Happy Thanksgiving

by **nedbenz** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 9:25 am

Here's wishing everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving. My wife had back surgery last week and now has some severe complications and can't walk, trying to stay positive.

by **Advocate** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 1:18 pm

Happy Thanksgiving to you. Sorry to hear about your wife's condition and I wish her a swift recovery.

Take comfort in knowing that whatever ill befalls us -- something better will come out of it.

God bless.

by **asa** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 1:23 pm

Blue, I just saw this- I'm so sorry. I hope she gets well soon. Best wishes to you and your family.

Art

by **finplanning** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 5:24 pm

Blue,

I also just saw this post. I will remember her when I pray. It is my hope that everything will work out for you my friend. May God bless you and you family.

Jamie

by **BabyFat** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 5:46 pm

Been there done that got the shirt, what is the prognosis?

What was the scope of the surgery?

by **nedbenz** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 6:38 pm

Thanks guys. She had a cyst pushing out of the space between L4 and L5, compressing the sciatic nerve. We got three consults and finally got in to see the neurosurgeon we wanted and he went in and decompressed the cyst and shaved a bone spur, we were trying to avoid fusion surgery, Seems that the nerve was damaged, perhaps, but might just be swelling. The doc admitted he might have chosen the wrong procedure. Massive doses of Prednisone are reducing the swelling a bit, large doses of oxycontin. Will see the surgeon Monday morning to see where we go from here.

by **BabyFat** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 9:20 pm

Déjà vu , my neurosurgeon did the same thing L5-S1. He belittled the nerve, dosed me with cortisone and morphine. Then on the 7th day in the hospital he brought the hospital administrators in my room and confessed “I missed it”. The next day he started pulling me off the morphine and about 2 weeks later dismissed me from the hospital, no I wasn’t ready.

I eventually had second back surgery 30 years later because of an accident and used an Orthopedic surgeon a real gift, I walked out pain and drug free the next day. He said the fist surgeon didn’t do me any favors.

Bad news is bad news She’s got an uphill climb here. She will win no question, the technology has come a long way. Tell her not to panic and not to give up, keep an even pace and DON’T over do it, ask for a portable tinge machine.

If she starts having headaches she can switch to Mepridine. I eventually became allergic to codeine I ate so much. They’ll tell you it all breaks down to the same drug inside your body but I say better living through pharmacokinetics.

She may like Ice more than heat, I’m sure she using a pillow under her knees now. Also when she does finally get to sleep on her side she should use a pillow between her knees as well.

If your neuro doesn’t endorse physical therapy fire him now.
She should at least be in a pool and walking ASAP (the wound heals in 15 days)

Also start taking a multi vitamin the drugs leach your system, In a few months she'll start noticing so get ahead of the power curb. Especially when she comes off the “cortisones” If she complains that her skin feels like it’s burning she needs more potassium, several bananas a day or a few glasses of orange juice plus the multi.

Hang in there,

by **nedbenz** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 10:36 pm

You the man. Send me your contact info, I need someone like you to help me help her.

nedbenz@comcast.net

I really appreciate you taking the time to respond.