D4 Update?

[George K]

Surgery done at about 8:30 - about 4 ½ hours of work.

This hospital keeps patients in PACU a LONG time, so I went home because I'm a geezer.

Surgeon said that one of the screws from her previous fusion had broken; I wonder if that was the cause of her symptoms. Nevertheless, he's overall pleased with the outcome so far.

After I got home (about 20 min ago), I received these texts from the hospital:

I'll visit tomorrow late AM.

[89th]

Thanks for the update. I also hope, sort of, that the broken screw was the culprit.

Hope you both get some very, very good sleep tonight.

[George K]

@89th said in D4 Update?:

I also hope, sort of, that the broken screw was the culprit.

Yeah, my thoughts as well.

She did really well after her first fusion. Honeymooned, got pregnant, etc on NO MEDS.

With luck we can reproduce this for a while.

As @kluurs said, when you immobilize part of the spine, other parts have to pick up the function, so they get stressed unnaturally.

The took her down to pre-op at 12:30. Her last dose of oral pain meds was at 9:30. They also disconnected the PCA (large, LARGE doses of hydromorphone). So, by the time it came for surgery, she had NOTHING on board for pain.

Remember, this is not "back pain," This is NERVE pain. Nothing helps that other than sufficient narcotics so you just don't care.

This is what nerve pain looks like...

[89th]

Can't even imagine...

[jon-nyc]

Ugh.

[George K]

Spoke to the nurse. Since she was a chronic pain patient, pain control is more difficult in terms of doses, etc. but they're getting a handle on it. She's slept a bit, so imma hit the sack as well. It's WAY past my bedtime.

[kluurs]

So hoping for a good outcome. Having a broken screw could explain a lot.

[jon-nyc]

Jesus. You wonder how a screw so placed could break. Takes a lot of force to break a screw. Was that force being applied/transferred through bone? ??

[Axtremus]

Glad to hear that D4's surgery went well.

About that broken screw ... what sort of metal is it made of? Titanium?

[Doctor Phibes]

Let's hope the broken screw explains it. Still awful, of course, but if there's a reason, at least it should be fixable.

You're all in our thoughts, George.

[Jolly]

Very happy the surgery went well. Praying that her pain levels abate to the smiley face as she heals.

[Horace]

Sounds like a promising result. I hope she has a smooth recovery.

[Mik]

I so hope for her relief. That picture says it all.

[George K]

She said that the back is 8/10 on the pain scale. But NOTHING DOWN THE LEG, so that's promising.

We texted a bunch of times this AM and just from her texts, she "sounds" better.

[89th]

Good so far...

[Copper]

It hurts just thinking about the broken screw, I hope that was the problem.

[taiwan_girl]

Like all of the above, sending lots of hugs to everybody!!!

[cathys]

Glad the surgery well. That picture is heartbreaking. Hoping that was the main cause and she continues to improve.

[Jolly]

<BUMP>

How is she doing today? Better pain control?

[George K]

She's having the expected surgical pain. They say that day 3 is the worst (tomorrow), but hopefully they can wean her off of IV narcotics after that and get a plan for discharge. Acute pain service is going to see her today.

She still has some "zings" as she calls them going down the leg. However, surgical team assured her that, since there's no disc there anymore, this is just nerve irritation and will pass.

She's hoping to get discharged Sunday. SHe's going to stay at the condo with us, and SIL will bring the boys over during the day. SIL thinks that, now that she's out of the hospital, all is good. Nope, this will be a long rehab.

At least at our place, she won't have to do a thing, and the boys can bounce around the house without her having to do anything.