After laying flat on my back for almost 2 weeks trying to beat a post-surgery spinal headache, I ended up in surgery again to repair the problem. Ugh! I have never had anything more painful than this headache, and in the last couple of days leading into the second surgery I felt like I was on a permanent roller coaster. I was so dizzy. Apparently there was a tear in the dura that occurred post-op from the first surgery, and that was the source of the leaking spinal fluid. They were able to stitch the tear and shave the bone back a bit to help make sure it wouldn't happen again. So now I am headache free and have a back that is on the mend. I have to lay flat for 4 days and after that no bending, lifting, twisting, etc for 6 weeks.
In the midst of all of this I had a small flare up a couple of days prior to my second surgery. I had been feeling so good had few ra symptoms. Well, I will say that I now know just how well my meds are working because all of the pain came flooding back full force. I had been questioning whether or not I really needed all of the meds I take. Clearly, I do need them, and they are helping me more than I realized. It's a blessing to have clarity on this and to realize how much better I have been feeling. I also realize what my new normal is if that makes sense. I am having a hard time articulating my thoughts right now since I am on a bit of pain medication... Thanks for listening everyone. You've been through such a terrible time! But what a great attitude you have about the whole thing. It's great to read about your progress.
I think your experience with the meds is very common. We forget how it used to be and think we don't really need all that nasty stuff. We may have at one time, but certainly we don't need them anymore. It's such an easy trap to fall into and I'm tempted myself so often to cut back or stop. I can see how knowing for sure that you need everything you're taking, as you now do, could be very....what's the word I'm looking for?.....settling. No more question about it and that helps to make peace with what you have to do. Something else that's good coming out of your surgery. I hope you continue to improve every day.
Glad to hear your headache is gone, but sorry it took another surgery to fix it. Now you are on the mend and will be almost good as new.
Yeah... I think when I am on pain meds I get my most clearest thoughts... but then after that I forget what they were
Much hugs to you! And hope no more surgeries for you any time soon.
uggh I feel sick just thinking about your headache! Feel better soon!Oh, Sweetie, you have really been through it, haven't you? I'm so glad they finally got your headache taken care of, but so sorry it took another surgery.
You seem to have such an upbeat attitude! I know that will help you in the long run, but I'm just amazed that you are able be as positive as you seem to be. That headache alone can really make you crazy.
How is your back feeling? I hope it has been worth all you have gone through.
By the way, you are expressing yourself very well! I understand the "new normal", and it sounds like you are going to be feeling better.
Keep us posted, Sweetie.
Gentle hugs, Nini
Glad your headache has gone but sorry that you had to go through more surgery for that to happen.
Hope the recuperation time goes quickly and that you feel heaps better soon!
Positive thoughts winging their way to you.
I'm glad your headache is gone too. I had one before and I know how you felt. Awful, so bad it makes you sick to your stomach. Did they take blood from your arm and patch the hole in your back? That's what they did with me and it was instant relief.
Hang in there, and feel better with the ra soon!
take care
What was the original surgery graciesmom? I hope that this second surgery does the trick and that your recouperation will be all quick and complete.
Thanks for the well-wishes everyone. Pammy the original surgery was to remove part of a severely herniated disc between L4-L5. The procedure was minimally invasive and laser guided, I walked out of the hospital the same day. It's amazing what they do with these laser guided procedures! I felt great immediately afterward and was just a bit tired. Three days into my recovery the headache hit.... CinDee unfortunately because the leak was associated with the surgery they were not able to do a blood patch. I had heard about the blood patch and knew it was an instant fix, but I guess the site was too large to pinpoint the exact location of the leak. So I really suffered for almost two weeks before they decided to do the second surgery. I NEVER want to experience that again. When they went in for the second surgery, the doctor said they could see the spinal fluid leak immediately. The repair involved a permanent stitch which will eventually be covered with scar tissue as the area heals. The space where the disc used to be will also fill with scar tissue over time, and hopefully that will be enough to keep me functioning and comfortable. The amount of disc they removed was pretty big, so I am not left with many options other than fusion in the future. I really want to avoid that if at all possible. The strangest part of this is that I have had low back pain for almost 20 years, and have always managed it with chiropractic care until last summer. An mri revealed that I have pretty severe degenerative disc disease in L5-S1, and moderate DDD in L4-L5. The pain that led me to the doctor this spring was excruciating sciatic nerve pain. I ignored it (or tried to manage it through physical therapy, massage therapy, heat, ice, etc...) for almost 2 1/2 months. I thought it would work itself out. When the front of my shin became painfully numb I decided that maybe it wasn't going to go away. I went to the doctor on a Thursday and he had me in surgery the first time four days later... It was pretty serious. The good news is that now my back feels much better (aside from the incision pain) and the sciatic pain is completely relieved. I still have numbness in the front of my shin, but it is much less and the doctor says that will heal over time. The only residual remnants of the spinal headache seems to be a lingering dizziness, but no pain. So hopefully that will resolve over time as well. Phew!
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