Guest guest Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 I feel so foolish... I had my last follow up with my Neuro Surgeon. He said the x-ray and CAT scan look like everything is healing great. I can snow ski... (WHAT) I had a neck collar on for 3 months (2 surgeries one in the front then one from the back). I have pain with computer work within only 30 min. He asked if I was back to work. WHAT? HE said I could go back to work?? I feel so strange I asked about my pain he said it is normal. But how could I work with the pain level I am at? I find it difficult to think and painful to do housework, cooking etc. Now what? I am going to my MD for a Physical this week? (After my 1st surgery I went right back to work and ended up with 2 broken screws) I am not trying to get out of anything I am scared that if I try to get back to the grind I will end up hurting for a longer period of time then if I just gradually went to therapy maybe a part time job or volunteer then when I am almost 100% (GOD PLEASE) Back to work... I feel so lost I don't know who to talk with? I don't know what to do. But my body is mad at me most days because I try and over do it then I am in the house resting for days... funny my last appt he said I should come back in 3 month then 6 months then one year. Now he said just call if I have any problems? Please help the lost person! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 Prod, You have to be the advocate for your body. Only you know what you can do, how long you can do it for etc,......I am unaware of your situation. If it is one that you don't need to work, and you are having pain, that is an easy one...dont work. Deb RN From: neck pain [mailto:neck pain ] On Behalf Of prodgod1 Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2008 3:36 PM neck pain Subject: Foolish I feel so foolish... I had my last follow up with my Neuro Surgeon. He said the x-ray and CAT scan look like everything is healing great. I can snow ski... (WHAT) I had a neck collar on for 3 months (2 surgeries one in the front then one from the back). I have pain with computer work within only 30 min. He asked if I was back to work. WHAT? HE said I could go back to work?? I feel so strange I asked about my pain he said it is normal. But how could I work with the pain level I am at? I find it difficult to think and painful to do housework, cooking etc. Now what? I am going to my MD for a Physical this week? (After my 1st surgery I went right back to work and ended up with 2 broken screws) I am not trying to get out of anything I am scared that if I try to get back to the grind I will end up hurting for a longer period of time then if I just gradually went to therapy maybe a part time job or volunteer then when I am almost 100% (GOD PLEASE) Back to work... I feel so lost I don't know who to talk with? I don't know what to do. But my body is mad at me most days because I try and over do it then I am in the house resting for days... funny my last appt he said I should come back in 3 month then 6 months then one year. Now he said just call if I have any problems? Please help the lost person! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 I think you should be in Physical Therapy to strengthen your neck, shoulders and upper back. I also was getting a lot of pain at the computer, but I improved my posture and learned to sit back in my chair with a lumbar support and that helped my neck alot. At the computer I was always leaning forward even though I thought I was sitting up straight. I have to keep reminding myself to sit back. Also, I practice bringing my shoulder blades together in the back and sticking my chest out (I've always been a little hunch backed and caved in in the front) All in all, I'm much better now. I learned pinching and stabilizing my shoulderblades from the PT that helped me with my inflamed rotator cuffs (both sides) Now I try to walk and do any lifting or anything, always concious of my shoulderblade area. Even my lower back is better. (My PT said that neck muscles are extensions of shoulder and back muscles. Strengthen shoulder and back, and neck muscles strengthen.) I also do exercise for the front of my neck by lifting my head slightly from the pillow and holding for 10 and work up from 5 times. This has also helped greatly. The arthritis in my facet joints is much more tolerable now. Rochelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 " prodgod1 " <prodgod1@...> wrote: " WHAT? HE said I could go back to work?? " I'm so sorry you are going through this. Just when you need someone to be there for you, the person you expect isn't. The doctors do what they can, and then they're done, it seems like. They hope for the best. I had my surgery 3 years ago, and I'm still not okay, my pain is only 50% of what it was, but still barely tolerable. I've read that the nerves can take up to 3 years to heal. " if I try to get back to the > grind I will end up hurting for a longer period of time then if I > just gradually went to therapy maybe a part time job or volunteer > then when I am almost 100% (GOD PLEASE) Back to work... " My PT told me that the people who were successful at going back to work were the ones who went back gradually, just as you suggest. > > I feel so lost I don't know who to talk with? You have come to the right place. Noone will understand, or very few that we knew in our " old " life before this happened to us. I don't know what to > do. But my body is mad at me most days because I try and over do it > then I am in the house resting for days... > You are doing exactly what you need to be doing. Balancing and managing your pain between what you do, don't do and what your pain level is. The more clearly you can communicate exactly how your pain is escalated/reduced by exactly what you do/don't do, the more likely you are to have the empathy you need from your doctor & others who don't have the same experience, only they can understand. in Oregon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 " prodgod1 " <prodgod1@...> wrote: " WHAT? HE said I could go back to work?? " I'm so sorry you are going through this. Just when you need someone to be there for you, the person you expect isn't. The doctors do what they can, and then they're done, it seems like. They hope for the best. I had my surgery 3 years ago, and I'm still not okay, my pain is only 50% of what it was, but still barely tolerable. I've read that the nerves can take up to 3 years to heal. " if I try to get back to the > grind I will end up hurting for a longer period of time then if I > just gradually went to therapy maybe a part time job or volunteer > then when I am almost 100% (GOD PLEASE) Back to work... " My PT told me that the people who were successful at going back to work were the ones who went back gradually, just as you suggest. > > I feel so lost I don't know who to talk with? You have come to the right place. Noone will understand, or very few that we knew in our " old " life before this happened to us. I don't know what to > do. But my body is mad at me most days because I try and over do it > then I am in the house resting for days... > You are doing exactly what you need to be doing. Balancing and managing your pain between what you do, don't do and what your pain level is. The more clearly you can communicate exactly how your pain is escalated/reduced by exactly what you do/don't do, the more likely you are to have the empathy you need from your doctor & others who don't have the same experience, only they can understand. in Oregon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 " prodgod1 " <prodgod1@...> wrote: " WHAT? HE said I could go back to work?? " I'm so sorry you are going through this. Just when you need someone to be there for you, the person you expect isn't. The doctors do what they can, and then they're done, it seems like. They hope for the best. I had my surgery 3 years ago, and I'm still not okay, my pain is only 50% of what it was, but still barely tolerable. I've read that the nerves can take up to 3 years to heal. " if I try to get back to the > grind I will end up hurting for a longer period of time then if I > just gradually went to therapy maybe a part time job or volunteer > then when I am almost 100% (GOD PLEASE) Back to work... " My PT told me that the people who were successful at going back to work were the ones who went back gradually, just as you suggest. > > I feel so lost I don't know who to talk with? You have come to the right place. Noone will understand, or very few that we knew in our " old " life before this happened to us. I don't know what to > do. But my body is mad at me most days because I try and over do it > then I am in the house resting for days... > You are doing exactly what you need to be doing. Balancing and managing your pain between what you do, don't do and what your pain level is. The more clearly you can communicate exactly how your pain is escalated/reduced by exactly what you do/don't do, the more likely you are to have the empathy you need from your doctor & others who don't have the same experience, only they can understand. in Oregon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 " prodgod1 " <prodgod1@...> wrote: " WHAT? HE said I could go back to work?? " I'm so sorry you are going through this. Just when you need someone to be there for you, the person you expect isn't. The doctors do what they can, and then they're done, it seems like. They hope for the best. I had my surgery 3 years ago, and I'm still not okay, my pain is only 50% of what it was, but still barely tolerable. I've read that the nerves can take up to 3 years to heal. " if I try to get back to the > grind I will end up hurting for a longer period of time then if I > just gradually went to therapy maybe a part time job or volunteer > then when I am almost 100% (GOD PLEASE) Back to work... " My PT told me that the people who were successful at going back to work were the ones who went back gradually, just as you suggest. > > I feel so lost I don't know who to talk with? You have come to the right place. Noone will understand, or very few that we knew in our " old " life before this happened to us. I don't know what to > do. But my body is mad at me most days because I try and over do it > then I am in the house resting for days... > You are doing exactly what you need to be doing. Balancing and managing your pain between what you do, don't do and what your pain level is. The more clearly you can communicate exactly how your pain is escalated/reduced by exactly what you do/don't do, the more likely you are to have the empathy you need from your doctor & others who don't have the same experience, only they can understand. in Oregon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.