62 days post-op update

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone. Thank you again for all the feedback from my last

post. Dr. Hey's office received my 6wk post-op xrays. The doc

himself is out of the country, but his asst. said everything looked

fine. I told her about my continued pain and she thought a pain

clinic would best serve me. Strangely enough, everything fell into

place and I met with a pain specialist/doc this past Fri. What a

wonderful surprise to meet this compassionate and knowledgeable

doc/ " lady " .

She was flabergasted to hear that I was sent home from the hospital

with only 10mg of Oxycodone/every 8 hrs.and 5mg for breakthrough pain.

( & Valium) She said I can't even begin to heal unless the pain is at

a manageable level so that I can start doing more physically. MY

legs were spasming in her office everytime I stood up. And my left

ankle is still swollen and red (it comes and goes). Anyway, she put

me on Oxycontin 20mg/12hrs and oxycodone 5mg/2 every 3 hours for

breakthrough pain. And Flexaryl to relax my muscles. I'm supposed

to take one 3xday. I've only taken one and was falling asleep while

eating a Frosty, no joke!! Luckily I was in the car and my sisnlaw

and she was driving, of course. She found it quite comical. She

took me home for a nap at 6pm and I woke up at 6am (hurting very

badly) b/c I didn't take any evening meds. I was very confused, but

I finally put all the pieces together. I woke up with guilt and

remorse as if I'd been on a drinking binge for a week. (And I haven't

had a drink in 15 yrs!).

Needless to say, I will try taking half/flexaryl at bedtime next time.

It's only been a couple of days on my new regime, I'm trying to be

patient.

I was counting on the fact that pain mgmt would be so much better

this time around in the hospital and afterwards. Only now do I have

a little hope. I also counted on the fact that I would stand up for

myself a little better too. So, I know it goes both ways. When I

came home and the med bottle said take 1 or 2, I would always take

1. Well, I'm over the martyr syndrome and fear on getting " hooked "

on this stuff. I need help and am finally getting it. I'm so

grateful that I liked the pain doc. and will have more hope once I

can start progressing physically. I know , I know, be patient

camille. Trust the process and know (not just hope) that this too

shall pass.

Has anyone else had the swollen ankle/leg thing after surgery? It's

weird. Today, no pain and minimal swelling, yesterday quite the

opposite. I know all this nerve regeneration stuff has it's own

unique way to show up with all of us. The PA didn't seem worried.

Oh well.

Let's see, it was a beautiful day today.

peace,camille