are going on at once?
OK think, read and learn as as possible about the surgery Alan will be having. The prep parts are usually the easiest, as is surgery itself. RECOVERY afterwards is a bum deal all around tho! Recovery, not using that foot at all, losing muscle tone and able to do only very limited exercising makes one weaker than ever imagined. I speak from experiences having had to be off feet, tho not in casts, for the last 2 years running [plus a knee surgery a few years ago as well]. Time to ask questions about physical therapy is NOW! For my knee surgery I'd done 4 weeks of PT before the surgery and another 4 weeks more 3 weeks after. Now is the time to learn the key strength building exercises that can be done at home in prep and what to do during recovery.

SECOND relates to the anathesia? Alan has a 'demeyelinating' condition with his CIDP. MS is also a 'demeyelinating' condition and many anathesias can do more 'demeyelinating' due to the meds used. The MS communities are the ones who are best versed about this. If you even do a search here, using 'MS+Surgery' I bet you will get an eyeful and earful...There are other meds used that can help avoid more 'demeyelination'. As long as the docs and the anathesiologists KNOW about the connection with that key word: DEMEYELINATION...I have had 3 surgeries since my CIDP onset and speaking up and loud about the D-word I've not had problems..ounce of prevention or caution for sure. CIDP and MS are different in that the D-word occurs at opposite ends of the body...so to speak -MS in the brain, CIDP at the 'extremeties'.

THIRD AND LAST, the IVIG and timing: I have been told by my neuro that a wait of 7-14 days...ideally 10 days after an infusion gives you most benefit for the condition you are getting the IVIG for, and yet you still have enuf 'boost' from the IG to help keep infections at bay. As for the pain pills? After surgery they WILL be a must! I didn't need to take my full 10-day supply of Oxy...I believe I only took 5 days for the first surgery, 4 days the second and 2 days the last. Along with a LOT of peri-colace for the Oxy side effects! Keeping well hydrated during recovery and moving about a little bit [ergo the pt at home exercises] will help stimulate circulation overall and minimize side effects for the long run.

Sure hope this helps ease your mind and preps YOU for the whole experience! Alan is truly lucky to have you to care for him! I did 90% of my recoveries on my own...and I know how hard it is just to get a bottle of water from the kitchen to my 'chair', then other trips. You should/must make him move as much as possible tho...surpising how a person can adapt and do it when they have to..I believe that helps speed up recovery too! - j


Roxie It does have something to do with the PN....now you know.