates and cups into it, pushed it back in, but not full tray. I have emptied the washing machine though Blush but that was last week, when I felt superhuman. And I had no clothes dry.

But, I knew I have been overdoing it, and so after DDs birthday on MOn

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youarewinning · 03/07/2013 22:10

Oh pav I saw the title and actually did a little prayer this wasn't your thread. (though obviously wouldn't wish it on anybody).

Sad

I really hope it's not gone. Best of luck tomorrow and you know where we all are.