Thank you so much for the reply!! You are so sweet to help me.
1. I will speak in more detail to my PM once I schedule the surgery but he knows my history and hopefully he will work with me as best as he can. They all seem to shy away and coil up when it comes down to actual agreed upon protocols that are used and are very non committal which often makes me crazy, lol. This time I will make sure I have better care, and I like my PM doc, he is here to help. It still seems so hard to actually make anything happen. Talking about it is one thing.
2. I would love to be admitted a day early and have epidural, that is my small dream in life, lol. I will fight hard for that, PRAY!
3. yes good idea, re having anesthesiology consult with PM doc ahead, that is another dream! He is LUCKILY affiliated with the same hospital for once. :-)
4. I am deeply sorry and empathetic about your surgery and RSD, wow. I feel for you.
5. I planned to talk abt prophylactic meds w/surgeon and PM doc but I cant take the ones they use the most like Neurontin. have not heard the medical term you used before, have to look it up. YAY google. lol
6. I started Vit C but need to be better about it, and will start the others. I am bad about that but this is a GREAT reminder. You are so helpful and this is right in line with my plans so it is good to be reassured in all this. Great minds think alike I guess. :-)
7. Doc mentioned the anterior approach thank God, but I will learn more about that at next appt.
8. ARE u serious? 6 hip surgeries, that is really really serious. I am so hurting for yyou. How the heck have you survived RSD and that many surgeries? You are my hero. Gosh I feel like a total complainer now.
Hope I answered all the questions. I really can't thank you enough. Though I have lived with this for so long, and had other surgeries, I still feel like I am starting over every time, from scratch with getting help from docs. It has been traumatic to walk into surgery without protocols and come out totally messed up with crazy RSD knowing there were precuations they could have taken. Breaks my heart...makes me so....GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
:-)
Quote:
Originally Posted by zookester
Hello,
I am so sorry for your long battle with RSD!!
Have you discussed this pending surgery with your PM doctor? He/She should be willing to work with your ortho doctor to ensure you are treated with the very best care all the way around. One thought comes to mind is your PM admitting you for pain management prior to your hip replacement, where by they could administer an epidural anesthesia at least 24 hours before your hip replacement. Then your PM doctor could explain to your care team (especially nurse manager & physical therapy team) the complexities related to overall care for those afflicted with RSD/CRPS. When you have your pre-op appointment with the anesthesiologist I would ask for them to consult directly with your PM doctor to ensure the utmost care is given to you. One thing I've learned is that many doctors/nurses do not respond to acronyms but, often if you say 'complex regional pain syndrome' rather than CRPS/RSD they will more likely recall previous experience or at the very least look it up on 'UpToDate' for medical professionals.
Being that my CRPS II originated during a complex hip procedure (Peracitabular Osteotomy for hip dysplasia & labral tear), I sympathize with your situation completely!! On a personal note - I would discuss in great detail the pre-cautions your ortho will take to protect your nerves during this operation. You mentioned the surgery is even more complicated for one reason or another.. this would in my opinion make it even more critical that you and your surgeon feel confident in the approach, implants etc., to reduce all risk for CRPS and just as important need for re-operation due to unrelated complications or early revision. Have you discussed prophylactic meds to prevent Heterotopic Ossification? This I would strongly suggest as it is a relatively high complication and could occur in the area of nerve bundles (as it did following my hip operation). Vitamin C, Vitamin D3, B6 & B12 daily prior to and following your operation would be one of my recommendations. Do you know which approach they are planning with your replacement?
Sorry for all the questions.. having already had 6 major hip operations with still bilateral hip replacements in my not so distant future - this really hits home!
Wishing you the very best! 
Tessa |