Orbital Decompression Surgery

[Poorted]

I had an orbital decompression surgery almost a month ago.  The surgery went for over 4 hours.  I feel terrible, a lot of pressure, eyes very congested, very gritty as if they are about to explode.  I wonder if other patients suffer the same symtons as long as I do and how long does it take to feel normal again.

[JORDIE5]

Thank you....I will discuss this with option with him.  I guess it sounds like it really is just a waiting game now & that I have to accept that the infection complicated/delayed things further.  I appreciate all the help that I have received from you & the others.  Take care.  

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

The surgery you've had done is difficult and recovery slow. You might discuss with your orbital surgeon if he/she thinks consulting a strabismus/eye muscle specialist in the near future would be indicated.

Ultimately if the double vision doesn't clear you're going to need to see a strabismus specialist anyway.

JCH III MD

[JORDIE5]

Thank you so much for writing back.  yes, I have double when looking down & up.  Very mild to the sides & basically none looking straight ahead.  If I move my eyes up, down & side to side..... I become disoriented & very dizzy (like the room is spinning).  I called the doctor & asked him about the bone finding but he said the radiologist didn't know that it's part of the post surgery findings & is considered normal.  He said there is no bone in my eye.  Should I let this go or see another doctor about this?  Thanks again.  

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

The CT report does not mean that the bone fragment in poking into your eye. It's rubbing on the eye muscle that moves the eye downward. This often does not cause trouble with eye movements. If you are having double vision when you look down you can ask your surgeon about the fragment as a cause. If you are not having double vision it likely isn't a problem.

JCH III MD

[JORDIE5]

Hi, still in really bad shape.  I obtained the CT report today.  Impression: Postoperative changes status post left inferior orbital decompression with a small bony fragment displaced superiorly which mildly displaces inferior rectus muscle.  

My doctor note: CT revealed the postsurgical changes & celluitis but no more catastrophic findings.  

Left side of my eye has sharp pain, the entire eye socket is numb, contant blinking, pain, dizziness, feel like I have something in my eye all the time.    

Is the CT scan indicating that there is a bone stuck in my eye?  My doctor has made no mention of this & I just rec'd the report today.  I no you can't give out medical advise but is there any info on what the CT finding is indicating? I am desperate to find out what is wrong with my eye.  My doctor said the problem is from the sensory nerve being damaged & he's not sure how long it (if it will ever) will take to recover.   Thank you

[JORDIE5]

Hi Poorted, are you feeling any better? I'm still having problems in the left eye.  I'm almost 4 wks post surgery.  Numbness is mild now but still bad in the lip area. I can live with this. My biggest problem is still  having pain in the eye & the constant feeling that I have stuff in my eye.  I've been back to the doctor again this wk (2 hrs away) & he's clueless now.  He thinks it might be tissue swelling/another type of infection "behind" the eyes so he put me back on steroids & an antibotics & canceled the surgery for my right eye.  I can't stand this feeling because it's constant & eye drops don't make it better.  My doctor said nothing about eye lid surgery correcting the "gritty" feeling & I asked...he said it's just a "sensation".  The day after I started taking the antibotic I got really sick (too strong...Augumentine 500 mg) & he told me to stop taking it.  I assumed he was going to call in a lower dose but he didn't??? what happened to the infection theory...right? and he never called me back to follow-up with me like he said he would.  I'm so frustrated. I called every eye specialist in the surrounding two states for a 2nd opinion & the soonest date I could get was Sept 25th (which I thought was great....but seems like a life time when you're in pain).  I used the excused that I live so far away from my doctor to obtain my current medical records...saying I needed them in case I needed to go to the local ER.  That way I don't go empty handed to the new doctor.  Please let me know how you're doing.  I really do hope you are getting better :-)  and thank you!