Guest guest Posted January 5, 2011 Report Share Posted January 5, 2011 Kerry, Oh....you tell your story so well...its almost like I was reliving it. Ouch! For a few weeks out you sound like you are managing well and on the road to recovery. It will take awhile. I was curious about what you are calling groin pain...do you mean the area that runs across the spot where the top of your thigh/let joins your torso? For me..other than the surgical/trauma pain...that area was the worst. Felt like it had been ripped open... a kind of burning. I also figured it had something to to with the rather sudden opening up in that area from the revision...and I didnt really solve the pain until about a year later when I had deep tissue massage/myofacial release in that area. It was immediate and felt like heaven. I dont think I am understanding what you are saying about the pedicle screw and intermittent pain. Are you saying that they know the screw is causing pain and are not addressing it...or that they believe it will go away on its own? Hang in there. Things will be settling down more and more for you now thatyou are home and enjoying your own surroundings! Happy 2011 to you. Take Care, Cam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2011 Report Share Posted January 6, 2011 Hi Kerry, Sounds to me like you are doing very well and you sent valuable information about your time in the hospital which will help others getting ready for surgery. But I don't think everyone should dismiss the idea of going to a nursing home facility for the first week or two following the hospital stay. That's the kind of facility I went to. It was a nursing home, but the first floor was set aside for short term cre for those recovering from surgery. I had physical therapy every day I was there. When I left the hospital, I could not get out of bed by myself, use the bathrom by myself or climb steps. The physical therapist at the nursing home taught me how to do all of those tasks and he came with me on all my walks, to make sure I was handling my body correctly. The nursing home was not near the hospital, but it was very close to my home, which made visits from by husband very easy. Bonnie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2011 Report Share Posted January 6, 2011 Hi Bonnie, I'm sorry, I guess I generalized the choices presented to me regarding skilled nursing facilities. No facility on the list given to me in Tucson, and most likely in my price range for insurance purposes, offered much in the way of one on one physical threrapy. When I was in nursing school, I spent a couple of semesters in some of the saddest places that I ever encountered--still breaks my heart when I think about them! These were the type of skilled nursing facilities offered to me. But like you said, there are different facilities that offer the type of therapy that we need after altering our bodies so drastically. I'm sorry if I offended you and I'm glad you got the proper care that you needed. I guess in my area at least, as far as medical practice goes, it all comes down to the mighty buck! Anyway rehab was the best decision for me as well, and I would have happily taken it in any proper facility--like you, I couldn't do much after surgery. I am fortunate that I have my dear family at home to help care for me--but I certainly needed to learn to use my body correctly. I really needed the training, support, and assistance that rehab offered. They offered great tools and valuable information, but I know it is a personal decision for each and everyboby after surgery. Anyway, thanks for the reply and I'm sorry I stereotyped skilled nursing facilities--thank you for giving me the opportunity to correct the slip of my fingers! Thank you kindly....................Kerry > > Hi Kerry, > > Sounds to me like you are doing very well and you sent valuable > information about your time in the hospital which will help others > getting ready for surgery. But I don't think everyone should dismiss > the idea of going to a nursing home facility for the first week or two > following the hospital stay. That's the kind of facility I went to. > It was a nursing home, but the first floor was set aside for short > term cre for those recovering from surgery. I had physical therapy > every day I was there. When I left the hospital, I could not get out > of bed by myself, use the bathrom by myself or climb steps. The > physical therapist at the nursing home taught me how to do all of > those tasks and he came with me on all my walks, to make sure I was > handling my body correctly. The nursing home was not near the > hospital, but it was very close to my home, which made visits from by > husband very easy. > > Bonnie > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2011 Report Share Posted January 6, 2011 Cam, Wrote last night, but my message got lost in cyberspace and I didn't have it in me to sit in the chair any longer. Thank you so much for all the words of encouragement--you do so much for everybody in this group, I so appreciate your support and knowledge! You are right as far as what I am describing as groin pain. Dr, Jeong says that those muscles have been shortened for so long, that it's going to take a lot of time and work to get them back to feeling OK. I feel like there is such a blazing fire in that area, my skin even hurts. I actually have to admit that it isn't as bad as it was--it no longer takes my breath away--I'll take progress in any form at any rate! I'm having a lot of weird nerve pains in my legs and back though, but I was told it's still pretty swollen in there so time should help. I'm dying to get in the pool, but I still have a couple of spots approx an inch each that are still scabs, and sometime leak a little. I'm watching like a hawk for infection--but it looks OK back there. As far as the pedicle screw pain--I only feel it when I'm adjusting in bed--I guess that's when my tush is rubbing against our bed. The doc said that the screws and stabilizing bars in that area are not as deeply placed as the ones in my back. They can rub against the underlying tissue and muscles. So basically the bars and screws are solidly in place, but the area they are placed, has a lot of give, so generally, I'm just feeling the movement of my buttocks rubbing against the metal! Has anyone else experienced this pain? That pain still literally takes my breath away and it too is a searing hot pain. Nerve pain is so random and vast--it's amazing that our bodies can produce a pain that literally feels like fire. Getting those stupid pain description sheets at the Dr's offices drive me crazy, feels like I can mark each one--they all don't happen at the same time but I think we've all felt most of them at various times--randomly at least. Impossible to describe and shade in an anatomical figure on paper, but we all have to play the game of paperwork! I find myself getting too motivated to do things, then physically wiping myself out. I don't know why I have this need to be up and active, I had no trouble resting any other time in my life. I guess anxiety is playing a role. My feet are swelling up like balloons as well--Crocs are my only shoes of choice a this moment--luckily, I live in Tucson and the weather allows for them--fashionally speaking though, oh what the heck, I love them! Anyway, my legs are screaming at me to get off this chair. Thanks again and I hope my original post wasn't too graffic to scare the ones on the fence--sometimes, I just let my fingers--usually my mouth in person, take over and too much comes out. I appologize if that's the case. Thanks again Cam, you've been such a help to me through all this and I can't thank you enough! Kerry > > Kerry, > > Oh....you tell your story so well...its almost like I was reliving it. Ouch! > > For a few weeks out you sound like you are managing well and on the road to recovery. It will take awhile. > > I was curious about what you are calling groin pain...do you mean the area that runs across the spot where the top of your thigh/let joins your torso? For me..other than the surgical/trauma pain...that area was the worst. Felt like it had been ripped open... a kind of burning. I also figured it had something to to with the rather sudden opening up in that area from the revision...and I didnt really solve the pain until about a year later when I had deep tissue massage/myofacial release in that area. It was immediate and felt like heaven. > > I dont think I am understanding what you are saying about the pedicle screw and intermittent pain. Are you saying that they know the screw is causing pain and are not addressing it...or that they believe it will go away on its own? > > Hang in there. Things will be settling down more and more for you now thatyou are home and enjoying your own surroundings! > > Happy 2011 to you. > > Take Care, Cam > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2011 Report Share Posted January 6, 2011 Hi Kerry - I know EXACTLY the pain in the butt you are talking about. As you may have already read...we had our surgeries within a few days of each other. I felt the DEEP burning pain immediately in the hospital. Mine was the worst when adjusting in bed & standing up from the toilet. I still feel it sometimes when I;m first getting into bed now. I am now 24 days post-op & it is almost gone. Hope yours stops soon too. Good luck with your recovery. Sincerely............................Kathy-- On Thu, 1/6/11, Kerry <kerrich@...> wrote: From: Kerry <kerrich@...>Subject: [ ] Re: Kerry, finally home Date: Thursday, January 6, 2011, 9:40 PM Cam, Wrote last night, but my message got lost in cyberspace and I didn't have it in me to sit in the chair any longer. Thank you so much for all the words of encouragement--you do so much for everybody in this group, I so appreciate your support and knowledge!You are right as far as what I am describing as groin pain. Dr, Jeong says that those muscles have been shortened for so long, that it's going to take a lot of time and work to get them back to feeling OK. I feel like there is such a blazing fire in that area, my skin even hurts. I actually have to admit that it isn't as bad as it was--it no longer takes my breath away--I'll take progress in any form at any rate! I'm having a lot of weird nerve pains in my legs and back though, but I was told it's still pretty swollen in there so time should help. I'm dying to get in the pool, but I still have a couple of spots approx an inch each that are still scabs, and sometime leak a little. I'm watching like a hawk for infection--but it looks OK back there.As far as the pedicle screw pain--I only feel it when I'm adjusting in bed--I guess that's when my tush is rubbing against our bed. The doc said that the screws and stabilizing bars in that area are not as deeply placed as the ones in my back. They can rub against the underlying tissue and muscles. So basically the bars and screws are solidly in place, but the area they are placed, has a lot of give, so generally, I'm just feeling the movement of my buttocks rubbing against the metal! Has anyone else experienced this pain? That pain still literally takes my breath away and it too is a searing hot pain. Nerve pain is so random and vast--it's amazing that our bodies can produce a pain that literally feels like fire. Getting those stupid pain description sheets at the Dr's offices drive me crazy, feels like I can mark each one--they all don't happen at the same time but I think we've all felt most of them at various times--randomly at least. Impossible to describe and shade in an anatomical figure on paper, but we all have to play the game of paperwork!I find myself getting too motivated to do things, then physically wiping myself out. I don't know why I have this need to be up and active, I had no trouble resting any other time in my life. I guess anxiety is playing a role. My feet are swelling up like balloons as well--Crocs are my only shoes of choice a this moment--luckily, I live in Tucson and the weather allows for them--fashionally speaking though, oh what the heck, I love them! Anyway, my legs are screaming at me to get off this chair. Thanks again and I hope my original post wasn't too graffic to scare the ones on the fence--sometimes, I just let my fingers--usually my mouth in person, take over and too much comes out. I appologize if that's the case.Thanks again Cam, you've been such a help to me through all this and I can't thank you enough!Kerry>> Kerry,> > Oh....you tell your story so well...its almost like I was reliving it. Ouch!> > For a few weeks out you sound like you are managing well and on the road to recovery. It will take awhile. > > I was curious about what you are calling groin pain...do you mean the area that runs across the spot where the top of your thigh/let joins your torso? For me..other than the surgical/trauma pain...that area was the worst. Felt like it had been ripped open... a kind of burning. I also figured it had something to to with the rather sudden opening up in that area from the revision...and I didnt really solve the pain until about a year later when I had deep tissue massage/myofacial release in that area. It was immediate and felt like heaven. > > I dont think I am understanding what you are saying about the pedicle screw and intermittent pain. Are you saying that they know the screw is causing pain and are not addressing it...or that they believe it will go away on its own?> > Hang in there. Things will be settling down more and more for you now thatyou are home and enjoying your own surroundings!> > Happy 2011 to you.> > Take Care, Cam> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2011 Report Share Posted January 7, 2011 Kerry & Bonnie, Just like surgeons and hospitals, nursing facilities and the quality & level of care can vary widely! My mom had a knee replacement surgery and was sent to a nursing home instead of an in-patient rehab facility - compliments of her insurance company. It was a horrible experience for her - they had no PTs on staff (they had to 'send out' for one, and of course couldn't do so on the weekend so she suffered through almost 3 days of no therapy before starting, which is awful for a knee replacement!). I ended up in a high-level rehab hospital after my revision (a top-notch place known for spinal-cord-injury rehab too), and it was exactly what I needed. I have other medical complications, and most skilled nursing facilities and definitely most nursing homes with a rehab wing would not have been enough for what I personally needed. Some of those places probably have wonderful staff and a great quality of care, but sadly many nursing homes have a very poor quality of care for their residents. For someone coming out of revision, it seems that they might have been better luck at an in-patient rehab hospital instead of a nursing home. Of course, as stated before, some of those facilities probably offer great care and great compassion. While it isn't fair to generalize, in my experience with my situation and with other family members experiences, it seems safer to stay away from them if you're given the option! I'm glad that you had such a good experience at yours though, Bonnie! > > > > Hi Kerry, > > > > Sounds to me like you are doing very well and you sent valuable > > information about your time in the hospital which will help others > > getting ready for surgery. But I don't think everyone should dismiss > > the idea of going to a nursing home facility for the first week or two > > following the hospital stay. That's the kind of facility I went to. > > It was a nursing home, but the first floor was set aside for short > > term cre for those recovering from surgery. I had physical therapy > > every day I was there. When I left the hospital, I could not get out > > of bed by myself, use the bathrom by myself or climb steps. The > > physical therapist at the nursing home taught me how to do all of > > those tasks and he came with me on all my walks, to make sure I was > > handling my body correctly. The nursing home was not near the > > hospital, but it was very close to my home, which made visits from by > > husband very easy. > > > > Bonnie > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2011 Report Share Posted January 7, 2011 Hi Kerry, You certainly did not offend me and there's no need to be sorry. I just want everyone planning revision surgery to know that some nursing homes offer appropriate physical therapy for a post hospital stay.. Bonnie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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