Gordon
I can only speak from my own experience, take heed at my comments. In 2007 (9years ago) I purchased my dream motorcycle a new Black Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe. Two weeks later I was in a motorcycle accident. I was T boned by a drunk driver. My left leg was crushed flat between her bumper and the motor of my bike. I was wearing head to toe leather and a helmet in a state that does not require them. The whiplash that occurred after my bike cleared my body caused a 2" X 1" gash in the back of my helmet and paralyzed my left hemi-diaphragm. As a result of the impact I threw a PE and was forced to have a clot screen installed. I had 14 surgeries over a period of years trying to fix this and that.
Ten months after the accident I went back to work. It was too soon and too hard. I stuck with it. One year to the day I re-purchased my dream motorcycle 2008 Black Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe.
Through all of this I have been on chronic pain medicine. In the beginning I was on close to 300mg of extended release oxycodone. I eventually found a hospice doctor who was willing to manage my pain. My savior was Fentanyl. I had no quality of life without the pain relief. The doctors thought I was a drug seeker and to hell with being in pain.
I have tried to come off of the patch numerous times, my body was not ready. I get so sick of the pressure society puts on chronic pain patients. My family members are the worst at judging my pain management. If only they could have been walking on this leg for the last nine years. The truth is I am trying again to come off of the patch. I decreased my dosage, 50 mg, every 48 hrs, by 25% every ten doses. As time went on I was able to last longer between changes, I pushed it. When the withdrawals started coming on I changed the patch and put a warm washcloth on it for a short bit. My last 12.5 patch fell off 7 days ago. I don't know which part of my body wants it more my brain or my leg. I am struggling with withdrawal now. How easy it would be to just put a patch back on. I have promised myself six months to see if the part of my brain that relieves pain naturally comes turns back on.
Now my advice to you - live your life. Don't give up your quality of life because you "think" you should. Society is dealing this boomer generation a crock of crap about pain management. Do we die young (commit suicide because of unbearable pain) or do we live longer under pain management. You do what your body and mind requires.
I am leaving my pain management door open. If it hurts and I don't have a quality of life, I am going back.
Oh yea, today a have a fully functional leg. I little trouble with my breathing but still working on answers to that.
Have a great life!
Lucilleathome
lake winnebago
but on ward to new question
Wow! Oshkosh is about 90 minutes north of my hometown - and my new WI cottage. I've been to Oshkosh multiple times - and have extended family there.
Small world!
Sorry, forgot to respond to a few items. Yes I live in the FL, in the Panhandle. If you know FL than you'll probably know the area called, "The Forgotten Coast." It begins after leaving Panama City Beach area and continues east along some of the most pristine and beautiful beaches in the continental USA. It's Paradise! Sugar White Beaches and Emerald Blue Waters of the Gulf of Mexico is my front door. I find Peace and healing as I wander along the shoreline(s).
I am sorry to hear about your family home in FL. Sadly there are areas that have succumb to crime and drugs across the USA. It hurts more when it's our home - or our hometown.
I'm glad to hear your pain levels are not high at this point. I hope they will stay manageable. I require opiate therapy on a daily basis. I would not function without it.
Looking forward to hearing from you again soon. Best of luck.
Take Care,
~Tuck
I was raised on a farm outside a small town in WI. Yes there, like every where there is crime and drugs - including my home town. However we are blessed to not have an overt portion that is full of drugs and crime as one finds in the cities. There isn't a street that I would fear walking down at night in my WI hometown, now population 10k.
Thanks for responding to my post.
First I would consult a good attorney that handles medical malpractice. It can't hurt to see if you have a case or not. Be sure not to inform any of your medical providers that you are considering litigation. I promise you that if you do, you'll be treated differently and labeled. I know - been there, done that. So avoid even asking your medical providers for their medical opinions. regarding negligence of their colleagues.
Spinal Stenosis can only be handled with surgical intervention. I am not suggesting that you require surgery now - but if the stenosis progresses only surgery will treat it. Unfortunately when it becomes extreme it can lead to loss of function - and at it's worse paralysis. If there's another treatment I sure don't know about it.
Yes you can be notified about activity on this thread including notes or messages left on your Profile Page. Be sure you click on the small square on the bottom left hand side of this thread that says, "Add to watch list." That will tell the computer to notify you per email as long as you have that function activated. Then go into your Profile or Home Page. Click on "Account Settings" feature located near the top of those pages, on the right hand side. That will take you to several options, one of them being "Notifications." That page will ask for an e-mail addresses to send notifications and a multitude of choices to check - like "Send me an e-mail notification .... when someone sends me a note" and similar selections. Be sure to click on "Apply" and then "Save" when you have completed your choices.
I hope that helps.
~Tuck
is there a feature here where when someone replies to this thread I can receive an automatic email or do I have to remember to come back one or more times a day to continue to check for activity?
I got through the night okay without having to take a narco. so it's now 48 hours since the last one.
By the way I noticed Tuck that you are in Florida it appears. I was born in Fort Lauderdale. recently found out to my horror and amazement that my parents house on the New River had become infested by drug addicts and would shortly be torn down. seems like a sad indication of the ongoing decline of our society. both parents have been gone for 25 years or longer in the property owned by multiple people since then... but still...
Hi Tuck,
I am trying to head to bed... so brief. I was laying out my experience mainly in hopes of observations like yours.. Yeah there aren't any precise questions. as to the dates 11/27/13 decompression alledgedly of the lumbar spine. feb 24 post op improvement stops. could walk better then than now, but on a plateau through the summer winter and spring. But an MRI in sept 2014 showed severe stenosis where according to the surgeons reports there should have been none. Then a second MRI when i was deathly ill in may 2015 showed stenosis as well and spinal canal restriction. cat scan also showed nerve compression when supposedly there was none. we could pass a woodson between the nerve and bone the surgeons wrote.
I don't really know if there are any malpractice issues here. but I sure as hell don't like the way they treated me 11 months post surgery. Question is what else is going on? and short of another invasive surgery anything else to deal with stenosis?
If i get through tonight without taking a narco i will have gone 48 with none.
not planning on moving anywhere so little worry about loosing the primary Michael Dash who correctly id'ed the index case of anthrax in mercer county NJ in 2001. he is written up in william Broads book "germs", Inend toreport on how weaning goes. No worry there. than you again.
I am taking photos i took of Russia and the himalaya and making pdf books with explanatory text. where might i post the urls? anyone whose curious can download them.
Hello Mr. Cook,
Welcome to our Pain Management Community. I am delighted you found us and took the time to post. Holy Cow, what a bout you have experienced with surgeries, sepsis and injuries. My heart goes out to you.
I don't see a question, excuse me if I've missed it.
Your assumption my be correct, the surgeon didn't do what he should have done. Excuse me as I am not clear on the date of the surgery in relationship to the infection of your psoas and accompanying sepsis. Could it be the surgery initiated the infection near the psoas which smoldered and finally caused the nasty hospitalization?
I think you have made a wise decision to refuse the Methadone. Don't get me wrong, it has good pain management properties. I've heard many good things about it's pain relieving benefits. However the rub comes if you lose the PMP that is prescribing it - if you have to relocate - or if you are a "snowbird." Locating another physician that will prescribe Methadone can be impossible. I've read about those challenges here multiple times.
I am concerned that once you taper off the Fentanyl your pain levels may be unmanageable. I hope your PMP is willing to work with you. There are other opiates - or non-opiates that may be more in line with your needs.
I thank you for sharing your story with us. I do hope you'll be active in our community. Feel free to respond to questions - and ask questions too. I'll look forward to hearing from you again - soon. Best of Luck!
Happy, Healthy 2016!
~Tuck