Spinal surgery and travelling long distance after. And some other panics...

[MulledWineMincePie]

I am having a double level laminectomy and decompression on 7th January (removing bone from lumbar spine that is pressing on nerves at two vertebral levels).

I live in the depths of the South West of England, and I am travelling to London to see a top surgeon for this operation. It was my decision to go to this hospital, in order to see this top surgeon and not remain under my local surgeon who chose to leave me, mid thirties, virtually unable to walk and not even tell me wtf was wrong.

This surgeon is confident he can improve my pain and mobility levels by around 50% with this surgery. I of course snapped his hand off, as I am fed up with my life being on hold and this surgery will possibly be the key to a better physical life, a return to some activeness and the chance to be a better, less tired and grouchy mum to my young children.

I have had no problems with the distance, other than practical ones. Found solutions to most of them. I will unfortunately be in London on my own as there is no-one to care for the children if DH comes with me, due to timing of xmas and holidays etc, no family close (up north or on another far flung country), and so I will be in London for hopefully 3 days including day of surgery. DH will come to collect me when I am discharged to bring me home.

I am worried about travelling home. It's gonna be a 4 hour trip, approx, hopefully 3.5 hours on the actual main train journey. Been to-ing and fro-ing about whether DH drives me back, or first class train back. Talked it through with various people and decided train would be better as I can stand if I need to (will need to possible), lay across two seats, move about freely to reduce the risk of DVT etc, where car will be much harder to plan, will be driving through London which is relatively unfamiliar territory for driving, and all that might entail with braking hard etc etc.

I am worried about whether I should tell them about this in hospital. Will they keep me in longer if they know that I need to travel 4 hours, maybe more with any delays. I don't want to be kept in longer. (surgeon knows I live a long way, they must have a management plan of some kind, people travel across the country for the surgeons at this hospital, and the pre-assessment team didn't discuss with me other than the practical stuff of them confirming the bed space before I travel).

Anyone done a long post surgery trip? Am I going to actually be able to make this journey home? Any suggestions? ideas of how to manage the trip, advice, helpful hints? I can't get pissed as I might otherwise do without children in first class

I am not even sure I am expecting you to have answers. I am just worried that this is not going to be an easy trip and it might make things worse for me and undo the good of the surgery. I am just rambling.

I don't think the fact that you used choose and book should act against you to be honest.maybe the trip home hasn't been mentioned because they are assuming you will be patient transported???

I had Spondylolisthesis as a result of a severe scoliosis, which was diagnosed when I was about 11 but the consultant at the time didn't want to operate. I lived with it for years, until I was suddenly unable to walk one morning, and eventually was told I had no choice but to have this fusion. The neurosurgeon who operated had never done such an extensive fusion in someone in their 40s before so I wasn't given any expectations, but the outcome has been way worse than I thought, pain and mobility wise!

I think it's a good idea to research options now, I was really worried about how I'd get home, post op you might not be thinking as clearly, and it may weigh on your mind when you should really just be focussing on your recovery.

festive you are top on the visitor list! with instructions to bring coffee from Pret a Manger or such like as I won't be able to cope for 3 or more days with hospital coffee the rest'll work out just fine if I have proper injections of caffeine each day.

DH and I have been looking at hire cars. I'll speak to the transport people, but knowing what I am like I'll panic continually unless I get this sorted in some way and then move on to something else to worry about We can hire a Mercedes for the same price as first class train ticket. Bet those seats are comfortable reclined

Patient transport back to SW isn't going to happen, to much fighting over which health authority has to pay. Due to pressure on beds the hospital will discharge as soon as they can. Obviously you are going to check with the hospital but taxi to station then train might well be best option. Whatever you decide lots of luck and get well soon.

mince thank you, I hope I recover quickly top I fully expect that there will no patient transport option available, never planned there to be, so I need to figure out whether train or super comfy car is the best option.

Mulled - I'm just guessing from the nature of your condition, but are you having the op at the Royal National Orthopedic Hospital? My mother has been a patient there all her life, and they provide ambulance transfers (outside the local area) if medically required. They use a private ambulance provider and the ambulance may be shared, but the ambulance crew have always been pleasant and aware of the handling issues related to spinal injury. And good luck x

therein good guess but it's the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Queen's Square.

DHs licence is expired anyway. Just applied for his new one, but it says within two weeks, which means he probably won't get it back before we need to hire a car, and I expect he won't be able to hire without his licence.

I don't think he can even drive without a license ? Isn't it a £1,000 fine? Or is it ok to drive if you have applied for a renewal ?

Sorry if I sounded very negative or unhelpful before, I was just concerned about your damaging your back further on the return journey . I'm glad to hear that you will be getting soem travel advice from the hospital

kristingle he can drive as he has applied for renewal, as long as he is not disqualified, etc etc. as the actual licence has not expired, it's the photo card ID that has expired. Apparently according to hire car peeps he can also still hire a car as long as he produces the counterpart and photo evidence ie passport. So, if new card not arrived in time should still be ok as actual licence is still legal.

Thank you, that's useful information

< checks license expiry date >

tough glad your day was good but to being in bed with pain my christmas was lovely, low pain, first christmas for many years with limited pain, probably helped by alcohol and doing absolutely fuck all apart from playing with the children. DH cooked the entire dinner, and we didn't entertain or visit family so no pressure to even get dressed (although we did put on fancy clothing for dinner, mine stayed on a total of 45 mins before jimjams were put back on ).

kristingle meant to say, you came across as concerned, a little bossy, but concerned

I feel calmer about it all. I think I had some jitters around travel, also because my pain reduced a bit for a few days, I wondered if the effort of travelling so far to be cut open then travelling so far home was needed after all, was I just making a big old fuss about nothing? You know, those in chronic pain, possibly, how that might feel. But, looking back on my life since last surgery, my slow ebbing away of mobile life, and a couple of good days is nothing. And, today, just to remind me, pain has returned with a vengeance and I know that, regardless of the return journey being a pig, it's worth it, as I have no alternative that I am prepared to take surgery wise.

I have discussed at length with friends and with DH today at a post christmas gathering, and all agree that stretched out in a brand automatic luxury car with pillows and duvet etc to keep me comfy, along with lots of painkillers, and a pit stop in a service station or two to eat/not eat -normally vile except when travelling-- burger king and have DH help me wee is better than eating (ok, i probably won't eat much) train food and attempting to wee in a moving carriage with no room for DH to come in with me to help . Not that I am expecting it to be as smooth riding as costa sleeping most of the way with a sympathetic taxi driver (DH is lovely, but he worries, which overtakes the sympathy as worry makes him stressed, which makes him a bit testy in these kinds of situations).

kristingle they will write to you before the end of your photo card expiry to tell you it's due to be renewed, you can renew before the end - it's quite clever/scary as you can do it online now, using your passport photo instead of having to go through the faff of getting to a postoffice in your lunch break, queuing for two hours only to be told they don't do it at that postoffice as long as you are ok with Big Brother watching you even more closely - you just have to enter your passport number online and they will go get your photo from it.

DH's actually expired about 3 months ago. so probably was illegal to drive then...the info about being fine to drive while the renewal is done was in the confirmation email 'driving while waiting for renewal' or something, with the details about it being ok to drive if there are no restrictions due to disqualification, health issues, and if any special conditions usually applied remain adhered to.

That sounds like a much better system, although a bit Big Brother , as you say

I really hope the secretary can put your mind at rest and that your surgery is as successful as it can be.

Hiring a big luxury car can't be cheap, have you looked into the cost of a private ambulance if the hospital are unable to transport you? I'm thinking that lying comfortably on a stretcher would be better than a non purpose built car seat, and that would be the best start to your recovery.

Do let us know how you get on.

I think the driving option is the best if possible to arrange. As I said, NHNN is very generous with the oromorph and you should float home in quite a relaxed state.

Try not to stress this stuff too much. You will be fine. I will visit you if you are really bored.

muchtoodo hire car will be about £150-£250 for a week, DH is thinking if he books a whole week it will allow for any delays in my 'release' he can drive it while I am in hospital and pretend he is rich and can visit me on the day of surgery for a couple of hours. Our car is reasonable, but not the most comfortable for long journeys, and the clutch is misbehaving recently (due to my inability to use it properly due to leg pain and so I ride it too much, apparently ).

Private ambulance, approximately £1400 for 500 mile round trip

Good grief

That's a bit of a no brainier, even if you do have to make multiple stops to stretch your legs.

Here's to a less painful 2015 and beyond xxx

matilda looking forward to the floating home yes come and visit me if you can cope with the journey! don't need to bring grapes though...and if you are not up for the travel, just keep in touch online.

much thank you for your kind wishes

at cost of ambulance!?

festive I know, it's barking isn't it? Feel much calmer about it today. Not called transport people as been working with horrendous pain, couldn't walk when got home so laying flat with painkillers while my friend is making my children tidy their bedroom. I'll call tomorrow when I have day off.

Sorry to hear you're having such a bad day