Discectomy - After the Operation

[unzwkcgc]

Stay positive Danny it really is the key. Don't let it take over your life... you control 'it' don't let 'it' control you. I wish you a speedy recovery now.

 

[Kaycee]

Thanks Octavian, i'm a positive guy anyway, glass is always half full and totally agree with you tho, a positive mind

I'm doing my exercises as much as i can, and getting up and walking about every hour or more. I stopped the painkillers yesterday, just taking the anti-inflammatories. Back was quite sore yesterday evening but prob due to me doing too much, up and down the stairs a few times etc etc. It's ok again this morning.

Really happy with the progress so far, i hope it continues to get better everyday.

Ali - Sounds like you've had an awfull time in there, glad your back at home and hopefully feeling more comfortable soon.

Cheers

Danny

 

[IeeDrv]

Thanks tracey-1 and jess22 for your posts with helpful advice on the 'post op blues' (which of course sounds like a bad country and western song).

ALiH78 - best wishes for your recovery now you are home. It sounds like you had a very difficult time in hospital and I hope things are now vastly improving for you.

I do think that while it is important to be positive in 'our' situation it is not always easy, or just a matter of 'getting over it'. Some days I don't find it easy to be in this situation and, as others have mentioned, I do think this forum is a helpful for venting. No doubt everyone will have their good and bad days... that's just life. And particularly life post-discectomy.

Good luck everyone.

 

[Slayer]

Okay, so who's been keeping their arse in bed?!?!

Ali, you should have taken a leaf out of my book and got the hell out of there asap. I hope you settle down nicely now...and try very hard to relax your muscles. I keep checking how tense my muscles are as they put pressure around the spine too.... everybody reeeeeeelax! I've worked really hard on keeping my neck muscles relaxed and have been rewarded with numb hands, so I won't be here for long. At least numb means no pain.

I think we're all doing okay, even if we don't understand everything thats happening to us....and I like hysteria anyway!

Love and stuff xxx

 

[twinkiesue]

You may already know about this but there something called a 'handy grabber' or 'handy reacher' which I have found really helpful. It's name is pretty self explanatory. You hold it in your hand like and it has something on the end which you can pick things up with, a bit like a claw. No more bending.
I seem to drop everything these days, so it's helped me.

 

[Almost Happy Housewife]

Ali, glad to hear you are at home, hope everything settles okay for you soon.
Melza, glad to hear you are not doing too bad.
Subi - I have one of those grabber things (its called my hubby, lol)

I havn't posted for a few days as have been a tad down as pain seems to be increasing daily & I have the normal pre-op fears. But I didn't want to spread my 'doom & gloom'

Well its now 3 sleeps until the big day & I just hope it goes to plan this time. I'm doing everything my end to get me in the best condition I can, although my clothes seem to weigh a stone heavier than they did before I had my first op, which is strange really as they seem to feel much tighter than they did before!!!!

I spoke to my GP last week who seems to be of the opinion that i'm having a spinal fusion. News to me but i'll find out on Wednesday I suppose.
I shall probably be on here again before the op as the nerves kick in & I start really bricking it

Keep up the good work all, & if anyone wants to vent their frustrations, fears or simple self pity I for one won't complain. It just helps me to realise i'm not the only one
Tracey xx

 

[Dilara]

Hey all,

well its 6 days post op and the pain is still quite bad, but mobility wise, i'm getting better.
I have a constant ache in my right butt cheek which concerns me, i don't remember this last time. As i said, i expected a bit of sciatic pain due to nerve damage, but it constantly aches.

Am hoping to walk to the shop next door a bit later, to get some proper mobility, as opposed to just walking around the house. I will be on my trusty crutches, my faithful friends they are!!!

Tracey, i was hoping for a spinal fusion!! I dont think i could face the disc prolapsing a 3rd time, i think i will hit my doctor if that happens!!!
I hope it gives you the result you need, and may it be the end of your problems.

Melza, I hope things are getting better day by day, are you sleeping well yet?

Subi, thank you for your kind messages. I hope that you are doing ok hun.

And everyone else, Lets hope that the new year brings good and happy and pain free tidings!!!

Lots of love and hugs from Ali xxx

 

[Ginny]

I had morphine withdrawals today!!!

I ran out of oramorph on sunday morning and was going to go to the docs to get some more yesterday, but before i had the chance, the withdrawals had set in and then some!!!
The doc had to come out, and she thought i was trying to come off it myself and i was like nooooo....i ran out!!!
I was feverish, sweating profusely, had fidgety legs and vomited so violently i thought my stitches were gonna burst!!!....Horrendous.....And did NOT help my pain one bit.
I felt like whatshisname from trainspotting!!!

Still not feeling 100%, can't sleep

Hows everyone doing anyways? Hope recoveries are going well and am thinking of Tracey, I hope her surgery goes well.

Anyways, i am gonna get back to my corrie repeats on ITV2 and hope that peaceful slumber comes soon. Ni Nite! xxx

 

[Annamazing.!]

Hi Ali,
Thats sounds sooooo awful. Thats what really gets to me when you get discharged, you are given the tiniest amount of medication to go home with & expected to be ordering more from GP's etc when there's w'ends, your pain & discomfort to deal with & not to forget the bloody receptionists to get past!!!!!
I really do hope things start to settle for you soon.
My husband almost called out our GP yesterday. I don't know what or why it happened but I have never felt so out of control of my own emotions in my life. Crying almost non stop from 5 a.m. & having the most awful thoughts. Thankfully its kind of settled now & i'm just focusing on tomorrow, although the nerves are kicking in a little.
I've decided having researched it that I am going to push for the fusion as I really CAN'T go through this again I don't think I am physically or emotionally strong enough to do it a third time.
Melza - Hope you are keeping well
To al you other post oppers at various stages of recovery hope all is going well for you.
I'm off to pack my bags now. (I need 2 as we now have a pre-op arrivals lounge & can only take basics as they have no lockers. For some reason I have to go to theatre from there & then to the ward from theatre. I won't have a bloody clue where I am!!!!!)
No doubt i'll be on again before tomorrow, take care all love Tracey xx

 

[Low]

Good luck to Tracey!!!!!

Hi everyone, I think my recovery is going pretty well. I've started to cut down on medication, not because there isn't any pain but because I want my body to learn to cope a bit. Walking is still difficult, which I find really frustrating! I went to the hospital yesterday to have my dressing sorted out, a friend had an appointment so I cadged a lift off her and her other half. The steri strips have been removed and I only have a light dressing for a couple of days more.

The little 'day trip' was very basic, except my friend had planned to have lunch before going home so more walking than I expected. Now I have the most awful pain in my neck that goes into my head, it feels like I have a migraine headache. I also had quite a bit of pain in my back too, although this hasn't been helped by coughing fits from my cold that won't go away. Anyway, this has dented my confidence a little and made me question the level of recovery I'm at now. I just want it all to go away........Now!

Ali, my little junkie, my med centre never prescribed me the drugs you have because of the risk of addiction (like I cared), but maybe that wasn't such a bad thing after all. I wasn't given any meds to go home with either, tight gits. No advice for you I'm afraid but I hope it all calms down soon, I shall be thinking about you.

Best wishes to all, whatever condition you're in.

xx

 

[tneubunciukizteth]

Hi tracey,

I pushed and pushed for the fusion surgery, because as you say, i too didnt want to go through this again.
My surgeon wasnt having none of it though, jusy kept saying that the microdiscectomy was the best way forward.
I really hope that this is the end of your suffering my friend, and will have you in my thoughts and prayers.

Melza, I felt like a bloody junkie yesterday! I didnt want those medications, but i had no choice, i would have crumbled with the pain.
I really hope that i can start weaning off the morphine soon.
I hope your cold goes soon hun, you poor thing, its awfully painful coughing with severe back/neck/head pain!

I have my dressing check on friday, am NOT looking forward to the car ride. The hospital is half an hour away, and its enough just thinking about it!
I have a bumpy wound, but i think thats just scar tissue (aggravated by my vomming yesterday!).

I hope everyone out there, pre and post op, are doing ok.

I am counting down the minutes to my next dose of oramorph (25 minutes!)...If only to keep the withdrawals at bay, like a true junkie!!!!

Lots of love to all xxxx

 

[avip]

Thanks to all for your kind wishes, I shall keep you posted as soon as i can.
Melza & Ali, stay strong you will get there.
I'm just hoping i dont have clips put into the wound as my body rejected both those & the internal stitches last time.
Be back soon xx

 

[ivy_lmt]

Good luck Tracey. I felt very much the same as you describe on the day before my op (constant crying, feeling very frightened, couldn't sleep). Once my op was over I just felt SO much better. I hope that you are feeling so much better soon. My very best wishes to you for your operation.

ALiH78 - I too had a very bumpy wound initially, but that's really gone down over the past couple of weeks. People keep looking at my resulting scar and say (unimpressed) 'is that it?' Guess that's why they call it microsurgery... Hope you're feeling better now and have the drugs you need!

I'm now 3 weeks post op. I too currently have a cold (not fun, is it Melza?) so that's curtailing the walking for now. But hopefully I will be back to it in a few days' time. Before the cold set in I had got up to doing a few k's but was very very tired afterwards. All going well I should be back at work in about 2 weeks.

Best of luck to you all.

 

[Steven S]

Hey Subi, thanks for your kind message!
I remember i had a bumpy wound before, but it was scar tissue. I worry this time though because of all the scar tissue taken out during my op and hope its not going to grow back.
I hope that you can get back to your walking soon, its really good exercise, and i have started by taking my daughter to school today.
I went out for the first time since my op yesterday, but caught a bus and then got a lift from my friend. (I only went to a cafe 10 mins from here, but didnt dare try to walk it. I just wanted to see how i would get on just being out. It was really good just being 'normal' for a little while, i struggled with sitting all that time, but really liked just being 'out'!
I am going to attempt a little bit of supermarket shopping tomorrow, not christmas shopping oh no no no! Thats gonna be done online this year!

Melza, I woke with little pain today, but after doing the short (Less than 3 minutes!) walk, its hurting a little.
How are you today? Hope you slept well

Tracey, I am thinking of you today hun, have said a couple of prayers for you (And one for you too Melza and Subi!).
I hope you come round comfortable and that they keep your pain well controlled.
Looking forward to hearing from you, so we know that you are ok

I hope the rest of you guys are having a good morning so far!
Love Ali xx

 

[baldyhugsblues]

And another day is over...thank heavens! I have thought some more about the drugs I've used and remembered the Diazepam, I don't even know what's in that one! Scary! But they only give me 30 pills at a time and don't allow prescriptions too close together either. That would really help settle the top of my back down now but I'm trying not to use it....it's difficult to decide don't you think? Having constant pain only hampers the healing process, as in, you don't want to move around much, but I'm trying to kick myself back into 'normal living' and get this all over with. I really do confuse myself sometimes....

And the best news last.....I have an appointment with a Neurosurgeon at Southampton hospital on 10th November...yay! Don't know how I'm going to get there yet but it's really good news. Hopefull I will get a proper consultation and be able to talk about the condition of my cerivcal spine at present and how it will be in the future. And if he dares to advise me against neck surgery I shall probably respond violently....

Off to do something useful now....somewhere.....somehow......but maybe not just yet.

Bye

 

[StuJag]

Well i hardly think that I am in a position to comment about drug useage!!

I am going to the doctors tomorrow to begin the morphine weaning process, i am looking forward to getting off it.

Thats brill news about your neck appointment! My friend had neck fusion surgery last year, it was a long recovery, but he got there.
He has to be really careful still, but the problems were fixed.

I have my follow up appointment at dorset county on the 9th January, and they were kind enough to book hospital transport! I must say i was pleasantly surprised!

I have just had a shallow bath, and realised how valuable cling film can be in terms of keeping my dressing dry! Fabulous! There's no way i wasn't having a bath for 2 weeks HA HA!!!

Anyways, on that note i am going to watch 'I'm a celebrity, Get me out of here!'....I luv it!!!

Ta ta for now!!!

P.S. I have been thinking about Tracey today, I wonder how she is doing.

 

[D-Tes]

Ali I am shocked! How is it that we went to the same hospital, were operated on in the same area and you were able to have a bath! I can't have one for six weeks, it was strictly forbidden!!! Its no wonder we get confused with all the conflicting advice we get.

Dare I break that rule then???

Can't seem to shake this germ off, everytime I think it's easing off the symptoms start all over again. I need one of those tonics the doctors used to prescribe.

I was wondering about dannyk and wondering how things were there, Please put a message up danny so we know you're okay.

 

[celery7]

Hello!

Melza, I got myself into the bath by using my daughter as a leaning post, and wrapped myself in cling film around the middle to keep my dressing dry! It was a blue peter lightbulb moment!!

I wasnt supposed to have a bath, its just that i felt minging!!! Yuk yuk yuk!!!

Fill up on some vitamin C to rid yourself of those dastardly germs my dear, hope it works!!!

Love Ali xx

 

[Old Hippie]

Yes but I was told not to have a bath for 6 weeks, something to do with the angle the back is at. Shall I be a rule breaker? All too confusing!

Good news! I didn't get out of bed once last night, I woke up and felt the nerve irritation buzzing down my legs but then went back to sleep again. At last I'm getting some order back in my life.

I wonder how Tracey is getting on, I don't envy her going through the first stages of recovery. I didn't like that much.

 

[Angelique M]

Yes, I was also wondering how you are going Monkeywaffle? And 'raw', your operation is coming up pretty soon - early December??

Hope you're all going ok.